Registration No. 33-15489
File No. 811-5225
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933 [ ]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. _____ [ ]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 [X]
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940 [ ]
Amendment No. 45 [X]
OPPENHEIMER QUEST FOR VALUE FUNDS
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048-0203
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(212) 323-0200
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(Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code)
Andrew J. Donohue, Esq.
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048-0203
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(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
[ ] Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[ ] On _______________ pursuant to paragraph (b)
[ ] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[X] On February 19, 1999 pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[ ] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
[ ] On _______________ pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
If appropriate, check the following box:
[ ] This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a
previously filed post-effective amendment.
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<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund
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Prospectus dated February 19, 1999
Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund is a mutual fund that seeks a
combination of growth of capital and investment income. The Fund's primary
objective is growth of capital. The Fund invests in both equity and debt
securities.
This Prospectus contains important information about the Fund's
objective, its investment policies, strategies and risks. It also contains
important information about how to buy and sell shares of the Fund and other
account features. Please read this Prospectus carefully before you invest and
keep it for future reference about your account.
(OppenheimerFunds logo)
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
approved or disapproved the Fund's securities nor has it determined that this
Prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to represent
otherwise.
<PAGE>
Contents
About the Fund
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The Fund's Objective and Investment Strategies
Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
The Fund's Past Performance
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
About the Fund's Investments
How the Fund is Managed
About Your Account
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How to Buy Shares
Class A Shares
Class B Shares
Class C Shares
Special Investor Services
AccountLink
PhoneLink
OppenheimerFunds Web Site
Retirement Plans
How to Sell Shares
By Mail
By Telephone
How to Exchange Shares
Shareholder Account Rules and Policies
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Financial Highlights
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<PAGE>
About the Fund
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The Fund's Objective and Investment Strategies
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What Is the Fund's Investment Objective? The Fund's objective is to seek a
combination of growth of capital and investment income. The Fund's primary
objective is growth of capital.
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What Does the Fund Invest In? The Fund normally invests mainly in equity
securities, primarily common stocks but also securities convertible into
common stocks, of U.S. and foreign issuers that the portfolio manager
believes are undervalued in the marketplace. The Fund also buys bonds and
other debt securities, including corporate bonds and money market
obligations. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 25%
of its total assets in equity securities and invests at least 25% of its
total assets in debt securities.
The Fund can also buy debt securities, such as short-term U.S.
government securities, and money market instruments for liquidity and cash
management purposes. The Fund may also use hedging instruments to try to
manage investment risks. These investments are more fully explained in
"About the Fund's Investments," below.
n How Does the Portfolio Manager Decide What Securities to Buy or
Sell? In selecting securities for purchase or sale by the Fund, the Fund's
portfolio manager, who is employed by the Sub-Adviser, uses a "value"
approach to investing, and searches for securities of companies believed to
be undervalued in the marketplace, in relation to factors such as a company's
assets, earnings, growth potential and cash flows. While this process and the
inter-relationship of the factors used may change over time and its
implementation may vary in particular cases, in general the selection process
includes the following techniques:
o A "bottom up" analytical approach using fundamental research to
evaluate a company's characteristics, financial results and
management.
o Selection of securities of companies believed to be undervalued and
having a high return on capital, strong management committed
to shareholder value and positive cash flows.
o Ongoing monitoring of issuers for fundamental changes in the company
that might alter the portfolio manager's initial expectations
about the security.
The portfolio manager allocates the Fund's investments among equity and
debt securities after assessing the relative values of these different types
of investments under prevailing market conditions. The portfolio might hold
stocks, bonds and money market instruments in different combinations at
different times. The portfolio manager might buy bonds and other fixed-income
securities, instead of stocks, when he thinks that:
o common stocks in general appear to be overvalued,
o debt securities present meaningful capital growth and income
opportunities relative to common stocks, or
o pending investment in other securities with capital growth
opportunities.
Who Is the Fund Designed For? The Fund is designed primarily for investors
seeking capital growth in their investment over the long term with the
opportunity for some income. Those investors should be willing to assume the
risk of short-term share price fluctuations that are typical for a moderately
aggressive fund focusing on equity investments. Since the Fund's income
level will fluctuate, it is not designed for investors needing an assured
level of current income. Because of its primary focus on long-term growth and
income secondarily, the Fund may be appropriate for moderately conservative
investors and for a portion of retirement plan investment.
Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
All investments carry risks to some degree. The Fund's investments in
stocks and bonds are subject to changes in their value from a number of
factors. They include changes in general bond and stock market movements
(this is referred to as "market risk"), or the change in value of particular
stocks or bonds because of an event affecting the issuer (in the case of
bonds, this is known as "credit risk"). At times, the Fund may focus
significant amounts of its equity investments in a particular industry or
industries. Therefore, it may be subject to the risks that economic,
political or other events can have a negative effect on the values of issuers
in those particular industries (this is referred to as "industry risk").
Changes in interest rates can also affect stock and bond prices (this is
known as "interest rate risk"). The Fund can buy below-investment grade bonds
(known as "junk bonds") which have greater credit risks than investment grade
bonds. Foreign investing involves special risks.
These risks collectively form the risk profile of the Fund, and can
affect the value of the Fund's investments, its investment performance and
its price per share. These risks mean that you can lose money by investing in
the Fund. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than
what you paid for them.
The Fund's investment Manager, OppenheimerFunds, Inc., has engaged a
Sub-Adviser, OpCap Advisors, to select securities for the Fund's portfolio.
The Sub-Adviser tries to reduce risks by carefully researching securities
before they are purchased and to reduce the Fund's exposure to market risks
by diversifying its investments, that is, by not holding a substantial amount
of stock of any one company and by not investing too great a percentage of
the Fund's assets in any one company. Also, the Fund does not concentrate
25% or more of its investments in any one industry. However, changes in the
overall market prices of securities and the income they pay can occur at any
time. The share price of the Fund will change daily based on changes in
market prices of securities and market conditions, and in response to other
economic events. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its
investment objective.
n Risks of Investing in Stocks. Stocks fluctuate in price, and their
short-term volatility at times may be great. Because the Fund normally
focuses its investments in equity securities, the value of the Fund's
portfolio will be affected by changes in the stock markets. Market risk will
affect the Fund's net asset value per share, which will fluctuate as the
values of the Fund's portfolio securities change. A variety of factors can
affect the price of a particular stock and the prices of individual stocks do
not all move in the same direction uniformly or at the same time. Different
stock markets may behave differently from each other. Because the Fund can
buy both foreign stocks and stocks of U.S. issuers, it will be affected by
changes in domestic and foreign stock markets.
Additionally, stocks of issuers in a particular industry may be
affected by changes in economic conditions, by changes in government
regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or events that
affect that industry more than others. To the extent that the Fund is
emphasizing investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values
might fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector.
Other factors can affect a particular stock's price, such as poor
earnings reports by the issuer, loss of major customers, major litigation
against the issuer, or changes in government regulations affecting the
issuer. The Fund can invest in securities of large companies and also small
and medium-size companies, which may have more volatile stock prices than
large companies.
o Industry Focus. At times the Fund may have substantial
investments in stocks of companies in a single industry. Stocks of issuers in
a particular industry may be affected by changes in economic conditions that
affect that industry more than others, or by changes in government
regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events. To
the extent that the Fund is emphasizing investments in a particular industry,
its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting those
industries.
n Interest Rate Risks. The values of debt securities are subject to
change when prevailing interest rates change. When interest rates fall, the
value of already-issued debt securities generally rise. When interest rates
rise, the values of already-issued debt securities generally decline. The
magnitude of these fluctuations will often be greater for longer-term debt
securities than shorter-term debt securities. The Fund's share prices can go
up or down when interest rates change because of the effect of the changes on
the value of the Fund's investments in debt securities.
|X| Credit Risk. Debt securities are subject to credit risk. Credit
risk relates to the ability of the issuer of a security to make interest and
principal payments on the security as they become due. If the issuer fails to
pay interest, the Fund's income may be reduced and if the issuer fails to
repay principal, the value of that bond and of the Fund's shares may be
reduced. While the Fund's investments in U.S. government securities are
subject to little credit risk, the Fund's other investments in debt
securities, particularly high-yield lower-grade debt securities as discussed
below, are subject to risks of default.
o Special Risks of Lower-Grade Securities. Because the Fund can
invest as much as 25% of its total assets in securities below investment
grade to seek higher income, the Fund's credit risks are greater than those
of funds that buy only investment grade bonds. Lower-grade debt securities
may be subject to greater market fluctuations and greater risks of loss of
income and principal than higher-rated debt securities. Securities that are
(or have fallen) below investment grade entail a greater risk that the
issuers of such securities may not meet their debt obligations. However, by
limiting its investments in non-investment grade debt securities, the Fund
may reduce the effect of some of these risks on its share price and income.
n Risks of Foreign Investing. The Fund may buy securities of
companies in developed and underdeveloped countries. While the Fund has no
limits on the amounts it can invest in foreign securities, it normally does
not expect to invest substantial amounts of its assets in foreign securities.
While foreign securities offer special investment opportunities, there are
also special risks.
The change in value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will
result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in that
foreign currency. Foreign issuers are not subject to the same accounting and
disclosure requirements that U.S. companies are subject to. The value of
foreign investments may be affected by exchange control regulations,
expropriation or nationalization of a company's assets, foreign taxes, delays
in settlement of transactions, changes in governmental economic or monetary
policy in the U.S. or abroad, or other political and economic factors. There
may be transaction costs and risks from the conversion of certain European
currencies to the Euro in January 1999.
How Risky is the Fund Overall? The Fund normally focuses its investments on
equity securities for long-term capital growth. In the short term, the stock
markets can be volatile, and the price of the Fund's shares can go up and
down. The Fund's income-oriented investments may help cushion the Fund's
total return from changes in stock prices, but fixed-income securities have
their own risks and are not normally the primary focus of the Fund. In the
OppenheimerFunds spectrum, the Fund is more conservative than growth stock
funds, but more aggressive than investment grade bond funds.
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
government agency.
The Fund's Past Performance
The bar chart and table below show one measure of the risks of
investing in the Fund, by showing changes in the Fund's performance (for its
Class A shares) from year to year for the calendar years since the Fund's
inception and by showing how the average annual total returns of the Fund's
shares compare to those of a broad-based market index. The Fund's past
investment performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will
perform in the future.
Annual Total Returns (Class A) (as of 12/31 each year)
[See appendix to prospectus for data in bar chart showing annual total
returns]
Sales charges are not included in the calculations of return in this bar
chart, and if those charges were included, the returns would be less than
those shown.
During the period shown in the bar chart, the highest return (not annualized)
for a calendar quarter was ___% (__Q'__) and the lowest return for a calendar
quarter was ___% (__Q'__).
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Average Annual
Total Returns for Past 1 Year Past 5 Years
the periods ending (or life of class, Life of Class
December 31, 1998 if less)
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Class A Shares % % %*
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Class B Shares % % %*
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Class C Shares % % %*
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S&P 500 Index % % %*
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* Inception dates of classes: Class A: 11/1/91. Class B: 9/1/93. Class C:
9/1/93. The index performance is shown from 11/1/91.
The Fund's average annual total returns in the table include the applicable
sales charge for Classes A, B and C shares: for Class A, the current maximum
initial sales charge of 5.75%; for Class B, the contingent deferred sales
charges of 5% (1-year) and 1% (life of class); and for Class C, the 1%
contingent deferred sales charge for the 1-year period.
The returns measure the performance of a hypothetical account and assume that
all dividends and capital gains distributions have been reinvested in
additional shares. Because the Fund normally invests primarily in stocks, the
Fund's performance is compared to the S&P 500 Index, an unmanaged index of
equity securities that is a measure of the general domestic stock market.
However, it must be remembered that the index performance reflects the
reinvestment of income but does not consider the effects of capital gains or
transaction costs and that the Fund's stock investments will vary from those
in the index and the index does not include debt securities in which the Fund
can invest.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The Fund pays a variety of expenses directly for management of its
assets, administration, distribution of its shares and other services. Those
expenses are subtracted from the Fund's assets to calculate the Fund's net
asset value per share. All shareholders therefore pay those expenses
indirectly. Shareholders pay other expenses directly, such as sales charges
and account transaction charges. The following tables are provided to help
you understand the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares
of the Fund. The numbers below are based on the Fund's expenses during its
fiscal year ended October 31, 1998.
Shareholder Fees (charges paid directly from your investment):
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Class A Shares Class B Class C
Shares Shares
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Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) on purchases 5.75% None None
(as % of offering
price)
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Maximum Deferred
Sales Charge (Load)
(as % of the lower of None1 5%2 1%3
the original offering
price or redemption
proceeds)
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1. A contingent deferred sales charge may apply to redemptions of
investments of $1 million or more ($500,000 for retirement plan accounts)
of Class A shares. See "How to Buy Shares" for details.
2. Applies to redemptions in first year after purchase. The contingent
deferred sales charge declines to 1% in the sixth year and is eliminated
after that.
3. Applies to shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (deducted from Fund assets):
(% of average daily net assets)
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Class A Class B Class C
Shares Shares Shares
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Management Fees % % %
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Distribution and/or % 1.00% 1.00%
Service (12b-1) Fees
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Other Expenses % % %
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Total Annual Operating % % %
Expenses
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Numbers in the chart are based on the Fund's expenses in its last fiscal
year, ended 10/31/98. Expenses may vary in future years. "Other expenses"
include transfer agent fees, custodial expenses, and accounting and legal
expenses the Fund pays.
Examples. These examples are intended to help you compare the cost of
investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The examples assume that you invest $10,000 in a class of shares of the
Fund for the time periods indicated and reinvest your dividends and
distributions. The first example assumes that you redeem all of your shares
at the end of those periods. The second example assumes that you keep your
shares. Both examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each
year and that the class's operating expenses remain the same. Your actual
costs may be higher or lower because expenses will vary over time. Based on
these assumptions your expenses would be as follows:
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If shares are redeemed: 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years1
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Class A Shares $ $ $ $
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Class B Shares $ $ $ $
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Class C Shares $ $ $ $
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If shares are not 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years1
redeemed:
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Class A Shares $ $ $ $
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Class B Shares $ $ $ $
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Class C Shares $ $ $ $
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In the first example, expenses include the initial sales charge for Class A
and the applicable Class B or Class C contingent deferred sales charges. In
the second example, the Class A expenses include the sales charge, but Class
B and Class C expenses do not include the contingent deferred sales charges.
1. Class B expenses for years 7 through 10 are based on Class A expenses,
since Class B shares automatically convert to Class A after 6 years.
About the Fund's Investments
The Fund's Principal Investment Policies. The composition of the Fund's
portfolio among the different types of permitted investments will vary over
time based upon the evaluation of economic and market trends by the
Sub-Adviser. The Fund's portfolio might not always include all of the
different types of investments described below. The Statement of Additional
Information contains more detailed information about the Fund's investment
policies and risks.
n Stock Investments. The Fund invests primarily in a diversified
portfolio of equity securities of issuers that may be of small, medium or
large size, to seek capital growth. Equity securities include common stocks,
preferred stocks, warrants and securities convertible into common stock. They
can be securities issued by domestic or foreign companies.
The Fund invests in equity securities for growth opportunities as well
as secondarily for income from dividends. Under normal market conditions,
the Fund invests at least 25% of its total assets in equity securities.
At times, the Fund may emphasize the securities of issuers in a
particular industry or group of industries, or of a particular capitalization
or a range of capitalizations, depending on the Sub-Adviser's judgment about
market and economic conditions. The Sub-Adviser considers convertible
securities to be "equity equivalents" because of the conversion feature and
because their rating has less impact on the investment decision than in the
case of debt securities.
n Debt Securities. The Fund can also invest in debt securities, such
as U.S. government securities and domestic corporate bonds and debentures.
They are selected primarily for their income possibilities, and may be
emphasized when the stock market is volatile. Under normal market
conditions, the Fund invests at least 25% of its total assets in fixed-income
senior securities. These securities include bonds, debentures, notes,
participating interests, convertible securities, U.S. government securities
and money management instruments. The Fund can also buy short-term debt
securities for liquidity pending the purchase of new investments or to have
cash to pay for redemptions of Fund shares.
o U.S. Government Securities. The Fund's investments in
U.S. government securities can include U.S. Treasury securities and
securities issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S.
government, such as collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and other
mortgage-related securities. U.S. Treasury securities are backed by the full
faith and credit of the U.S. government and are subject to little credit
risk.
Some securities issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities
of the U.S. government have different levels of credit support from the
government. Some are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
government, such as Government National Mortgage Association pass-through
mortgage certificates (called "Ginnie Maes"). Some are supported by the right
of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury under certain circumstances,
such as Federal National Mortgage Association bonds ("Fannie Maes"). Others
are supported only by the credit of the entity that issued them, such as
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation obligations ("Freddie Macs"). These
have relatively little credit risk.
Investments in mortgage-related securities are subject to special
risks of prepayment. Prepayment risk occurs when the issuer of a security can
prepay the principal prior to the security's maturity. Securities subject to
prepayment risk, including the CMOs and other mortgage-related securities
that the Fund can buy, generally offer less potential for gains when
prevailing interest rates decline, and have greater potential for loss when
interest rates rise. The impact of prepayments on the price of a security may
be difficult to predict and may increase the volatility of the price.
Additionally, the Fund may buy mortgage-related securities at a premium.
Accelerated prepayments on those securities could cause the Fund to lose a
portion of its principal investment represented by the premium the Fund paid.
If interest rates rise rapidly, prepayments may occur at slower rates
than expected, which could have the effect of lengthening the expected
maturity of a short or medium-term security. That could cause its value to
fluctuate more widely in response to changes in interest rates. In turn, this
could cause the value of the Fund's shares to fluctuate more.
o Money Market Instruments. The Fund can also invest in "money
market instruments." These are U.S. Government securities and high-quality
corporate debt securities having a remaining maturity of one year or less.
They include commercial paper, other short-term corporate debt obligations,
certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and repurchase agreements. They
do not generate capital growth if held to maturity.
n Can the Fund's Investment Objective and Policies Change? The Fund's
Board of Trustees may change non-fundamental investment policies without
shareholder approval, although significant changes will be described in
amendments to this Prospectus. Fundamental policies are those that cannot be
changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
shares. The Fund's objective is a fundamental policy. Other investment
restrictions that are fundamental policies are listed in the Statement of
Additional Information. An investment policy is not fundamental unless this
Prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information says it is.
n Portfolio Turnover. The Fund does not expect to engage frequently in
short-term trading to try to achieve its objective. Portfolio turnover
affects brokerage costs the Fund pays. If the Fund realizes capital gains
when it sells its portfolio investments, it must generally pay those gains
out to shareholders, increasing their taxable distributions. The Financial
Highlights table below shows the Fund's portfolio turnover rates during prior
fiscal years.
Other Investment Strategies. To seek its objective, the Fund can also use
the investment techniques and strategies described below. These techniques
involve certain risks, although some are designed to help reduce investment
or market risks. The Manager might not always use all of the different types
of techniques and investments described below.
n Foreign Investing. The Fund may buy foreign securities that are
listed on a domestic or foreign stock exchange, traded in domestic or foreign
over-the-counter markets, or represented by American Depository Receipts.
Foreign investing has special risks, described above. The Fund may invest in
emerging markets which have greater risks than developed markets, making
these investments more volatile than other foreign investments. The Fund
currently does not intend to purchase securities issued by governments or
companies in emerging markets. The Fund will hold foreign currency only in
connection with buying and selling foreign securities.
n "When-Issued" and Delayed Delivery Transactions. The Fund may
purchase securities on a "when-issued" basis and may purchase or sell
securities on a "delayed delivery" basis. These terms refer to securities
that have been created and for which a market exists, but which are not
available for immediate delivery. There may be a risk of loss to the Fund if
the value of the security declines prior to the settlement date.
n Investing in Small, Unseasoned Companies. The Fund can invest up to
5% of its total assets in securities of small, unseasoned companies. These
are companies that have been in continuous operation for less than three
years, counting the operations of any predecessors. These securities may have
limited liquidity, so that the Fund could have difficulty selling them at an
acceptable price when it wants to. The values of these securities may be very
volatile.
n Investing in Other Investment Companies. The Fund can invest up to
10% of its total assets in shares of other investment companies. It can
invest up to 5% of its total assets in any one investment company (but cannot
own more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of that company). These
limits do not apply to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation,
reorganization or acquisition of another investment company. Because the Fund
would be subject to its ratable share of the other investment company's
expenses, the Fund will not make these investments unless the Sub-Adviser
believes that the potential investment benefits justify the added costs and
expenses.
n Illiquid and Restricted Securities. Under the policies and
procedures established by the Fund's Board of Trustees, the Manager
determines the liquidity of certain of the Fund's investments. Investments
may be illiquid because of the absence of an active trading market, making it
difficult to value them or dispose of them promptly at an acceptable price. A
restricted security is one that has a contractual restriction on its resale
or which cannot be sold publicly until it is registered under the Securities
Act of 1933. The Fund cannot invest more than 15% of its net assets in
illiquid or restricted securities. Certain restricted securities that are
eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers are not subject to
that limit. The Manager and Sub-Adviser monitor holdings of illiquid
securities on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any holdings to
maintain adequate liquidity.
Temporary Defensive Investments. In times of unstable or adverse market or
economic conditions, the Fund can invest up to 100% of its assets in
temporary defensive investments. Generally they would be U.S. government
securities and the types of money market instruments described above. To the
extent the Fund invests defensively in these securities, it might not achieve
its investment objective of capital growth.
Year 2000 Risks. Because many computer software systems in use today cannot
distinguish the year 2000 from the year 1900, the markets for securities in
which the Fund invests could be detrimentally affected by computer failures
beginning January 1, 2000. Failure of computer systems used for securities
trading could result in settlement and liquidity problems for the Fund and
other investors. That failure could have a negative impact on handling
securities trades, pricing and accounting services. Data processing errors by
government issuers of securities could result in economic uncertainties, and
those issuers may incur substantial costs in attempting to prevent or fix
such errors, all of which could have a negative effect on the Fund's
investments and returns.
The Manager, the Sub-Adviser, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent
have been working on necessary changes to their computer systems to deal with
the year 2000 and expect that their systems will be adapted in time for that
event, although there cannot be assurance of success. Additionally, the
services they provide depend on the interaction of their computer systems
with those of brokers, information services, the Fund's Custodian and other
parties. Therefore, any failure of the computer systems of those parties to
deal with the year 2000 may also have a negative effect on the services they
provide to the Fund. The extent of that risk cannot be ascertained at this
time.
How the Fund Is Managed
The Manager. The Fund's investment Manager, OppenheimerFunds, Inc.,
supervises the Fund's investment program and handles its day-to-day
business. The Manager carries out its duties, subject to the policies
established by the Board of Trustees, under an Investment Advisory Agreement
that states the Manager's responsibilities. The Agreement sets forth the
fees paid by the Fund to the Manager and describes the expenses that the Fund
is responsible to pay to conduct its business. The Manager became the Fund's
investment manager November 22, 1995.
The Manager has operated as an investment adviser since 1959. The
Manager (including subsidiaries) currently manages investment companies,
including other Oppenheimer funds, with assets of more than $90 billion as of
December 31, 1998, and with more than 4 million shareholder accounts. The
Manager is located at Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York
10048-0203.
n The Manager's Fees. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the
Fund pays the Manager an advisory fee at an annual rate of 0.85% of average
annual net assets. The Fund's management fee for its last fiscal year ended
October 31, 1998 was 0.__% of average annual net assets for each class of
shares.
The Sub-Adviser. On November 22, 1995, the Manager retained the Sub-Adviser
to provide day-to-day portfolio management for the Fund. Prior to that date
and from the inception of the Fund, the Sub-Adviser had been the Fund's
investment adviser. The Sub-Adviser has operated as an investment adviser to
investment companies and institutional investors since its organization in
__________, 1980, and as of December 31, 1998, advised accounts having assets
in excess of $________ billion. It is located at One World Financial Center,
200 Liberty Street, New York New York 10281.
The Manager, not the Fund, pays the Sub-Adviser an annual fee under the
Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. The fee is
calculated as a percentage of the fee the Fund pays the Manager. The rate is
40% of the advisory fee collected by the Manager based on the net assets of
the Fund as of November 22, 1995, and 30% of the fee collected by the Manager
on assets in excess of that amount.
n Portfolio Manager. The portfolio manager of the Fund is Colin
Glinsman, who is employed by the Sub-Adviser. He is primarily responsible
for the day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio. Mr. Glinsman is a
Senior Vice President of Oppenheimer Capital, the immediate parent company of
the Sub-Adviser. He has been the Fund's portfolio manager since December
1992 and prior to that a securities analyst with Oppenheimer Capital.
Mr. George Long, who is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Investment Officer of Oppenheimer Capital, oversees the Sub-Adviser's equity
investment policy. He has been affiliated with Oppenheimer Capital since 1981.
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About Your Account
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How to Buy Shares
How Are Shares Purchased? You can buy shares several ways -- through any
dealer, broker or financial institution that has a sales agreement with the
Fund's Distributor, or directly through the Distributor, or automatically
through an Asset Builder Plan under the OppenheimerFunds AccountLink
service. The Distributor may appoint certain servicing agents to accept
purchase (and redemption) orders. The Distributor, in its sole discretion,
may reject any purchase order for the Fund's shares.
|X| Buying Shares Through Your Dealer. Your dealer will place your
order with the Distributor on your behalf.
|X| Buying Shares Through the Distributor. Complete an OppenheimerFunds
New Account Application and return it with a check payable to
"OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc." Mail it to P.O. Box 5270, Denver,
Colorado 80217. If you don't list a dealer on the application, the
Distributor will act as your agent in buying the shares. However, we
recommend that you discuss your investment with a financial advisor before
your make a purchase to be sure that the Fund is appropriate for you.
|X| Buying Shares by Federal Funds Wire. Shares purchased through the
Distributor may be paid for by Federal Funds wire. The minimum investment is
$2,500. Before sending a wire, call the Distributor's Wire Department at
1-800-525-7048 to notify the Distributor of the wire, and to receive further
instructions.
|X| Buying Shares Through OppenheimerFunds AccountLink. With
AccountLink, shares are purchased for your account on the regular business
day the Distributor is instructed by you to initiate the Automated Clearing
House (ACH) transfer to buy the shares. You can provide those instructions
automatically, under an Asset Builder Plan, described below, or by telephone
instructions using OppenheimerFunds PhoneLink, also described below. Please
refer to "AccountLink," below for more details.
|X| Buying Shares Through Asset Builder Plans. You may purchase shares
of the Fund (and up to four other Oppenheimer funds) automatically each month
from your account at a bank or other financial institution under an Asset
Builder Plan with AccountLink. Details are in the Asset Builder Application
and the Statement of Additional Information.
How Much Must You Invest? You can open a Fund account with a minimum initial
investment of $1,000 and make additional investments at any time with as
little as $25. There are reduced minimum investments under special investment
plans.
|_| With Asset Builder Plans, 403(b) plans, Automatic Exchange Plans
and military allotment plans, you can make initial and subsequent investments
for as little as $25. Subsequent purchases of at least $25 can be made by
telephone through AccountLink.
o Under retirement plans, such as IRAs, pension and profit-sharing
plans and 401(k) plans, you can start your account with as little as $250. If
your IRA is started under an Asset Builder Plan, the $25 minimum applies.
Additional purchases may be as little as $25.
|_| The minimum investment requirement does not apply to reinvesting
dividends from the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds (a list of them appears in
the Statement of Additional Information, or you can ask your dealer or call
the Transfer Agent), or reinvesting distributions from unit investment trusts
that have made arrangements with the Distributor.
At What Price Are Shares Sold? Shares are sold at their offering price (the
net asset value per share plus any initial sales charge that applies). The
offering price that applies to a purchase order is based on the next
calculation of the net asset value per share that is made after the
Distributor receives the purchase order at its offices in Denver, Colorado,
or after any agent appointed by the Distributor receives the order and sends
it to the Distributor.
|_| The net asset value of each class of shares is determined as of the
close of The New York Stock Exchange, on each day the Exchange is open for
trading (referred to in this Prospectus as a "regular business day"). The
Exchange normally closes at 4:00 P.M., New York time, but may close earlier
on some days. (All references to time in this Prospectus mean "New York
time").
The net asset value per share is determined by dividing the value of
the Fund's net assets attributable to a class by the number of shares of that
class that are outstanding. To determine net asset value, the Fund's Board
of Trustees has established procedures to value the Fund's securities, in
general based on market value. The Board has adopted special procedures for
valuing illiquid and restricted securities and obligations for which market
values cannot be readily obtained. Because foreign securities trade in
markets and exchanges that operate on holidays and weekends, the values of
the Fund's foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot buy
or redeem Fund shares.
|_| To receive the offering price for a particular day, in most cases
the Distributor or its designated agent must receive your order by the time
of day The New York Stock Exchange closes that day. If your order is
received on a day when the Exchange is closed or after it has closed, the
order will receive the next offering price that is determined after your
order is received.
|_| If you buy shares through a dealer, your dealer must receive the
order by the close of The New York Stock Exchange and transmit it to the
Distributor so that it is received before the Distributor's close of business
on a regular business day (normally 5:00 P.M.) to receive that day's offering
price. Otherwise, the order will receive the next offering price that is
determined.
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What Classes of Shares Does the Fund Offer? When you buy shares, be sure to
specify the class of shares. If you do not choose a class, your investment
will be made in Class A shares. The Fund offers investors four different
classes of shares. The different classes of shares represent investments in
the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different
expenses and will likely have different share prices.
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|X| Class A Shares. If you buy Class A shares, you pay an initial
sales charge (on investments up to $1 million for regular accounts or
$500,000 for certain retirement plans). The amount of that initial sales
charge will vary depending on the amount you invest. The sales charge rates
are listed in "How Can I Buy Class A Shares?" below. There is also an
asset-based sales charge on Class A shares.
|X| Class B Shares. If you buy Class B shares, you pay no sales charge
at the time of purchase, but you will pay an annual asset-based sales charge
and if you sell your shares within six years of buying them, you will
normally pay a contingent deferred sales charge. That contingent deferred
sales charge varies depending on how long you own your shares, as described
in "How Can I Buy Class B Shares?" below.
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|X| Class C Shares. If you buy Class C shares, you pay no sales charge
at the time of purchase, but you will pay an annual asset-based sales charge
and if you sell your shares within 12 months of buying them, you will
normally pay a contingent deferred sales charge of 1%, as described in "How
Can I Buy Class C Shares?" below.
Which Class of Shares Should You Choose? Once you decide that the Fund is an
appropriate investment for you, the decision as to which class of shares is
best suited to your needs depends on a number of factors that you should
discuss with your financial advisor. Some factors to consider are how much
you plan to invest and how long you plan to hold your investment. If your
goals and objectives change over time and you plan to purchase additional
shares, you should re-evaluate those factors to see if you should consider
another class of shares. The Fund's operating costs that apply to a class of
shares and the effect of the different types of sales charges on your
investment will vary your investment results over time.
The discussion below is not intended to be investment advice or a
recommendation, because each investor's financial considerations are
different. You should review these factors with your financial advisor. The
discussion below assumes that you will purchase only one class of shares, and
not a combination of shares of different classes.
|X| How Long Do You Expect to Hold Your Investment? While future
financial needs cannot be predicted with certainty, knowing how long you
expect to hold your investment will assist you in selecting the appropriate
class of shares. Because of the effect of class-based expenses, your choice
will also depend on how much you plan to invest. For example, the reduced
sales charges available for larger purchases of Class A shares may, over
time, offset the effect of paying an initial sales charge on your investment,
compared to the effect over time of higher class-based expenses on shares of
Class B or Class C.
|_| Investing for the Short Term. If you have a relatively short-term
investment horizon (that is, you plan to hold your shares for not more than
six years), you should probably consider purchasing Class A or Class C shares
rather than Class B shares. That is because of the effect of the Class B
contingent deferred sales charge if you redeem within six years, as well as
the effect of the Class B asset-based sales charge on the investment return
for that class in the short-term. Class C shares might be the appropriate
choice (especially for investments of less than $100,000), because there is
no initial sales charge on Class C shares, and the contingent deferred sales
charge does not apply to amounts you sell after holding them one year.
However, if you plan to invest more than $100,000 for the shorter term,
then as your investment horizon increases toward six years, Class C shares
might not be as advantageous as Class A shares. That is because the annual
asset-based sales charge on Class C shares will have a greater impact on your
account over the longer term than the reduced front-end sales charge
available for larger purchases of Class A shares.
And for investors who invest $1 million or more, in most cases Class A
shares will be the most advantageous choice, no matter how long you intend to
hold your shares. For that reason, the Distributor normally will not accept
purchase orders of $500,000 or more of Class B shares or $1 million or more
of Class C shares from a single investor.
|_| Investing for the Longer Term. If you are investing less than
$100,000 for the longer-term, for example for retirement, and do not expect
to need access to your money for seven years or more, Class B shares may be
appropriate.
Of course, these examples are based on approximations of the effect of
current sales charges and expenses projected over time, and do not detail all
of the considerations in selecting a class of shares. You should analyze your
options carefully with your financial advisor before making that choice.
|X| Are There Differences in Account Features That Matter to You? Some
account features may not be available to Class B or Class C shareholders.
Other features (such as Automatic Withdrawal Plans) may not be advisable
(because of the effect of the contingent deferred sales charge) for Class B
or Class C shareholders. Therefore, you should carefully review how you plan
to use your investment account before deciding which class of shares to buy.
Additionally, the dividends payable to Class B and Class C shareholders
will be reduced by the additional expenses borne by those classes that are
not borne by Class A shares, such as the Class B and Class C asset-based
sales charge described below and in the Statement of Additional Information.
Share certificates are not available for Class B and Class C shares, and if
you are considering using your shares as collateral for a loan, that may be a
factor to consider.
|X| How Does It Affect Payments to My Broker? A salesperson, such as a
broker, may receive different compensation for selling one class of shares
than for selling another class. It is important to remember that Class B and
Class C contingent deferred sales charges and asset-based sales charges have
the same purpose as the front-end sales charge on sales of Class A shares: to
compensate the Distributor for commissions and expenses it pays to dealers
and financial institutions for selling shares. The Distributor may pay
additional compensation from its own resources to securities dealers or
financial institutions based upon the value of shares of the Fund owned by
the dealer or financial institution for its own account or for its customers.
Special Sales Charge Arrangements and Waivers. Appendix C to the Statement
of Additional Information details the conditions for the waiver of sales
charges that apply in certain cases, and the special sales charge rates that
apply to purchases of shares of the Fund by certain groups, or under
specified retirement plan arrangements or in other special types of
transactions.
How Can I Buy Class A Shares? Class A shares are sold at their offering
price, which is normally net asset value plus an initial sales charge.
However, in some cases, described below, purchases are not subject to an
initial sales charge, and the offering price will be the net asset value. In
other cases, reduced sales charges may be available, as described below or in
the Statement of Additional Information. Out of the amount you invest, the
Fund receives the net asset value to invest for your account.
The sales charge varies depending on the amount of your purchase. A
portion of the sales charge may be retained by the Distributor or allocated
to your dealer as commission. The Distributor reserves the right to reallow
the entire commission to dealers. The current sales charge rates and
commissions paid to dealers and brokers are as follows:
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Front-End Sales Front-End Sales
Charge As a Charge As a Commission As
Percentage of Percentage of Net Percentage of
Amount of Purchase Offering Price Amount Invested Offering Price
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Less than $25,000 5.75% 6.10% 4.75%
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$25,000 or more but
less than $50,000 5.50% 5.82% 4.75%
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$50,000 or more but
less than $100,000 4.75% 4.99% 4.00%
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$100,000 or more
but less than 3.75% 3.90% 3.00%
$250,000
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$250,000 or more
but less than 2.50% 2.56% 2.00%
$500,000
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$500,000 or more
but less than $1 2.00% 2.04% 1.60%
million
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|X| Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. There is no initial
sales charge on purchases of Class A shares of any one or more of the
Oppenheimer funds aggregating $1 million or more or for certain purchases by
particular types of retirement plans described in Appendix C to the Statement
of Additional Information. The Distributor pays dealers of record
commissions in an amount equal to 1.0% of purchases of $1 million or more
other than by those retirement accounts. For those retirement plan accounts,
the commission is 1.0% of the first $2.5 million, plus 0.50% of the next $2.5
million, plus 0.25% of purchases over $5 million, calculated on a calendar
year basis. In either case, the commission will be paid only on purchases
that were not previously subject to a front-end sales charge and dealer
commission.1
If you redeem any of those shares within 18 months of the end of the
calendar month of their purchase, a contingent deferred sales charge (called
the "Class A contingent deferred sales charge") may be deducted from the
redemption proceeds. That sales charge will be equal to 1.0% of the lesser
of (1) the aggregate net asset value of the redeemed shares at the time of
redemption (excluding shares purchased by reinvestment of dividends or
capital gain distributions) or (2) the original net asset value of the
redeemed shares. However, the Class A contingent deferred sales charge will
not exceed the aggregate amount of the commissions the Distributor paid to
your dealer on all purchases of Class A shares of all Oppenheimer funds you
made that were subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales charge.
In determining whether a contingent deferred sales charge is payable
when shares are redeemed, the Fund will first redeem shares that are not
subject to the sales charge, including shares purchased by reinvestment of
dividends and capital gains. Then the Fund will redeem other shares in the
order in which you purchased them. The Class A contingent deferred sales
charge is waived in certain cases described in Appendix C to the Statement of
Additional Information.
The Class A contingent deferred sales charge is not charged on
exchanges of shares under the Fund's Exchange Privilege (described below).
However, if the shares acquired by exchange are redeemed within 18 calendar
months of the end of the calendar month in which the exchanged shares were
originally purchased, then the sales charge will apply.
How Can I Reduce Sales Charges for Class A Share Purchases? You may be
eligible to buy Class A shares at reduced sales charge rates under the Fund's
"Right of Accumulation" or a Letter of Intent, as described in Appendix C in
the Statement of Additional Information:
|X| Waivers of Class A Sales Charges. The Class A initial and
contingent deferred sales charges are not imposed in the circumstances
described in Appendix C in the Statement of Additional Information. In order
to receive a waiver of the Class A contingent deferred sales charge, you must
notify the Transfer Agent when purchasing shares whether any of the special
conditions apply.
How Can I Buy Class B Shares? Class B shares are sold at net asset value per
share without an initial sales charge. However, if Class B shares are
redeemed within 6 years of their purchase, a contingent deferred sales charge
will be deducted from the redemption proceeds. The Class B contingent
deferred sales charge is paid to compensate the Distributor for its expenses
of providing distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the
sale of Class B shares.
The contingent deferred sales charge will be based on the lesser of the
net asset value of the redeemed shares at the time of redemption or the
original net asset value. The contingent deferred sales charge is not
imposed on:
|_| the amount of your account value represented by an increase in
net asset value over the initial purchase price,
|_| shares purchased by the reinvestment of dividends or capital
gains distributions, or
|_| shares redeemed in the special circumstances described in
Appendix C to the Statement of Additional Information.
To determine whether the contingent deferred sales charge applies to a
redemption, the Fund redeems shares in the following order:
(1) shares acquired by reinvestment of dividends and capital gains
distributions,
(2) shares held for over 6 years, and
(3) shares held the longest during the 6-year period.
The amount of the contingent deferred sales charge will depend on the
number of years since you invested and the dollar amount being redeemed,
according to the following schedule:
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Contingent Deferred Sales Charge on
Years Since Beginning of Month in Redemptions in That Year
Which Purchase Order was Accepted (As % of Amount Subject to Charge)
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0 - 1 5.0%
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1 - 2 4.0%
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2 - 3 3.0%
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3 - 4 3.0%
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4 - 5 2.0%
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5 - 6 1.0%
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6 and following None
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In the table, a "year" is a 12-month period. In applying the sales
charge, all purchases are considered to have been made on the first regular
business day of the month in which the purchase was made.
|X| Automatic Conversion of Class B Shares. Class B shares
automatically convert to Class A shares 72 months after you purchase them.
This conversion feature relieves Class B shareholders of the asset-based
sales charge that applies to Class B shares under the Class B Distribution
and Service Plan, described below. The conversion is based on the relative
net asset value of the two classes, and no sales load or other charge is
imposed. When Class B shares convert, any other Class B shares that were
acquired by the reinvestment of dividends and distributions on the converted
shares will also convert to Class A shares. The conversion feature is subject
to the continued availability of a tax ruling described in the Statement of
Additional Information.
How Can I Buy Class C Shares? Class C shares are sold at net asset value per
share without an initial sales charge. However, if Class C shares are
redeemed within 12 months of their purchase, a contingent deferred sales
charge of 1.0% will be deducted from the redemption proceeds. The Class C
contingent deferred sales charge is paid to compensate the Distributor for
its expenses of providing distribution-related services to the Fund in
connection with the sale of Class C shares.
The contingent deferred sales charge will be based on the lesser of the
net asset value of the redeemed shares at the time of redemption or the
original net asset value. The contingent deferred sales charge is not
imposed on:
o the amount of your account value represented by the increase in net
asset value over the initial purchase price,
o shares purchased by the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains
distributions, or
o shares redeemed in the special circumstances described in Appendix C to
the Statement of Additional Information.
To determine whether the contingent deferred sales charge applies to a
redemption, the Fund redeems shares in the following order:
(1) shares acquired by reinvestment of dividends and capital gains
distributions,
(2) shares held for over 12 months, and
(3) shares held the longest during the 12-month period.
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Plans. Because these fees are paid out of
the Fund's assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase
the cost of your investment and may cost you more than other types of sales
charges.
|X| Distribution and Service Plan for Class A Shares. The Fund has
adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Class A shares. Under the plan
the Fund pays an asset-based sales charge to the Distributor at an annual
rate of 0.15% of average annual net assets of Class A shares the Fund. The
Fund also pays a service fee to the Distributor of 0.25% of the average
annual net assets of Class A shares. The Distributor currently uses all of
the fee and a portion of the asset-based sales charge to compensate dealers,
brokers, banks and other financial institutions quarterly for providing
personal service and maintenance of accounts of their customers that hold
Class A shares. The Distributor pays out the portion of the asset-based sales
charge equal to 0.10% of average annual net assets representing Class A
shares.
|X| Distribution and Service Plans for Class B and Class C Shares. The
Fund has adopted Distribution and Service Plans for Class B and Class C
shares to pay the Distributor for its services and costs in distributing
Class B and Class C shares and servicing accounts. Under the plans, the Fund
pays the Distributor an annual asset-based sales charge of 0.75% per year on
Class B shares and on Class C shares. The Distributor also receives a
service fee of 0.25% per year under each plan. The asset-based sales charge
and service fees increase Class B and Class C expenses by up to 1.00% of the
net assets per year of the respective class.
The Distributor uses the service fees to compensate dealers for
providing personal services for accounts that hold Class B or Class C
shares. The Distributor pays the 0.25% service fees to dealers in advance
for the first year after the shares were sold by the dealer. After the
shares have been held for a year, the Distributor pays the service fees to
dealers on a quarterly basis.
The Distributor currently pays sales commission of 3.75% of the
purchase price of Class B shares to dealers from its own resources at the
time of sale. Including the advance of the service fee, the total amount
paid by the Distributor to the dealer at the time of sales of Class B shares
is therefore 4.00% of the purchase price. The Distributor retains the Class
B asset-based sales charge.
The Distributor currently pays sales commissions of 0.75% of the
purchase price of Class C shares to dealers from its own resources at the
time of sale. Including the advance of the service fee, the total amount
paid by the Distributor to the dealer at the time of sale of Class C shares
is therefore 1.00% of the purchase price. The Distributor pays the
asset-based sales charge as an ongoing commission to the dealer on Class C
shares that have been outstanding for a year or more.
Special Investor Services
AccountLink. You can use our AccountLink feature to link your Fund account
with an account at a U.S. bank or other financial institution. It must be an
Automated Clearing House (ACH) member. AccountLink lets you:
|_| transmit funds electronically to purchase shares by telephone
(through a service representative or by PhoneLink) or automatically
under Asset Builder Plans, or
|_| have the Transfer Agent send redemption proceeds or transmit
dividends and distributions directly to your bank account. Please call
the Transfer Agent for more information.
You may purchase shares by telephone only after your account has been
established. To purchase shares in amounts up to $250,000 through a telephone
representative, call the Distributor at 1-800-852-8457. The purchase payment
will be debited from your bank account.
AccountLink privileges should be requested on your Application or your
dealer's settlement instructions if you buy your shares through a dealer.
After your account is established, you can request AccountLink privileges by
sending signature-guaranteed instructions to the Transfer Agent. AccountLink
privileges will apply to each shareholder listed in the registration on your
account as well as to your dealer representative of record unless and until
the Transfer Agent receives written instructions terminating or changing
those privileges. After you establish AccountLink for your account, any
change of bank account information must be made by signature-guaranteed
instructions to the Transfer Agent signed by all shareholders who own the
account.
PhoneLink. PhoneLink is the OppenheimerFunds automated telephone system that
enables shareholders to perform a number of account transactions
automatically using a touch-tone phone. PhoneLink may be used on
already-established Fund accounts after you obtain a Personal Identification
Number (PIN), by calling the special PhoneLink number, 1-800-533-3310.
|_| Purchasing Shares. You may purchase shares in amounts up to
$100,000 by phone, by calling 1-800-533-3310. You must have established
AccountLink privileges to link your bank account with the Fund to pay for
these purchases.
|_| Exchanging Shares. With the OppenheimerFunds Exchange Privilege,
described below, you can exchange shares automatically by phone from your
Fund account to another OppenheimerFunds account you have already established
by calling the special PhoneLink number.
|_| Selling Shares. You can redeem shares by telephone automatically
by calling the PhoneLink number and the Fund will send the proceeds directly
to your AccountLink bank account. Please refer to "How to Sell Shares," below
for details.
Can I Submit Transaction Requests by Fax? You may send requests for certain
types of account transactions to the Transfer Agent by fax (telecopier).
Please call 1-800-525-7048 for information about which transactions may be
handled this way. Transaction requests submitted by fax are subject to the
same rules and restrictions as written and telephone requests described in
this Prospectus.
OppenheimerFunds Internet Web Site. You can obtain information about the
Fund, as well as your account balance, on the OppenheimerFunds Internet web
site, at http://www.oppenheimerfunds.com. Additionally, shareholders listed
in the account registration (and the dealer of record) may request certain
account transactions through a special section of that web site. To perform
account transactions, you must first obtain a personal identification number
(PIN) by calling the Transfer Agent at 1-800-533-3310. If you do not want to
have Internet account transaction capability for your account, please call
the Transfer Agent at 1-800-525-7048.
Automatic Withdrawal and Exchange Plans. The Fund has several plans that
enable you to sell shares automatically or exchange them to another
OppenheimerFund's account on a regular basis. Please call the Transfer Agent
or consult the Statement of Additional Information for details.
Reinvestment Privilege. If you redeem some or all of your Class A or Class B
shares of the Fund, you have up to 6 months to reinvest all or part of the
redemption proceeds in Class A shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds
without paying a sales charge. This privilege applies only to Class A shares
that you purchased subject to an initial sales charge and to Class A or Class
B shares on which you paid a contingent deferred sales charge when you
redeemed them. This privilege does not apply to Class C shares. You must be
sure to ask the Distributor for this privilege when you send your payment.
Retirement Plans. You may buy shares of the Fund for your retirement plan
account. If you participate in a plan sponsored by your employer, the plan
trustee or administrator must buy the shares for your plan account. The
Distributor also offers a number of different retirement plans that can be
used by individuals and employers:
|_| Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), including regular IRAs, Roth
IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, rollover and Education IRAs.
|_| SEP-IRAs, which are Simplified Employee Pensions Plan IRAs for
small business owners or self-employed individuals.
|_| 403(b)(7) Custodial Plans, that are tax deferred plans for
employees of eligible tax-exempt organizations, such as schools, hospitals
and charitable organizations.
|_| 401(k) Plans, which are special retirement plans for businesses.
|_| Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans, designed for businesses and
self-employed individuals.
Please call the Distributor for OppenheimerFunds retirement plan
documents, which include applications and important plan information.
How to Sell Shares
You can sell (redeem) some or all of your shares on any regular
business day. Your shares will be sold at the next net asset value
calculated after your order is received in proper form (which means it must
comply with the procedures described below) and is accepted by the Transfer
Agent. The Fund lets you sell your shares by writing a letter or by
telephone. You can also set up Automatic Withdrawal Plans to redeem shares
on a regular basis. If you have questions about any of these procedures, and
especially if you are redeeming shares in a special situation, such as due to
the death of the owner or from a retirement plan account, please call the
Transfer Agent first, at 1-800-525-7048, for assistance.
|X| Certain Requests Require a Signature Guarantee. To protect you and
the Fund from fraud, the following redemption requests must be in writing and
must include a signature guarantee (although there may be other situations
that also require a signature guarantee):
|_| You wish to redeem $50,000 or more and receive a check
|_| The redemption check is not payable to all shareholders listed on
the account statement
|_| The redemption check is not sent to the address of record on your
account statement
|_| Shares are being transferred to a Fund account with a different
owner or name
|_| Shares are being redeemed by someone (such as an Executor) other
than the owners
|X| Where Can I Have My Signature Guaranteed? The Transfer Agent will
accept a guarantee of your signature by a number of financial institutions,
including: a U.S. bank, trust company, credit union or savings association,
or by a foreign bank that has a U.S. correspondent bank, or by a U.S.
registered dealer or broker in securities, municipal securities or government
securities, or by a U.S. national securities exchange, a registered
securities association or a clearing agency. If you are signing on behalf of
a corporation, partnership or other business or as a fiduciary, you must also
include your title in the signature.
|X| Retirement Plan Accounts. There are special procedures to sell
shares in an OppenheimerFunds retirement plan account. Call the Transfer
Agent for a distribution request form. Special income tax withholding
requirements apply to distributions from retirement plans. You must submit a
withholding form with your redemption request to avoid delay in getting your
money and if you do not want tax withheld. If your employer holds your
retirement plan account for you in the name of the plan, you must ask the
plan trustee or administrator to request the sale of the Fund shares in your
plan account.
|X| Sending Redemption Proceeds by Wire. While the Fund normally sends
your money by check, you can arrange to have the proceeds of the shares you
sell sent by Federal Funds wire to a bank account you designate. It must be a
commercial bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve wire system. The
minimum redemption you can have sent by wire is $2,500. There is a $10 fee
for each wire. To find out how to set up this feature on your account or to
arrange a wire, call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-852-8457.
How Do I Sell Shares by Mail? Write a letter of instructions that includes:
|_| Your name
|_| The Fund's name
|_| Your Fund account number (from your account statement)
|_| The dollar amount or number of shares to be redeemed
|_| Any special payment instructions
|_| Any share certificates for the shares you are selling
|_| The signatures of all registered owners exactly as the account is
registered, and
|_| Any special documents requested by the Transfer Agent to assure
proper authorization of the person asking to sell the shares.
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Use the following address for requests by mail:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OppenheimerFunds Services
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P.O. Box 5270, Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Send courier or express mail requests to:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OppenheimerFunds Services
10200 E. Girard Avenue, Building D
Denver, Colorado 80231
How Do I Sell Shares by Telephone? You and your dealer representative of
record may also sell your shares by telephone. To receive the redemption
price on a regular business day, your call must be received by the Transfer
Agent by the close of The New York Stock Exchange that day, which is normally
4:00 P.M., but may be earlier on some days. You may not redeem shares held
in an OppenheimerFunds retirement plan account or under a share certificate
by telephone.
|_| To redeem shares through a service representative, call
1-800-852-8457
|_| To redeem shares automatically on PhoneLink, call 1-800-533-3310
Whichever method you use, you may have a check sent to the address on
the account statement, or, if you have linked your Fund account to your bank
account on AccountLink, you may have the proceeds sent to that bank account.
Are There Limits on Amounts Redeemed by Telephone?
|X| Telephone Redemptions Paid by Check. Up to $50,000 may be redeemed
by telephone in any 7-day period. The check must be payable to all owners of
record of the shares and must be sent to the address on the account
statement. This service is not available within 30 days of changing the
address on an account.
|X| Telephone Redemptions Through AccountLink. There are no dollar
limits on telephone redemption proceeds sent to a bank account designated
when you establish AccountLink. Normally the ACH transfer to your bank is
initiated on the business day after the redemption. You do not receive
dividends on the proceeds of the shares you redeemed while they are waiting
to be transferred.
Can I Sell Shares Through My Dealer? The Distributor has made arrangements to
repurchase Fund shares from dealers and brokers on behalf of their
customers. Brokers or dealers may charge for that service. If your shares
are held in the name of your dealer, you must redeem them through your dealer.
How to Exchange Shares
Shares of the Fund may be exchanged for shares of certain Oppenheimer
funds at net asset value per share at the time of exchange, without sales
charge. To exchange shares, you must meet several conditions:
|_| Shares of the fund selected for exchange must be available for sale
in your state of residence.
|_| The prospectuses of this Fund and the fund whose shares you want to
buy must offer the exchange privilege.
|_| You must hold the shares you buy when you establish your account
for at least 7 days before you can exchange them. After the account is open 7
days, you can exchange shares every regular business day.
|_| You must meet the minimum purchase requirements for the fund you
purchase by exchange.
|_| Before exchanging into a fund, you should obtain and read its
prospectus.
Shares of a particular class of the Fund may be exchanged only for
shares of the same class in the other Oppenheimer funds. For example, you
can exchange Class A shares of this Fund only for Class A shares of another
fund. In some cases, sales charges may be imposed on exchange transactions.
For tax purposes, exchanges of shares involve a sale of the shares of the
fund you own and a purchase of the shares of the other fund, which may result
in a capital gain or loss. Please refer to "How to Exchange Shares" in the
Statement of Additional Information for more details.
How Do I Submit Exchange Requests? Exchanges may be requested in writing or
by telephone:
|X| Written Exchange Requests. Submit an OppenheimerFunds Exchange
Request form, signed by all owners of the account. Send it to the Transfer
Agent at the address on the Back Cover. Exchanges of shares held under
certificates cannot be processed unless the Transfer Agent receives the
certificates with the request.
|X| Telephone Exchange Requests. Telephone exchange requests may be
made either by calling a service representative at 1-800-852-8457, or by
using PhoneLink for automated exchanges by calling 1-800-533-3310. Telephone
exchanges may be made only between accounts that are registered with the same
name(s) and address. Shares held under certificates may not be exchanged by
telephone.
You can find a list of Oppenheimer funds currently available for
exchanges in the Statement of Additional Information or obtain one by calling
a service representative at 1-800-525-7048. That list can change from time
to time.
Are There Limitations on Exchanges? There are certain exchange policies you
should be aware of:
|_| Shares are normally redeemed from one fund and purchased from the
other fund in the exchange transaction on the same regular business day on
which the Transfer Agent receives an exchange request that conforms to the
policies described above. It must be received by the close of The New York
Stock Exchange that day, which is normally 4:00 P.M. but may be earlier on
some days. However, either fund may delay the purchase of shares of the fund
you are exchanging into up to seven days if it determines it would be
disadvantaged by a same-day exchange. For example, the receipt of multiple
exchange requests from a "market timer" might require the Fund to sell
securities at a disadvantageous time and/or price.
|_| Because excessive trading can hurt fund performance and harm
shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to refuse any exchange request that
it believes will disadvantage it, or to refuse multiple exchange requests
submitted by a shareholder or dealer.
|_| The Fund may amend, suspend or terminate the exchange privilege at
any time. Although the Fund will attempt to provide you notice whenever it
is reasonably able to do so, it may impose these changes at any time.
|_| If the Transfer Agent cannot exchange all the shares you request
because of a restriction cited above, only the shares eligible for exchange
will be exchanged.
Shareholder Account Rules and Policies
|X| The offering of shares may be suspended during any period in which
the determination of net asset value is suspended, and the offering may be
suspended by the Board of Trustees at any time the Board believes it is in
the Fund's best interest to do so.
|X| Telephone Transaction Privileges for purchases, redemptions or
exchanges may be modified, suspended or terminated by the Fund at any time.
If an account has more than one owner, the Fund and the Transfer Agent may
rely on the instructions of any one owner. Telephone privileges apply to each
owner of the account and the dealer representative of record for the account
unless the Transfer Agent receives cancellation instructions from an owner of
the account.
|X| The Transfer Agent will record any telephone calls to verify data
concerning transactions and has adopted other procedures to confirm that
telephone instructions are genuine, by requiring callers to provide tax
identification numbers and other account data or by using PINs, and by
confirming such transactions in writing. The Transfer Agent and the Fund will
not be liable for losses or expenses arising out of telephone instructions
reasonably believed to be genuine.
|X| Redemption or transfer requests will not be honored until the
Transfer Agent receives all required documents in proper form. From time to
time, the Transfer Agent in its discretion may waive certain of the
requirements for redemptions stated in this Prospectus.
|X| Dealers that can perform account transactions for their clients by
participating in NETWORKING through the National Securities Clearing
Corporation are responsible for obtaining their clients' permission to
perform those transactions, and are responsible to their clients who are
shareholders of the Fund if the dealer performs any transaction erroneously
or improperly.
|X| The redemption price for shares will vary from day to day because
the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio fluctuates. The
redemption price, which is the net asset value per share, will normally
differ for each class of shares. The redemption value of your shares may be
more or less than their original cost.
|X| Payment for redeemed shares ordinarily is made in cash. It is
forwarded by check or through AccountLink or by Federal Funds wire (as
elected by the shareholder) within seven days after the Transfer Agent
receives redemption instructions in proper form. However, under unusual
circumstances determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, payment
may be delayed or suspended. For accounts registered in the name of a
broker-dealer, payment will normally be forwarded within three business days
after redemption.
|X| The Transfer Agent may delay forwarding a check or processing a
payment via AccountLink for recently purchased shares, but only until the
purchase payment has cleared. That delay may be as much as 10 days from the
date the shares were purchased. That delay may be avoided if you purchase
shares by Federal Funds wire or certified check, or arrange with your bank to
provide telephone or written assurance to the Transfer Agent that your
purchase payment has cleared.
|X| Involuntary redemptions of small accounts may be made by the Fund
if the account value has fallen below $500 for reasons other than the fact
that the market value of shares has dropped. In some cases involuntary
redemptions may be made to repay the Distributor for losses from the
cancellation of share purchase orders.
|X| Shares may be "redeemed in kind" under unusual circumstances (such
as a lack of liquidity in the Fund's portfolio to meet redemptions). This
means that the redemption proceeds will be paid with securities from the
Fund's portfolio.
|X| "Backup Withholding" of Federal income tax may be applied against
taxable dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds (including
exchanges) if you fail to furnish the Fund your correct, certified Social
Security or Employer Identification Number when you sign your application, or
if you under-report your income to the Internal Revenue Service.
|X| To avoid sending duplicate copies of materials to households, the
Fund will mail only one copy of each annual and semi-annual report to
shareholders having the same last name and address on the Fund's records.
However, each shareholder may call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-525-7048 to
ask that copies of those materials be sent personally to that shareholder.
Dividends and Tax Information
Dividends. The Fund intends to declare dividends separately for each class of
shares from net investment income on a quarterly basis. The Fund intends to
pay dividends to shareholders in March, June, September and December on a
date selected by the Board of Trustees. Dividends and distributions paid on
Class A shares will generally be higher than dividends for Class B and Class
C shares, which normally have higher expenses than Class A shares. The Fund
has no fixed dividend rate and cannot guarantee that it will pay any
dividends or distributions.
Capital Gains. The Fund may realize capital gains on the sale of portfolio
securities. If it does, it may make distributions out of any net short-term
or long-term capital gains in December of each year. The Fund may make
supplemental distributions of dividends and capital gains following the end
of its fiscal year. There can be no assurance that the Fund will pay any
capital gains distributions in a particular year.
What Choices Do I Have for Receiving Distributions? When you open your
account, specify on your application how you want to receive your dividends
and distributions. You have four options:
|X| Reinvest All Distributions in the Fund. You can elect to reinvest
all dividends and long-term capital gains distributions in additional shares
of the Fund.
|X| Reinvest Long-Term Capital Gains Only. You can elect to reinvest
long-term capital gains distributions in the Fund while receiving dividends
by check or having them sent to your bank account through AccountLink.
|X| Receive All Distributions in Cash. You can elect to receive a
check for all dividends and long-term capital gains distributions or have
them sent to your bank through AccountLink.
|X| Reinvest Your Distributions in Another OppenheimerFunds Account.
You can reinvest all distributions in the same class of shares of another
OppenheimerFunds account you have established.
Taxes. If your shares are not held in a tax-deferred retirement account, you
should be aware of the following tax implications of investing in the Fund.
Distributions are subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state
or local taxes. Dividends paid from short-term capital gains and net
investment income are taxable as ordinary income. Long-term capital gains
are taxable as long-term capital gains when distributed to shareholders. It
does not matter how long you have held your shares. Whether you reinvest your
distributions in additional shares or take them in cash, the tax treatment is
the same.
Every year the Fund will send you and the IRS a statement showing the
amount of any taxable distribution you received in the previous year. Any
long-term capital gains will be separately identified in the tax information
the Fund sends you after the end of the calendar year.
|X| Avoid "Buying a Dividend". If you buy shares on or just before the
ex-dividend date or just before the Fund declares a capital gain
distribution, you will pay the full price for the shares and then receive a
portion of the price back as a taxable dividend or capital gain.
|X| Remember There May be Taxes on Transactions. Because the Fund's
share price fluctuates, you may have a capital gain or loss when you sell or
exchange your shares. A capital gain or loss is the difference between the
price you paid for the shares and the price you received when you sold them.
Any capital gain is subject to capital gains tax.
|X| Returns of Capital Can Occur. In certain cases, distributions
made by the Fund may be considered a non-taxable return of capital to
shareholders. If that occurs, it will be identified in notices to
shareholders.
This information is only a summary of certain federal tax information
about your investment. You should consult with your tax adviser about the
effect of an investment in the Fund on your particular tax situation.
<PAGE>
Financial Highlights
The Financial Highlights Table is presented to help you understand the Fund's
financial performance for the past 5 fiscal years. Certain information
reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the
table represent the rate that an investor would have earned [or lost] on an
investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and
distributions). This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, the Fund's independent auditors, whose report, along with the Fund's
financial statements, is included in the Statement of Additional Information,
which is available on request.
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<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund
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For More Information:
The following additional information about the Fund is available without
charge upon request:
Statement of Additional Information
This document includes additional information about the Fund's investment
policies, risks, and operations. It is incorporated by reference into
this Prospectus (which means it is legally part of this Prospectus).
Annual and Semi-Annual Reports
Additional information about the Fund's investments and performance is
available in the Fund's Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders.
The Annual Report includes a discussion of market conditions and
investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance
during its last fiscal year.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Get More Information:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can request the Statement of Additional Information, the Annual and
Semi-Annual Reports, and other information about the Fund or your account:
By Telephone:
Call OppenheimerFunds Services toll-free:
1-800-525-7048
By Mail:
Write to:
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
On the Internet:
You can read or down-load documents on the OppenheimerFunds web site:
http://www.oppenheimerfunds.com
You can also obtain copies of the Statement of Additional Information and
other Fund documents and reports by visiting the SEC's Public Reference
Room in Washington, D.C. (Phone 1-800-SEC-0330) or the SEC's Internet web
site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies may be obtained upon payment of a
duplicating fee by writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section,
Washington, D.C. 20549-6009.
No one has been authorized to provide any information about the Fund or
to make any representations about the Fund other than what is contained
in this Prospectus. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell shares of the
Fund, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund, to any
person in any state or other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make
such an offer.
The Fund's shares are distributed by:
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
SEC File No. 811-5225
PR0257.001.0299 Printed on recycled paper.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048-0203
1-800-525-7048
Statement of Additional Information dated February 19, 1999
This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus. This
document contains additional information about the Fund and supplements
information in the Prospectus dated February 19, 1999. It should be read
together with the Prospectus, which may be obtained by writing to the Fund's
Transfer Agent, OppenheimerFunds Services, at P.O. Box 5270, Denver, Colorado
80217, or by calling the Transfer Agent at the toll-free number shown above,
or by downloading it from the OppenheimerFunds Internet web site at
www.oppenheimerfunds.com.
Contents
Page
About the Fund
Additional Information About the Fund's Investment Policies and Risks..
The Fund's Investment Policies.....................................
Other Investment Techniques and Strategies.........................
Investment Restrictions............................................
How the Fund is Managed ...............................................
Organization and History...........................................
Trustees and Officers..............................................
The Manager........................................................
Brokerage Policies of the Fund.........................................
Distribution and Service Plans.........................................
Performance of the Fund................................................
About Your Account
How To Buy Shares......................................................
How To Sell Shares.....................................................
How To Exchange Shares.................................................
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes.....................................
Additional Information About the Fund..................................
Financial Information About the Fund
Independent Auditors' Report...........................................
Financial Statements...................................................
Appendix A: Description of Debt Security Ratings....................... A-1
Appendix B: Corporate Industry Classifications......................... B-1
Appendix C: Special Sales Charge Arrangements and Waivers.............. C-1
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<PAGE>
ABOUT THE FUND
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Information About the Fund's Investment Policies and Risks
The investment objective, the principal investment policies and the
main risks of the Fund are described in the Prospectus. This Statement of
Additional Information contains supplemental information about those policies
and risks and the types of securities that the Fund invests in. Additional
information is also provided about the Fund's investment Manager,
OppenheimerFunds, Inc., and the strategies that the Fund may use to try to
achieve its objective.
The Fund's Investment Policies. The composition of the Fund's portfolio and
the techniques and strategies that the Fund's Sub-Adviser, OpCap Advisors,
may use in selecting portfolio securities will vary over time. The Fund is
not required to use all of the investment techniques and strategies described
below at all times in seeking its goal. It may use some of the special
investment techniques and strategies at some times or not at all.
In selecting securities for the Fund's portfolio, the Sub-Adviser
evaluates the merits of particular equity and fixed-income securities
primarily through the exercise of its own investment analysis. That process
may include, among other things, evaluation of the issuer's historical
operations, prospects for the industry of which the issuer is part, the
issuer's financial condition, its pending product developments and business
(and those of competitors), the effect of general market and economic
conditions on the issuer's business, and legislative proposals that might
affect the issuer.
n Investments in Equity Securities. The Fund does not limit its
investments in equity securities to issuers having a market capitalization of
a specified size or range, and therefore may invest in securities of small-,
mid- and large-capitalization issuers. At times, the Fund may focus its
equity investments in securities of one or more capitalization ranges, based
upon the Sub-Adviser's judgment of where are the best market opportunities to
seek the Fund's objective. At times, the market may favor or disfavor
securities of issuers of a particular capitalization range, and securities of
small capitalization issuers may be subject to greater price volatility in
general than securities of larger companies. Therefore, if the Fund has
substantial investments in smaller capitalization companies at times of
market volatility, the Fund's share price may fluctuate more than that of
funds focusing on larger capitalization issuers.
o Value Investing. In selecting equity investments for the
Fund's portfolio, the portfolio manager currently uses a value investing
style. In using a value approach, the portfolio manager seeks stock and other
securities that appear to be temporarily undervalued, by various measures,
such as price/earnings ratios. This approach is subject to change and may not
necessarily be used in all cases. Value investing seeks stocks having prices
that are low in relation to their real worth or future prospects, in the hope
that the Fund will realize appreciation in the value of its holdings when
other investors realize the intrinsic value of the stock.
Using value investing requires research as to the issuer's underlying
financial condition and prospects. Some of the measures used to identify
these securities include, among others:
o Price/Earnings ratio, which is the stock's price divided by its
earnings per share. A stock having a price/earnings ratio lower than
its historical range, or the market as a whole or that of similar
companies may offer attractive investment opportunities.
o Price/book value ratio, which is the stock price divided by the book
value of the company per share, which measures the company's stock
price in relation to its asset value.
o Dividend Yield is measured by dividing the annual dividend by the
stock price per share.
o Valuation of Assets which compares the stock price to the value of
the company's underlying assets, including their projected value in the
marketplace and liquidation value.
o Preferred Stocks. Preferred stock, unlike common stock, has a
stated dividend rate payable from the corporation's earnings. Preferred
stock dividends may be cumulative or non-cumulative, participating, or
auction rate. "Cumulative" dividend provisions require all or a portion of
prior unpaid dividends to be paid.
If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be
less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline. Preferred
stock may have mandatory sinking fund provisions, as well as call/redemption
provisions prior to maturity, which can be a negative feature when interest
rates decline. Preferred stock also generally has a preference over common
stock on the distribution of a corporation's assets in the event of
liquidation of the corporation. Preferred stock may be "participating" stock,
which means that it may be entitled to a dividend exceeding the stated
dividend in certain cases. The rights of preferred stock on distribution of
a corporation's assets in the event of a liquidation are generally
subordinate to the rights associated with a corporation's debt securities.
o Rights and Warrants. The Fund can invest up to 5% of its total
assets in warrants and rights. Warrants basically are options to purchase
equity securities at specific prices valid for a specific period of time.
Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying
securities. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a short
duration and are distributed directly by the issuer to its shareholders.
Rights and warrants have no voting rights, receive no dividends and have no
rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
o Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are debt
securities that are convertible into an issuer's common stock. Convertible
securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation's capital structure
and therefore are subject to less risk than common stock.
The value of a convertible security is a function of its "investment
value" and its "conversion value." If the investment value exceeds the
conversion value, the security will behave more like a debt security, and the
security's price will likely increase when interest rates fall and decrease
when interest rates rise. If the conversion value exceeds the investment
value, the security will behave more like an equity security: it will likely
sell at a premium over its conversion value, and its price will tend to
fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying security.
While convertible securities are a form of debt security in many cases,
their conversion feature (allowing conversion into equity securities) causes
them to be regarded more as "equity equivalents." As a result, the rating
assigned to the security has less impact on the Sub-Adviser's investment
decision with respect to convertible securities than in the case of
non-convertible fixed income securities. To determine whether convertible
securities should be regarded as "equity equivalents," the Sub-Adviser may
consider the following factors:
(1) whether, at the option of the investor, the convertible security can be
exchanged for a fixed number of shares of common stock of the
issuer,
(2) whether the issuer of the convertible securities has restated its
earnings per share of common stock on a fully diluted basis
(considering the effect of conversion of the convertible
securities), and
(3) the extent to which the convertible security may be a defensive "equity
substitute," providing the ability to participate in any
appreciation in the price of the issuer's common stock.
n Investments in Debt Securities. The Fund invests in bonds,
debentures and other debt securities, including U.S. government securities,
to seek current income as part of its investment objective. It may also
invest in them for liquidity or defensive purposes. Although the Fund will
invest at least 25% of its total assets in fixed-income senior securities,
including debt securities, the Fund currently emphasizes investments in
equity securities, such as stocks.
The Fund's debt investments can include investment-grade bonds and
non-investment grade bonds (commonly referred to as "junk bonds").
Investment-grade bonds are bonds rated at least "Baa" by Moody's Investors
Service, Inc., at least "BBB" by Standard & Poor's Corporation or Duff &
Phelps, Inc., or have comparable ratings by another nationally recognized
statistical rating organization. In making investments in debt securities,
the Sub-Adviser may rely to some extent on the ratings of ratings
organizations or it may use its own research to evaluate a security's
credit-worthiness. If the securities are unrated, to be considered part of
the Fund's holdings of investment-grade securities, they must be judged by
the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable quality to bonds rated as investment
grade by a rating organization.
o Interest Rate Risks. Interest rate risk refers to the
fluctuations in value of fixed-income securities resulting from the inverse
relationship between price and yield. For example, an increase in general
interest rates will tend to reduce the market value of already-issued
fixed-income investments, and a decline in general interest rates will tend
to increase their value. In addition, debt securities with longer maturities,
which tend to have higher yields, are subject to potentially greater
fluctuations in value from changes in interest rates than obligations with
shorter maturities.
Fluctuations in the market value of fixed-income securities after the
Fund buys them will not affect the interest payable on those securities, nor
the cash income from them. However, those price fluctuations will be
reflected in the valuations of the securities, and therefore the Fund's net
asset values will be affected by those fluctuations.
o Special Risks of Lower-Grade Securities. The Fund may invest up
to 25% of its total assets in lower grade debt securities. Because
lower-rated securities tend to offer higher yields than investment grade
securities, the Fund may invest in lower grade securities if the Sub-Adviser
is trying to achieve greater income (and, in some cases, the appreciation
possibilities of lower-grade securities may be a reason they are selected for
the Fund's portfolio).
"Lower-grade" debt securities are those rated below "investment grade"
which means they have a rating lower than "Baa" by Moody's or lower than
"BBB" by Standard & Poor's or Duff & Phelps, or similar ratings by other
rating organizations. If they are unrated, and are determined by the
Sub-Adviser to be of comparable quality to debt securities rated below
investment grade, they are included in limitation on the percentage of the
Fund's assets that can be invested in lower-grade securities. The Fund may
invest in securities rated as low as "C" or "D."
Some of the special credit risks of lower-grade securities are
discussed in the Prospectus. There is a greater risk that the issuer may
default on its obligation to pay interest or to repay principal than in the
case of investment grade securities. The issuer's low creditworthiness may
increase the potential for its insolvency. An overall decline in values in
the high yield bond market is also more likely during a period of a general
economic downturn. An economic downturn or an increase in interest rates
could severely disrupt the market for high yield bonds, adversely affecting
the values of outstanding bonds as well as the ability of issuers to pay
interest or repay principal. In the case of foreign high yield bonds, these
risks are in addition to the special risk of foreign investing discussed in
the Prospectus and in this Statement of Additional Information.
However, the Fund's limitations on these investments may reduce some of
the risks to the Fund, as will the Fund's policy of diversifying its
investments. Additionally, to the extent they can be converted into stock,
convertible securities may be less subject to some of these risks than
non-convertible high yield bonds, since stock may be more liquid and less
affected by some of these risk factors.
While securities rated "Baa" by Moody's or "BBB" by Standard & Poor's
or Duff & Phelps are investment grade and are not regarded as junk bonds,
those securities may be subject to special risks, and have some speculative
characteristics. A description of the debt security ratings categories of
Moody's, S&P, Fitch IBCA and Duff & Phelps are included in Appendix A to this
Statement of Additional Information.
o Mortgage-Related Securities. Mortgage-related securities are a
form of derivative investment collateralized by pools of commercial or
residential mortgages. Pools of mortgage loans are assembled as securities
for sale to investors by government agencies or entities or by private
issuers. These securities include collateralized mortgage obligations
("CMOs"), mortgage pass-through securities, stripped mortgage pass-through
securities, interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits ("REMICs")
and other real-estate related securities.
Mortgage-related securities that are issued or guaranteed by agencies
or instrumentalities of the U.S. government have relatively little credit
risk (depending on the nature of the issuer) but are subject to interest rate
risks and prepayment risks, as described in the Prospectus.
As with other debt securities, the prices of mortgage-related
securities tend to move inversely to changes in interest rates. The Fund can
buy mortgage-related securities that have interest rates that move inversely
to changes in general interest rates, based on a multiple of a specific
index. Although the value of a mortgage-related security may decline when
interest rates rise, the converse is not always the case.
In periods of declining interest rates, mortgages are more likely to be
prepaid. Therefore, a mortgage-related security's maturity can be shortened
by unscheduled prepayments on the underlying mortgages. Therefore, it is not
possible to predict accurately the security's yield. The principal that is
returned earlier than expected may have to be reinvested in other investments
having a lower yield than the prepaid security. Therefore, these securities
may be less effective as a means of "locking in" attractive long-term
interest rates, and they may have less potential for appreciation during
periods of declining interest rates, than conventional bonds with comparable
stated maturities.
Prepayment risks can lead to substantial fluctuations in the value of a
mortgage-related security. In turn, this can affect the value of the Fund's
shares. If a mortgage-related security has been purchased at a premium, all
or part of the premium the Fund paid may be lost if there is a decline in the
market value of the security, whether that results from interest rate changes
or prepayments on the underlying mortgages. In the case of stripped
mortgage-related securities, if they experience greater rates of prepayment
than were anticipated, the Fund may fail to recoup its initial investment on
the security.
During periods of rapidly rising interest rates, prepayments of
mortgage-related securities may occur at slower than expected rates. Slower
prepayments effectively may lengthen a mortgage-related security's expected
maturity. Generally, that would cause the value of the security to fluctuate
more widely in responses to changes in interest rates. If the prepayments on
the Fund's mortgage-related securities were to decrease broadly, the Fund's
effective duration, and therefore its sensitivity to interest rate changes,
would increase.
As with other debt securities, the values of mortgage related
securities may be affected by changes in the market's perception of the
creditworthiness of the entity issuing the securities or guaranteeing them.
Their values may also be affected by changes in government regulations and
tax policies.
o Collateralized Mortgage Obligations. CMOs are multi-class
bonds that are backed by pools of mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through
certificates. They may be collateralized by:
(1) pass-through certificates issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, Fannie
Mae, or Freddie Mac,
(2) unsecuritized mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing
Administration or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans' Affairs,
(3) unsecuritized conventional mortgages,
(4) other mortgage-related securities, or
(5) any combination of these.
Each class of CMO, referred to as a "tranche," is issued at a specific
coupon rate and has a stated maturity or final distribution date. Principal
prepayments on the underlying mortgages may cause the CMO to be retired much
earlier than the stated maturity or final distribution date. The principal
and interest on the underlying mortgages may be allocated among the several
classes of a series of a CMO in different ways. One or more tranches may have
coupon rates that reset periodically at a specified increase over an index.
These are floating rate CMOs, and typically have a cap on the coupon rate.
Inverse floating rate CMOs have a coupon rate that moves in the reverse
direction to an applicable index. The coupon rate on these CMOs will increase
as general interest rates decrease. These are usually much more volatile than
fixed rate CMOs or floating rate CMOs.
n U.S. Government Securities. These are securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or other government agencies or corporate
entities referred to as "instrumentalities." The obligations of U.S.
government agencies or instrumentalities in which the Fund may invest may or
may not be guaranteed or supported by the "full faith and credit" of the
United States. "Full faith and credit" means generally that the taxing power
of the U.S. government is pledged to the payment of interest and repayment of
principal on a security. If a security is not backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States, the owner of the security must look principally
to the agency issuing the obligation for repayment. The owner might be able
to assert a claim against the United States if the issuing agency or
instrumentality does not meet its commitment. The Fund will invest in
securities of U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities only if the
Sub-Adviser is satisfied that the credit risk with respect to such
instrumentality is minimal.
o U.S. Treasury Obligations. These include Treasury bills
(maturities of one year or less when issued), Treasury notes (maturities of
from one to ten years), and Treasury bonds (maturities of more than ten
years). Treasury securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States as to timely payments of interest and repayments of principal.
They also can include U. S. Treasury securities that have been "stripped" by
a Federal Reserve Bank, and zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities.
o Obligations Issued or Guaranteed by U.S. Government Agencies or
Instrumentalities. These include direct obligations and mortgage related
securities that have different levels of credit support from the government.
Some are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, such
as Government National Mortgage Association pass-through mortgage
certificates (called "Ginnie Maes"). Some are supported by the right of the
issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury under certain circumstances, such as
Federal National Mortgage Association bonds ("Fannie Maes"). Others are
supported only by the credit of the entity that issued them, such as Federal
Home Loan Mortgage Corporation obligations ("Freddie Macs").
o Money Market Instruments. The following is a brief description of
the types of money market securities the Fund may invest in. Money market
securities are high-quality, short-term debt instruments that may be issued
by the U.S. Government, corporations, banks or other entities. They may have
fixed, variable or floating interest rates.
o U.S. Government Securities. These include obligations issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities, described above.
o Bank Obligations. The Fund may buy time deposits,
certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances. Time deposits, other than
overnight deposits, may be subject to withdrawal penalties and if so they are
deemed "illiquid" investments."
The Fund can purchase bank obligations that are fully insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The FDIC insures the deposits of
member banks up to $100,000 per account. Insured bank obligations may have a
limited market and a particular investment of this type may be deemed
"illiquid" unless the Board of Trustees of the Fund determines that a
readily-available market exists for that particular obligation, or unless the
obligation is payable at principal amount plus accrued interest on demand or
within seven days after demand.
o Commercial Paper. The Fund may invest in commercial paper, if
it is rated within the top two rating categories of Standard & Poor's and
Moody's. If the paper is not rated, it may be purchased if issued by a
company having a credit rating of at least "AA" by Standard & Poor's or "Aa"
by Moody's.
The Fund may buy commercial paper, including U.S. dollar-denominated
securities of foreign branches of U.S. banks, issued by other entities if the
commercial paper is guaranteed as to principal and interest by a bank,
government or corporation whose certificates of deposit or commercial paper
may otherwise be purchased by the Fund.
o Variable Amount Master Demand Notes. Master demand notes are
corporate obligations that permit the investment of fluctuating amounts by
the Fund at varying rates of interest under direct arrangements between the
Fund, as lender, and the borrower. They permit daily changes in the amounts
borrowed. The Fund has the right to increase the amount under the note at
any time up to the full amount provided by the note agreement, or to decrease
the amount. The borrower may prepay up to the full amount of the note without
penalty. These notes may or may not be backed by bank letters of credit.
Because these notes are direct lending arrangements between the lender
and borrower, it is not expected that there will be a trading market for
them. There is no secondary market for these notes, although they are
redeemable (and thus are immediately repayable by the borrower) at principal
amount, plus accrued interest, at any time. Accordingly, the Fund's right to
redeem such notes is dependent upon the ability of the borrower to pay
principal and interest on demand.
The Fund has no limitations on the type of issuer from whom these notes
will be purchased. However, in connection with such purchases and on an
ongoing basis, the Sub-Adviser will consider the earning power, cash flow and
other liquidity ratios of the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and
interest on demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes
made demand simultaneously. Investments in master demand notes are subject
to the limitation on investments by the Fund in illiquid securities,
described in the Prospectus. The Fund does not intend that its investments in
variable amount master demand notes will exceed 5% of its total assets.
n Foreign Securities. The Fund may purchase equity and debt securities
issued or guaranteed by foreign companies or foreign governments or their
agencies. "Foreign securities" include equity and debt securities of
companies organized under the laws of countries other than the United States
and debt securities of foreign governments. They may be traded on foreign
securities exchanges or in the foreign over-the-counter markets.
Securities of foreign issuers that are represented by American
Depository Receipts or that are listed on a U.S. securities exchange or
traded in the U.S. over-the-counter markets are not considered "foreign
securities" for the purpose of the Fund's investment allocations. That is
because they are not subject to many of the special considerations and risks,
discussed below, that apply to foreign securities traded and held abroad.
Because the Fund may purchase securities denominated in foreign
currencies, a change in the value of such foreign currency against the U.S.
dollar will result in a change in the amount of income the Fund has available
for distribution. Because a portion of the Fund's investment income may be
received in foreign currencies, the Fund will be required to compute its
income in U.S. dollars for distribution to shareholders, and therefore the
Fund will absorb the cost of currency fluctuations. After the Fund has
distributed income, subsequent foreign currency losses may result in the
Fund's having distributed more income in a particular fiscal period than was
available from investment income, which could result in a return of capital
to shareholders.
Investing in foreign securities offers potential benefits not available
from investing solely in securities of domestic issuers. They include the
opportunity to invest in foreign issuers that appear to offer growth
potential, or in foreign countries with economic policies or business cycles
different from those of the U.S., or to reduce fluctuations in portfolio
value by taking advantage of foreign stock markets that do not move in a
manner parallel to U.S. markets. The Fund will hold foreign currency only in
connection with the purchase or sale of foreign securities.
o Foreign Debt Obligations. The debt obligations of foreign
governments and entities may or may not be supported by the full faith and
credit of the foreign government. The Fund may buy securities issued by
certain "supra-national" entities, which include entities designated or
supported by governments to promote economic reconstruction or development,
international banking organizations and related government agencies. Examples
are the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (commonly
called the "World Bank"), the Asian Development bank and the Inter-American
Development Bank.
The governmental members of these supranational entities are
"stockholders" that typically make capital contributions and may be committed
to make additional capital contributions if the entity is unable to repay its
borrowings. A supra-national entity's lending activities may be limited to a
percentage of its total capital, reserves and net income. There can be no
assurance that the constituent foreign governments will continue to be able
or willing to honor their capitalization commitments for those entities.
o Risks of Foreign Investing. Investments in foreign securities
may offer special opportunities for investing but also present special
additional risks and considerations not typically associated with investments
in domestic securities. Some of these additional risks are:
o reduction of income by foreign taxes;
o fluctuation in value of foreign investments due to changes in currency
rates or currency control regulations (for example, currency
blockage);
o transaction charges for currency exchange;
o lack of public information about foreign issuers;
o lack of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
in foreign countries comparable to those applicable to domestic
issuers;
o less volume on foreign exchanges than on U.S. exchanges;
o greater volatility and less liquidity on foreign markets than in the
U.S.;
o less governmental regulation of foreign issuers, stock exchanges and
brokers than in the U.S.;
o greater difficulties in commencing lawsuits;
o higher brokerage commission rates than in the U.S.;
o increased risks of delays in settlement of portfolio transactions or
loss of certificates for portfolio securities;
o possibilities in some countries of expropriation, confiscatory
taxation, political, financial or social instability or adverse
diplomatic developments; and
o unfavorable differences between the U.S. economy and foreign
economies.
In the past, U.S. Government policies have discouraged certain
investments abroad by U.S. investors, through taxation or other restrictions,
and it is possible that such restrictions could be re-imposed.
o Special Risks of Emerging Markets. Emerging and developing
markets abroad may also offer special opportunities for growth investing but
have greater risks than more developed foreign markets, such as those in
Europe and Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. There may be even less
liquidity in their stock markets, and settlements of purchases and sales of
securities may be subject to additional delays. They are subject to greater
risks of limitations on the repatriation of income and profits because of
currency restrictions imposed by local governments. Those countries may also
be subject to the risk of greater political and economic instability, which
can greatly affect the volatility of prices of securities in those countries.
The Sub-Adviser will consider these factors when evaluating securities in
these markets, because the selection of those securities must be consistent
with the Fund's goal of preservation of principal.
o Risks of Conversion to Euro. On January 1, 1999, eleven
countries in the European Union adopted the euro as their official currency.
However, their current currencies (for example, the franc, the mark, and the
lire) will also continue in use until January 1, 2002. After that date, it is
expected that only the euro will be used in those countries. A common
currency is expected to confer some benefits in those markets, by
consolidating the government debt market for those countries and reducing
some currency risks and costs. But the conversion to the new currency will
affect the Fund operationally and also has potential risks, some of which are
listed below. Among other things, the conversion will affect:
o issuers in which the Fund invests, because of changes in the
competitive environment from a consolidated currency market and greater
operational costs from converting to the new currency. This might
depress stock values.
o vendors the Fund depends on to carry out its business, such as its
Custodian (which holds the foreign securities the Fund buys), the
Manager (which must price the Fund's investments to deal with the
conversion to the euro) and brokers, foreign markets and securities
depositories. If they are not prepared, there could be delays in
settlements and additional costs to the Fund.
o exchange contracts and derivatives that are outstanding during the
transition to the euro. The lack of currency rate calculations between
the affected currencies and the need to update the Fund's contracts
could pose extra costs to the Fund.
The Manager is upgrading (at its expense) its computer and bookkeeping
systems to deal with the conversion. The Fund's Custodian has advised the
Manager of its plans to deal with the conversion, including how it will
update its record keeping systems and handle the redenomination of
outstanding foreign debt. The Fund's portfolio manager will also monitor the
effects of the conversion on the issuers in which the Fund invests. The
possible effect of these factors on the Fund's investments cannot be
determined with certainty at this time, but they may reduce the value of some
of the Fund's holdings and increase its operational costs.
n Portfolio Turnover. "Portfolio turnover" describes the rate at
which the Fund traded its portfolio securities during its last fiscal year.
For example, if a fund sold all of its securities during the year, its
portfolio turnover rate would have been 100%. The Fund's portfolio turnover
rate will fluctuate from year to year, and may be up to 250%. Increased
portfolio turnover creates higher brokerage and transaction costs for the
Fund, which may reduce its overall performance. Additionally, the realization
of capital gains from selling portfolio securities may result in
distributions of taxable long-term capital gains to shareholders, since the
Fund will normally distribute all of its capital gains realized each year, to
avoid excise taxes under the Internal Revenue Code.
Other Investment Techniques and Strategies. In seeking its objective, the
Fund may from time to time employ the types of investment strategies and
investments described below. It is not required to use all of these
strategies at all times, and at times may not use them.
n Investing in Small, Unseasoned Companies. The Fund may invest in
securities of small, unseasoned companies. These are companies that have
been in operation for less than three years, including the operations of any
predecessors. Securities of these companies may be subject to volatility in
their prices. They may have a limited trading market, which may adversely
affect the Fund's ability to dispose of them and can reduce the price the
Fund might be able to obtain for them. Other investors that own a security
issued by a small, unseasoned issuer for which there is limited liquidity
might trade the security when the Fund is attempting to dispose of its
holdings of that security. In that case the Fund might receive a lower price
for its holdings than might otherwise be obtained.
n When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions. The Fund may invest
in securities on a "when-issued" basis and may purchase or sell securities on
a "delayed delivery" basis. When-issued and delayed delivery are terms that
refer to securities whose terms and indenture are available and for which a
market exists, but which are not available for immediate delivery.
When such transactions are negotiated, the price (which is generally
expressed in yield terms) is fixed at the time the commitment is made.
Delivery and payment for the securities take place at a later date (generally
within 45 days of the date the offer is accepted). The securities are
subject to change in value from market fluctuations during the period until
settlement. The value at delivery may be less than the purchase price. For
example, changes in interest rates in a direction other than that expected by
the Sub-Adviser before settlement will affect the value of such securities
and may cause a loss to the Fund. During the period between purchase and
settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest
accrues to the Fund from the investment.
The Fund can engage in when-issued transactions to secure what the
Sub-Adviser considers to be an advantageous price and yield at the time of
entering into the obligation. When the Fund enters into a when-issued or
delayed-delivery transaction, it relies on the other party to complete the
transaction. Their failure to do so may cause the Fund to lose the
opportunity to obtain the security at a price and yield the Sub-Adviser
considers to be advantageous.
When the Fund engages in when-issued and delayed delivery transactions,
it does so for the purpose of acquiring or selling securities consistent with
its investment objective and policies for its portfolio or for delivery
pursuant to options contracts it has entered into, and not for the purpose of
investment leverage. Although the Fund will enter into delayed delivery or
when-issued purchase transactions to acquire securities, it may dispose of a
commitment prior to settlement. If the Fund chooses to dispose of the right
to acquire a when-issued security prior to its acquisition or to dispose of
its right to delivery or receive against a forward commitment, it may incur a
gain or loss.
At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase or sell a
security on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, it records the
transaction on its books and reflects the value of the security purchased in
determining the Fund's net asset value. In a sale transaction, it records
the proceeds to be received. The Fund will identify to its Custodian bank
cash, U.S. government securities or other high-grade debt obligations at
least equal in value to the value of the Fund's purchase commitments until
the Fund pays for the investment. The Fund will not enter into when-issued
commitments if more than 15% of the Fund's net assets would be committed
under these transactions.
When issued and delayed-delivery transactions can be used by the Fund
as a defensive technique to hedge against anticipated changes in interest
rates and prices. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and
falling prices, the Fund might sell securities in its portfolio on a forward
commitment basis to attempt to limit its exposure to anticipated falling
prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, the Fund
might sell portfolio securities and purchase the same or similar securities
on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis to obtain the benefit of currently
higher cash yields.
n Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may acquire securities subject to
repurchase agreements. It may do so for liquidity purposes to meet
anticipated redemptions of Fund shares, or pending the investment of the
proceeds from sales of Fund shares, or pending the settlement of portfolio
securities.
In a repurchase transaction, the Fund buys a security from, and
simultaneously resells it to, an approved vendor for delivery on an
agreed-upon future date. Approved vendors include U.S. commercial banks, U.S.
branches of foreign banks, or broker-dealers that have been designated as
primary dealers in government securities. They must meet credit requirements
set by the Fund's Board of Trustees from time to time. The resale price
exceeds the purchase price by an amount that reflects an agreed-upon interest
rate effective for the period during which the repurchase agreement is in
effect.
The majority of these transactions run from day to day, and delivery
pursuant to the resale typically occurs within one to five days of the
purchase. Repurchase agreements having a maturity beyond seven days are
subject to the Fund's limits on holding illiquid investments. There is no
limit on the amount of the Fund's net assets that may be subject to
repurchase agreements having maturities of seven days or less.
Repurchase agreements, considered "loans" under the Investment Company
Act, are collateralized by the underlying security. The Fund's repurchase
agreements require that at all times while the repurchase agreement is in
effect, the value of the collateral must equal or exceed the repurchase price
to fully collateralize the repayment obligation. However, if the vendor fails
to pay the resale price on the delivery date, the Fund may incur costs in
disposing of the collateral and may experience losses if there is any delay
in its ability to do so. The Sub-Adviser will impose creditworthiness
requirements to confirm that the vendor is financially sound and will
continuously monitor the collateral's value.
n Illiquid and Restricted Securities. To enable the Fund to sell its
holdings of a restricted security not registered under the Securities Act of
1933, the Fund may have to cause those securities to be registered. The
expenses of registering restricted securities may be negotiated by the Fund
with the issuer at the time the Fund buys the securities. When the Fund must
arrange registration because the Fund wishes to sell the security, a
considerable period may elapse between the time the decision is made to sell
the security and the time the security is registered so that the Fund could
sell it. The Fund would bear the risks of any downward price fluctuation
during that period.
The Fund may also acquire restricted securities through private
placements. Those securities have contractual restrictions on their public
resale. Those restrictions might limit the Fund's ability to dispose of the
securities and might lower the amount the Fund could realize upon the sale.
The Fund has limitations that apply to purchases of restricted
securities, as stated in the Prospectus. Those percentage restrictions do not
limit purchases of restricted securities that are eligible for sale to
qualified institutional purchasers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of
1933, if those securities have been determined to be liquid by the Manager
under Board-approved guidelines. Those guidelines take into account the
trading activity for such securities and the availability of reliable pricing
information, among other factors. If there is a lack of trading interest in
a particular Rule 144A security, the Fund's holdings of that security may be
considered to be illiquid.
n Loans of Portfolio Securities. The Fund can lend its portfolio
securities to certain types of eligible borrowers approved by the Board of
Trustees. It may do so to try to provide income or to raise cash for
liquidity purposes. These loans are limited to not more than 10% of the value
of the Fund's total assets. There are some risks in connection with
securities lending. The Fund might experience a delay in receiving additional
collateral to secure a loan, or a delay in recovery of the loaned securities.
The Fund presently does not intend to engage in loans of securities in the
coming year.
The Fund must receive collateral for a loan. Under current applicable
regulatory requirements (which are subject to change), on each business day
the loan collateral must be at least equal to the value of the loaned
securities. It must consist of cash, bank letters of credit, securities of
the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or other cash
equivalents in which the Fund is permitted to invest. To be acceptable as
collateral, letters of credit must obligate a bank to pay amounts demanded by
the Fund if the demand meets the terms of the letter. The terms of the
letter of credit and the issuing bank both must be satisfactory to the Fund.
When it lends securities, the Fund receives amounts equal to the
dividends or interest on loaned securities. It also receives one or more of
(a) negotiated loan fees, (b) interest on securities used as collateral, and
(c) interest on any short-term debt securities purchased with such loan
collateral. Either type of interest may be shared with the borrower. The
Fund may also pay reasonable finder, custodian and administrative fees in
connection with these loans. The terms of the Fund's loans must meet
applicable tests under the Internal Revenue Code and must permit the Fund to
reacquire loaned securities on five days' notice or in time to vote on any
important matter.
n Hedging. Although the Fund can use hedging instruments, it is not
obligated to use them in seeking its objective. It does not currently
contemplate using them to any significant degree. The Fund may use hedging to
attempt to protect against declines in the market value of the Fund's
portfolio, to permit the Fund to retain unrealized gains in the value of
portfolio securities which have appreciated, or to facilitate selling
securities for investment reasons. To do so, the Fund may:
o sell futures contracts,
o buy puts on such futures or on securities, or
o write covered calls on securities or futures.
The Fund may use hedging to establish a position in the securities
market as a temporary substitute for purchasing particular securities. In
that case the Fund will normally seek to purchase the securities and then
terminate that hedging position. The Fund might also use this type of hedge
to attempt to protect against the possibility that its portfolio securities
would not be fully included in a rise in value of the market. To do so the
Fund may:
o buy futures, or
o buy calls on such futures or on securities.
The Fund's strategy of hedging with futures and options on futures will
be incidental to the Fund's activities in the underlying cash market. The
particular hedging instruments the Fund can use are described below. The
Fund may employ new hedging instruments and strategies when they are
developed, if those investment methods are consistent with the Fund's
investment objective and are permissible under applicable regulations
governing the Fund.
o Futures. The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts that relate to
(1) broadly-based securities indices (these are referred to as stock index
futures), (2) foreign currencies (these are referred to as forward
contracts), and (3) commodities (these are referred to as commodity futures).
A broadly-based stock index is used as the basis for trading stock
index futures. These indices may in some cases be based on stocks of issuers
in a particular industry or group of industries. A stock index assigns
relative values to the common stocks included in the index and its value
fluctuates in response to the changes in value of the underlying stocks. A
stock index cannot be purchased or sold directly. These contracts obligate
the seller to deliver, and the purchaser to take, cash to settle the futures
transaction. There is no delivery made of the underlying securities to settle
the futures obligation. Either party may also settle the transaction by
entering into an offsetting contract.
The Fund can invests a portion of its assets in commodity futures
contracts. Commodity futures may be based upon commodities within five main
commodity groups: (1) energy, which includes crude oil, natural gas, gasoline
and heating oil; (2) livestock, which includes cattle and hogs; (3)
agriculture, which includes wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, coffee, sugar and
cocoa; (4) industrial metals, which includes aluminum, copper, lead, nickel,
tin and zinc; and (5) precious metals, which includes gold, platinum and
silver. The Fund may purchase and sell commodity futures contracts, options
on futures contracts and options and futures on commodity indices with
respect to these five main commodity groups and the individual commodities
within each group, as well as other types of commodities.
No payment is paid or received by the Fund on the purchase or sale of a
future. Upon entering into a futures transaction, the Fund will be required
to deposit an initial margin payment with the futures commission merchant
(the "futures broker"). Initial margin payments will be deposited with the
Fund's Custodian bank in an account registered in the futures broker's name.
However, the futures broker can gain access to that account only under
specified conditions. As the future is marked to market (that is, its value
on the Fund's books is changed) to reflect changes in its market value,
subsequent margin payments, called variation margin, will be paid to or by
the futures broker daily.
At any time prior to expiration of the future, the Fund may elect to
close out its position by taking an opposite position, at which time a final
determination of variation margin is made and any additional cash must be
paid by or released to the Fund. Any loss or gain on the future is then
realized by the Fund for tax purposes. All futures transactions are effected
through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange on which the contracts
are traded.
o Put and Call Options. The Fund may buy and sell certain kinds of put
options ("puts") and call options ("calls"). The Fund may buy and sell
exchange-traded and over-the-counter put and call options, including options
on broadly-based indices, securities, foreign currencies and stock index
futures. The Trustees have adopted a non-fundamental policy that the Fund
may write covered call options or write put options with respect to or not
more than 5% of the value of its net assets. Similarly, the Fund may only
purchase call options and put options with a value of up to 5% of its net
assets.
o Writing Covered Call Options. The Fund may write (that is,
sell) covered calls. If the Fund sells a call option, it must be covered.
For options on securities, that means the Fund must own the security subject
to the call while the call is outstanding. For stock index options, that
means the call must be covered by segregating liquid assets to enable the
Fund to satisfy its obligations if the call is exercised.
When the Fund writes a call, it receives cash (a premium). For calls on
securities, the Fund agrees to sell the underlying security to a purchaser of
a corresponding call on the same security during the call period at a fixed
exercise price regardless of market price changes during the call period. The
call period is usually not more than nine months. The exercise price may
differ from the market price of the underlying security. The Fund has the
risk of loss that the price of the underlying security may decline during the
call period. That risk may be offset to some extent by the premium the Fund
receives. If the value of the investment does not rise above the call price,
it is likely that the call will lapse without being exercised. In that case
the Fund would keep the cash premium and the investment.
If the buyer of a call on a stock index exercises it, the Fund will pay
an amount of cash equal to the difference between the closing price of the
call and the exercise price, multiplied by a specified multiple that
determines the total value of the call for each point of difference. If the
value of the underlying investment does not rise above the call price, it is
likely that the call will lapse without being exercised. In that case the
Fund would keep the cash premium.
Settlement of puts and calls on broadly-based stock indices is in cash.
Gain or loss on options on stock indices depends on changes in the index in
question (and thus on price movements in the stock market generally).
The Fund's Custodian, or a securities depository acting for the
Custodian, will act as the Fund's escrow agent, through the facilities of the
Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC"), as to the investments on which the Fund
has written calls traded on exchanges or as to other acceptable escrow
securities. In that way, no margin will be required for such transactions.
OCC will release the securities on the expiration of the option or when the
Fund enters into a closing transaction.
When the Fund writes an over-the-counter ("OTC") option, it will enter
into an arrangement with a primary U.S. government securities dealer which
will establish a formula price at which the Fund will have the absolute right
to repurchase that OTC option. The formula price will generally be based on
a multiple of the premium received for the option, plus the amount by which
the option is exercisable below the market price of the underlying security
(that is, the option is "in the money"). When the Fund writes an OTC option,
it will treat as illiquid (for purposes of its restriction on holding
illiquid securities) the mark-to-market value of any OTC option it holds,
unless the option is subject to a buy-back agreement by the executing broker.
To terminate its obligation on a call it has written, the Fund may
purchase a corresponding call in a "closing purchase transaction." The Fund
will then realize a profit or loss, depending upon whether the net of the
amount of the option transaction costs and the premium received on the call
the Fund wrote is more or less than the price of the call the Fund purchases
to close out the transaction. The Fund may realize a profit if the call
expires unexercised, because the Fund will retain the premium it received
when it wrote the call. Any such profits are considered short-term capital
gains for Federal income tax purposes, as are the premiums on lapsed calls.
When distributed by the Fund they are taxable as ordinary income. If the
Fund cannot effect a closing purchase transaction due to the lack of a
market, it will have to hold the escrowed assets in escrow until the call
expires or is exercised.
The Fund may also write calls on a futures contract without owning the
futures contract or securities deliverable under the contract. To do so, at
the time the call is written, the Fund must cover the call by segregating an
equivalent dollar amount of liquid assets. The Fund will segregate
additional liquid assets if the value of the segregated assets drops below
100% of the current value of the future. Because of this segregation
requirement, in no circumstances would the Fund's receipt of an exercise
notice as to that future require the Fund to deliver a futures contract. It
would simply put the Fund in a short futures position, which is permitted by
the Fund's hedging policies.
o Writing Put Options. The Fund may sell put options on stock
indices, foreign currencies or stock index futures. If the Fund writes a put,
the put must be covered by segregated liquid assets.
The premium the Fund receives from writing a put represents a profit,
as long as the price of the underlying investment remains equal to or above
the exercise price of the put. However, the Fund also assumes the obligation
during the option period to settle the transaction in cash with the buyer of
the put at the exercise price, even if the value of the underlying investment
falls below the exercise price. If a put the Fund has written expires
unexercised, the Fund realizes a gain in the amount of the premium less the
transaction costs incurred. If the put is exercised, the Fund must fulfill
its obligation to settle in cash at the exercise price. That price will
usually exceed the market value of the investment at that time.
As long as the Fund's obligation as the put writer continues, it may be
assigned an exercise notice by the broker-dealer through which the put was
sold. That notice will require the Fund to settle the transaction in cash at
the exercise price. The Fund has no control over when it may be required to
settle the transaction, since it may be assigned an exercise notice at any
time prior to the termination of its obligation as the writer of the put.
That obligation terminates upon expiration of the put. It may also terminate
if, before it receives an exercise notice, the Fund effects a closing
purchase transaction by purchasing a put of the same series as it sold. Once
the Fund has been assigned an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing
purchase transaction.
The Fund may decide to effect a closing purchase transaction to realize
a profit on an outstanding put option it has written. The Fund will realize a
profit or loss from a closing purchase transaction depending on whether the
cost of the transaction is less or more than the premium received from
writing the put option. Any profits from writing puts are considered
short-term capital gains for Federal tax purposes, and when distributed by
the Fund, are taxable as ordinary income.
o Purchasing Calls and Puts. The Fund may buy calls on
securities it intends to purchase and puts on securities that it owns. The
Fund may purchase calls to protect against the possibility that the Fund's
portfolio will not participate in an anticipated rise in the securities
market.
When the Fund buys a call (other than in a closing purchase
transaction), it pays a premium. Buying a call on a security or future gives
the Fund the right to buy the underlying investment from a seller of a
corresponding call on the same investment during the call period at a fixed
exercise price. The Fund benefits only if it sells the call at a profit or
if, during the call period, the market price of the underlying investment is
above the sum of the call price plus the transaction costs and the premium
paid for the call and the Fund exercises the call. If the Fund does not
exercise the call or sell it (whether or not at a profit), the call will
become worthless at its expiration date. In that case the Fund will have paid
the premium but lost the right to purchase the underlying investment.
In the case of a purchase of a call on a stock index, if the Fund
exercises the call during the call period, a seller of a corresponding call
on the same index will pay the Fund an amount of cash to settle the call if
the closing level of the stock index upon which the call is based is greater
than the exercise price of the call. That cash payment is equal to the
difference between the closing price of the call and the exercise price of
the call times a specified multiple (the "multiplier") which determines the
total dollar value for each point of difference.
When the Fund buys a put, it pays a premium. It has the right during
the put period to require a seller of a corresponding put, upon the Fund's
exercise of its put, to buy the underlying security (in the case of puts on
securities or futures) or in the case of puts on stock indices, to deliver
cash to the Fund to settle the put if the closing level of the stock index
upon which the put is based is less than the exercise price of the put. That
cash payment is determined by the multiplier, in the same manner as described
above as to calls.
Buying a put on a security or future enables the Fund to sell the
underlying investment to a seller of a corresponding put on the same
investment during the put period at a fixed exercise price. Buying a put on
securities or Futures the Fund owns enables the Fund to attempt to protect
itself during the put period against a decline in the value of the underlying
investment below the exercise price by selling the underlying investment at
the exercise price to a seller of a corresponding put. If the market price of
the underlying investment is equal to or above the exercise price and, as a
result, the put is not exercised or resold, the put will become worthless at
its expiration date. In that case the Fund will have paid the premium but
lost the right to sell the underlying investment. However, the Fund may sell
the put prior to its expiration. That sale may or may not be at a profit.
Buying a put on an investment the Fund does not own (such as an index
or future) permits the Fund either to resell the put or to buy the underlying
investment and sell it at the exercise price. The resale price will vary
inversely to the price of the underlying investment. If the market price of
the underlying investment is above the exercise price and, as a result, the
put is not exercised, the put will become worthless on its expiration date.
When the Fund purchases a put on a stock index, the put protects the
Fund to the extent that the index moves in a similar pattern to the
securities the Fund holds. The Fund can resell the put. The resale price of
the put will vary inversely with the price of the underlying investment. If
the market price of the underlying investment is above the exercise price,
and as a result the put is not exercised, the put will become worthless on
the expiration date. In the event of a decline in price of the underlying
investment, the Fund could exercise or sell the put at a profit to attempt to
offset some or all of its loss on its portfolio securities.
The Fund may buy a call or put only if, after the purchase, the value
of all call and put options held by the Fund will not exceed 5% of the Fund's
total assets.
o Buying and Selling Options on Foreign Currencies. The Fund
can buy and sell calls and puts on foreign currencies. They include puts and
calls that trade on a securities or commodities exchange or in the
over-the-counter markets or are quoted by major recognized dealers in such
options. The Fund would use these calls and puts to try to protect against
declines in the dollar value of foreign securities and increases in the
dollar cost of foreign securities the Fund wants to acquire.
If the Sub-Adviser anticipates a rise in the dollar value of a foreign
currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated, the increased
cost of those securities may be partially offset by purchasing calls or
writing puts on that foreign currency. If the Sub-Adviser anticipates a
decline in the dollar value of a foreign currency, the decline in the dollar
value of portfolio securities denominated in that currency may be partially
offset by writing calls or purchasing puts on that foreign currency.
However, the currency rates could fluctuate in a direction adverse to the
Fund's position. The Fund will then have incurred option premium payments and
transaction costs without a corresponding benefit.
A call the Fund writes on a foreign currency is "covered" if the Fund
owns the underlying foreign currency covered by the call or has an absolute
and immediate right to acquire that foreign currency without additional cash
consideration (or it can do so for additional cash consideration held in a
segregated account by its Custodian bank) upon conversion or exchange of
other foreign currency held in its portfolio.
o Risks of Hedging with Options and Futures. The use of hedging
instruments requires special skills and knowledge of investment techniques
that are different than what is required for normal portfolio management. If
the Sub-Adviser uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges market
conditions incorrectly, hedging strategies may reduce the Fund's return. The
Fund could also experience losses if the prices of its futures and options
positions were not correlated with its other investments. The Fund's option
activities may affect its costs.
The Fund's option activities may affect its portfolio turnover rate and
brokerage commissions. The exercise of calls written by the Fund may cause
the Fund to sell related portfolio securities, thus increasing its turnover
rate. The exercise by the Fund of puts on securities will cause the sale of
underlying investments, increasing portfolio turnover. Although the decision
whether to exercise a put it holds is within the Fund's control, holding a
put might cause the Fund to sell the related investments for reasons that
would not exist in the absence of the put.
The Fund may pay a brokerage commission each time it buys a call or
put, sells a call or put, or buys or sells an underlying investment in
connection with the exercise of a call or put. Those commissions may be
higher on a relative basis than the commissions for direct purchases or sales
of the underlying investments. Premiums paid for options are small in
relation to the market value of the underlying investments. Consequently, put
and call options offer large amounts of leverage. The leverage offered by
trading in options could result in the Fund's net asset value being more
sensitive to changes in the value of the underlying investment.
If a covered call written by the Fund is exercised on an investment
that has increased in value, the Fund will be required to sell the investment
at the call price. It will not be able to realize any profit if the
investment has increased in value above the call price.
An option position may be closed out only on a market that provides
secondary trading for options of the same series, and there is no assurance
that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option. The
Fund could experience losses if it could not close out a position because of
an illiquid market for the future or option.
There is a risk in using short hedging by selling futures or purchasing
puts on broadly-based indices or futures to attempt to protect against
declines in the value of the Fund's portfolio securities. The risk is that
the prices of the futures or the applicable index will correlate imperfectly
with the behavior of the cash prices of the Fund's securities. For example,
it is possible that while the Fund has used hedging instruments in a short
hedge, the market may advance and the value of the securities held in the
Fund's portfolio may decline. If that occurred, the Fund would lose money on
the hedging instruments and also experience a decline in the value of its
portfolio securities. However, while this could occur for a very brief period
or to a very small degree, over time the value of a diversified portfolio of
securities will tend to move in the same direction as the indices upon which
the hedging instruments are based.
The risk of imperfect correlation increases as the composition of the
Fund's portfolio diverges from the securities included in the applicable
index. To compensate for the imperfect correlation of movements in the price
of the portfolio securities being hedged and movements in the price of the
hedging instruments, the Fund may use hedging instruments in a greater dollar
amount than the dollar amount of portfolio securities being hedged. It might
do so if the historical volatility of the prices of the portfolio securities
being hedged is more than the historical volatility of the applicable index.
The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets are
subject to distortions, due to differences in the nature of those markets.
First, all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit
and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit
requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting
transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the cash and
futures markets. Second, the liquidity of the futures market depends on
participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or
taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery,
liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, thus producing distortion.
Third, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements in the
futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities
markets. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the futures
market may cause temporary price distortions.
The Fund can use hedging instruments to establish a position in the
securities markets as a temporary substitute for the purchase of individual
securities (long hedging) by buying futures and/or calls on such futures,
broadly-based indices or on securities. It is possible that when the Fund
does so the market may decline. If the Fund then concludes not to invest in
securities because of concerns that the market may decline further or for
other reasons, the Fund will realize a loss on the hedging instruments that
is not offset by a reduction in the price of the securities purchased.
o Forward Contracts. Forward contracts are foreign currency exchange
contracts. They are used to buy or sell foreign currency for future delivery
at a fixed price. The Fund uses them to "lock in" the U.S. dollar price of a
security denominated in a foreign currency that the Fund has bought or sold,
or to protect against possible losses from changes in the relative values of
the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency. The Fund limits its exposure in
foreign currency exchange contracts in a particular foreign currency to the
amount of its assets denominated in that currency or a closely-correlated
currency. The Fund may also use "cross-hedging" where the Fund hedges
against changes in currencies other than the currency in which a security it
holds is denominated.
Under a forward contract, one party agrees to purchase, and another
party agrees to sell, a specific currency at a future date. That date may be
any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the
parties. The transaction price is set at the time the contract is entered
into. These contracts are traded in the inter-bank market conducted directly
among currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers.
The Fund may use forward contracts to protect against uncertainty in
the level of future exchange rates. The use of forward contracts does not
eliminate the risk of fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities
the Fund owns or intends to acquire, but it does fix a rate of exchange in
advance. Although forward contracts may reduce the risk of loss from a
decline in the value of the hedged currency, at the same time they limit any
potential gain if the value of the hedged currency increases.
When the Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a
security denominated in a foreign currency, or when it anticipates receiving
dividend payments in a foreign currency, the Fund may desire to "lock-in" the
U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of the
dividend payments. To do so, the Fund may enter into a forward contract for
the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in the
underlying transaction, in a fixed amount of U.S. dollars per unit of the
foreign currency. This is called a "transaction hedge." The transaction hedge
will protect the Fund against a loss from an adverse change in the currency
exchange rates during the period between the date on which the security is
purchased or sold or on which the payment is declared, and the date on which
the payments are made or received.
The Fund may also use forward contracts to lock in the U.S. dollar
value of portfolio positions. This is called a "position hedge." When the
Fund believes that foreign currency may suffer a substantial decline against
the U.S. dollar, it may enter into a forward contract to sell an amount of
that foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the Fund's
portfolio securities denominated in that foreign currency. When the Fund
believes that the U.S. dollar may suffer a substantial decline against a
foreign currency, it may enter into a forward contract to buy that foreign
currency for a fixed dollar amount. Alternatively, the Fund may enter into a
forward contract to sell a different foreign currency for a fixed U.S. dollar
amount if the Fund believes that the U.S. dollar value of the foreign
currency to be sold pursuant to its forward contract will fall whenever there
is a decline in the U.S. dollar value of the currency in which portfolio
securities of the Fund are denominated. That is referred to as a "cross
hedge."
The Fund will cover its short positions in these cases by identifying
to its Custodian bank assets having a value equal to the aggregate amount of
the Fund's commitment under forward contracts. The Fund will not enter into
forward contracts or maintain a net exposure to such contracts if the
consummation of the contracts would obligate the Fund to deliver an amount of
foreign currency in excess of the value of the Fund's portfolio securities or
other assets denominated in that currency or another currency that is the
subject of the hedge. However, to avoid excess transactions and transaction
costs, the Fund may maintain a net exposure to forward contracts in excess of
the value of the Fund's portfolio securities or other assets denominated in
foreign currencies if the excess amount is "covered" by liquid securities
denominated in any currency. The cover must be at least equal at all times to
the amount of that excess.
As one alternative, the Fund may purchase a call option permitting the
Fund to purchase the amount of foreign currency being hedged by a forward
sale contract at a price no higher than the forward contract price. As
another alternative, the Fund may purchase a put option permitting the Fund
to sell the amount of foreign currency subject to a forward purchase contract
at a price as high or higher than the forward contact price.
The precise matching of the amounts under forward contracts and the
value of the securities involved generally will not be possible because the
future value of securities denominated in foreign currencies will change as a
consequence of market movements between the date the forward contract is
entered into and the date it is sold. In some cases the Sub-Adviser may
decide to sell the security and deliver foreign currency to settle the
original purchase obligation. If the market value of the security is less
than the amount of foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver, the
Fund may have to purchase additional foreign currency on the "spot" (that is,
cash) market to settle the security trade. If the market value of the
security instead exceeds the amount of foreign currency the Fund is obligated
to deliver to settle the trade, the Fund may have to sell on the spot market
some of the foreign currency received upon the sale of the security. There
will be additional transaction costs on the spot market in those cases.
The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely
difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is
highly uncertain. Forward contracts involve the risk that anticipated
currency movements will not be accurately predicted, causing the Fund to
sustain losses on these contracts and to pay additional transactions costs.
The use of forward contracts in this manner may reduce the Fund's performance
if there are unanticipated changes in currency prices to a greater degree
than if the Fund had not entered into such contracts.
At or before the maturity of a forward contract requiring the Fund to
sell a currency, the Fund might sell a portfolio security and use the sale
proceeds to make delivery of the currency. In the alternative the Fund might
retain the security and offset its contractual obligation to deliver the
currency by purchasing a second contract. Under that contract the Fund will
obtain, on the same maturity date, the same amount of the currency that it is
obligated to deliver. Similarly, the Fund might close out a forward contract
requiring it to purchase a specified currency by entering into a second
contract entitling it to sell the same amount of the same currency on the
maturity date of the first contract. The Fund would realize a gain or loss
as a result of entering into such an offsetting forward contract under either
circumstance. The gain or loss will depend on the extent to which the
exchange rate or rates between the currencies involved moved between the
execution dates of the first contract and offsetting contract.
The costs to the Fund of engaging in forward contracts varies with
factors such as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period
and the market conditions then prevailing. Because forward contracts are
usually entered into on a principal basis, no brokerage fees or commissions
are involved. Because these contracts are not traded on an exchange, the
Fund must evaluate the credit and performance risk of the counterparty under
each forward contract.
Although the Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, it
does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S.
dollars on a daily basis. The Fund may convert foreign currency from time to
time, and will incur costs in doing so. Foreign exchange dealers do not
charge a fee for conversion, but they do seek to realize a profit based on
the difference between the prices at which they buy and sell various
currencies. Thus, a dealer might offer to sell a foreign currency to the
Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange if the Fund
desires to resell that currency to the dealer.
o Regulatory Aspects of Hedging Instruments. When using futures and
options on futures, the Fund is required to operate within certain guidelines
and restrictions with respect to the use of futures as established by the
Commodities Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC"). In particular, the Fund
is exempted from registration with the CFTC as a "commodity pool operator" if
the Fund complies with the requirements of Rule 4.5 adopted by the CFTC. The
Rule does not limit the percentage of the Fund's assets that may be used for
futures margin and related options premiums for a bona fide hedging
position. However, under the Rule, the Fund must limit its aggregate initial
futures margin and related options premiums to not more than 5% of the Fund's
net assets for hedging strategies that are not considered bona fide hedging
strategies under the Rule. Under the Rule, the Fund must also use short
futures and options on futures solely for bona fide hedging purposes within
the meaning and intent of the applicable provisions of the Commodity Exchange
Act.
Transactions in options by the Fund are subject to limitations
established by the option exchanges. The exchanges limit the maximum number
of options that may be written or held by a single investor or group of
investors acting in concert. Those limits apply regardless of whether the
options were written or purchased on the same or different exchanges or are
held in one or more accounts or through one or more different exchanges or
through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options that the Fund may
write or hold may be affected by options written or held by other entities,
including other investment companies having the same adviser as the Fund (or
an adviser that is an affiliate of the Fund's adviser or Sub-Adviser). The
exchanges also impose position limits on futures transactions. An exchange
may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of those
limits and may impose certain other sanctions.
Under the Investment Company Act, when the Fund purchases a future, it
must maintain cash or readily marketable short-term debt instruments in an
amount equal to the market value of the securities underlying the future,
less the margin deposit applicable to it. The account must be a segregated
account or accounts held by the Fund's Custodian bank.
o Tax Aspects of Certain Hedging Instruments. Certain foreign currency
exchange contracts in which the Fund may invest are treated as "section 1256
contracts" under the Internal Revenue Code. In general, gains or losses
relating to section 1256 contracts are characterized as 60% long-term and 40%
short-term capital gains or losses under the Code. However, foreign currency
gains or losses arising from section 1256 contracts that are forward
contracts generally are treated as ordinary income or loss. In addition,
section 1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of each taxable year are
"marked-to-market," and unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they
were realized. These contracts also may be marked-to-market for purposes of
determining the excise tax applicable to investment company distributions and
for other purposes under rules prescribed pursuant to the Internal Revenue
Code. An election can be made by the Fund to exempt those transactions from
this marked-to-market treatment.
Certain forward contracts the Fund enters into may result in
"straddles" for Federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules may affect
the character and timing of gains (or losses) recognized by the Fund on
straddle positions. Generally, a loss sustained on the disposition of a
position making up a straddle is allowed only to the extent that the loss
exceeds any unrecognized gain in the offsetting positions making up the
straddle. Disallowed loss is generally allowed at the point where there is
no unrecognized gain in the offsetting positions making up the straddle, or
the offsetting position is disposed of.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, the following gains or losses are
treated as ordinary income or loss:
(1) gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates that
occur between the time the Fund accrues interest or other
receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in
a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects such
receivables or pays such liabilities, and
(2) gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in the value of a foreign
currency between the date of acquisition of a debt security
denominated in a foreign currency or foreign currency forward
contracts and the date of disposition.
Currency gains and losses are offset against market gains and losses on
each trade before determining a net "Section 988" gain or loss under the
Internal Revenue Code for that trade, which may increase or decrease the
amount of the Fund's investment company income available for distribution to
its shareholders.
Investment Restrictions
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
n What Are "Fundamental Policies?" Fundamental policies are those
policies that the Fund has adopted to govern its investments that can be
changed only by the vote of a "majority" of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities. Under the Investment Company Act, a "majority" vote is defined
as the vote of the holders of the lesser of:
o 67% or more of the shares present or represented by proxy at a
shareholder meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding
shares are present or represented by proxy, or
o more than 50% of the outstanding shares.
The Fund's investment objective is a fundamental policy. Other policies
described in the Prospectus or this Statement of Additional Information are
"fundamental" only if they are identified as such. The Fund's Board of
Trustees can change non-fundamental policies without shareholder approval.
However, significant changes to investment policies will be described in
supplements or updates to the Prospectus or this Statement of Additional
Information, as appropriate. The Fund's most significant investment policies
are described in the Prospectus.
n Does the Fund Have Additional Fundamental Policies? The following
investment restrictions are fundamental policies of the Fund.
The Fund's most significant investment
restrictions are set forth in the Prospectus. There are additional
investment restrictions that the Fund must follow that are also
fundamental policies. Fundamental policies and the Fund's investment
objective cannot be changed without the vote of a "majority" of the
Fund's outstanding voting securities. Under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, such a majority vote is defined as the vote of the holders of
the lesser of: (i) 67% or more of the shares present or represented by
proxy at a shareholder meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the
outstanding shares are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than
50% of the outstanding shares. Under these additional restrictions, the
Fund cannot:
G invest in physical commodities or physical commodity contracts;
however, the Fund may: (i) buy and sell hedging instruments to the extent
specified in its Prospectus from time to time, and (ii) buy and sell options,
futures, securities or other instruments backed by, or the investment return
from which is linked to changes in the price of, physical commodities;
G invest in real estate or real estate limited partnerships
(direct participation programs); however, the Fund may purchase securities of
issuers which engage in real estate operations and securities which are
secured by real estate or interests therein;
G underwrite securities of other companies except in so far as
the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933
in disposing of a security ;
G invest in securities of any issuer if, to the knowledge of the
Trust, any officer or trustee of the Trust or any officer or director of the
Manager or Sub-Adviser owns more than 1/2 of 1% of the outstanding securities
of such issuer, and such officers, trustees and directors who own more than
1/2 of l% own in the aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding securities of
such issuer;
G pledge its assets or assign or otherwise encumber its assets in
excess of 10% of its net assets (taken at market value at the time of
pledging) and then only to secure borrowings effected within the limitations
set forth in the Prospectus;
G invest for the purpose of exercising control or management of
another company;
G issue senior securities as defined in the 1940 Act except
insofar as the Fund may be deemed to have issued a senior security by reason
of: (a) entering into any repurchase agreement; (b) borrowing money in
accordance with restrictions described above; or (c) lending portfolio
securities; or
G make loans to any person or individual except that portfolio
securities may be loaned by the Fund within the limitations set forth in the
Prospectus.
G with respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of
the value of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer.
G with respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase more than 10%
of the voting securities of any one issuer (other than the U.S. Government or
any of its agencies or instrumentalities).
G concentrate its investments in any particular industry, but if
deemed appropriate for attaining its investment objective, the Fund may
invest less than 25% of its total assets (valued at the time of investment)
in any one industry classification used by the Fund for investment purposes
(for this purpose, a foreign government is considered an industry).
G borrow money in excess of 33-1/3% of the value of the Fund's
total assets; the Fund may borrow only from banks and only as a temporary
measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes and will make no additional
investments while such borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets. With
respect to this fundamental policy, the Fund can borrow only if it maintains
a 300% ratio of assets to borrowings at all times in the manner set forth in
the Investment Company Act.
Unless the Prospectus or this Statement of Additional Information
states that a percentage restriction applies on an ongoing basis, it applies
only at the time the Fund makes an investment. The Fund need not sell
securities to meet the percentage limits if the value of the investment
increases in proportion to the size of the Fund.
n Does the Fund Have Any Restrictions That Are Not Fundamental? The
Fund has a number of other investment restrictions that are not fundamental
policies, which means that they can be changed by the Board of Trustees
without shareholder approval.
G purchase securities on margin (except for such short-term loans
as are necessary for the clearance of purchases of portfolio securities) or
make short sales of securities (collateral arrangements in connection with
transactions in futures and options are not deemed to be margin
transactions).
G invest in interests in oil, gas or other mineral exploration or
development programs or leases.
For purposes of the Fund's policy not to
concentrate its assets as described in the Prospectus, the Fund has
adopted, as a matter of non-fundamental policy, the corporate industry
classifications set forth in Appendix A to this Statement of Additional
Information. The percentage restrictions described above and in the
Prospectus apply only at the time of investment and require no action by
the Fund as a result of subsequent changes in relative values.
How the Fund is Managed
Organization and History. The Fund is an open-end, diversified management
investment company. The Fund is one of three series of Oppenheimer Quest for
Value Funds (the "Trust"), an open-end management investment company
organized as a Massachusetts business trust in April 1987.
The Fund is governed by a Board of Trustees, which is responsible for
protecting the interests of shareholders under Massachusetts law. The
Trustees meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Fund's
activities, review its performance, and review the actions of the Manager.
Although the Fund will not normally hold annual meetings of its shareholders,
it may hold shareholder meetings from time to time on important matters, and
shareholders have the right to call a meeting to remove a Trustee or to take
other action described in the Fund's Declaration of Trust.
o Classes of Shares. The Board of Trustees has the power, without
shareholder approval, to divide unissued shares of the Trust into two or more
series and each series into two or more classes. The Board has done so, and
the Fund currently has three classes of shares: Class A, Class B, and Class
C. All classes invest in the same investment portfolio. Each class of
shares:
o has its own dividends and distributions,
o pays certain expenses which may be different for the different classes,
o may have a different net asset value,
o may have separate voting rights on matters in which interests of one
class are different from interests of another class, and
o votes as a class on matters that affect that class alone.
Shares are freely transferable, and each share of each class has one
vote at shareholder meetings, with fractional shares voting proportionally on
matters submitted to the vote of shareholders. Each share of the Fund
represents an interest in the Fund proportionately equal to the interest of
each other share of the same class.
The Trustees are authorized to create new series of the Trust and new
classes of shares of the Fund. The Trustees may reclassify unissued shares
of the Fund into additional series or classes of shares. The Trustees also
may divide or combine the shares of a class into a greater or lesser number
of shares without changing the proportionate beneficial interest of a
shareholder in the Fund. Shares do not have cumulative voting rights or
preemptive or subscription rights. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy
at shareholder meetings.
o Meetings of Shareholders. Although the Fund is not required by
Massachusetts law to hold annual meetings, it may hold shareholder meetings
from time to time on important matters. The Fund's shareholders have the
right to call a meeting to remove a Trustee or to take certain other action
described in the Declaration of Trust.
The Fund will hold meetings when required to do so by the Investment
Company Act or other applicable law. The Fund will hold a meeting when the
Trustees call a meeting or upon proper request of shareholders. If the Fund
receives a written request of the record holders of at least 25% of the
outstanding shares eligible to be voted at a meeting to call a meeting for a
specified purpose (which might include the removal of a Trustee), the Fund
will call a meeting of shareholders for that specified purpose.
Shareholders of the different classes of the Fund vote together in the
aggregate on certain matters at shareholders' meetings. Those matters include
the election of Trustees and ratification of appointment of the independent
auditors. Shareholders of a particular series or class vote separately on
proposals that affect that series or class. Shareholders of a series or class
that is not affected by a proposal are not entitled to vote on the proposal.
For example, only shareholders of a particular series vote on any material
amendment to the investment advisory agreement for that series. Only
shareholders of a particular class of a series vote on certain amendments to
the Distribution and/or Service Plans if the amendments affect only that
class.
|_| Shareholder and Trustee Liability. The Trust's Declaration of
Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder or Trustee liability for
the Fund's obligations. It also provides for indemnification and
reimbursement of expenses out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held
personally liable for its obligations. The Declaration of Trust also states
that upon request, the Fund shall assume the defense of any claim made
against a shareholder for any act or obligation of the Fund and shall satisfy
any judgment on that claim. Massachusetts law permits a shareholder of a
business trust (such as the Fund) to be held personally liable as a "partner"
under certain circumstances. However, the risk that a Fund shareholder will
incur financial loss from being held liable as a "partner" of the Fund is
limited to the relatively remote circumstances in which the Fund would be
unable to meet its obligations.
The Fund's contractual arrangements state that any person doing
business with the Fund (and each shareholder of the Fund) agrees under its
Declaration of Trust to look solely to the assets of the Fund for
satisfaction of any claim or demand that may arise out of any dealings with
the Fund. The contracts further state that the Trustees shall have no
personal liability to any such person, to the extent permitted by law.
Trustees and Officers of the Fund. The Trustees and officers and their
principal occupations and business affiliations during the past five years
are listed below. Trustees denoted with an asterisk (*) below are deemed to
be "interested persons" of the Fund under the Investment Company Act. All of
the Trustees are also trustees, directors or managing general partners of the
following Oppenheimer funds:
Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc.,
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (a series Fund having the following series:
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund, Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund
and Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund), Oppenheimer Quest Global Value
Fund, Inc.,
Oppenheimer Quest Capital Value Fund, Inc.,
Rochester Portfolio Series (a series Fund having one series: Limited-Term New
York Municipal Fund),
Bond Fund Series (a series Fund having one series: Oppenheimer Convertible
Securities Fund),
Rochester Fund Municipals,
Oppenheimer Mid Cap Fund
Ms. Macaskill and Messrs. Swain, Bishop, Bowen, Donohue, Farrar and Zack,
who are officers of the Fund, respectively hold the same offices of the other
listed Oppenheimer funds. As of February 1, 1999, the Trustees and the
officers of the Fund as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares
of the Fund. The foregoing statement does not reflect shares held of record
by an employee benefit plan for employees of the Manager other than shares
beneficially owned under that plan by the officers of the Fund listed below.
Ms. Macaskill and Mr. Donohue, are trustees of that plan.
Bridget A. Macaskill, President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees*; Age:
50
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048
President (since June 1991), Chief Executive Officer (since September 1995)
and a director (since December 1994) of the Manager; President and a director
(since June 1991) of HarbourView Asset Management Corp.; Chairman and a
director (since August 1994) of Shareholder Services, Inc. and (since
September 1995) Shareholder Financial Services, Inc.; President (since
September 1995) and a director (since October 1990) of Oppenheimer
Acquisition Corp.; President (since September 1995) and a director (since
November 1989) of Oppenheimer Partnership Holdings, Inc., a holding company
subsidiary of the Manager; a director of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management,
Inc. (since July 1996); President and a director (since October 1997) of
OppenheimerFunds International Ltd., an offshore fund management subsidiary
of the Manager, and Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc; President and a
director of other Oppenheimer funds; a director of Hillsdown Holdings plc (a
U.K. food company); formerly an Executive Vice President of the Manager.
Paul Y. Clinton, Trustee; Age: 68
39 Blossom Avenue, Osterville, Massachusetts 02655
Principal of Clinton Management Associates, a financial and venture capital
consulting firm; Trustee of Capital Cash Management Trust, Narrangansett
Tax-Free Fund, and OCC Cash Accumulation Trust, investment companies;
Director of OCC Cash Reserves, an investment company; formerly: Director,
External Affairs, Kravco Corporation, a national real estate owner and
property management corporation; a general partner of Capital Growth Fund, a
venture capital partnership, and of Essex Limited Partnership, an investment
partnership; President of Geneve Corp., a venture capital fund; Chairman of
Woodland Capital Corp., a small business investment company; and Vice
President of W.R. Grace & Co., a manufacturing and chemical company.
Thomas W. Courtney, Trustee; Age: 65
833 Wyndemere Way, Naples, Florida 34105
Principal of Courtney Associates, Inc., a venture capital firm; Trustee of
Cash Asset Trust, OCC Accumulation Trust, Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust and Tax
Free Trust of Arizona, investment companies; Director of OCC Cash Reserves,
Inc., an investment company; Director of several privately-owned
corporations; former General Partner of Trivest Venture Fund, a private
venture capital fund; former President of Investment Counseling of Federated
Investors, Inc., an investment advisory firm; former President of Boston
Company Institutional Investors, an investment advisory firm; and former
Director of Financial Analysts Federation.
Robert G. Galli, Trustee; Age: 65
19750 Beach Road, Jupiter Island, Florida 33469
A Trustee or Director of other Oppenheimer funds. Within the past 5 years he
held the following positions: Vice Chairman of the Manager, OppenheimerFunds,
Inc. (October 1995 to December 1997); Vice President (June 1990 to March
1994) and General Counsel of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., the Manager's
parent holding company; Executive Vice President (December 1977 to October
1995), Executive Vice President and a director (April 1986 to October 1995)
of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation; Vice President and a director
(October 1988 to October 1993) of Centennial Asset Management Corporation,
(HarbourView and Centennial are investment adviser subsidiaries of the
Manager); and an officer of other Oppenheimer funds.
Lacy B. Herrmann, Trustee; Age: 69
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, New York 10017
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aquila Management Corporation, the
sponsoring organization and manager, administrator and/or sub-adviser to the
following investment companies: Churchill Cash Reserves Trust, Aquila
Cascadia Equity Fund, Pacific Capital Cash Assets Trust, Pacific Capital U.S.
Treasuries Cash Asset Trust, Pacific Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets Trust,
Prime Cash Fund, Naragansett Insured Tax-Free Income Fund, Tax-Free Fund for
Utah, Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky, Tax-Free Fund of Colorado,
Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, Tax-Free Trust of Arizona, Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
and Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund; Chairman of the Board of Trustees and
Chairman of the preceding investment companies; Vice President, Director,
Secretary and former Treasurer of Aquila Distributors, Inc., the distributor
of the preceding funds; President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of
Capital Cash Management Trust and a former officer and Trustee of its
predecessors; President and Director of STCM Management Company, Inc.,
sponsor and adviser to Capital Cash Management Trust; Chairman, President and
a Director of InCap Management Corporation, a fund sub-adviser and
administrator; Director of OCC Cash Reserves, Inc. and a Trustee of OCC
Accumulation Trust, investment companies; Trustee Emeritus of Brown
University.
George Loft, Trustee; Age: 84
51 Herrick Road, Sharon, Connecticut 06069
Private investor; Director of OCC Cash Reserves, Inc. and Trustee of OCC
Accumulation Trust, investment companies.
Robert C. Doll, Jr., Vice President; Age: 44
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048-0203
Executive Vice President and Director of Equity Investments and a Director of
the Manager (since January 1993); Vice President and a director of
Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. (since September 1995); Executive Vice
President of HarbourView Asset Management Corp. (since January 1993); an
officer of other Oppenheimer funds.
Andrew J. Donohue, Secretary; Age 48
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048
Executive Vice President (since January 1993), General Counsel (since
October 1991) and a Director (since September 1995) of the Manager;
Executive Vice President (since September 1993) and a director (since January
1992) of the Distributor; Executive Vice President, General Counsel and a
director of HarbourView Asset Management Corp., Shareholder Services, Inc.,
Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. and Oppenheimer Partnership Holdings,
Inc. (since September 1995); President and a director of Centennial Asset
Management Corp. (since September 1995); President and a director of
Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. (since July 1996); General Counsel
(since May 1996) and Secretary (since April 1997) of Oppenheimer Acquisition
Corp.; Vice President and a Director of OppenheimerFunds International Ltd.
and Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc (since October 1997); an officer of
other Oppenheimer funds.
George C. Bowen, Treasurer; Age 62
6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112
Senior Vice President (since September 1987) and Treasurer (since March 1985)
of the Manager; Vice President (since June 1983) and Treasurer (since March
1985) of the Distributor; Vice President (since October 1989) and Treasurer
(since April 1986) of HarbourView Asset Management Corp., an investment
adviser subsidiary of the Manager; Senior Vice President (since February
1992), Treasurer (since July 1991) and a director (since December 1991) of
Centennial Asset Management Corporation, an investment adviser subsidiary of
the Manager; Vice President and Treasurer (since August 1978) and Secretary
(since April 1981) of Shareholder Services Inc., a transfer agent subsidiary
of the Manager; Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary (since November 1989)
of Shareholder Financial Services, Inc., a transfer agent subsidiary of the
Manager; Assistant Treasurer (since March 1998) of Oppenheimer Acquisition
Corp., the parent company of the Manager; Treasurer of Oppenheimer
Partnership Holdings, Inc. (since November 1989); Vice President and
Treasurer of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. (since July 1996), an
investment adviser subsidiary of the Manager; an officer of other Oppenheimer
funds; formerly Treasurer (June 1990- March 1998) of Oppenheimer Acquisition
Corp.
Robert J. Bishop, Assistant Treasurer; Age 40
6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112
Vice President of the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (since May 1996); an
officer of other Oppenheimer funds; formerly an Assistant Vice President of
the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (April 1994-May 1996), and a Fund
Controller for the Manager.
Scott Farrar, Assistant Treasurer; Age 33
6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112
Vice President of the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (since May 1996);
Assistant Treasurer of Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc (since October 1997);
an officer of other Oppenheimer funds; formerly an Assistant Vice President
of the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (April 1994-May 1996), and a Fund
Controller for the Manager.
Robert G. Zack, Assistant Secretary; Age 50
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048-0203
Senior Vice President (since May 1985) and Associate General Counsel (since
May 1981) of the Manager, Assistant Secretary of Shareholder Services, Inc.
(since May 1985), and Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. (since November
1989); Assistant Secretary of Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc (since October
1997) and OppenheimerFunds International Ltd.; an officer of other
Oppenheimer funds.
n Remuneration of Trustees. The officers of the Fund and one Trustee,
Ms. Macaskill, are affiliated with the Manager and receive no salary or fee
from the Fund. The remaining Trustees received the compensation shown below.
The compensation from the Fund was paid during its fiscal year ended October
31, 1998. The table below also shows the total compensation from all of the
Oppenheimer funds listed above (referred to as the "Oppenheimer
Quest/Rochester Funds"), including the compensation from the Fund and three
other funds that are not Oppenheimer funds but for which the Sub-Adviser acts
as investment adviser. That amount represents compensation received as a
director, trustee, managing general partner or member of a committee of the
Board during the calendar year 1998.
<PAGE>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Compensation
From all Oppenheimer
Quest/Rochester
Aggregate Retirement Funds
Trustee's Name Compensation Benefits Accrued (11 Funds)1 and
From Fund as Part of Fund Three Other Funds2
Expenses
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
Paul Y. Clinton
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
Thomas W.
Courtney
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
Robert G. Galli
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
Lacy B. Herrmann
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
George Loft
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. For the 1998 calendar year. Includes compensation for a portion of the
year paid by Oppenheimer Quest Officers Value Fund, which was reorganized
into another Fund in June 1998. Each series of an investment company is
considered a separate "fund" for this purpose. For Mr. Galli, compensation
is for period from 6/2/98 to 10/31/98.
2. Includes compensation paid by three funds for which the Sub-Adviser
acts as investment adviser. Those funds are not Oppenheimer funds and are
not affiliated with the Oppenheimer funds, the Manager or the Distributor.
The amount of aggregate compensation paid by Fund Trustees from those
three other funds was as follows: Mr. Clinton: $_________; Mr. Courtney:
$_________; Mr. Hermann: $_________; and Mr. Loft: $_________.
3. Includes $_________ deferred under the Deferred Compensation Plan
described below. For Mr. Galli, compensation is for period from 6/2/98 to
10/31/98, and includes compensation from 20 other Oppenheimer funds for
which he serves as trustee or director..
|X| Retirement Plan for Trustees. The Fund has adopted a retirement
plan that provides for payments to retired Trustees. Payments are up to 80%
of the average compensation paid during a Trustee's five years of service in
which the highest compensation was received. A Trustee must serve as Trustee
for any of the Oppenheimer Quest/Rochester/MidCap funds listed above for at
least 15 years to be eligible for the maximum payment. Each Trustee's
retirement benefits will depend on the amount of the Trustee's future
compensation and length of service. Therefore the amount of those benefits
cannot be determined at this time, nor can we estimate the number of years of
credited service that will be used to determine those benefits.
n Deferred Compensation Plan. The Board of Trustees has adopted a
Deferred Compensation Plan for disinterested Trustees that enables them to
elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of the annual fees they are
entitled to receive from the Fund. Under the plan, the compensation deferred
by a Trustee is periodically adjusted as though an equivalent amount had been
invested in shares of one or more Oppenheimer funds selected by the Trustee.
The amount paid to the Trustee under the plan will be determined based upon
the performance of the selected funds.
Deferral of Trustees' fees under the plan will not materially affect the
Fund's assets, liabilities and net income per share. The plan will not
obligate the fund to retain the services of any Trustee or to pay any
particular level of compensation to any Trustee. Pursuant to an Order issued
by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may invest in the funds
selected by the Trustee under the plan without shareholder approval for the
limited purpose of determining the value of the Trustee's deferred fee
account.
n Major Shareholders. As of February 1, 1999, the only persons who
owned of record or were known by the Fund to own beneficially 5% or more of
the Fund's outstanding Class A, Class B or Class C shares were :
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc., 4800 Deer Lake Dr. E Floor 3,
Jacksonville, FL 32246, which owned
- -------------------------------------------------------
The Manager. The Manager is wholly-owned by Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., a
holding company controlled by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.
The Manager and the Fund have a Code of Ethics. It is designed to detect and
prevent improper personal trading by certain employees, including portfolio
managers, that would compete with or take advantage of the Fund's portfolio
transactions. Compliance with the Code of Ethics is carefully monitored and
enforced by the Manager.
n The Investment Advisory Agreement. The Manager provides investment
advisory and management services to the Fund under an investment advisory
agreement between the Manager and the Trust. The Manager handles the Fund's
day-to-day business, and the agreement permits the Manager to enter into
sub-advisory agreements with other registered investment advisers to obtain
specialized services for the Fund, as long as the Fund is not obligated to
pay any additional fees for those services. The Manager has retained the
Sub-Adviser pursuant to a separate Sub-Advisory Agreement, under which the
Sub-Adviser buys and sells portfolio securities for the Fund. The portfolio
manager of the Fund is employed by the Sub-Adviser and is the person who is
principally responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's
portfolio, as described below.
The investment advisory agreement between the Fund and the Manager
requires the Manager, at its expense, to provide the Fund with adequate
office space, facilities and equipment. It also requires the Manager to
provide and supervise the activities of all administrative and clerical
personnel required to provide effective administration for the Fund. Those
responsibilities include the compilation and maintenance of records with
respect to its operations, the preparation and filing of specified reports,
and composition of proxy materials and registration statements for continuous
public sale of shares of the Fund.
The Fund pays expenses not expressly assumed by the Manager under the
advisory agreement. Expenses for the Trust's three series are allocated to
the series in proportion to their net assets, unless allocations of expenses
can be made directly to a series. The advisory agreement lists examples of
expenses paid by the Fund. The major categories relate to calculation of the
Fund's net asset values per share, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions,
fees to certain Trustees, legal and audit expenses, custodian and transfer
agent expenses, share issuance costs, certain printing and registration costs
and non-recurring expenses, including litigation costs. The management fees
paid by the Fund to the Manager are calculated at the rates described in the
Prospectus, which are applied to the assets of the Fund as a whole. The fees
are allocated to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of
the Fund's net assets represented by that class.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fees Paid to Manager to
Management Fees Paid to Calculate Fund's Net
Fiscal Year ended OppenheimerFunds, Inc. Asset Values2
10/31:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19961 $448,353 $51,630
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $726,006 $54,547
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $___________ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. For the 11 month fiscal period commencing November 22, 1995, when the
Manager became the Fund's investment adviser. For the period from November
1, 1995 to November 22, 1995, the Fund paid an advisory fee of $24,482
and accounting services fees of $2,291 to the Sub-Adviser, which was then
the Fund's investment adviser.
2. During the fiscal years noted, the Fund paid the Manager a fee for
accounting services, consisting of a base fee of $55,000 per year plus
out-of-pocket expenses. The Manager has voluntarily agreed to eliminate
its fee for providing those services for fiscal years commencing as of the
date of this Statement of Additional Information.
The investment advisory agreement contains an indemnity of the Manager.
In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the
performance of its duties or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
under the investment advisory agreement, the Manager is not liable for any
loss resulting from a good faith error or omission on its part with respect
to any of its duties under the agreement.
The agreement permits the Manager to act as investment adviser for any
other person, firm or corporation and to use the names "Oppenheimer" and
Quest for Value" in connection with other investment companies for which it
may act as investment adviser or general distributor. If the Manager shall no
longer act as investment adviser to the Fund, the Manager may withdraw the
right of the Fund to use the names "Oppenheimer" or "Quest for Value" as part
of its name.
The Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser is a majority-owned subsidiary of
Oppenheimer Capital, a registered investment adviser. From the Fund's
inception on April 30, 1980, until November 22, 1995, the Sub-Adviser (which
was then named Quest for Value Advisors) served as the Fund's investment
advisor. The Sub-Adviser acts as investment adviser to other investment
companies and for institutional investors.
On November 4, 1997, PIMCO Advisors L.P., a registered investment
adviser with $125 billion in assets under management through various
subsidiaries and affiliates, acquired control of Oppenheimer Capital and the
Sub-Adviser. On November 30, 1997, Oppenheimer Capital merged with a
subsidiary of PIMCO Advisors. As a result, Oppenheimer Capital and the
Sub-Adviser became indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of PIMCO Advisors.
PIMCO Advisors has two general partners: PIMCO Partners, G.P., a California
general partnership, and PIMCO Advisors Holdings L.P. (formerly Oppenheimer
Capital, L.P.), an New York Stock Exchange-listed Delaware limited
partnership of which PIMCO Partners, G.P. is the sole general partner.
PIMCO Partners, G.P. beneficially owns or controls (through its general
partner interest in Oppenheimer Capital, L.P.) more than 80% of the units of
limited partnership of PIMCO Advisors. PIMCO Partners, G.P. has two general
partners. The first of these is Pacific Investment Management Company, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Pacific Financial Asset Management Company, a
direct subsidiary of Pacific Life Insurance Company ("Pacific Life").
The managing general partner of PIMCO Partners, G.P. is PIMCO Partners
L.L.C. ("PPLLC"), a California limited liability company. PPLLC's members
are the Managing Directors (the "PIMCO Managers") of Pacific Investment
Management Company, a subsidiary of PIMCO Advisors (the "PIMCO
Subpartnership"). The PIMCO Managers are: William H. Gross, Dean S.
Meiling, James F. Muzzy, William F. Podlich, III, Brent R. Harris, John L.
Hague, William S. Thompson Jr., William C. Powers, David H. Edington,
Benjamin Trosky, William R. Benz, II and Lee R. Thomas, III.
PIMCO Advisors is governed by a Management Board, which consists of
sixteen members, pursuant to a delegation by its general partners. PIMCO
Partners G.P. has the power to designate up to nine members of the Management
Board and the PIMCO Subpartnership, of which the PIMCO Managers are the
Managing Directors, has the power to designate up to two members. In
addition, PIMCO Partners, G.P., as the controlling general partner of PIMCO
Advisors, has the power to revoke the delegation to the Management Board and
exercise control of PIMCO Advisors. As a result, Pacific Life and/or the
PIMCO Managers may be deemed to control PIMCO Advisors. Pacific Life and the
PIMCO Managers disclaim such control.
n The Sub-Advisory Agreement. Under the Sub-advisory Agreement between
the Manager and the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall regularly provide
investment advice with respect to the Fund and invest and reinvest cash,
securities and the property comprising the assets of the Fund. Under the
Subadvisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees not to change the portfolio
manager of the Fund without the written approval of the Manager. The
Sub-Adviser also agrees to provide assistance in the distribution and
marketing of the Fund.
Under the Subadvisory Agreement, the Manager pays the Sub-Adviser an
annual fee in monthly installments, based on the average daily net assets of
the Fund. The fee paid to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-advisory agreement is
paid by the Manager, not by the Fund. The fee is equal to 40% of the
investment advisory fee collected by the Manager from the Fund based on the
total net assets of the Fund as of November 22, 1995 (the "Base Amount") plus
30% of the investment advisory fee collected by the Manager based on the
total net assets of the Fund that exceed the Base Amount.
The Subadvisory Agreement provides that in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of its duties or
obligations, the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Manager for any act
or omission in the course of or connected with rendering services under the
Subadvisory Agreement or for any losses that may be sustained in the
purchase, holding or sale of any security.
Brokerage Policies of the Fund
Brokerage Provisions of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the
Sub-Advisory Agreement. One of the duties of the Sub-Adviser under the
Sub-Advisory Agreement is to arrange the portfolio transactions for the
Fund. The Fund's investment advisory agreement with the Manager and the
Sub-Advisory Agreement contain provisions relating to the employment of
broker-dealers to effect the Fund's portfolio transactions. The Manager and
the Sub-Adviser are authorized to employ broker-dealers, including
"affiliated" brokers, as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act.
They may employ broker-dealers as may, in their best judgment based on all
relevant factors, implement the policy of the Fund to obtain, at reasonable
expense, the "best execution" of such transactions. "Best execution" means
prompt and reliable execution at the most favorable price obtainable.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser need not seek competitive commission
bidding. However, they are expected to be aware of the current rates of
eligible brokers and to minimize the commissions paid to the extent
consistent with the interests and policies of the Fund as established by its
Board of Trustees.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser may select brokers (other than
affiliates) that provide brokerage and/or research services for the Fund
and/or the other accounts over which the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their
respective affiliates have investment discretion. The commissions paid to
such brokers may be higher than another qualified broker would charge, if the
Manager or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, makes a good faith determination that
the commission is fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided.
Subject to those considerations, as a factor in selecting brokers for the
Fund's portfolio transactions, the Manager and the Sub-Adviser may also
consider sales of shares of the Fund and other investment companies for which
the Manager or an affiliate serves as investment adviser.
Brokerage Practices. Brokerage for the Fund is allocated subject to the
provisions of the investment advisory agreement and the sub-advisory
agreement and the procedures and rules described above. Generally, the
Sub-Adviser's portfolio traders allocate brokerage based upon recommendations
from the Fund's portfolio manager. In certain instances, portfolio managers
may directly place trades and allocate brokerage. In either case, the
Sub-Adviser's executive officers supervise the allocation of brokerage.
Transactions in securities other than those for which an exchange is the
primary market are generally done with principals or market makers. In
transactions on foreign exchanges, the Fund may be required to pay fixed
brokerage commissions and thereby not have the benefit of negotiated
commissions available in U.S. markets. Brokerage commissions are paid
primarily for effecting transactions in listed securities or for certain
fixed-income agency transactions in the secondary market. Otherwise brokerage
commissions are paid only if it appears likely that a better price or
execution can be obtained by doing so.
The Sub-Adviser serves as investment manager to a number of clients,
including other investment companies, and may in the future act as investment
manager or advisor to others. It is the practice of the Sub-Adviser to
allocate purchase or sale transactions among the Fund and other clients whose
assets it manages in a manner it deems equitable. In making those
allocations, the Sub-Adviser considers several main factors, including the
respective investment objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of
the same or comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment,
the size of investment commitments generally held and the opinions of the
persons responsible for managing the portfolios of the Fund and each other
client's accounts.
When orders to purchase or sell the same security on identical terms are
placed by more than one of the funds and/or other advisory accounts managed
by the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates, the transactions are generally executed
as received, although a fund or advisory account that does not direct trades
to a specific broker (these are called "free trades") usually will have its
order executed first. Orders placed by accounts that direct trades to a
specific broker will generally be executed after the free trades. All orders
placed on behalf of the Fund are considered free trades. However, having an
order placed first in the market does not necessarily guarantee the most
favorable price. Purchases are combined where possible for the purpose of
negotiating brokerage commissions. In some cases that practice might have a
detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security in a particular
transaction for the Fund.
Most purchases of debt obligations are principal transactions at net
prices. Instead of using a broker for those transactions, the Fund normally
deals directly with the selling or purchasing principal or market maker
unless the Sub-Adviser determines that a better price or execution can be
obtained by using the services of a broker. Purchases of portfolio
securities from underwriters include a commission or concession paid by the
issuer to the underwriter. Purchases from dealers include a spread between
the bid and asked prices. The Fund seeks to obtain prompt execution of these
orders at the most favorable net price.
The investment advisory agreement and the sub-advisory agreement permit
the Manager and the Sub-Adviser to allocate brokerage for research services.
The research services provided by a particular broker may be useful only to
one or more of the advisory accounts of the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates.
The investment research received for the commissions of those other accounts
may be useful both to the Fund and one or more of the Sub-Adviser's other
accounts. Investment research may be supplied to the Sub-Adviser by a third
party at the instance of a broker through which trades are placed.
Investment research services include information and analysis on
particular companies and industries as well as market or economic trends and
portfolio strategy, market quotations for portfolio evaluations, information
systems, computer hardware and similar products and services. If a research
service also assists the Sub-Adviser in a non-research capacity (such as
bookkeeping or other administrative functions), then only the percentage or
component that provides assistance to the Sub-Adviser in the investment
decision-making process may be paid in commission dollars.
The research services provided by brokers broadens the scope and
supplements the research activities of the Sub-Adviser. That research
provides additional views and comparisons for consideration, and helps the
Sub-Adviser to obtain market information for the valuation of securities that
are either held in the Fund's portfolio or are being considered for
purchase. The Sub-Adviser provides information to the Manager and the Board
about the commissions paid to brokers furnishing such services, together with
the Sub-Adviser's representation that the amount of such commissions was
reasonably related to the value or benefit of such services.
Because the Sub-Adviser was an affiliate of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a
broker-dealer ("OpCo"), until November 3, 1997, the table below includes
information about brokerage commissions paid to OpCo for the Fund's portfolio
transactions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ Amount of
Total Transactions for Which
Brokerage Brokerage Commissions Brokerage Commissions
Fiscal Year Commissions Paid to OpCo: Were Paid to OpCo:
Ended 10/31 Paid1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dollar % of Total Dollar % of Total
Amount Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 $100,216 $46,979 46.8% $36,417,627 27.4%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $228,321 $60,348 26.4% $45,414,493 25.1%
--------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Amounts do not include spreads or concessions on principal transactions
on a net trade basis.
2. In the fiscal year ended 10/31/98, the amount of transactions directed
to brokers for research services was $_________________ and the amount of
the commissions paid to broker-dealers for those services was $_______.
Distribution and Service Plans
The Distributor. Under its General Distributor's Agreement with the Trust,
the Distributor acts as the Fund's principal underwriter in the continuous
public offering of shares of the Fund's classes of shares. The Distributor is
not obligated to sell a specific number of shares. Expenses normally
attributable to sales are borne by the Distributor. They exclude payments
under the Fund's Distribution and Service Plans but include advertising and
the cost of printing and mailing prospectuses (other than prospectuses
furnished to current shareholders).
The compensation paid to (or retained by) the Distributor from the sale
of shares or on the redemption of shares during the Fund's three most recent
fiscal years is shown in the table below.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aggregate Class A Commissions Commissions Commissions
Fiscal Front-End Front-End on Class A on Class B on Class C
Year Sales Sales Shares Shares Shares
Ended Charges on Charges Advanced by Advanced by Advanced by
10/31: Class A Retained by Distributor1 Distributor1 Distributor1
Shares Distributor
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19962 $ $ $ $ $
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $201,700 $53,948 $ $ $
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $ $ $ $ $
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. The Distributor advances commission payments to dealers for certain
sales of Class A shares and for sales of Class B and Class C shares from
its own resources at the time of sale.
2. For the period from 11/22/95 to 10/31/96.
For additional information about distribution of the Fund's shares,
including fees and expenses, please refer to "Distribution and Service
Plans," below.
Distribution and Service Plans. The Fund has adopted Distribution and
Service Plans for Class A, Class B and Class C shares under Rule 12b-1 of the
Investment Company Act. Under those plans the Fund compensates the
Distributor for all or a portion of its costs incurred in connection with the
distribution and/or servicing of the shares of the particular class. Each
plan has been approved by a vote of the Board of Trustees, including a
majority of the Independent Trustees2, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on that plan, and by shareholders of a majority of each
class of shares of the Fund.
Under the plans, the Manager and the Distributor, in their sole
discretion, from time to time, may use their own resources to make payments
to brokers, dealers or other financial institutions for distribution and
administrative services they perform, at no cost to the Fund. The Manager may
use its profits from the advisor fee it receives from the Fund. In their sole
discretion, the Distributor and the Manager may increase or decrease the
amount of payments they make from their own resources to plan recipients.
Unless a plan is terminated as described below, the plan continues in
effect from year to year but only if the Fund's Board of Trustees and its
Independent Trustees specifically vote annually to approve its continuance.
Approval must be by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting on continuing the plan. A plan may be terminated at any time by the
vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders
of a "majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the outstanding
shares of that class.
The Board of Trustees and the Independent Trustees must approve all
material amendments to a plan. An amendment to increase materially the amount
of payments to be made under a plan must be approved by shareholders of the
class affected by the amendment. Because Class B shares of the Fund
automatically convert into Class A shares after six years, the Fund must
obtain the approval of both Class A and Class B shareholders for a proposed
material amendment to the Class A Plan that would materially increase
payments under the Plan. That approval must be by a "majority" (as defined
in the Investment Company Act) of the shares of each Class, voting separately
by class.
While the Plans are in effect, the Treasurer of the Fund shall provide
separate written reports on the plans to the Board of Trustees at least
quarterly for its review. The Reports shall detail the amount of all payments
made under a plan, the purpose for which the payments were made and the
identity of each recipient of a payment. The reports on the Class B Plan and
Class C Plan shall also include the Distributor's distribution costs for that
quarter and such costs for previous fiscal periods that have been carried
forward. Those reports are subject to the review and approval of the
Independent Trustees.
Each Plan states that while it is in effect, the selection and nomination
of those Trustees of the Fund who are not "interested persons" of the Fund is
committed to the discretion of the Independent Trustees. This does not
prevent the involvement of others in the selection and nomination process as
long as the final decision as to selection or nomination is approved by a
majority of the Independent Trustees.
Under the plans, no payment will be made to any recipient in any quarter
in which the aggregate net asset value of all Fund shares held by the
recipient for itself and its customers does not exceed a minimum amount, if
any, that may be set from time to time by a majority of the Independent
Trustees. The Board of Trustees has set no minimum amount of assets to
qualify for payments under the plans.
o Service Plans. Under the service plans, the Distributor currently uses
the fees it receives from the Fund to pay brokers, dealers and other
financial institutions (they are referred to as "recipients") for personal
services and account maintenance services they provide for their customers
who hold shares of a particular Class, A, B or C. The services include, among
others, answering customer inquiries about the Fund, assisting in
establishing and maintaining accounts in the Fund, making the Fund's
investment plans available and providing other services at the request of the
Fund or the Distributor. The service plans permit compensation to the
Distributor at a rate of up to 0.25% of average annual net assets of the
applicable class. The Board has set the rate at that level. While the plans
permit the Board to authorize payments to the Distributor to reimburse itself
for services under the plan, the Board has not yet done so. The Distributor
makes payments to plan recipients quarterly at an annual rate not to exceed
0.25% of the average annual net assets consisting of shares of the applicable
class held in the accounts of the recipients or their customers.
o Service and Distribution Plan Fees. Under each plan, service fees and
distribution fees are computed on the average of the net asset value of
shares in the respective class, determined as of the close of each regular
business day during the period. The plans compensate the Distributor at a
flat rate for its services and costs in distributing shares and servicing
accounts, whether the Distributor's expenses are more or less than the
amounts paid by the Fund under the plans during the period for which the fee
is paid.
The plans permit the Distributor to retain both the asset-based sales
charges and the service fees or to pay recipients the service fee on a
quarterly basis, without payment in advance. However, the Distributor
currently intends to pay the service fee to recipients in advance for the
first year after the shares are purchased. After the first year shares are
outstanding, the Distributor makes payments quarterly on those shares. The
advance payment is based on the net asset value of shares sold. Shares
purchased by exchange do not qualify for the service fee payment. If shares
are redeemed during the first year after their purchase, the recipient of the
service fees on those shares will be obligated to repay the Distributor a pro
rata portion of the advance payment of the service fee made on those shares.
Under the Class A plan, the Distributor pays a portion of the asset-based
sales charge to brokers, dealers and financial institutions and retains the
balance. The Distributor retains the asset-based sales charge on Class B
shares. The Distributor retains the asset-based sales charge on Class C
shares during the first year the shares are outstanding. It pays the
asset-based sales charge it receives on Class C shares as an ongoing
commission to the recipient on Class C shares outstanding for a year or more.
If a dealer has a special agreement with the Distributor, the Distributor
will pay the Class B and/or Class C service fee and the asset-based sales
charge to the dealer quarterly in lieu of paying the sales commissions and
service fee in advance at the time of purchase.
The asset-based sales charges on Class B and Class C shares allow
investors to buy shares without a front-end sales charge while allowing the
Distributor to reimburse dealers that sell those shares. The Fund pays the
asset-based sales charges to the Distributor for its services rendered in
distributing Class A, Class B and Class C shares. The payments are made to
the Distributor in recognition that the Distributor:
o pays sales commissions to authorized brokers and dealers at the time of
sale and pays service fees as described above,
o may finance payment of sales commissions and/or the advance of the
service fee payment to recipients under the plans, or may provide such
financing from its own resources or from the resources of an
affiliate,
o employs personnel to support distribution of shares, and
o bears the costs of sales literature, advertising and prospectuses
(other than those furnished to current shareholders) and state "blue
sky" registration fees and certain other distribution expenses.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998 payments under the Class A
Plan totaled $_________, (including $________ paid to an affiliate of the
Distributor's parent company). The Distributor retained $_____________ of the
total amount paid.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, payments under the Class B
plan totaled $___________ (including $___________ paid to an affiliate of the
Distributor's parent). The Distributor retained $__________________ of the
total amount.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, payments under the Class C
plan totaled $_______________, (including $___________ paid to an affiliate
of the Distributor's parent). The Distributor retained $_____________ of the
total amount.
The Distributor's actual expenses in selling shares may be more than the
payments it receives from the contingent deferred sales charges collected on
redeemed shares and from the Fund under the plans. As of October 31, 1998,
the Distributor had incurred unreimbursed expenses under the Class A plan in
the amount of $____________ (equal to ____% of the Fund's net assets
represented by Class A shares on that date). As of October 31, 1998, the
Distributor had incurred unreimbursed expenses under the Class B plan in the
amount of $_______________ (equal to ___% of the Fund's net assets
represented by Class B shares on that date) and unreimbursed expenses under
the Class C plan of $_____________ (equal to ___% of the Fund's net assets
represented by Class C shares on that date). If a plan is terminated by the
Fund, the Board of Trustees may allow the Fund to continue payments of the
asset-based sales charge to the Distributor for distributing shares before
the plan was terminated.
All payments under the plans are subject to the limitations imposed by
the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. on
payments of asset-based sales charges and service fees.
Performance of the Fund
Explanation of Performance Terminology. The Fund uses a variety of terms to
illustrate its investment performance. Those terms include "cumulative total
return," "average annual total return," "average annual total return at net
asset value" and "total return at net asset value." An explanation of how
total returns are calculated is set forth below. The charts below show the
Fund's performance as of the Fund's most recent fiscal year end. You can
obtain current performance information by calling the Fund's Transfer Agent
at 1-800-525-7048 or by visiting the OppenheimerFunds Internet web site at
http://www.oppenheimerfunds.com.
The Fund's illustrations of its performance data in advertisements must
comply with rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Those rules
describe the types of performance data that may be used and how it is to be
calculated. In general, any advertisement by the Fund of its performance data
must include the average annual total returns for the advertised class of
shares of the Fund. Those returns must be shown for the 1, 5 and 10-year
periods (or the life of the class, if less) ending as of the most recently
ended calendar quarter prior to the publication of the advertisement (or its
submission for publication).
Use of standardized performance calculations enables an investor to
compare the Fund's performance to the performance of other funds for the same
periods. However, a number of factors should be considered before using the
Fund's performance information as a basis for comparison with other
investments:
|_| Total returns measure the performance of a hypothetical account in
the Fund over various periods and do not show the performance of each
shareholder's account. Your account's performance will vary from the model
performance data if your dividends are received in cash, or you buy or sell
shares during the period, or you bought your shares at a different time and
price than the shares used in the model.
o The Fund's performance returns do not reflect the effect of taxes on
dividends and capital gains distributions.
|_| An investment in the Fund is not insured by the FDIC or any other
government agency.
|_| The principal value of the Fund's shares and total returns are not
guaranteed and normally will fluctuate on a daily basis.
|_| When an investor's shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or
less than their original cost.
|_| Total returns for any given past period represent historical
performance information and are not, and should not be considered, a
prediction of future returns.
The performance of each class of shares is shown separately, because
the performance of each class of shares will usually be different. That is
because of the different kinds of expenses each class bears. The total
returns of each class of shares of the Fund are affected by market
conditions, the quality of the Fund's investments, the maturity of debt
investments, the types of investments the Fund holds, and its operating
expenses that are allocated to the particular class.
|X| Total Return Information. There are different types of "total
returns" to measure the Fund's performance. Total return is the change in
value of a hypothetical investment in the Fund over a given period, assuming
that all dividends and capital gains distributions are reinvested in
additional shares and that the investment is redeemed at the end of the
period. Because of differences in expenses for each class of shares, the
total returns for each class are separately measured. The cumulative total
return measures the change in value over the entire period (for example, ten
years). An average annual total return shows the average rate of return for
each year in a period that would produce the cumulative total return over the
entire period. However, average annual total returns do not show actual
year-by-year performance. The Fund uses standardized calculations for its
total returns as prescribed by the SEC. The methodology is discussed below.
In calculating total returns for Class A shares, the current maximum
sales charge of 5.75% (as a percentage of the offering price) is deducted
from the initial investment ("P") (unless the return is shown without sales
charge, as described below). For Class B shares, payment of the applicable
contingent deferred sales charge is applied, depending on the period for
which the return is shown: 5.0% in the first year, 4.0% in the second year,
3.0% in the third and fourth years, 2.0% in the fifth year, 1.0% in the sixth
year and none thereafter. For Class C shares, the 1% contingent deferred
sales charge is deducted for returns for the 1-year period.
|_| Average Annual Total Return. The "average annual total return" of
each class is an average annual compounded rate of return for each year in a
specified number of years. It is the rate of return based on the change in
value of a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000 ("P" in the formula
below) held for a number of years ("n" in the formula) to achieve an Ending
Redeemable Value ("ERV" in the formula) of that investment, according to the
following formula:
1/n
(ERV)
(---) -1 = Average Annual Total Return
( P )
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|_| Cumulative Total Return. The "cumulative total return" calculation
measures the change in value of a hypothetical investment of $1,000 over an
entire period of years. Its calculation uses some of the same factors as
average annual total return, but it does not average the rate of return on an
annual basis. Cumulative total return is determined as follows:
ERV - P
------- = Total Return
P
|_| Total Returns at Net Asset Value. From time to time the Fund may
also quote a cumulative or an average annual total return "at net asset
value" (without deducting sales charges) for Class A, Class B or Class C
shares. Each is based on the difference in net asset value per share at the
beginning and the end of the period for a hypothetical investment in that
class of shares (without considering front-end or contingent deferred sales
charges) and takes into consideration the
reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund's Total Returns for the Periods Ended 10/31/98
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cumulative Total Average Annual Total Returns
Class Returns (10
of years or Life of
Shares Class)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-Year 10-Year
1-Year (or (or
life-of-class) life-of-class)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After Without After Without After Without After Without
Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales
Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A 1 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B 2 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C 3 3
1. Inception of Class A: 1/3/89
2. Inception of Class B: 9/1/93
3. Inception of Class C: 9/1/93
Other Performance Comparisons. The Fund compares its performance annually to
that of an appropriate broadly-based market index in its Annual Report to
shareholders. You can obtain that information by contacting the Transfer
Agent at the addresses or telephone numbers shown on the cover of this
Statement of Additional Information. The Fund may also compare its
performance to that of other investments, including other mutual funds, or
use rankings of its performance by independent ranking entities. Examples of
these performance comparisons are set forth below.
|_| Lipper Rankings. From time to time the Fund may publish the ranking
of the performance of its classes of shares by Lipper Analytical Services,
Inc. Lipper is a widely-recognized independent mutual fund monitoring
service. Lipper monitors the performance of regulated investment companies,
including the Fund, and ranks their performance for various periods based on
categories relating to investment objectives. Lipper currently ranks the
Fund's performance against all other balanced funds. The Lipper performance
rankings are based on total returns that include the reinvestment of capital
gain distributions and income dividends but do not take sales charges or
taxes into consideration. Lipper also publishes "peer-group" indices of the
performance of all mutual funds in a category that it monitors and averages
of the performance of the funds in particular categories.
|_| Morningstar Rankings. From time to time the Fund may publish the
star ranking of the performance of its classes shares by Morningstar, Inc.,
an independent mutual fund monitoring service. Morningstar ranks mutual
funds in broad investment categories: domestic stock funds, international
stock funds, taxable bond funds and municipal bond funds. The Fund is ranked
among domestic stock funds.
Morningstar star rankings are based on risk-adjusted total investment
return. Investment return measures a fund's (or class's) one, three, five and
ten-year average annual total returns (depending on the inception of the fund
or class) in excess of 90-day U.S. Treasury bill returns after considering
the fund's sales charges and expenses. Risk measures a fund's (or class's)
performance below 90-day U.S. Treasury bill returns. Risk and investment
return are combined to produce star rankings reflecting performance relative
to the average fund in a fund's category. Five stars is the "highest"
ranking (top 10% of funds in a category), four stars is "above average" (next
22.5%), three stars is "average" (next 35%), two stars is "below average"
(next 22.5%) and one star is "lowest" (bottom 10%). The current star ranking
is the fund's (or class's) 3-year ranking or its combined 3- and 5-year
ranking (weighted 60%/40% respectively), or its combined 3-, 5-, and 10-year
ranking (weighted 40%, 30% and 30%, respectively), depending on the inception
date of the fund (or class). Rankings are subject to change monthly.
The Fund may also compare its performance to that of other funds in its
Morningstar category. In addition to its star rankings, Morningstar also
categorizes and compares a fund's 3-year performance based on Morningstar's
classification of the fund's investments and investment style, rather than
how a fund defines its investment objective. Morningstar's four broad
categories (domestic equity, international equity, municipal bond and taxable
bond) are each further subdivided into categories based on types of
investments and investment styles. Those comparisons by Morningstar are
based on the same risk and return measurements as its star rankings but do
not consider the effect of sales charges.
|_| Performance Rankings and Comparisons by Other Entities and
Publications. From time to time the Fund may include in its advertisements
and sales literature performance information about the Fund cited in
newspapers and other periodicals such as The New York Times, The Wall Street
Journal, Barron's, or similar publications. That information may include
performance quotations from other sources, including Lipper and Morningstar.
The performance of the Fund's classes of shares may be compared in
publications to the performance of various market indices or other
investments, and averages, performance rankings or other benchmarks prepared
by recognized mutual fund statistical services.
Investors may also wish to compare the returns on the Fund's share
classes to the return on fixed-income investments available from banks and
thrift institutions. Those include certificates of deposit, ordinary
interest-paying checking and savings accounts, and other forms of fixed or
variable time deposits, and various other instruments such as Treasury bills.
However, the Fund's returns and share price are not guaranteed or insured by
the FDIC or any other agency and will fluctuate daily, while bank depository
obligations may be insured by the FDIC and may provide fixed rates of return.
Repayment of principal and payment of interest on Treasury securities is
backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
From time to time, the Fund may publish rankings or ratings of the
Manager or Transfer Agent, and of the investor services provided by them to
shareholders of the Oppenheimer funds, other than performance rankings of the
Oppenheimer funds themselves. Those ratings or rankings of shareholder and
investor services by third parties may include comparisons of their services
to those provided by other mutual fund families selected by the rating or
ranking services. They may be based upon the opinions of the rating or
ranking service itself, using its research or judgment, or based upon surveys
of investors, brokers, shareholders or others.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy Shares
Additional information is presented below about the methods that can be
used to buy shares of the Fund. Appendix C contains more information about
the special sales charge arrangements offered by the Fund, and the
circumstances in which sales charges may be reduced or waived for certain
classes of investors.
AccountLink. When shares are purchased through AccountLink, each purchase
must be at least $25. Shares will be purchased on the regular business day
the Distributor is instructed to initiate the Automated Clearing House
("ACH") transfer to buy the shares. Dividends will begin to accrue on shares
purchased with the proceeds of ACH transfers on the business day the Fund
receives Federal Funds for the purchase through the ACH system before the
close of The New York Stock Exchange. The Exchange normally closes at 4:00
P.M., but may close earlier on certain days. If Federal Funds are received
on a business day after the close of the Exchange, the shares will be
purchased and dividends will begin to accrue on the next regular business
day. The proceeds of ACH transfers are normally received by the Fund 3 days
after the transfers are initiated. The Distributor and the Fund are not
responsible for any delays in purchasing shares resulting from delays in ACH
transmissions.
Reduced Sales Charges. As discussed in the Prospectus, a reduced sales
charge rate may be obtained for Class A shares under Right of Accumulation
and Letters of Intent because of the economies of sales efforts and reduction
in expenses realized by the Distributor, dealers and brokers making such
sales. No sales charge is imposed in certain other circumstances described
in Appendix C to this Statement of Additional Information because the
Distributor or dealer or broker incurs little or no selling expenses.
n Right of Accumulation. To qualify for the lower sales charge rates
that apply to larger purchases of Class A shares, you and your spouse can add
together:
o Class A and Class B shares you purchase for your individual
accounts, or for your joint accounts, or for trust or custodial
accounts on behalf of your children who are minors,
o current purchases of Class A and Class B shares of the Fund and
other Oppenheimer funds to reduce the sales charge rate that
applies to current purchases of Class A shares, and
o Class A and Class B shares of Oppenheimer funds you previously
purchased subject to an initial or contingent deferred sales
charge to reduce the sales charge rate for current purchases of
Class A shares, provided that you still hold your investment in
one of the Oppenheimer funds.
A fiduciary can count all shares purchased for a trust, estate or other
fiduciary account (including one or more employee benefit plans of the same
employer) that has multiple accounts. The Distributor will add the value, at
current offering price, of the shares you previously purchased and currently
own to the value of current purchases to determine the sales charge rate that
applies. The reduced sales charge will apply only to current purchases. You
must request it when you buy shares.
n The Oppenheimer Funds. The Oppenheimer funds are those mutual funds
for which the Distributor acts as the distributor or the sub-distributor and
currently include the following:
Oppenheimer Municipal Bond Fund Oppenheimer Global Fund
Oppenheimer New York Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Global Growth & Income Fund
Oppenheimer California Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals
Oppenheimer Intermediate Municipal Fund Fund
Oppenheimer Insured Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street California Oppenheimer International Bond Fund
Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund
Oppenheimer Florida Municipal Fund Oppenheimer International Growth Fund
Oppenheimer New Jersey Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Developing Markets Fund
Oppenheimer Pennsylvania Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund
Oppenheimer Discovery Fund Oppenheimer International Small
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund Company Fund
Oppenheimer Growth Fund Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund
Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value
Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies Fund Fund
Oppenheimer Total Return Fund, Inc. Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc.
Fund Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund,
Oppenheimer High Yield Fund Inc.
Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund Oppenheimer Quest Capital Value Fund,
Oppenheimer Bond Fund Inc.
Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust Oppenheimer MidCap Fund
Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government Fund Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund
Oppenheimer Large Cap Growth Fund Rochester Fund Municipals
Limited-Term New York Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Disciplined Value Fund
Oppenheimer Disciplined Allocation
Fund
Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
and the following money market funds:
Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. Centennial Government Trust
Oppenheimer Cash Reserves Centennial New York Tax Exempt Trust
Centennial Money Market Trust Centennial California Tax Exempt Trust
Centennial Tax Exempt Trust Centennial America Fund, L.P.
There is an initial sales charge on the purchase of Class A shares of
each of the Oppenheimer funds except the money market funds. Under certain
circumstances described in this Statement of Additional Information,
redemption proceeds of certain money market fund shares may be subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge.
Letters of Intent. Under a Letter of Intent, if you purchase Class A shares
or Class A and Class B shares of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds during
a 13-month period, you can reduce the sales charge rate that applies to your
purchases of Class A shares. The total amount of your intended purchases of
both Class A and Class B shares will determine the reduced sales charge rate
for the Class A shares purchased during that period. You can include
purchases made up to 90 days before the date of the Letter.
A Letter of Intent is an investor's statement in writing to the
Distributor of the intention to purchase Class A shares or Class A and Class
B shares of the Fund (and other Oppenheimer funds) during a 13-month period
(the "Letter of Intent period"). At the investor's request, this may include
purchases made up to 90 days prior to the date of the Letter. The Letter
states the investor's intention to make the aggregate amount of purchases of
shares which, when added to the investor's holdings of shares of those funds,
will equal or exceed the amount specified in the Letter. Purchases made by
reinvestment of dividends or distributions of capital gains and purchases
made at net asset value without sales charge do not count toward satisfying
the amount of the Letter.
A Letter enables an investor to count the Class A and Class B shares
purchased under the Letter to obtain the reduced sales charge rate on
purchases of Class A shares of the Fund (and other Oppenheimer funds) that
applies under the Right of Accumulation to current purchases of Class A
shares. Each purchase of Class A shares under the Letter will be made at the
public offering price (including the sales charge) that applies to a single
lump-sum purchase of shares in the amount intended to be purchased under the
Letter.
In submitting a Letter, the investor makes no commitment to purchase
shares. However, if the investor's purchases of shares within the Letter of
Intent period, when added to the value (at offering price) of the investor's
holdings of shares on the last day of that period, do not equal or exceed the
intended purchase amount, the investor agrees to pay the additional amount of
sales charge applicable to such purchases. That amount is described in "Terms
of Escrow," below (those terms may be amended by the Distributor from time to
time). The investor agrees that shares equal in value to 5% of the intended
purchase amount will be held in escrow by the Transfer Agent subject to the
Terms of Escrow. Also, the investor agrees to be bound by the terms of the
Prospectus, this Statement of Additional Information and the Application used
for a Letter of Intent. If those terms are amended, as they may be from time
to time by the Fund, the investor agrees to be bound by the amended terms and
that those amendments will apply automatically to existing Letters of Intent.
If the total eligible purchases made during the Letter of Intent period
do not equal or exceed the intended purchase amount, the commissions
previously paid to the dealer of record for the account and the amount of
sales charge retained by the Distributor will be adjusted to the rates
applicable to actual total purchases. If total eligible purchases during the
Letter of Intent period exceed the intended purchase amount and exceed the
amount needed to qualify for the next sales charge rate reduction set forth
in the Prospectus, the sales charges paid will be adjusted to the lower rate.
That adjustment will be made only if and when the dealer returns to the
Distributor the excess of the amount of commissions allowed or paid to the
dealer over the amount of commissions that apply to the actual amount of
purchases. The excess commissions returned to the Distributor will be used
to purchase additional shares for the investor's account at the net asset
value per share in effect on the date of such purchase, promptly after the
Distributor's receipt thereof.
The Transfer Agent will not hold shares in escrow for purchases of
shares of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds by OppenheimerFunds prototype
401(k) plans under a Letter of Intent. If the intended purchase amount under
a Letter of Intent entered into by an OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k) plan
is not purchased by the plan by the end of the Letter of Intent period, there
will be no adjustment of commissions paid to the broker-dealer or financial
institution of record for accounts held in the name of that plan.
In determining the total amount of purchases made under a Letter,
shares redeemed by the investor prior to the termination of the Letter of
Intent period will be deducted. It is the responsibility of the dealer of
record and/or the investor to advise the Distributor about the Letter in
placing any purchase orders for the investor during the Letter of Intent
period. All of such purchases must be made through the Distributor.
o Terms of Escrow That Apply to Letters of Intent.
1. Out of the initial purchase (or subsequent purchases if necessary)
made pursuant to a Letter, shares of the Fund equal in value up to 5% of the
intended purchase amount specified in the Letter shall be held in escrow by
the Transfer Agent. For example, if the intended purchase amount is $50,000,
the escrow shall be shares valued in the amount of $2,500 (computed at the
public offering price adjusted for a $50,000 purchase). Any dividends and
capital gains distributions on the escrowed shares will be credited to the
investor's account.
2. If the total minimum investment specified under the Letter is
completed within the thirteen-month Letter of Intent period, the escrowed
shares will be promptly released to the investor.
3. If, at the end of the thirteen-month Letter of Intent period the
total purchases pursuant to the Letter are less than the intended purchase
amount specified in the Letter, the investor must remit to the Distributor an
amount equal to the difference between the dollar amount of sales charges
actually paid and the amount of sales charges which would have been paid if
the total amount purchased had been made at a single time. That sales charge
adjustment will apply to any shares redeemed prior to the completion of the
Letter. If the difference in sales charges is not paid within twenty days
after a request from the Distributor or the dealer, the Distributor will,
within sixty days of the expiration of the Letter, redeem the number of
escrowed shares necessary to realize such difference in sales charges. Full
and fractional shares remaining after such redemption will be released from
escrow. If a request is received to redeem escrowed shares prior to the
payment of such additional sales charge, the sales charge will be withheld
from the redemption proceeds.
4. By signing the Letter, the investor irrevocably constitutes and
appoints the Transfer Agent as attorney-in-fact to surrender for redemption
any or all escrowed shares.
5. The shares eligible for purchase under the Letter (or the holding of
which may be counted toward completion of a Letter) include:
(a) Class A shares sold with a front-end sales charge or subject to a Class
A contingent deferred sales charge,
(b) Class B shares of other Oppenheimer funds acquired subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge, and
(c) Class A or Class B shares acquired by exchange of either (1) Class A
shares of one of the other Oppenheimer funds that were acquired
subject to a Class A initial or contingent deferred sales charge
or (2) Class B shares of one of the other Oppenheimer funds that
were acquired subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
6. Shares held in escrow hereunder will automatically be exchanged for
shares of another fund to which an exchange is requested, as described in the
section of the Prospectus entitled "How to Exchange Shares" and the escrow
will be transferred to that other fund.
Asset Builder Plans. To establish an Asset Builder Plan to buy shares
directly from a bank account, you must enclose a check (minimum $25) for the
initial purchase with your application. Shares purchased by Asset Builder
Plan payments from bank accounts are subject to the redemption restrictions
for recent purchases described in the Prospectus. Asset Builder Plans also
enable shareholders of Oppenheimer Cash Reserves to use their fund account to
make monthly automatic purchases of shares of up to four other Oppenheimer
funds.
If you make payments from your bank account to purchase shares of the
Fund, your bank account will be automatically debited, normally four to five
business days prior to the investment dates selected in the Application.
Neither the Distributor, the Transfer Agent nor the Fund shall be responsible
for any delays in purchasing shares resulting from delays in ACH
transmission.
Before initiating Asset Builder payments, obtain a prospectus of the
selected fund(s) from the Distributor or your financial advisor and request
an application from the Distributor, complete it and return it. The amount
of the Asset Builder investment may be changed or the automatic investments
may be terminated at any time by writing to the Transfer Agent. The Transfer
Agent requires a reasonable period (approximately 15 days) after receipt of
such instructions to implement them. The Fund reserves the right to amend,
suspend, or discontinue offering Asset Builder plans at any time without
prior notice.
Retirement Plans. Certain types of Retirement Plans are entitled to purchase
shares of the Fund without sales charge or at reduced sales charge rates, as
described in the Appendix to this Statement of Additional Information.
Certain special sales charge arrangements described in that Appendix apply to
Retirement Plans whose records are maintained on a daily valuation basis by
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc. or an independent record keeper
that has a contract or special arrangement with Merrill Lynch. If on the date
the plan sponsor signed the Merrill Lynch record keeping service agreement
the Plan has less than $3 million in assets (other than assets invested in
money market funds) invested in Applicable Investments, then the Retirement
Plan may purchase only Class B shares of the Oppenheimer funds. Any
Retirement Plans in that category that currently invest in Class B shares of
the Fund will have their Class B shares converted to Class A shares of the
Fund when the Plan's Applicable Investments reach $5 million.
Cancellation of Purchase Orders. Cancellation of purchase orders for the
Fund's shares (for example, when a purchase check is returned to the Fund
unpaid) causes a loss to be incurred when the net asset value of the Fund's
shares on the cancellation date is less than on the purchase date. That loss
is equal to the amount of the decline in the net asset value per share
multiplied by the number of shares in the purchase order. The investor is
responsible for that loss. If the investor fails to compensate the Fund for
the loss, the Distributor will do so. The Fund may reimburse the Distributor
for that amount by redeeming shares from any account registered in that
investor's name, or the Fund or the Distributor may seek other redress.
Classes of Shares. Each class of shares of the Fund represents an interest in
the same portfolio of investments of the Fund. However, each class has
different shareholder privileges and features. The net income attributable
to a class of shares and the dividends payable on a class of shares will be
reduced by incremental expenses borne solely by that class. Those expenses
include the asset-based sales charges to which Class A, Class B and Class C
are subject.
The availability of different classes of shares permits an investor to
choose the method of purchasing shares that is more appropriate for the
investor. That may depend on the amount of the purchase, the length of time
the investor expects to hold shares, and other relevant circumstances. Class
A shares in general are sold subject to an initial sales charge. While Class
B and Class C shares have no initial sales charge, the purpose of the
deferred sales charge and asset-based sales charge on Class B and Class C
shares is the same as that of the initial sales charge on Class A shares - to
compensate the Distributor and brokers, dealers and financial institutions
that sell shares of the Fund. A salesperson who is entitled to receive
compensation for selling Fund shares may receive different levels of
compensation for selling to one class of shares than another.
The Distributor will not accept any order in the amount of $500,000 or
more for Class B shares or $1 million or more for Class C shares on behalf of
a single investor (not including dealer "street name" or omnibus accounts).
That is because generally it will be more advantageous for that investor to
purchase Class A shares of the Fund.
o Class B Conversion. The conversion of Class B shares to Class A
shares after six years is subject to the continuing availability of a private
letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel or
tax adviser, to the effect that the conversion of Class B shares does not
constitute a taxable event for the holder under Federal income tax law. If
such a revenue ruling or opinion is no longer available, the automatic
conversion feature may be suspended, in which event no further conversions of
Class B shares would occur while such suspension remained in effect.
Although Class B shares could then be exchanged for Class A shares on the
basis of relative net asset value of the two classes, without the imposition
of a sales charge or fee, such exchange could constitute a taxable event for
the holder, and absent such exchange, Class B shares might continue to be
subject to the asset-based sales charge for longer than six years.
o Allocation of Expenses. The Fund pays expenses related to its daily
operations, such as custodian fees, Trustees' fees, transfer agency fees,
legal fees and auditing costs. Those expenses are paid out of the Fund's
assets and are not paid directly by shareholders. However, those expenses
reduce the net asset value of shares, and therefore are indirectly borne by
shareholders through their investment.
The methodology for calculating the net asset value, dividends and
distributions of the Fund's share classes recognizes two types of expenses.
General expenses that do not pertain specifically to any one class are
allocated pro rata to the shares of all classes. The allocation is based on
the percentage of the Fund's total assets that is represented by the assets
of each class, and then equally to each outstanding share within a given
class. Such general expenses include management fees, legal, bookkeeping and
audit fees, printing and mailing costs of shareholder reports, Prospectuses,
Statements of Additional Information and other materials for current
shareholders, fees to unaffiliated Trustees, custodian expenses, share
issuance costs, organization and start-up costs, interest, taxes and
brokerage commissions, and non-recurring expenses, such as litigation costs.
Other expenses that are directly attributable to a particular class are
allocated equally to each outstanding share within that class. Examples of
such expenses include distribution and service plan (12b-1) fees, transfer
and shareholder servicing agent fees and expenses, share registration fees
and shareholder meeting expenses (to the extent that such expenses pertain
only to a specific class).
Determination of Net Asset Values Per Share. The net asset values per share
of each class of shares of the Fund are determined as of the close of
business of The New York Stock Exchange on each day that the Exchange is
open. The calculation is done by dividing the value of the Fund's net assets
attributable to a class by the number of shares of that class that are
outstanding. The Exchange normally closes at 4:00 P.M., New York time, but
may close earlier on some other days (for example, in case of weather
emergencies or on days falling before a holiday). The Exchange's most recent
annual announcement (which is subject to change) states that it will close on
New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Good Friday,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas
Day. It may also close on other days.
Dealers other than Exchange members may conduct trading in certain
securities on days on which the Exchange is closed (including weekends and
holidays) or after 4:00 P.M. on a regular business day. Because the Fund's
net asset values will not be calculated on those days, the Fund's net asset
values per share may be significantly affected on such days when shareholders
may not purchase or redeem shares. For example, trading on European and Asian
stock exchanges and over-the-counter markets normally is completed before the
close of The New York Stock Exchange.
Changes in the values of securities traded on foreign exchanges or
markets as a result of events that occur after the prices of those securities
are determined, but before the close of The New York Stock Exchange, will not
be reflected in the Fund's calculation of its net asset values that day
unless the Board of Trustees determines that the event is likely to effect a
material change in the value of the security. The Manager may make that
determination, under procedures established by the Board.
n Securities Valuation. The Fund's Board of Trustees has established
procedures for the valuation of the Fund's securities. In general those
procedures are as follows:
o Equity securities traded on a U.S. securities exchange or on NASDAQ
are valued as follows:
(1) if last sale information is regularly reported, they are valued at the
last reported sale price on the principal exchange on which
they are traded or on NASDAQ, as applicable, on that day, or
(2) if last sale information is not available on a valuation date, they are
valued at the last reported sale price preceding the valuation
date if it is within the spread of the closing "bid" and
"asked" prices on the valuation date or, if not, at the
closing "bid" price on the valuation date.
o Equity securities traded on a foreign securities exchange generally
are valued in one of the following ways:
(1) at the last sale price available to the pricing service approved by the
Board of Trustees, or
(2) at the last sale price obtained by the Manager from the report of the
principal exchange on which the security is traded at its last
trading session on or immediately before the valuation date, or
(3) at the mean between the "bid" and "asked" prices obtained from the
principal exchange on which the security is traded or, on the
basis of reasonable inquiry, from two market makers in the
security.
o Long-term debt securities having a remaining maturity in excess of
60 days are valued based on the mean between the "bid" and "asked" prices
determined by a portfolio pricing service approved by the Fund's Board of
Trustees or obtained by the Manager from two active market makers in the
security on the basis of reasonable inquiry.
o The following securities are valued at the mean between the "bid"
and "asked" prices determined by a pricing service approved by the Fund's
Board of Trustees or obtained by the Manager from two active market makers in
the security on the basis of reasonable inquiry:
(1) debt instruments that have a maturity of more than 397 days when
issued,
(2) debt instruments that had a maturity of 397 days or less when issued
and have a remaining maturity of more than 60 days, and
(3) non-money market debt instruments that had a maturity of 397 days or
less when issued and which have a remaining maturity of 60 days or
less.
o The following securities are valued at cost, adjusted for
amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts:
(1) money market debt securities held by a non-money market fund that had a
maturity of less than 397 days when issued that have a remaining
maturity of 60 days or less, and
(2) debt instruments held by a money market fund that have a remaining
maturity of 397 days or less.
o Securities (including restricted securities) not having
readily-available market quotations are valued at fair value determined under
the Board's procedures. If the Manager is unable to locate two market makers
willing to give quotes, a security may be priced at the mean between the
"bid" and "asked" prices provided by a single active market maker (which in
certain cases may be the "bid" price if no "asked" price is available).
In the case of U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities,
corporate bonds and foreign government securities, when last sale information
is not generally available, the Manager may use pricing services approved by
the Board of Trustees. The pricing service may use "matrix" comparisons to
the prices for comparable instruments on the basis of quality, yield,
maturity. Other special factors may be involved (such as the tax-exempt
status of the interest paid by municipal securities). The Manager will
monitor the accuracy of the pricing services. That monitoring may include
comparing prices used for portfolio valuation to actual sales prices of
selected securities.
The closing prices in the London foreign exchange market on a
particular business day that are provided to the Manager by a bank, dealer or
pricing service that the Manager has determined to be reliable are used to
value foreign currency, including forward contracts, and to convert to U.S.
dollars securities that are denominated in foreign currency.
Puts, calls, and futures are valued at the last sale price on the
principal exchange on which they are traded or on NASDAQ, as applicable, as
determined by a pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees or by the
Manager. If there were no sales that day, they shall be valued at the last
sale price on the preceding trading day if it is within the spread of the
closing "bid" and "asked" prices on the principal exchange or on NASDAQ on
the valuation date. If not, the value shall be the closing bid price on the
principal exchange or on NASDAQ on the valuation date. If the put, call or
future is not traded on an exchange or on NASDAQ, it shall be valued by the
mean between "bid" and "asked" prices obtained by the Manager from two active
market makers. In certain cases that may be at the "bid" price if no "asked"
price is available.
When the Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received
is included in the Fund's Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an asset. An
equivalent credit is included in the liability section. The credit is
adjusted ("marked-to-market") to reflect the current market value of the
option. In determining the Fund's gain on investments, if a call or put
written by the Fund is exercised, the proceeds are increased by the premium
received. If a call or put written by the Fund expires, the Fund has a gain
in the amount of the premium. If the Fund enters into a closing purchase
transaction, it will have a gain or loss, depending on whether the premium
received was more or less than the cost of the closing transaction. If the
Fund exercises a put it holds, the amount the Fund receives on its sale of
the underlying investment is reduced by the amount of premium paid by the
Fund.
How to Sell Shares
Information on how to sell shares of the Fund is stated in the
Prospectus. The information below provides additional information about the
procedures and conditions for redeeming shares.
Reinvestment Privilege. Within six months of a redemption, a shareholder may
reinvest all or part of the redemption proceeds of:
o Class A shares that you purchased subject to an initial sales charge
or Class A shares on which a contingent deferred sales charge was paid, or
o Class B shares that were subject to the Class B contingent deferred
sales charge when redeemed.
The reinvestment may be made without sales charge only in Class A
shares of the Fund or any of the other Oppenheimer funds into which shares of
the Fund are exchangeable as described in "How to Exchange Shares" below.
Reinvestment will be at the net asset value next computed after the Transfer
Agent receives the reinvestment order. The shareholder must ask the Transfer
Agent for that privilege at the time of reinvestment. This privilege does not
apply to Class C shares. The Fund may amend, suspend or cease offering this
reinvestment privilege at any time as to shares redeemed after the date of
such amendment, suspension or cessation.
Any capital gain that was realized when the shares were redeemed is
taxable, and reinvestment will not alter any capital gains tax payable on
that gain. If there has been a capital loss on the redemption, some or all
of the loss may not be tax deductible, depending on the timing and amount of
the reinvestment. Under the Internal Revenue Code, if the redemption
proceeds of Fund shares on which a sales charge was paid are reinvested in
shares of the Fund or another of the Oppenheimer funds within 90 days of
payment of the sales charge, the shareholder's basis in the shares of the
Fund that were redeemed may not include the amount of the sales charge paid.
That would reduce the loss or increase the gain recognized from the
redemption. However, in that case the sales charge would be added to the
basis of the shares acquired by the reinvestment of the redemption proceeds.
Payments "In Kind". The Prospectus states that payment for shares tendered
for redemption is ordinarily made in cash. However, the Board of Trustees of
the Fund may determine that it would be detrimental to the best interests of
the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment of a redemption order
wholly or partly in cash. In that case, the Fund may pay the redemption
proceeds in whole or in part by a distribution "in kind" of securities from
the portfolio of the Fund, in lieu of cash.
The Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment
Company Act. Under that rule, the Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely
in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the Fund
during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. If shares are redeemed in
kind, the redeeming shareholder might incur brokerage or other costs in
selling the securities for cash. The Fund will value securities used to pay
redemptions in kind using the same method the Fund uses to value its
portfolio securities described above under "Determination of Net Asset Values
Per Share." That valuation will be made as of the time the redemption price
is determined.
Involuntary Redemptions. The Fund's Board of Trustees has the right to cause
the involuntary redemption of the shares held in any account if the aggregate
net asset value of those shares is less than $500 or such lesser amount as
the Board may fix. The Board will not cause the involuntary redemption of
shares in an account if the aggregate net asset value of such shares has
fallen below the stated minimum solely as a result of market fluctuations.
If the Board exercises this right, it may also fix the requirements for any
notice to be given to the shareholders in question (not less than 30 days).
The Board may alternatively set requirements for the shareholder to increase
the investment, or set other terms and conditions so that the shares would
not be involuntarily redeemed.
Transfers of Shares. A transfer of shares to a different registration is not
an event that triggers the payment of sales charges. Therefore, shares are
not subject to the payment of a contingent deferred sales charge of any class
at the time of transfer to the name of another person or entity. It does not
matter whether the transfer occurs by absolute assignment, gift or bequest,
as long as it does not involve, directly or indirectly, a public sale of the
shares. When shares subject to a contingent deferred sales charge are
transferred, the transferred shares will remain subject to the contingent
deferred sales charge. It will be calculated as if the transferee shareholder
had acquired the transferred shares in the same manner and at the same time
as the transferring shareholder.
If less than all shares held in an account are transferred, and some
but not all shares in the account would be subject to a contingent deferred
sales charge if redeemed at the time of transfer, the priorities described in
the Prospectus under "How to Buy Shares" for the imposition of the Class B or
Class C contingent deferred sales charge will be followed in determining the
order in which shares are transferred.
Selling Shares by Wire. The wire of redemption proceeds may be delayed if
the Fund's custodian bank is not open for business on a day when the Fund
would normally authorize the wire to be made, which is usually the Fund's
next regular business day following the redemption. In those circumstances,
the wire will not be transmitted until the next bank business day on which
the Fund is open for business. No dividends will be paid on the proceeds of
redeemed shares awaiting transfer by wire.
Distributions From Retirement Plans. Requests for distributions from
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored IRAs, 403(b)(7) custodial plans, 401(k) plans or
pension or profit-sharing plans should be addressed to "Trustee,
OppenheimerFunds Retirement Plans," c/o the Transfer Agent at its address
listed in "How To Sell Shares" in the Prospectus or on the back cover of this
Statement of Additional Information. The request must
(1) state the reason for the distribution;
(2) state the owner's awareness of tax penalties if the distribution is
premature; and
(3) conform to the requirements of the plan and the Fund's other redemption
requirements.
Participants (other than self-employed persons) in
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored pension or profit-sharing plans with shares of the
Fund held in the name of the plan or its fiduciary may not directly request
redemption of their accounts. The plan administrator or fiduciary must sign
the request.
Distributions from pension and profit sharing plans are subject to
special requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and certain documents
(available from the Transfer Agent) must be completed and submitted to the
Transfer Agent before the distribution may be made. Distributions from
retirement plans are subject to withholding requirements under the Internal
Revenue Code, and IRS Form W-4P (available from the Transfer Agent) must be
submitted to the Transfer Agent with the distribution request, or the
distribution may be delayed. Unless the shareholder has provided the
Transfer Agent with a certified tax identification number, the Internal
Revenue Code requires that tax be withheld from any distribution even if the
shareholder elects not to have tax withheld. The Fund, the Manager, the
Distributor, and the Transfer Agent assume no responsibility to determine
whether a distribution satisfies the conditions of applicable tax laws and
will not be responsible for any tax penalties assessed in connection with a
distribution.
Special Arrangements for Repurchase of Shares from Dealers and Brokers. The
Distributor is the Fund's agent to repurchase its shares from authorized
dealers or brokers on behalf of their customers. Shareholders should contact
their broker or dealer to arrange this type of redemption. The repurchase
price per share will be the net asset value next computed after the
Distributor receives an order placed by the dealer or broker. However, if the
Distributor receives a repurchase order from a dealer or broker after the
close of The New York Stock Exchange on a regular business day, it will be
processed at that day's net asset value if the order was received by the
dealer or broker from its customers prior to the time the Exchange closes.
Normally, the Exchange closes at 4:00 P.M., but may do so earlier on some
days. Additionally, the order must have been transmitted to and received by
the Distributor prior to its close of business that day (normally 5:00
P.M.).
Ordinarily, for accounts redeemed by a broker-dealer under this
procedure, payment will be made within three business days after the shares
have been redeemed upon the Distributor's receipt of the required redemption
documents in proper form. The signature(s) of the registered owners on the
redemption documents must be guaranteed as described in the Prospectus.
Automatic Withdrawal and Exchange Plans. Investors owning shares of the Fund
valued at $5,000 or more can authorize the Transfer Agent to redeem shares
(having a value of at least $50) automatically on a monthly, quarterly,
semi-annual or annual basis under an Automatic Withdrawal Plan. Shares will
be redeemed three business days prior to the date requested by the
shareholder for receipt of the payment. Automatic withdrawals of up to
$1,500 per month may be requested by telephone if payments are to be made by
check payable to all shareholders of record. Payments must also be sent to
the address of record for the account and the address must not have been
changed within the prior 30 days. Required minimum distributions from
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored retirement plans may not be arranged on this
basis.
Payments are normally made by check, but shareholders having
AccountLink privileges (see "How To Buy Shares") may arrange to have
Automatic Withdrawal Plan payments transferred to the bank account designated
on the Account Application or by signature-guaranteed instructions sent to
the Transfer Agent. Shares are normally redeemed pursuant to an Automatic
Withdrawal Plan three business days before the payment transmittal date you
select in the Account Application. If a contingent deferred sales charge
applies to the redemption, the amount of the check or payment will be reduced
accordingly.
The Fund cannot guarantee receipt of a payment on the date requested.
The Fund reserves the right to amend, suspend or discontinue offering these
plans at any time without prior notice. Because of the sales charge assessed
on Class A share purchases, shareholders should not make regular additional
Class A share purchases while participating in an Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
Class B and Class C shareholders should not establish withdrawal plans,
because of the imposition of the contingent deferred sales charge on such
withdrawals (except where the contingent deferred sales charge is waived as
described in "Waivers of Class B and Class C Sales Charges" below).
By requesting an Automatic Withdrawal or Exchange Plan, the shareholder
agrees to the terms and conditions that apply to such plans, as stated
below. These provisions may be amended from time to time by the Fund and/or
the Distributor. When adopted, any amendments will automatically apply to
existing Plans.
n Automatic Exchange Plans. Shareholders can authorize the Transfer
Agent to exchange a pre-determined amount of shares of the Fund for shares
(of the same class) of other Oppenheimer funds automatically on a monthly,
quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis under an Automatic Exchange Plan. The
minimum amount that may be exchanged to each other fund account is $25.
Instructions should be provided on the OppenheimerFunds Application or
signature-guaranteed instructions. Exchanges made under these plans are
subject to the restrictions that apply to exchanges as set forth in "How to
Exchange Shares" in the Prospectus and below in this Statement of Additional
Information.
n Automatic Withdrawal Plans. Fund shares will be redeemed as
necessary to meet withdrawal payments. Shares acquired without a sales
charge will be redeemed first. Shares acquired with reinvested dividends and
capital gains distributions will be redeemed next, followed by shares
acquired with a sales charge, to the extent necessary to make withdrawal
payments. Depending upon the amount withdrawn, the investor's principal may
be depleted. Payments made under these plans should not be considered as a
yield or income on your investment.
The Transfer Agent will administer the investor's Automatic Withdrawal
Plan as agent for the shareholder(s) (the "Planholder") who executed the Plan
authorization and application submitted to the Transfer Agent. Neither the
Fund nor the Transfer Agent shall incur any liability to the Planholder for
any action taken or not taken by the Transfer Agent in good faith to
administer the Plan. Share certificates will not be issued for shares of the
Fund purchased for and held under the Plan, but the Transfer Agent will
credit all such shares to the account of the Planholder on the records of the
Fund. Any share certificates held by a Planholder may be surrendered
unendorsed to the Transfer Agent with the Plan application so that the shares
represented by the certificate may be held under the Plan.
For accounts subject to Automatic Withdrawal Plans, distributions of
capital gains must be reinvested in shares of the Fund, which will be done at
net asset value without a sales charge. Dividends on shares held in the
account may be paid in cash or reinvested.
Shares will be redeemed to make withdrawal payments at the net asset
value per share determined on the redemption date. Checks or AccountLink
payments representing the proceeds of Plan withdrawals will normally be
transmitted three business days prior to the date selected for receipt of the
payment, according to the choice specified in writing by the Planholder.
Receipt of payment on the date selected cannot be guaranteed
The amount and the interval of disbursement payments and the address to
which checks are to be mailed or AccountLink payments are to be sent may be
changed at any time by the Planholder by writing to the Transfer Agent. The
Planholder should allow at least two weeks' time after mailing such
notification for the requested change to be put in effect. The Planholder
may, at any time, instruct the Transfer Agent by written notice to redeem
all, or any part of, the shares held under the Plan. That notice must be in
proper form in accordance with the requirements of the then-current
Prospectus of the Fund. In that case, the Transfer Agent will redeem the
number of shares requested at the net asset value per share in effect and
will mail a check for the proceeds to the Planholder.
The Planholder may terminate a Plan at any time by writing to the
Transfer Agent. The Fund may also give directions to the Transfer Agent to
terminate a Plan. The Transfer Agent will also terminate a Plan upon its
receipt of evidence satisfactory to it that the Planholder has died or is
legally incapacitated. Upon termination of a Plan by the Transfer Agent or
the Fund, shares that have not been redeemed will be held in uncertificated
form in the name of the Planholder. The account will continue as a
dividend-reinvestment, uncertificated account unless and until proper
instructions are received from the Planholder, his or her executor or
guardian, or another authorized person.
To use shares held under the Plan as collateral for a debt, the
Planholder may request issuance of a portion of the shares in certificated
form. Upon written request from the Planholder, the Transfer Agent will
determine the number of shares for which a certificate may be issued without
causing the withdrawal checks to stop. However, should such uncertificated
shares become exhausted, Plan withdrawals will terminate.
If the Transfer Agent ceases to act as transfer agent for the Fund, the
Planholder will be deemed to have appointed any successor transfer agent to
act as agent in administering the Plan.
How to Exchange Shares
As stated in the Prospectus, shares of a particular class of
Oppenheimer funds having more than one class of shares may be exchanged only
for shares of the same class of other Oppenheimer funds. Shares of
Oppenheimer funds that have a single class without a class designation are
deemed "Class A" shares for this purpose. You can obtain a current list
showing which funds offer which classes by calling the Distributor at
1-800-525-7048.
o All of the Oppenheimer funds currently offer Class A, B and C shares
except Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc., Centennial Money Market Trust,
Centennial Tax Exempt Trust, Centennial Government Trust, Centennial New York
Tax Exempt Trust, Centennial California Tax Exempt Trust, and Centennial
America Fund, L.P., which only offer Class A shares.
o Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund currently offers
only Class A and Class B shares.
o Class B and Class C shares of Oppenheimer Cash Reserves are
generally available only by exchange from the same class of shares of other
Oppenheimer funds or through OppenheimerFunds sponsored 401 (k) plans.
o Class Y shares of Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund may not be exchanged
for shares of any other Fund.
Class A shares of Oppenheimer funds may be exchanged at net asset value
for shares of any money market fund offered by the Distributor. Shares of
any money market fund purchased without a sales charge may be exchanged for
shares of Oppenheimer funds offered with a sales charge upon payment of the
sales charge. They may also be used to purchase shares of Oppenheimer funds
subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
Shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. purchased with the
redemption proceeds of shares of other mutual funds (other than funds managed
by the Manager or its subsidiaries) redeemed within the 30 days prior to that
purchase may subsequently be exchanged for shares of other Oppenheimer funds
without being subject to an initial or contingent deferred sales charge. To
qualify for that privilege, the investor or the investor's dealer must notify
the Distributor of eligibility for this privilege at the time the shares of
Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. are purchased. If requested, they must
supply proof of entitlement to this privilege.
For accounts established on or before March 8, 1996 holding Class M
shares of Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund, Class M shares can be
exchanged only for Class A shares of other Oppenheimer funds. Exchanges to
Class M shares of Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund are permitted from
Class A shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. or Oppenheimer Cash
Reserves that were acquired by exchange of Class M shares. No other
exchanges may be made to Class M shares.
Shares of the Fund acquired by reinvestment of dividends or
distributions from any of the other Oppenheimer funds or from any unit
investment trust for which reinvestment arrangements have been made with the
Distributor may be exchanged at net asset value for shares of any of the
Oppenheimer funds.
o How Exchanges Affect Contingent Deferred Sales Charges. No
contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on exchanges of shares of any
class purchased subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. However, when
Class A shares acquired by exchange of Class A shares of other Oppenheimer
funds purchased subject to a Class A contingent deferred sales charge are
redeemed within 18 months of the end of the calendar month of the initial
purchase of the exchanged Class A shares, the Class A contingent deferred
sales charge is imposed on the redeemed shares. The Class B contingent
deferred sales charge is imposed on Class B shares acquired by exchange if
they are redeemed within 6 years of the initial purchase of the exchanged
Class B shares. The Class C contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on
Class C shares acquired by exchange if they are redeemed within 12 months of
the initial purchase of the exchanged Class C shares.
When Class B or Class C shares are redeemed to effect an exchange, the
priorities described in "How To Buy Shares" in the Prospectus for the
imposition of the Class B or the Class C contingent deferred sales charge
will be followed in determining the order in which the shares are exchanged.
Before exchanging shares, shareholders should take into account how the
exchange may affect any contingent deferred sales charge that might be
imposed in the subsequent redemption of remaining shares. Shareholders
owning shares of more than one Class must specify whether they intend to
exchange Class A, Class B or Class C shares.
o Limits on Multiple Exchange Orders. The Fund reserves the right to
reject telephone or written exchange requests submitted in bulk by anyone on
behalf of more than one account. The Fund may accept requests for exchanges
of up to 50 accounts per day from representatives of authorized dealers that
qualify for this privilege.
o Telephone Exchange Requests. When exchanging shares by telephone, a
shareholder must have an existing account in the fund to which the exchange
is to be made. Otherwise, the investors must obtain a Prospectus of that fund
before the exchange request may be submitted. For full or partial exchanges
of an account made by telephone, any special account features such as Asset
Builder Plans and Automatic Withdrawal Plans will be switched to the new
account unless the Transfer Agent is instructed otherwise. If all telephone
lines are busy (which might occur, for example, during periods of substantial
market fluctuations), shareholders might not be able to request exchanges by
telephone and would have to submit written exchange requests.
o Processing Exchange Requests. Shares to be exchanged are redeemed on
the regular business day the Transfer Agent receives an exchange request in
proper form (the "Redemption Date"). Normally, shares of the fund to be
acquired are purchased on the Redemption Date, but such purchases may be
delayed by either fund up to five business days if it determines that it
would be disadvantaged by an immediate transfer of the redemption proceeds.
The Fund reserves the right, in its discretion, to refuse any exchange
request that may disadvantage it. For example, if the receipt of multiple
exchange requests from a dealer might require the disposition of portfolio
securities at a time or at a price that might be disadvantageous to the Fund,
the Fund may refuse the request.
In connection with any exchange request, the number of shares exchanged
may be less than the number requested if the exchange or the number requested
would include shares subject to a restriction cited in the Prospectus or this
Statement of Additional Information, or would include shares covered by a
share certificate that is not tendered with the request. In those cases,
only the shares available for exchange without restriction will be exchanged.
The different Oppenheimer funds available for exchange have different
investment objectives, policies and risks. A shareholder should assure that
the fund selected is appropriate for his or her investment and should be
aware of the tax consequences of an exchange. For federal income tax
purposes, an exchange transaction is treated as a redemption of shares of one
fund and a purchase of shares of another. "Reinvestment Privilege," above,
discusses some of the tax consequences of reinvestment of redemption proceeds
in such cases. The Fund, the Distributor, and the Transfer Agent are unable
to provide investment, tax or legal advice to a shareholder in connection
with an exchange request or any other investment transaction.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund has no fixed dividend rate and there
can be no assurance as to the payment of any dividends or the realization of
any capital gains. The dividends and distributions paid by a class of shares
will vary from time to time depending on market conditions, the composition
of the Fund's portfolio, and expenses borne by the Fund or borne separately
by a class. Dividends are calculated in the same manner, at the same time,
and on the same day for each class of shares. However, dividends on Class B
and Class C shares are expected to be lower than dividends on Class A shares.
That is because of the effect of the higher asset-based sales charge on Class
B and Class C shares. Those dividends will also differ in amount as a
consequence of any difference in the net asset values of each class of shares.
Dividends, distributions and proceeds of the redemption of Fund shares
represented by checks returned to the Transfer Agent by the Postal Service as
undeliverable will be invested in shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund,
Inc. Reinvestment will be made as promptly as possible after the return of
such checks to the Transfer Agent, to enable the investor to earn a return on
otherwise idle funds. Unclaimed accounts may be subject to state escheatment
laws, and the Fund and the Transfer Agent will not be liable to shareholders
or their representatives for compliance with those laws in good faith.
Tax Status of the Fund's Dividends and Distributions. The Federal tax
treatment of the Fund's dividends and capital gains distributions is briefly
highlighted in the Prospectus.
Special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code govern the
eligibility of the Fund's dividends for the dividends-received deduction for
corporate shareholders. Long-term capital gains distributions are not
eligible for the deduction. The amount of dividends paid by the Fund that
may qualify for the deduction is limited to the aggregate amount of
qualifying dividends that the Fund derives from portfolio investments that
the Fund has held for a minimum period, usually 46 days. A corporate
shareholder will not be eligible for the deduction on dividends paid on Fund
shares held for 45 days or less. To the extent the Fund's dividends are
derived from gross income from option premiums, interest income or short-term
gains from the sale of securities or dividends from foreign corporations,
those dividends will not qualify for the deduction.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, by December 31 each year, the Fund
must distribute 98% of its taxable investment income earned from January 1
through December 31 of that year and 98% of its capital gains realized in the
period from November 1 of the prior year through October 31 of the current
year. If it does not, the Fund must pay an excise tax on the amounts not
distributed. It is presently anticipated that the Fund will meet those
requirements. However, the Board of Trustees and the Manager might determine
in a particular year that it would be in the best interests of shareholders
for the Fund not to make such distributions at the required levels and to pay
the excise tax on the undistributed amounts. That would reduce the amount of
income or capital gains available for distribution to shareholders.
The Fund intends to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under
the Internal Revenue Code (although it reserves the right not to qualify).
That qualification enables the Fund to "pass through" its income and realized
capital gains to shareholders without having to pay tax on them. This avoids
a double tax on that income and capital gains, since shareholders normally
will be taxed on the dividends and capital gains they receive from the Fund
(unless the Fund's shares are held in a retirement account or the shareholder
is otherwise exempt from tax). If the Fund qualifies as a "regulated
investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code, it will not be liable
for Federal income taxes on amounts paid by it as dividends and
distributions. The Fund qualified as a regulated investment company in its
last fiscal year. The Internal Revenue Code contains a number of complex
tests relating to qualification which the Fund might not meet in any
particular year. If it did not so qualify, the Fund would be treated for tax
purposes as an ordinary corporation and receive no tax deduction for payments
made to shareholders.
If prior distributions made by the Fund must be re-characterized as a
non-taxable return of capital at the end of the fiscal year as a result of
the effect of the Fund's investment policies, they will be identified as such
in notices sent to shareholders.
Dividend Reinvestment in Another Fund. Shareholders of the Fund may elect to
reinvest all dividends and/or capital gains distributions in shares of the
same class of any of the other Oppenheimer funds listed above. Reinvestment
will be made without sales charge at the net asset value per share in effect
at the close of business on the payable date of the dividend or distribution.
To elect this option, the shareholder must notify the Transfer Agent in
writing and must have an existing account in the fund selected for
reinvestment. Otherwise the shareholder first must obtain a prospectus for
that fund and an application from the Distributor to establish an account.
Dividends and/or distributions from shares of certain other Oppenheimer funds
(other than Oppenheimer Cash Reserves) may be invested in shares of this Fund
on the same basis.
Additional Information About the Fund
The Distributor. The Fund's shares are sold through dealers, brokers and
other financial institutions that have a sales agreement with
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., a subsidiary of the Manager that acts as
the Fund's Distributor. The Distributor also distributes shares of the other
Oppenheimer funds and is sub-distributor for funds managed by a subsidiary of
the Manager.
The Transfer Agent. OppenheimerFunds Services, the Fund's Transfer Agent, is
a division of the Manager. It is responsible for maintaining the Fund's
shareholder registry and shareholder accounting records, and for paying
dividends and distributions to shareholders. It also handles shareholder
servicing and administrative functions. It acts on an "at-cost" basis. It
also acts as shareholder servicing agent for the other Oppenheimer funds.
Shareholders should direct inquiries about their accounts to the Transfer
Agent at the address and toll-free numbers shown on the back cover.
n Shareholder Servicing Agent for Certain Shareholders. Unified
Management Corporation (1-800-346-4601) is the shareholder servicing agent
for shareholders of the Fund who were former shareholders of the AMA Family
of Funds and clients of AMA Investment Advisers, Inc. (which had been the
investment adviser of AMA Family of Funds). It is also the servicing agent
for Fund shareholders who are:
(i) former shareholders of the Unified Funds and Liquid Green Trusts,
(ii) accounts that participated or participate in a retirement plan for
which Unified Investment Advisers, Inc. or an affiliate acts as
custodian or trustee,
(iii) accounts that have a Money Manager brokerage account, and
(iv) other accounts for which Unified Management Corporation is the dealer
of record.
The Custodian. Citibank, N.A. is the Custodian of the Fund's assets. The
Custodian's responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Fund's
portfolio securities and handling the delivery of such securities to and from
the Fund. It will be the practice of the Fund to deal with the Custodian in
a manner uninfluenced by any banking relationship the Custodian may have with
the Manager and its affiliates. The Fund's cash balances with the custodian
in excess of $100,000 are not protected by Federal deposit insurance. Those
uninsured balances at times may be substantial.
Independent Auditors. PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP are the independent
auditors of the Fund. They audit the Fund's financial statements and perform
other related audit services. They also act as auditors for certain other
funds advised by the Manager and its affiliates.
<PAGE>
A-5
Appendix A
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RATINGS DEFINITIONS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below are summaries of the rating definitions used by the
nationally-recognized rating agencies listed below. Those ratings
represent the opinion of the agency as to the credit quality of issues
that they rate. The summaries below are based upon publicly-available
information provided by the rating organizations.
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-Term (Taxable) Bond Ratings
Aaa: Bonds rated Aaa are judged to be the best quality. They carry the
smallest degree of investment risk. Interest payments are protected by a
large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While
the various protective elements are likely to change, the changes that can be
expected are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of
such issues.
Aa: Bonds rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards.
Together with the Aaa group, they comprise what are generally known as
high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins
of protection may not be as large as with Aaa securities or fluctuation of
protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other
elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than
those of Aaa securities.
A: Bonds rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be
considered as upper-medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to
principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present
which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa: Bonds rated Baa are considered medium grade obligations; that is, they
are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and
principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any
great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics
and have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba: Bonds rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements. Their future
cannot be considered well-assured. Often the protection of interest and
principal payments may be very moderate and not well safeguarded during both
good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes
bonds in this class.
B: Bonds rated B generally lack characteristics of desirable investment.
Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms
of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa: Bonds rated Caa are of poor standing and may be in default or there may
be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca: Bonds rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high
degree and are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C: Bonds rated C are the lowest class of rated bonds and can be regarded as
having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment
standing.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 in each generic rating
classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier "1" indicates that the
obligation ranks in the higher end of its category; the modifier "2"
indicates a mid-range ranking and the modifier "3" indicates a ranking in the
lower end of the category.
Short-Term Ratings - Taxable Debt
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These ratings apply to the ability of issuers to repay punctually senior debt
obligations having an original maturity not exceeding one year:
Prime-1: Issuer has a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term
debt obligations.
Prime-2: Issuer has a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt
obligations. Earnings trends and coverage, while sound, may be subject to
variation. Capitalization characteristics, while appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
Prime-3: Issuer has an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term
obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market compositions
may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result
in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and may require
relatively high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is
maintained.
Not Prime: Issuer does not fall within any Prime rating category.
Standard & Poor's Rating Services
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-Term Credit Ratings
AAA: Bonds rated "AAA" have the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.
The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is
extremely strong.
AA: Bonds rated "AA" differ from the highest rated obligations only in small
degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation is very strong.
A: Bonds rated "A" are somewhat more susceptible to adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in
higher-rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
BBB: Bonds rated BBB exhibit adequate protection parameters. However, adverse
economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a
weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation.
Bonds rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C are regarded as having significant
speculative characteristics. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and
C the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and
protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or
major exposures to adverse conditions.
BB: Bonds rated BB are less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative
issues. However, these face major uncertainties or exposure to adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor's
inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B: A bond rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than an obligation rated
BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation.
CCC: A bond rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent
upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor
to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse
business, financial or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have
the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CC: An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
C: The C rating may used where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or
similar action has been taken, but payments on this obligation are being
continued.
D: Bonds rated D are in default. Payments on the obligation are not being
made on the date due.
The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or
minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
The "r" symbol is attached to the ratings of instruments with significant
noncredit risks.
Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-1: Rated in the highest category. The obligor's capacity to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, a
plus (+) sign designation indicates the issuer's capacity to meet its
financial obligation is very strong.
A-2: Obligation is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher
rating categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3: Exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic
conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened
capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B: Regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor
currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to
the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation.
C: Currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable
business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation.
D: In payment default. Payments on the obligation have not been made on the
due date. The rating may also be used if a bankruptcy petition has been filed
or similar actions jeopardize payments on the obligation.
Fitch IBCA, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Long-Term Credit Ratings
Investment Grade:
AAA: Highest Credit Quality. "AAA" ratings denote the lowest expectation of
credit risk. They are assigned only in the case of exceptionally strong
capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly
unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA: Very High Credit Quality. "AA" ratings denote a very low expectation of
credit risk. They indicate a very strong capacity for timely payment of
financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to
foreseeable events.
A: High Credit Quality. "A" ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk.
The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered
strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in
circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB: Good Credit Quality. "BBB" ratings indicate that there is currently a
low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial
commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and
in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the
lowest investment-grade category.
Speculative Grade:
BB: Speculative. "BB" ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit
risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over
time. However, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow
financial commitments to be met.
B: Highly Speculative. "B" ratings indicate that significant credit risk is
present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are
currently being met. However, capacity for continued payment is contingent
upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
CCC, CC C: High Default Risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for
meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable
business or economic developments. A "CC" rating indicates that default of
some kind appears probable. "C" ratings signal imminent default.
DDD, DD, and D: Default. Securities are not meeting current obligations and
are extremely speculative. "DDD" designates the highest potential for
recovery of amounts outstanding on any securities involved.
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs may be appended to a rating symbol to denote
relative status within the rating category. Plus and minus signs are not
added to the "AAA" category or to categories below "CCC."
International Short-Term Credit Ratings
F1: Highest credit quality. Strongest capacity for timely payment. May have
an added "+" to denote exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2: Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment, but
the margin of safety is not as great as in higher ratings.
F3: Fair credit quality. Capacity for timely payment is adequate. However,
near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.
B: Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment, plus vulnerability to
near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C: High default risk. Default is a real possibility, Capacity for
meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable
business and economic environment.
D: Default. Denotes actual or imminent payment default.
Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. Ratings
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-Term Debt and Preferred Stock
AAA: Highest credit quality. The risk factors are negligible, being only
slightly more than for risk-free U.S. Treasury debt.
AA+, AA, AA-: High credit quality. Protection factors are strong. Risk is
modest but may vary slightly from time to time because of economic conditions.
A+, A & A-: Protection factors are average but adequate. However, risk
factors are more variable in periods of greater economic stress.
BBB+, BBB & BBB-: Below average protection factors but still considered
sufficient for prudent investment. Considerable variability in risk during
economic cycles.
BB+, BB & BB-: Below investment grade but deemed likely to meet obligations
when due. Present or prospective financial protection factors fluctuate
according to industry conditions. Overall quality may move up or down
frequently within the category.
B+, B & B-: Below investment grade and possessing risk that obligations will
not be met when due. Financial protection factors will fluctuate widely
according to economic cycles, industry conditions and/or company fortunes.
Potential exists for frequent changes in the rating within this category or
into a higher of lower rating grade.
CCC: Well below investment-grade securities. Considerable uncertainty
exists as to timely payment of principal, interest or preferred dividends.
Protection factors are narrow and risk can be substantial with unfavorable
economic/industry conditions, and/or with unfavorable company developments.
DD: Defaulted debt obligations. Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal
and/or interest payments.
DP: Preferred stock with dividend arrearages.
Short-Term Debt:
High Grade:
D-1+: Highest certainty of timely payment. Safety is just below risk-free
U.S. Treasury short-term debt.
D-1: Very high certainty of timely payment. Risk factors are minor.
D-1-: High certainty of timely payment. Risk factors are very small.
Good Grade:
D-2: Good certainty of timely payment. Risk factors are small.
Satisfactory Grade:
D-3: Satisfactory liquidity and other protection factors qualify issues as to
investment grade. Risk factors are larger and subject to more variation.
Nevertheless, timely payment is expected.
Non-Investment Grade:
D-4: Speculative investment characteristics. Liquidity is not sufficient to
insure against disruption in debt service.
Default:
D-5: Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or interest payments.
<PAGE>
B-1
Appendix B
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Corporate Industry Classifications
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aerospace/Defense Food
Air Transportation Gas Utilities
Auto Parts Distribution Gold
Automotive Health Care/Drugs
Bank Holding Companies Health Care/Supplies & Services
Banks Homebuilders/Real Estate
Beverages Hotel/Gaming
Broadcasting Industrial Services
Broker-Dealers Information Technology
Building Materials Insurance
Cable Television Leasing & Factoring
Chemicals Leisure
Commercial Finance Manufacturing
Computer Hardware Metals/Mining
Computer Software Nondurable Household Goods
Conglomerates Oil - Integrated
Consumer Finance Paper
Containers Publishing/Printing
Convenience Stores Railroads
Department Stores Restaurants
Diversified Financial Savings & Loans
Diversified Media Shipping
Drug Stores Special Purpose Financial
Drug Wholesalers Specialty Retailing
Durable Household Goods Steel
Education Supermarkets
Electric Utilities Telecommunications - Technology
Electrical Equipment Telephone - Utility
Electronics Textile/Apparel
Energy Services & Producers Tobacco
Entertainment/Film Toys
Environmental Trucking
Wireless Services
<PAGE>
C-13
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Appendix C
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OppenheimerFunds Special Sales Charge Arrangements and Waivers
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In certain cases, the initial sales charge that applies to purchases of
Class A shares of the Oppenheimer funds or the contingent deferred sales
charge that may apply to Class A, Class B or Class C shares may be waived.
That is because of the economies of sales efforts realized by the Distributor
or the dealers or other financial institutions offering those shares to
certain classes of investors or in certain transactions.
Not all waivers apply to all funds. For example, waivers relating to
Retirement Plans do not apply to Oppenheimer municipal funds, because shares
of those funds are not available for purchase by or on behalf of retirement
plans. Other waivers apply only to shareholders of certain funds that were
merged into or became Oppenheimer funds.
For the purposes of some of the waivers described below and in the
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the applicable
Oppenheimer funds, the term "Retirement Plan" refers to the following types
of plans:
(1) plans qualified under Sections 401(a) or 401(k) of the Internal
Revenue Code,
(2) non-qualified deferred compensation plans,
(3) employee benefit plans1
(4) Group Retirement Plans2
(5) 403(b)(7) custodial plan accounts
(6) SEP-IRAs, SARSEPs or SIMPLE plans
The interpretation of these provisions as to the applicability of a
waiver in a particular case is determined solely by the Distributor or the
Transfer Agent of the fund. These waivers and special arrangements may be
amended or terminated at any time by the applicable Fund and/or the
Distributor. Waivers that apply at the time shares are redeemed must be
requested by the shareholder and/or dealer in the redemption request.
- --------------
1. An "employee benefit plan" means any plan or arrangement, whether or
not it is "qualified" under the Internal Revenue Code, under which Class A
shares of an Oppenheimer fund or funds are purchased by a fiduciary or
other administrator for the account of participants who are employees of a
single employer or of affiliated employers. These may include, for
example, medical savings accounts, payroll deduction plans or similar
plans. The fund accounts must be registered in the name of the fiduciary
or administrator purchasing the shares for the benefit of participants in
the plan.
2. The term "Group Retirement Plan" means any qualified or non-qualified
retirement plan for employees of a corporation or sole proprietorship,
members and employees of a partnership or association or other organized
group of persons (the members of which may include other groups), if the
group has made special arrangements with the Distributor and all members
of the group participating in (or who are eligible to participate in) the
plan purchase Class A shares of an Oppenheimer fund or funds through a
single investment dealer, broker or other financial institution designated
by the group. Such plans include 457 plans, SEP-IRAs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE
plans and 403(b) plans other than plans for public school employees. The
term "Group Retirement Plan" also includes qualified retirement plans and
non-qualified deferred compensation plans and IRAs that purchase Class A
shares of an Oppenheimer fund or funds through a single investment dealer,
broker or other financial institution that has made special arrangements
with the Distributor enabling those plans to purchase Class A shares at
net asset value but subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales
charge.
<PAGE>
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Applicability of Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charges in Certain Cases
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Purchases of Class A Shares of Oppenheimer Funds That Are Not Subject to
Initial Sales Charge but May Be Subject to the Class A Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge (unless a waiver applies).
There is no initial sales charge on purchases of Class A shares of any
of the Oppenheimer funds in the cases listed below. However, these purchases
may be subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales charge if redeemed
within 18 months of the end of the calendar month of their purchase, as
described in the Prospectus (unless a waiver described elsewhere in this
Appendix applies to the redemption). Additionally, on these purchases the
Distributor will pay the applicable commission described in the Prospectus
under "Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge":
o Purchases of Class A shares aggregating $1 million or more.
o Purchases by a Retirement Plan that:
(1) buys shares costing $500,000 or more, or
(2) has, at the time of purchase, 100 or more eligible participants or
total plan assets of $500,000 or more, or
(3) certifies to the Distributor that it projects to have annual plan
purchases of $200,000 or more.
o Purchases by an OppenheimerFunds-sponsored Rollover IRA, if the
purchases are made:
(1) through a broker, dealer, bank or registered investment adviser that
has made special arrangements with the Distributor for those
purchases, or
(2) by a direct rollover of a distribution from a qualified Retirement Plan
if the administrator of that Plan has made special arrangements
with the Distributor for those purchases.
o Purchases of Class A shares by Retirement Plans that have any of the
following record-keeping arrangements:
(1) The record keeping is performed by Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith,
Inc. ("Merrill Lynch") on a daily valuation basis for the
Retirement Plan. On the date the plan sponsor signs the
record-keeping service agreement with Merrill Lynch, the Plan
must have $3 million or more of its assets invested in (a) mutual
funds, other than those advised or managed by Merrill Lynch Asset
Management, L.P. ("MLAM"), that are made available under a
Service Agreement between Merrill Lynch and the mutual fund's
principal underwriter or distributor, and (b) funds advised or
managed by MLAM (the funds described in (a) and (b) are referred
to as "Applicable Investments").
(2) The record keeping for the Retirement Plan is performed on a daily
valuation basis by a record keeper whose services are provided
under a contract or arrangement between the Retirement Plan and
Merrill Lynch. On the date the plan sponsor signs the record
keeping service agreement with Merrill Lynch, the Plan must have
$3 million or more of its assets (excluding assets invested in
money market funds) invested in Applicable Investments.
(3) The record keeping for a Retirement Plan is handled under a service
agreement with Merrill Lynch and on the date the plan sponsor
signs that agreement, the Plan has 500 or more eligible employees
(as determined by the Merrill Lynch plan conversion manager).
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Waivers of Class A Sales Charges of Oppenheimer Funds
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Waivers of Initial and Contingent Deferred Sales Charges for Certain
Purchasers.
Class A shares purchased by the following investors are not subject to any
Class A sales charges (and no commissions are paid by the Distributor on such
purchases):
|_| The Manager or its affiliates.
|_| Present or former officers, directors, trustees and employees (and
their "immediate families") of the Fund, the Manager and its affiliates, and
retirement plans established by them for their employees. The term "immediate
family" refers to one's spouse, children, grandchildren, grandparents,
parents, parents-in-law, brothers and sisters, sons- and daughters-in-law, a
sibling's spouse, a spouse's siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews;
relatives by virtue of a remarriage (step-children, step-parents, etc.) are
included.
|_| Registered management investment companies, or separate accounts
of insurance companies having an agreement with the Manager or the
Distributor for that purpose.
|_| Dealers or brokers that have a sales agreement with the
Distributor, if they purchase shares for their own accounts or for retirement
plans for their employees.
|_| Employees and registered representatives (and their spouses) of
dealers or brokers described above or financial institutions that have
entered into sales arrangements with such dealers or brokers (and which are
identified as such to the Distributor) or with the Distributor. The purchaser
must certify to the Distributor at the time of purchase that the purchase is
for the purchaser's own account (or for the benefit of such employee's spouse
or minor children).
|_| Dealers, brokers, banks or registered investment advisors that
have entered into an agreement with the Distributor providing specifically
for the use of shares of the Fund in particular investment products made
available to their clients. Those clients may be charged a transaction fee by
their dealer, broker, bank or advisor for the purchase or sale of Fund shares.
|_| Investment advisors and financial planners who have entered into
an agreement for this purpose with the Distributor and who charge an
advisory, consulting or other fee for their services and buy shares for their
own accounts or the accounts of their clients.
|_| "Rabbi trusts" that buy shares for their own accounts, if the
purchases are made through a broker or agent or other financial intermediary
that has made special arrangements with the Distributor for those purchases.
|_| Clients of investment advisors or financial planners (that have
entered into an agreement for this purpose with the Distributor) who buy
shares for their own accounts may also purchase shares without sales charge
but only if their accounts are linked to a master account of their investment
advisor or financial planner on the books and records of the broker, agent or
financial intermediary with which the Distributor has made such special
arrangements . Each of these investors may be charged a fee by the broker,
agent or financial intermediary for purchasing shares.
|_| Directors, trustees, officers or full-time employees of OpCap
Advisors or its affiliates, their relatives or any trust, pension, profit
sharing or other benefit plan which beneficially owns shares for those
persons.
|_| Accounts for which Oppenheimer Capital (or its successor) is the
investment advisor (the Distributor must be advised of this arrangement) and
persons who are directors or trustees of the company or trust which is the
beneficial owner of such accounts.
|_| A unit investment trust that has entered into an appropriate
agreement with the Distributor.
o Dealers, brokers, banks, or registered investment advisers that have
entered into an agreement with the Distributor to sell shares to defined
contribution employee retirement plans for which the dealer, broker or
investment adviser provides administration services.
o Retirement plans and deferred compensation plans and trusts used to
fund those plans (including, for example, plans qualified or created under
sections 401(a), 401(k), 403(b) or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code), in each
case if those purchases are made through a broker, agent or other financial
intermediary that has made special arrangements with the Distributor for
those purchases.
o A TRAC-2000 401(k) plan (sponsored by the former Quest for Value
Advisors) whose Class B or Class C shares of a Former Quest for Value Fund
were exchanged for Class A shares of that Fund due to the termination of the
Class B and Class C TRAC-2000 program on November 24, 1995.
o A qualified Retirement Plan that had agreed with the former Quest
for Value Advisors to purchase shares of any of the Former Quest for Value
Funds at net asset value, with such shares to be held through DCXchange, a
sub-transfer agency mutual fund clearinghouse, if that arrangement was
consummated and share purchases commenced by December 31, 1996.
Waivers of Initial and Contingent Deferred Sales Charges in Certain
Transactions.
Class A shares issued or purchased in the following transactions are not
subject to sales charges (and no commissions are paid by the Distributor on
such purchases):
|_| Shares issued in plans of reorganization, such as mergers, asset
acquisitions and exchange offers, to which the Fund is a party.
|_| Shares purchased by the reinvestment of dividends or other
distributions reinvested from the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds (other than
Oppenheimer Cash Reserves) or unit investment trusts for which reinvestment
arrangements have been made with the Distributor.
|_| Shares purchased and paid for with the proceeds of shares redeemed
in the prior 30 days from a mutual fund (other than a fund managed by the
Manager or any of its subsidiaries) on which an initial sales charge or
contingent deferred sales charge was paid. This waiver also applies to shares
purchased by exchange of shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. that
were purchased and paid for in this manner. This waiver must be requested
when the purchase order is placed for shares of the Fund, and the Distributor
may require evidence of qualification for this waiver.
|_| Shares purchased with the proceeds of maturing principal units of
any Qualified Unit Investment Liquid Trust Series.
o Shares purchased by the reinvestment of loan repayments by a
participant in a Retirement Plan for which the Manager or an affiliate acts
as sponsor.
Waivers of the Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge for Certain
Redemptions.
The Class A contingent deferred sales charge is also waived if shares that
would otherwise be subject to the contingent deferred sales charge are
redeemed in the following cases:
|_| To make Automatic Withdrawal Plan payments that are limited
annually to no more than 12% of the original account value.
|_| Involuntary redemptions of shares by operation of law or
involuntary redemptions of small accounts (see "Shareholder Account Rules and
Policies," in the Prospectus).
o For distributions from Retirement Plans, deferred compensation plans
or other employee benefit plans for any of the following purposes:
(1) Following the death or disability (as defined in the Internal Revenue
Code) of the participant or beneficiary. The death or disability
must occur after the participant's account was established.
(2) To return excess contributions.
(3) To return contributions made due to a mistake of fact.
(4) Hardship withdrawals, as defined in the plan.
(5) Under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code.
(6) To meet the minimum distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue
Code.
(7) To establish "substantially equal periodic payments" as described in
Section 72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(8) For retirement distributions or loans to participants or beneficiaries.
(9) Separation from service.
(10)Participant-directed redemptions to purchase shares of a mutual
fund other than a fund managed by the Manager or a subsidiary.
The fund must be one that is offered as an investment option
in a Retirement Plan in which Oppenheimer funds are also
offered as investment options under a special arrangement with the
Distributor.
(11) Plan termination or "in-service distributions," if the
redemption proceeds are rolled over directly to an
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored IRA.
o For distributions from Retirement Plans having 500 or more eligible
participants, except distributions due to termination of all of the
Oppenheimer funds as an investment option under the Plan.
o For distributions from 401(k) plans sponsored by broker-dealers that
have entered into a special agreement with the Distributor allowing this
waiver.
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Waivers of Class B and Class C Sales Charges of Oppenheimer Funds
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The Class B and Class C contingent deferred sales charges will not be
applied to shares purchased in certain types of transactions or redeemed in
certain circumstances described below.
Waivers for Redemptions in Certain Cases.
The Class B and Class C contingent deferred sales charges will be waived for
redemptions of shares in the following cases:
o Shares redeemed involuntarily, as described in "Shareholder Account
Rules and Policies,"
in the applicable Prospectus.
o Distributions to participants or beneficiaries from Retirement
Plans, if the distributions are made:
(a) under an Automatic Withdrawal Plan after the participant reaches age
59-1/2, as long as the payments are no more than 10% of the
account value annually (measured from the date the Transfer Agent
receives the request), or
(b) following the death or disability (as defined in the Internal Revenue
Code) of the participant or beneficiary (the death or disability
must have occurred after the account was established).
o Redemptions from accounts other than Retirement Plans following the
death or disability of the last surviving shareholder, including a trustee of
a grantor trust or revocable living trust for which the trustee is also the
sole beneficiary. The death or disability must have occurred after the
account was established, and for disability you must provide evidence of a
determination of disability by the Social Security Administration.
o Returns of excess contributions to Retirement Plans.
o Distributions from Retirement Plans to make "substantially equal
periodic payments" as permitted in Section 72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code
that do not exceed 10% of the account value annually, measured from the date
the Transfer Agent receives the request.
o Distributions from OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k) plans and from
certain Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company prototype 401(k) plans:
(1) for hardship withdrawals;
(2) under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code;
(3) to meet minimum distribution requirements as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code;
(4) to make "substantially equal periodic payments" as described in Section
72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code;
(5) for separation from service; or
(6) for loans to participants or beneficiaries.
o Distributions from 401(k) plans sponsored by broker-dealers that
have entered into a special agreement with the Distributor allowing this
waiver.
o Redemptions of Class B shares held by Retirement Plans whose records
are maintained on a daily valuation basis by Merrill Lynch or an independent
record keeper under a contract with Merrill Lynch.
o Redemptions of Class C shares of Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust
from accounts of clients of financial institutions that have entered into a
special arrangement with the Distributor for this purpose.
Waivers for Shares Sold or Issued in Certain Transactions.
The contingent deferred sales charge is also waived on Class B and
Class C shares sold or issued in the following cases:
|_| Shares sold to the Manager or its affiliates.
|_| Shares sold to registered management investment companies or
separate accounts of insurance companies having an agreement with the Manager
or the Distributor for that purpose.
|_| Shares issued in plans of reorganization to which the Fund is
a party.
<PAGE>
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Special Sales Charge Arrangements for Shareholders of Certain Oppenheimer
Funds Who Were Shareholders of the Former Quest for Value Funds
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The initial and contingent deferred sales charge rates and waivers for
Class A, Class B and Class C shares described in the Prospectus or Statement
of Additional Information of the Oppenheimer funds are modified as described
below for certain persons who were shareholders of the former Quest for Value
Funds. To be eligible, those persons must have been shareholders on November
24, 1995, when OppenheimerFunds, Inc. became the investment advisor to those
former Quest for Value Funds. Those funds include:
Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc.,
Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund,
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund,
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund and
Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund, Inc.
These arrangements also apply to shareholders of the following funds
when they merged into various Oppenheimer funds on November 24, 1995:
Quest for Value U.S. Government Income Fund,
Quest for Value Investment Quality Income Fund,
Quest for Value Global Income Fund,
Quest for Value New York Tax-Exempt Fund,
Quest for Value National Tax-Exempt Fund and
Quest for Value California Tax-Exempt Fund
All of the funds listed above are referred to in this Appendix as the
"Former Quest for Value Funds." The waivers of initial and contingent
deferred sales charges described in this Appendix apply to shares of an
Oppenheimer fund that are either:
|_| acquired by such shareholder pursuant to an exchange of shares
of an Oppenheimer fund that was one of the Former Quest for Value Funds or
|_| purchased by such shareholder by exchange of shares of another
Oppenheimer fund that were acquired pursuant to the merger of any of the
Former Quest for Value Funds into that other Oppenheimer fund on November 24,
1995.
Reductions or Waivers of Class A Sales Charges.
|X| Reduced Class A Initial Sales Charge Rates for Certain Former Quest
for Value Funds Shareholders
Purchases by Groups and Associations. The following table sets forth the
initial sales charge rates for Class A shares purchased by members of
"Associations" formed for any purpose other than the purchase of securities.
The rates in the table apply if that Association purchased shares of any of
the Former Quest for Value Funds or received a proposal to purchase such
shares from OCC Distributors prior to November 24, 1995.
<PAGE>
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Number of Initial Sales
Eligible Initial Sales Charge as a % of Commission as %
Employees or Charge as a % of Net Amount Invested of Offering Price
Members Offering Price
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9 or Fewer 2.50% 2.56% 2.00%
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At least 10 but
not more than 49 2.00% 2.04% 1.60%
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For purchases by Associations having 50 or more eligible employees or
members, there is no initial sales charge on purchases of Class A shares, but
those shares are subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales charge
described in the applicable fund's Prospectus.
Purchases made under this arrangement qualify for the lower of either
the sales charge rate in the table based on the number of members of an
Association, or the sales charge rate that applies under the Right of
Accumulation described in the applicable fund's Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information. Individuals who qualify under this arrangement for
reduced sales charge rates as members of Associations also may purchase
shares for their individual or custodial accounts at these reduced sales
charge rates, upon request to the Distributor.
|X| Waiver of Class A Sales Charges for Certain Shareholders. Class A
shares purchased by the following investors are not subject to any Class A
initial or contingent deferred sales charges:
|_| Shareholders who were shareholders of the AMA Family of Funds on
February 28, 1991 and who acquired shares of any of the Former Quest for
Value Funds by merger of a portfolio of the AMA Family of Funds.
|_| Shareholders who acquired shares of any Former Quest for Value Fund
by merger of any of the portfolios of the Unified Funds.
|X| Waiver of Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge in Certain
Transactions. The Class A contingent deferred sales charge will not apply to
redemptions of Class A shares purchased by the following investors who were
shareholders of any Former Quest for Value Fund:
Investors who purchased Class A shares from a dealer that is or was not
permitted to receive a sales load or redemption fee imposed on a shareholder
with whom that dealer has a fiduciary relationship, under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and regulations adopted under that law.
Class A, Class B and Class C Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Waivers
|X| Waivers for Redemptions of Shares Purchased Prior to March 6,
1995. In the following cases, the contingent deferred sales charge will be
waived for redemptions of Class A, Class B or Class C shares of an
Oppenheimer fund. The shares must have been acquired by the merger of a
Former Quest for Value Fund into the fund or by exchange from an Oppenheimer
fund that was a Former Quest for Value Fund or into which such fund merged.
Those shares must have been purchased prior to March 6, 1995 in connection
with:
o withdrawals under an automatic withdrawal plan holding only either
Class B or Class C shares if the annual withdrawal does not exceed 10% of the
initial value of the account, and
o liquidation of a shareholder's account if the aggregate net asset
value of shares held in the account is less than the required minimum value
of such accounts.
|X| Waivers for Redemptions of Shares Purchased on or After March 6,
1995 but Prior to November 24, 1995. In the following cases, the contingent
deferred sales charge will be waived for redemptions of Class A, Class B or
Class C shares of an Oppenheimer fund. The shares must have been acquired by
the merger of a Former Quest for Value Fund into the fund or by exchange from
an Oppenheimer fund that was a Former Quest For Value Fund or into which such
Former Quest for Value Fund merged. Those shares must have been purchased on
or after March 6, 1995, but prior to November 24, 1995:
o redemptions following the death or disability of the shareholder(s)
(as evidenced by a determination of total disability by the U.S. Social
Security Administration);
o withdrawals under an automatic withdrawal plan (but only for Class B
or Class C shares) where the annual withdrawals do not exceed 10% of the
initial value of the account; and
o liquidation of a shareholder's account if the aggregate net asset
value of shares held in the account is less than the required minimum account
value.
A shareholder's account will be credited with the amount of any
contingent deferred sales charge paid on the redemption of any Class A, Class
B or Class C shares of the Oppenheimer fund described in this section if the
proceeds are invested in the same Class of shares in that fund or another
Oppenheimer fund within 90 days after redemption.
<PAGE>
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Special Sales Charge Arrangements for Shareholders of Certain Oppenheimer
Funds Who Were Shareholders of Connecticut Mutual Investment Accounts, Inc.
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The initial and contingent deferred sale charge rates and waivers
for Class A and Class B shares described in the Prospectus or this Appendix
for Oppenheimer U. S. Government Trust, Oppenheimer Bond Fund, Oppenheimer
Disciplined Value Fund and Oppenheimer Disciplined Allocation Fund (each is
included in the reference to "Fund" below) are modified as described below
for those shareholders who were shareholders of Connecticut Mutual Liquid
Account, Connecticut Mutual Government Securities Account, Connecticut Mutual
Income Account, Connecticut Mutual Growth Account, Connecticut Mutual Total
Return Account, CMIA LifeSpan Capital Appreciation Account, CMIA LifeSpan
Balanced Account and CMIA Diversified Income Account (the "Former Connecticut
Mutual Funds") on March 1, 1996, when OppenheimerFunds, Inc. became the
investment adviser to the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds.
Prior Class A CDSC and Class A Sales Charge Waivers
n Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Certain shareholders of a
Fund and the other Former Connecticut Mutual Funds are entitled to continue
to make additional purchases of Class A shares at net asset value without a
Class A initial sales charge, but subject to the Class A contingent deferred
sales charge that was in effect prior to March 18, 1996 (the "prior Class A
CDSC"). Under the prior Class A CDSC, if any of those shares are redeemed
within one year of purchase, they will be assessed a 1% contingent deferred
sales charge on an amount equal to the current market value or the original
purchase price of the shares sold, whichever is smaller (in such redemptions,
any shares not subject to the prior Class A CDSC will be redeemed first).
Those shareholders who are eligible for the prior Class A CDSC are:
(1) persons whose purchases of Class A shares of a Fund and other Former
Connecticut Mutual Funds were $500,000 prior to March 18, 1996, as a
result of direct purchases or purchases pursuant to the Fund's
policies on Combined Purchases or Rights of Accumulation, who still
hold those shares in that Fund or other Former Connecticut Mutual
Funds, and
(2) persons whose intended purchases under a Statement of Intention entered
into prior to March 18, 1996, with the former general distributor of
the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds to purchase shares valued at
$500,000 or more over a 13-month period entitled those persons to
purchase shares at net asset value without being subject to the
Class A initial sales charge.
Any of the Class A shares of a Fund and the other Former Connecticut
Mutual Funds that were purchased at net asset value prior to March 18, 1996,
remain subject to the prior Class A CDSC, or if any additional shares are
purchased by those shareholders at net asset value pursuant to this
arrangement they will be subject to the prior Class A CDSC.
n Class A Sales Charge Waivers. Additional Class A shares of a Fund
may be purchased without a sales charge, by a person who was in one (or more)
of the categories below and acquired Class A shares prior to March 18, 1996,
and still holds Class A shares:
(1) any purchaser, provided the total initial amount invested in the Fund
or any one or more of the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds totaled
$500,000 or more, including investments made pursuant to the
Combined Purchases, Statement of Intention and Rights of
Accumulation features available at the time of the initial purchase
and such investment is still held in one or more of the Former
Connecticut Mutual Funds or a Fund into which such Fund merged;
(2) any participant in a qualified plan, provided that the total initial
amount invested by the plan in the Fund or any one or more of the
Former Connecticut Mutual Funds totaled $500,000 or more;
(3) Directors of the Fund or any one or more of the Former Connecticut
Mutual Funds and members of their immediate families;
(4) employee benefit plans sponsored by Connecticut Mutual Financial
Services, L.L.C. ("CMFS"), the prior distributor of the Former
Connecticut Mutual Funds, and its affiliated companies;
(5) one or more members of a group of at least 1,000 persons (and persons
who are retirees from such group) engaged in a common business,
profession, civic or charitable endeavor or other activity, and the
spouses and minor dependent children of such persons, pursuant to a
marketing program between CMFS and such group; and
(6) an institution acting as a fiduciary on behalf of an individual or
individuals, if such institution was directly compensated by the
individual(s) for recommending the purchase of the shares of the
Fund or any one or more of the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds,
provided the institution had an agreement with CMFS.
Purchases of Class A shares made pursuant to (1) and (2) above may be
subject to the Class A CDSC of the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds described
above.
Additionally, Class A shares of a Fund may be purchased without a sales
charge by any holder of a variable annuity contract issued in New York State
by Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company through the Panorama Separate
Account which is beyond the applicable surrender charge period and which was
used to fund a qualified plan, if that holder exchanges the variable annuity
contract proceeds to buy Class A shares of the Fund.
Class A and Class B Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Waivers
In addition to the waivers set forth in the Prospectus and in this Appendix,
above, the contingent deferred sales charge will be waived for redemptions of
Class A and Class B shares of a Fund and exchanges of Class A or Class B
shares of a Fund into Class A or Class B shares of a Former Connecticut
Mutual Fund provided that the Class A or Class B shares of the Fund to be
redeemed or exchanged were (i) acquired prior to March 18, 1996 or (ii) were
acquired by exchange from an Oppenheimer fund that was a Former Connecticut
Mutual Fund. Additionally, the shares of such Former Connecticut Mutual Fund
must have been purchased prior to March 18, 1996:
(1) by the estate of a deceased shareholder;
(2) upon the disability of a shareholder, as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of
the Internal Revenue Code;
(3) for retirement distributions (or loans) to participants or
beneficiaries from retirement plans qualified under Sections 401(a)
or 403(b)(7)of the Code, or from IRAs, deferred compensation plans
created under Section 457 of the Code, or other employee benefit
plans;
(4) as tax-free returns of excess contributions to such retirement or
employee benefit plans;
(5) in whole or in part, in connection with shares sold to any state,
county, or city, or any instrumentality, department, authority, or
agency thereof, that is prohibited by applicable investment laws
from paying a sales charge or commission in connection with the
purchase of shares of any registered investment management company;
(6) in connection with the redemption of shares of the Fund due to a
combination with another investment company by virtue of a merger,
acquisition or similar reorganization transaction;
(7) in connection with the Fund's right to involuntarily redeem or
liquidate the Fund;
(8) in connection with automatic redemptions of Class A shares and Class B
shares in certain retirement plan accounts pursuant to an Automatic
Withdrawal Plan but limited to no more than 12% of the original
value annually; or
(9) as involuntary redemptions of shares by operation of law, or under
procedures set forth in the Fund's Articles of Incorporation, or as
adopted by the Board of Directors of the Fund.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Reduced Sales Charge for Former Shareholders of Advance America
Funds, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders of Oppenheimer Municipal Bond Fund, Oppenheimer U.S.
Government Trust, Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund and Oppenheimer Equity
Income Fund who acquired (and still hold) shares of those funds as a result
of the reorganization of series of Advance America Funds, Inc. into those
Oppenheimer funds on October 18, 1991, and who held shares of Advance America
Funds, Inc. on March 30, 1990, may purchase Class A shares of those four
Oppenheimer funds at a maximum sales charge rate of 4.50%.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
12
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Web Site:
www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Investment Adviser
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
Sub-Adviser
OpCap Advisors
One World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281
Distributor
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
Transfer Agent
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217
1-800-525-7048
Custodian Bank
Citibank, N.A.
111 Wall Street
New York, New York 10005
Independent Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
950 Seventeenth Street
Denver, Colorado 80202
Legal Counsel
Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen
Shalov & Wein
114 West 47th Street
New York, New York 10036
PX257.0299
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prospectus dated February 19, 1999
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund is a mutual fund that seeks
growth of capital as its goal. It invests in a diversified portfolio of
stocks, bonds and cash equivalents, but focuses normally on stocks.
This Prospectus contains important information about the Fund's
objective, its investment policies, strategies and risks. It also contains
important information about how to buy and sell shares of the Fund and other
account features. Please read this Prospectus carefully before you invest and
keep it for future reference about your account.
(OppenheimerFunds logo)
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
approved or disapproved the Fund's securities nor has it determined that this
Prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to represent
otherwise.
<PAGE>
Contents
About the Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund's Objective and Investment Strategies
Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
The Fund's Past Performance
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
About the Fund's Investments
How the Fund is Managed
About Your Account
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy Shares
Class A Shares
Class B Shares
Class C Shares
Class Y Shares
Special Investor Services
AccountLink
PhoneLink
OppenheimerFunds Web Site
Retirement Plans
How to Sell Shares
By Mail
By Telephone
How to Exchange Shares
Shareholder Account Rules and Policies
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Financial Highlights
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
About the Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund's Objective and Investment Strategies
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What Is the Fund's Investment Objective? The Fund's objective is to seek
growth of capital.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What Does the Fund Invest In? The Fund can invest in a variety of equity and
debt securities. The Fund normally invests mainly in equity securities,
primarily common stocks but also securities convertible into common stocks,
of U.S. and foreign issuers that the portfolio manager believes are
undervalued in the marketplace. The Fund can invest in equity securities
without limit. Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 50%
of its total assets in equity securities.
The Fund can invest up to 100% of its assets in bonds and other debt
securities, including money market obligations. The Fund limits its bond
investments to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government and its
agencies and instrumentalities, including mortgage-backed securities, and
investment-grade corporate debt obligations of domestic and foreign issuers.
The Fund can also buy debt securities for liquidity and cash management
purposes, such as short-term U.S. government securities and money market
instruments. These investments are more fully explained in "About the Fund's
Investments," below.
n How Does the Portfolio Manager Decide What Securities to Buy or
Sell? In selecting securities for purchase or sale by the Fund, the Fund's
portfolio manager, who is employed by the Sub-Adviser, uses a "value"
approach to investing, and searches for securities of companies believed to
be undervalued in the marketplace, in relation to factors such as a company's
assets, earnings, growth potential and cash flows. While this process and the
inter-relationship of the factors used may change over time and its
implementation may vary in particular cases, in general the selection process
includes the following techniques:
o A "bottom up" analytical approach using fundamental research to
evaluate a company's characteristics, financial results and
management.
o Selection of securities of companies believed to be undervalued and
having a high return on capital, strong management committed
to shareholder value and positive cash flows.
o Ongoing monitoring of issuers for fundamental changes in the company
that might alter the portfolio manager's initial expectations
about the security.
The portfolio manager allocates the Fund's investments among equity and
debt securities after assessing the relative values of these different types
of investments under prevailing market conditions. The portfolio might hold
stocks, bonds and money market instruments in different combinations at
different times. The portfolio manager might buy bonds and other fixed-income
securities, instead of stocks, when he thinks that:
o common stocks in general appear to be overvalued,
o debt securities present meaningful capital growth opportunities
relative to common stocks, or
o pending investment in other securities with capital growth
opportunities.
Who Is the Fund Designed For? The Fund is designed primarily for investors
seeking capital growth in their investment over the long term. Those
investors should be willing to assume the risk of short-term share price
fluctuations that are typical for a fund focusing on stock investments. The
Fund does not seek current income as part of its objective. Since the Fund's
income level will fluctuate and will likely be small, it is not designed for
investors needing current income. Because of its focus on long-term growth,
the Fund may be appropriate for a portion of a retirement plan investment.
Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
All investments carry risks to some degree. The Fund's investments in
stocks and bonds are subject to changes in their value from a number of
factors. They include changes in general bond and stock market movements
(this is referred to as "market risk"), or the change in value of particular
stocks or bonds because of an event affecting the issuer (in the case of
bonds, this is known as "credit risk"). At times, the Fund may focus
significant amounts of its equity investments in a particular industry or
industries. Therefore, it may be subject to the risks that economic,
political or other events can have a negative effect on the values of issuers
in those particular industries (this is referred to as "industry risk").
Changes in interest rates can also affect stock and bond prices (this is
known as "interest rate risk"). Foreign investing involves special risks.
These risks collectively form the risk profile of the Fund, and can
affect the value of the Fund's investments, its investment performance and
its price per share. These risks mean that you can lose money by investing in
the Fund. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than
what you paid for them.
The Fund's investment Manager, OppenheimerFunds, Inc., has engaged a
Sub-Adviser, OpCap Advisors, to select securities for the Fund's portfolio.
The Sub-Adviser tries to reduce risks by carefully researching securities
before they are purchased and to reduce the Fund's exposure to market risks
by diversifying its investments, that is, by not holding a substantial amount
of stock of any one company and by not investing too great a percentage of
the Fund's assets in any one company. Also, the Fund does not concentrate
25% or more of its investments in any one industry. However, changes in the
overall market prices of securities and the income they pay can occur at any
time. The share price of the Fund will change daily based on changes in
market prices of securities and market conditions, and in response to other
economic events. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its
investment objective.
n Risks of Investing in Stocks. Stocks fluctuate in price, and their
short-term volatility at times may be great. Because the Fund normally
focuses its investments primarily in equity securities, the value of the
Fund's portfolio will be affected by changes in the stock markets. Market
risk will affect the Fund's net asset value per share, which will fluctuate
as the values of the Fund's portfolio securities change. A variety of
factors can affect the price of a particular stock and the prices of
individual stocks do not all move in the same direction uniformly or at the
same time. Different stock markets may behave differently from each other.
Because the Fund can buy both foreign stocks and stocks of U.S. issuers, it
will be affected by changes in domestic and foreign stock markets.
Additionally, stocks of issuers in a particular industry may be
affected by changes in economic conditions by changes in government
regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events
that affect that industry more than others. To the extent that the Fund is
emphasizing investments in a particular industry or sector, its share value
might fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector.
Other factors can affect a particular stock's price, such as poor
earnings reports by the issuer, loss of major customers, major litigation
against the issuer, or changes in government regulations affecting the
issuer. The Fund can invest in securities of large companies and also small
and medium-size companies, which may have more volatile stock prices than
large companies.
o Industry Focus. At times the Fund may have substantial
investments in stocks of companies in a single industry. Stocks of issuers in
a particular industry may be affected by changes in economic conditions that
affect that industry more than others, or by changes in government
regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events. To
the extent that the Fund is emphasizing investments in a particular industry,
its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting those
industries.
n Interest Rate Risks. The values of debt securities are subject to
change when prevailing interest rates change. When interest rates fall, the
value of already-issued debt securities generally rise. When interest rates
rise, the values of already-issued debt securities generally decline. The
magnitude of these fluctuations will often be greater for longer-term debt
securities than shorter-term debt securities. The Fund's share prices can go
up or down when interest rates change because of the effect of the changes on
the value of the Fund's investments in debt securities.
|X| Credit Risk. Debt securities are subject to credit risk. Credit
risk relates to the ability of the issuer of a security to make interest and
principal payments on the security as they become due. If the issuer fails to
pay interest, the Fund's income may be reduced and if the issuer fails to
repay principal, the value of that bond and of the Fund's shares may be
reduced. While the Fund's investments in U.S. government securities are
subject to little credit risk, the Fund's other investments in debt
securities are subject to risks of default.
n Risks of Foreign Investing. The Fund may buy securities of
companies in developed and underdeveloped countries. While the Fund has no
limits on the amounts it can invest in foreign securities, it normally does
not expect to invest substantial amounts of its assets in foreign securities.
While foreign securities offer special investment opportunities, there are
also special risks.
The change in value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will
result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in that
foreign currency. Foreign issuers are not subject to the same accounting and
disclosure requirements that U.S. companies are subject to. The value of
foreign investments may be affected by exchange control regulations,
expropriation or nationalization of a company's assets, foreign taxes, delays
in settlement of transactions, changes in governmental economic or monetary
policy in the U.S. or abroad, or other political and economic factors. There
may be transaction costs and risks from the conversion of certain European
currencies to the Euro in January 1999.
How Risky is the Fund Overall? The Fund normally focuses its investments on
equity securities for long-term capital growth. In the short term, the stock
markets can be volatile, and the price of the Fund's shares can go up and
down. The Fund's income-oriented investments may help cushion the Fund's
total return from changes in stock prices, but fixed-income securities have
their own risks and are not normally the primary focus of the Fund. In the
OppenheimerFunds spectrum, the Fund is more conservative than aggressive
growth stock funds, but more aggressive than investment grade bond funds.
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
government agency.
The Fund's Past Performance
The bar chart and table below show one measure of the risks of
investing in the Fund, by showing changes in the Fund's performance (for its
Class A shares) from year to year for the calendar years since the Fund's
inception and by showing how the average annual total returns of the Fund's
shares compare to those of a broad-based market index. The Fund's past
investment performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will
perform in the future.
Annual Total Returns (Class A) (as of 12/31 each year)
[See appendix to prospectus for data in bar chart showing annual total
returns]
Sales charges are not included in the calculations of return in this bar
chart, and if those charges were included, the returns would be less than
those shown.
During the period shown in the bar chart, the highest return (not annualized)
for a calendar quarter was ___% (__Q'__) and the lowest return for a calendar
quarter was ___% (__Q'__).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Annual
Total Returns for Past 1 Year Past 5 Years
the periods ending (or life of class, Life of Class
December 31, 1998 if less)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Shares % % %*
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B Shares % % %*
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C Shares % % %*
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class Y Shares % %* N/A
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P 500 Index % % %*
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Inception dates of classes: Class A: 1/3/89. Class B: 9/1/93. Class C:
9/1/93. Class Y: 12/16/96. The index performance is shown from 1/1/89.
The Fund's average annual total returns in the table include the applicable
sales charge for Classes A, B and C shares: for Class A, the current maximum
initial sales charge of 5.75%; for Class B, the contingent deferred sales
charges of 5% (1-year) and 1% (life of class); and for Class C, the 1%
contingent deferred sales charge for the 1-year period. There is no sales
charge for Class Y shares.
The returns measure the performance of a hypothetical account and assume that
all dividends and capital gains distributions have been reinvested in
additional shares. Because the Fund normally invests primarily in stocks, the
Fund's performance is compared to the S&P 500 Index, an unmanaged index of
equity securities that is a measure of the general domestic stock market.
However, it must be remembered that the index performance reflects the
reinvestment of income but does not consider the effects of capital gains or
transaction costs and that the Fund's stock investments will vary from those
in the index and the index does not include debt securities in which the Fund
can invest.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The Fund pays a variety of expenses directly for management of its
assets, administration, distribution of its shares and other services. Those
expenses are subtracted from the Fund's assets to calculate the Fund's net
asset value per share. All shareholders therefore pay those expenses
indirectly. Shareholders pay other expenses directly, such as sales charges
and account transaction charges. The following tables are provided to help
you understand the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares
of the Fund. The numbers below are based on the Fund's expenses during its
fiscal year ended October 31, 1998.
Shareholder Fees (charges paid directly from your investment):
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Shares Class B Class C Class Y
Shares Shares Shares
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) on purchases 5.75% None None None
(as % of offering
price)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Deferred
Sales Charge (Load)
(as % of the lower of None1 5%2 1%3 None
the original offering
price or redemption
proceeds)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. A contingent deferred sales charge may apply to redemptions of
investments of $1 million or more ($500,000 for retirement plan accounts)
of Class A shares. See "How to Buy Shares" for details.
5. Applies to redemptions in first year after purchase. The contingent
deferred sales charge declines to 1% in the sixth year and is eliminated
after that.
6. Applies to shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (deducted from Fund assets):
(% of average daily net assets)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Class B Class C Class Y
Shares Shares Shares Shares
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management Fees % % % %
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and/or % 1.00% 1.00% None
Service (12b-1) Fees
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Expenses % % % %
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Annual Operating % % % %
Expenses
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Numbers in the chart are based on the Fund's expenses in its last fiscal
year, ended 10/31/98. Expenses may vary in future years. "Other expenses"
include transfer agent fees, custodial expenses, and accounting and legal
expenses the Fund pays.
Examples. These examples are intended to help you compare the cost of
investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The examples assume that you invest $10,000 in a class of shares of the
Fund for the time periods indicated and reinvest your dividends and
distributions. The first example assumes that you redeem all of your shares
at the end of those periods. The second example assumes that you keep your
shares. Both examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each
year and that the class's operating expenses remain the same. Your actual
costs may be higher or lower because expenses will vary over time. Based on
these assumptions your expenses would be as follows:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If shares are redeemed: 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years1
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Shares $ $ $ $
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B Shares $ $ $ $
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C Shares $ $ $ $
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class Y Shares $ $ $ $
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If shares are not 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years1
redeemed:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Shares $ $ $ $
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B Shares $ $ $ $
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C Shares $ $ $ $
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class Y Shares $ $ $ $
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the first example, expenses include the initial sales charge for Class A
and the applicable Class B or Class C contingent deferred sales charges. In
the second example, the Class A expenses include the sales charge, but Class
B and Class C expenses do not include the contingent deferred sales charges.
2. Class B expenses for years 7 through 10 are based on Class A expenses,
since Class B shares automatically convert to Class A after 6 years.
About the Fund's Investments
The Fund's Principal Investment Policies. The composition of the Fund's
portfolio among the different types of permitted investments will vary over
time based upon the evaluation of economic and market trends by the
Sub-Adviser. The Fund's portfolio might not always include all of the
different types of investments described below. The Statement of Additional
Information contains more detailed information about the Fund's investment
policies and risks.
n Stock Investments. The Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of
equity and debt securities of issuers that may be of small, medium or large
size, to seek capital growth. Equity securities include common stocks,
preferred stocks, warrants and securities convertible into common stock. They
can be securities issued by domestic or foreign companies.
At times, the Fund may emphasize the securities of issuers in a
particular industry or group of industries, or of a particular capitalization
or a range of capitalizations, depending on the Sub-Adviser's judgment about
market and economic conditions. The Sub-Adviser considers convertible
securities to be "equity equivalents" because of the conversion feature and
because their rating has less impact on the investment decision than in the
case of debt securities.
n Debt Securities. The Fund can also invest in debt securities, such
as U.S. government securities and domestic corporate bonds and debentures,
when the portfolio manager believes they present better opportunities for
seeking the Fund's objective, as discussed above. The Fund can also buy
short-term debt securities for liquidity pending the purchase of new
investments or to have cash to pay for redemptions of Fund shares.
The debt securities the Fund buys must be "investment grade." That
means that they must either be rated at least "Baa" by Moody's Investors
Service or "BBB" by Standard & Poor's Rating Service or other comparable
ratings by other nationally- recognized rating organizations or they may be
unrated securities assigned an equivalent rating by the Sub-Adviser.
o U.S. Government Securities. The Fund's investments in U.S.
government securities can include U.S. Treasury securities and securities
issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government,
such as collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and other mortgage-related
securities. U.S. Treasury securities are backed by the full faith and credit
of the U.S. government and are subject to little credit risk.
Some securities issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities
of the U.S. government have different levels of credit support from the
government. Some are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
government, such as Government National Mortgage Association pass-through
mortgage certificates (called "Ginnie Maes"). Some are supported by the right
of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury under certain circumstances,
such as Federal National Mortgage Association bonds ("Fannie Maes"). Others
are supported only by the credit of the entity that issued them, such as
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation obligations ("Freddie Macs"). These
have relatively little credit risk.
Investments in mortgage-related securities are subject to special
risks of prepayment. Prepayment risk occurs when the issuer of a security can
prepay the principal prior to the security's maturity. Securities subject to
prepayment risk, including the CMOs and other mortgage-related securities
that the Fund can buy, generally offer less potential for gains when
prevailing interest rates decline, and have greater potential for loss when
interest rates rise. The impact of prepayments on the price of a security may
be difficult to predict and may increase the volatility of the price.
Additionally, the Fund may buy mortgage-related securities at a premium.
Accelerated prepayments on those securities could cause the Fund to lose a
portion of its principal investment represented by the premium the Fund paid.
If interest rates rise rapidly, prepayments may occur at slower rates
than expected, which could have the effect of lengthening the expected
maturity of a short or medium-term security. That could cause its value to
fluctuate more widely in response to changes in interest rates. In turn, this
could cause the value of the Fund's shares to fluctuate more.
o Money Market Instruments. The Fund can also invest in "money
market instruments." These are U.S. Government securities and high-quality
corporate debt securities having a remaining maturity of one year or less.
They include commercial paper, other short-term corporate debt obligations,
certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and repurchase agreements. They
do not generate capital growth if held to maturity.
n Can the Fund's Investment Objective and Policies Change? The Fund's
Board of Trustees may change non-fundamental investment policies without
shareholder approval, although significant changes will be described in
amendments to this Prospectus. Fundamental policies are those that cannot be
changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
shares. The Fund's objective is a fundamental policy. Other investment
restrictions that are fundamental policies are listed in the Statement of
Additional Information. An investment policy is not fundamental unless this
Prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information says it is.
n Portfolio Turnover. The Fund does not expect to engage frequently in
short-term trading to try to achieve its objective. Portfolio turnover
affects brokerage costs the Fund pays. If the Fund realizes capital gains
when it sells its portfolio investments, it must generally pay those gains
out to shareholders, increasing their taxable distributions. The Financial
Highlights table below shows the Fund's portfolio turnover rates during prior
fiscal years.
Other Investment Strategies. To seek its objective, the Fund can also use
the investment techniques and strategies described below. These techniques
involve certain risks, although some are designed to help reduce investment
or market risks. The Manager might not always use all of the different types
of techniques and investments described below.
n Foreign Investing. The Fund may buy foreign securities that are
listed on a domestic or foreign stock exchange, traded in domestic or foreign
over-the-counter markets, or represented by American Depository Receipts.
Foreign investing has special risks, described above. The Fund may invest in
emerging markets which have greater risks than developed markets, making
these investments more volatile than other foreign investments. The Fund
currently does not intend to purchase securities issued by governments or
companies in emerging markets. The Fund will hold foreign currency only in
connection with buying and selling foreign securities.
n "When-Issued" and Delayed Delivery Transactions. The Fund may
purchase securities on a "when-issued" basis and may purchase or sell
securities on a "delayed delivery" basis. These terms refer to securities
that have been created and for which a market exists, but which are not
available for immediate delivery. There may be a risk of loss to the Fund if
the value of the security declines prior to the settlement date.
n Investing in Small, Unseasoned Companies. The Fund can invest up to
5% of its total assets in securities of small, unseasoned companies. These
are companies that have been in continuous operation for less than three
years, counting the operations of any predecessors. These securities may have
limited liquidity, so that the Fund could have difficulty selling them at an
acceptable price when it wants to. The values of these securities may be very
volatile.
n Investing in Other Investment Companies. The Fund can invest up to
10% of its total assets in shares of other investment companies. It can
invest up to 5% of its total assets in any one investment company (but cannot
own more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of that company). These
limits do not apply to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation,
reorganization or acquisition of another investment company. Because the Fund
would be subject to its ratable share of the other investment company's
expenses, the Fund will not make these investments unless the Sub-Adviser
believes that the potential investment benefits justify the added costs and
expenses.
n Illiquid and Restricted Securities. Under the policies and
procedures established by the Fund's Board of Trustees, the Manager
determines the liquidity of certain of the Fund's investments. Investments
may be illiquid because of the absence of an active trading market, making it
difficult to value them or dispose of them promptly at an acceptable price. A
restricted security is one that has a contractual restriction on its resale
or which cannot be sold publicly until it is registered under the Securities
Act of 1933. The Fund cannot invest more than 15% of its net assets in
illiquid or restricted securities. Certain restricted securities that are
eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers are not subject to
that limit. The Manager and Sub-Adviser monitor holdings of illiquid
securities on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any holdings to
maintain adequate liquidity.
Temporary Defensive Investments. In times of unstable or adverse market or
economic conditions, the Fund can invest up to 100% of its assets in
temporary defensive investments. Generally they would be U.S. government
securities and the types of money market instruments described above. To the
extent the Fund invests defensively in these securities, it might not achieve
its investment objective of capital growth.
Year 2000 Risks. Because many computer software systems in use today cannot
distinguish the year 2000 from the year 1900, the markets for securities in
which the Fund invests could be detrimentally affected by computer failures
beginning January 1, 2000. Failure of computer systems used for securities
trading could result in settlement and liquidity problems for the Fund and
other investors. That failure could have a negative impact on handling
securities trades, pricing and accounting services. Data processing errors by
government issuers of securities could result in economic uncertainties, and
those issuers may incur substantial costs in attempting to prevent or fix
such errors, all of which could have a negative effect on the Fund's
investments and returns.
The Manager, the Sub-Adviser, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent
have been working on necessary changes to their computer systems to deal with
the year 2000 and expect that their systems will be adapted in time for that
event, although there cannot be assurance of success. Additionally, the
services they provide depend on the interaction of their computer systems
with those of brokers, information services, the Fund's Custodian and other
parties. Therefore, any failure of the computer systems of those parties to
deal with the year 2000 may also have a negative effect on the services they
provide to the Fund. The extent of that risk cannot be ascertained at this
time.
How the Fund Is Managed
The Manager. The Fund's investment Manager, OppenheimerFunds, Inc.,
supervises the Fund's investment program and handles its day-to-day
business. The Manager carries out its duties, subject to the policies
established by the Board of Trustees, under an Investment Advisory Agreement
that states the Manager's responsibilities. The Agreement sets forth the
fees paid by the Fund to the Manager and describes the expenses that the Fund
is responsible to pay to conduct its business. The Manager became the Fund's
investment manager November 22, 1995.
The Manager has operated as an investment adviser since 1959. The
Manager (including subsidiaries) currently manages investment companies,
including other Oppenheimer funds, with assets of more than $90 billion as of
December 31, 1998, and with more than 4 million shareholder accounts. The
Manager is located at Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York
10048-0203.
n The Manager's Fees. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the
Fund pays the Manager an advisory fee at an annual rate that declines on
additional assets as the Fund grows: 1.00% of the first $400 million of
average annual net assets of the Fund, 0.90% of the next $400 million, 0.85%
of the next $3.2 billion, 0.80% of the next $4 billion and 0.75% of average
annual net assets in excess of $8 billion. The Fund's management fee for its
last fiscal year ended October 31, 1998 was 0.__% of average annual net
assets for each class of shares.
The Sub-Adviser. On November 22, 1995, the Manager retained the Sub-Adviser
to provide day-to-day portfolio management for the Fund. Prior to that date
and from the inception of the Fund, the Sub-Adviser had been the Fund's
investment adviser. The Sub-Adviser has operated as an investment adviser to
investment companies and institutional investors since its organization in
__________, 1980, and as of December 31, 1998, advised accounts having assets
in excess of $________ billion. It is located at One World Financial Center,
200 Liberty Street, New York New York 10281.
The Manager, not the Fund, pays the Sub-Adviser an annual fee under the
Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. The fee is
calculated as a percentage of the fee the Fund pays the Manager. The rate is
40% of the advisory fee collected by the Manager based on the net assets of
the Fund as of November 22, 1995, and 30% of the fee collected by the Manager
on assets in excess of that amount.
n Portfolio Manager. The portfolio manager of the Fund is Richard J.
Glasebrook II, who is employed by the Sub-Adviser. He is primarily
responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio. He is a
Managing Director of Oppenheimer Capital, the immediate parent company of the
Sub-Adviser and has been the Fund's portfolio manager since April 1991.
Mr. George Long, who is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Investment Officer of Oppenheimer Capital, oversees the Sub-Adviser's equity
investment policy. He has been affiliated with Oppenheimer Capital since 1981.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About Your Account
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy Shares
How Are Shares Purchased? You can buy shares several ways -- through any
dealer, broker or financial institution that has a sales agreement with the
Fund's Distributor, or directly through the Distributor, or automatically
through an Asset Builder Plan under the OppenheimerFunds AccountLink
service. The Distributor may appoint certain servicing agents to accept
purchase (and redemption) orders. The Distributor, in its sole discretion,
may reject any purchase order for the Fund's shares.
|X| Buying Shares Through Your Dealer. Your dealer will place your
order with the Distributor on your behalf.
|X| Buying Shares Through the Distributor. Complete an OppenheimerFunds
New Account Application and return it with a check payable to
"OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc." Mail it to P.O. Box 5270, Denver,
Colorado 80217. If you don't list a dealer on the application, the
Distributor will act as your agent in buying the shares. However, we
recommend that you discuss your investment with a financial advisor before
your make a purchase to be sure that the Fund is appropriate for you.
|X| Buying Shares by Federal Funds Wire. Shares purchased through the
Distributor may be paid for by Federal Funds wire. The minimum investment is
$2,500. Before sending a wire, call the Distributor's Wire Department at
1-800-525-7048 to notify the Distributor of the wire, and to receive further
instructions.
|X| Buying Shares Through OppenheimerFunds AccountLink. With
AccountLink, shares are purchased for your account on the regular business
day the Distributor is instructed by you to initiate the Automated Clearing
House (ACH) transfer to buy the shares. You can provide those instructions
automatically, under an Asset Builder Plan, described below, or by telephone
instructions using OppenheimerFunds PhoneLink, also described below. Please
refer to "AccountLink," below for more details.
|X| Buying Shares Through Asset Builder Plans. You may purchase shares
of the Fund (and up to four other Oppenheimer funds) automatically each month
from your account at a bank or other financial institution under an Asset
Builder Plan with AccountLink. Details are in the Asset Builder Application
and the Statement of Additional Information.
How Much Must You Invest? You can open a Fund account with a minimum initial
investment of $1,000 and make additional investments at any time with as
little as $25. There are reduced minimum investments under special investment
plans.
|_| With Asset Builder Plans, 403(b) plans, Automatic Exchange Plans
and military allotment plans, you can make initial and subsequent investments
for as little as $25. Subsequent purchases of at least $25 can be made by
telephone through AccountLink.
o Under retirement plans, such as IRAs, pension and profit-sharing
plans and 401(k) plans, you can start your account with as little as $250. If
your IRA is started under an Asset Builder Plan, the $25 minimum applies.
Additional purchases may be as little as $25.
|_| The minimum investment requirement does not apply to reinvesting
dividends from the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds (a list of them appears in
the Statement of Additional Information, or you can ask your dealer or call
the Transfer Agent), or reinvesting distributions from unit investment trusts
that have made arrangements with the Distributor.
At What Price Are Shares Sold? Shares are sold at their offering price (the
net asset value per share plus any initial sales charge that applies). The
offering price that applies to a purchase order is based on the next
calculation of the net asset value per share that is made after the
Distributor receives the purchase order at its offices in Denver, Colorado,
or after any agent appointed by the Distributor receives the order and sends
it to the Distributor.
|_| The net asset value of each class of shares is determined as of the
close of The New York Stock Exchange, on each day the Exchange is open for
trading (referred to in this Prospectus as a "regular business day"). The
Exchange normally closes at 4:00 P.M., New York time, but may close earlier
on some days. (All references to time in this Prospectus mean "New York
time").
The net asset value per share is determined by dividing the value of
the Fund's net assets attributable to a class by the number of shares of that
class that are outstanding. To determine net asset value, the Fund's Board
of Trustees has established procedures to value the Fund's securities, in
general based on market value. The Board has adopted special procedures for
valuing illiquid and restricted securities and obligations for which market
values cannot be readily obtained. Because foreign securities trade in
markets and exchanges that operate on holidays and weekends, the values of
the Fund's foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot buy
or redeem Fund shares.
|_| To receive the offering price for a particular day, in most cases
the Distributor or its designated agent must receive your order by the time
of day The New York Stock Exchange closes that day. If your order is
received on a day when the Exchange is closed or after it has closed, the
order will receive the next offering price that is determined after your
order is received.
|_| If you buy shares through a dealer, your dealer must receive the
order by the close of The New York Stock Exchange and transmit it to the
Distributor so that it is received before the Distributor's close of business
on a regular business day (normally 5:00 P.M.) to receive that day's offering
price. Otherwise, the order will receive the next offering price that is
determined.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What Classes of Shares Does the Fund Offer? The Fund offers investors four
different classes of shares. The different classes of shares represent
investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject
to different expenses and will likely have different share prices. When you
buy shares, be sure to specify the class of shares. If you do not choose a
class, your investment will be made in Class A shares.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|X| Class A Shares. If you buy Class A shares, you pay an initial
sales charge (on investments up to $1 million for regular accounts or
$500,000 for certain retirement plans). The amount of that initial sales
charge will vary depending on the amount you invest. The sales charge rates
are listed in "How Can I Buy Class A Shares?" below. There is also an
asset-based sales charge on Class A shares.
|X| Class B Shares. If you buy Class B shares, you pay no sales charge
at the time of purchase, but you will pay an annual asset-based sales charge
and if you sell your shares within six years of buying them, you will
normally pay a contingent deferred sales charge. That contingent deferred
sales charge varies depending on how long you own your shares, as described
in "How Can I Buy Class B Shares?" below.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|X| Class C Shares. If you buy Class C shares, you pay no sales charge
at the time of purchase, but you will pay an annual asset-based sales charge
and if you sell your shares within 12 months of buying them, you will
normally pay a contingent deferred sales charge of 1%, as described in "How
Can I Buy Class C Shares?" below.
n Class Y Shares. Class Y shares are offered only to certain
institutional investors that have special agreements with the Distributor.
Which Class of Shares Should You Choose? Once you decide that the Fund is an
appropriate investment for you, the decision as to which class of shares is
best suited to your needs depends on a number of factors that you should
discuss with your financial advisor. Some factors to consider are how much
you plan to invest and how long you plan to hold your investment. If your
goals and objectives change over time and you plan to purchase additional
shares, you should re-evaluate those factors to see if you should consider
another class of shares. The Fund's operating costs that apply to a class of
shares and the effect of the different types of sales charges on your
investment will vary your investment results over time.
The discussion below is not intended to be investment advice or a
recommendation, because each investor's financial considerations are
different. You should review these factors with your financial advisor. The
discussion below assumes that you will purchase only one class of shares, and
not a combination of shares of different classes.
|X| How Long Do You Expect to Hold Your Investment? While future
financial needs cannot be predicted with certainty, knowing how long you
expect to hold your investment will assist you in selecting the appropriate
class of shares. Because of the effect of class-based expenses, your choice
will also depend on how much you plan to invest. For example, the reduced
sales charges available for larger purchases of Class A shares may, over
time, offset the effect of paying an initial sales charge on your investment,
compared to the effect over time of higher class-based expenses on shares of
Class B or Class C.
|_| Investing for the Short Term. If you have a relatively short-term
investment horizon (that is, you plan to hold your shares for not more than
six years), you should probably consider purchasing Class A or Class C shares
rather than Class B shares. That is because of the effect of the Class B
contingent deferred sales charge if you redeem within six years, as well as
the effect of the Class B asset-based sales charge on the investment return
for that class in the short-term. Class C shares might be the appropriate
choice (especially for investments of less than $100,000), because there is
no initial sales charge on Class C shares, and the contingent deferred sales
charge does not apply to amounts you sell after holding them one year.
However, if you plan to invest more than $100,000 for the shorter term,
then as your investment horizon increases toward six years, Class C shares
might not be as advantageous as Class A shares. That is because the annual
asset-based sales charge on Class C shares will have a greater impact on your
account over the longer term than the reduced front-end sales charge
available for larger purchases of Class A shares.
And for investors who invest $1 million or more, in most cases Class A
shares will be the most advantageous choice, no matter how long you intend to
hold your shares. For that reason, the Distributor normally will not accept
purchase orders of $500,000 or more of Class B shares or $1 million or more
of Class C shares from a single investor.
|_| Investing for the Longer Term. If you are investing less than
$100,000 for the longer-term, for example for retirement, and do not expect
to need access to your money for seven years or more, Class B shares may be
appropriate.
Of course, these examples are based on approximations of the effect of
current sales charges and expenses projected over time, and do not detail all
of the considerations in selecting a class of shares. You should analyze your
options carefully with your financial advisor before making that choice.
|X| Are There Differences in Account Features That Matter to You? Some
account features may not be available to Class B or Class C shareholders.
Other features (such as Automatic Withdrawal Plans) may not be advisable
(because of the effect of the contingent deferred sales charge) for Class B
or Class C shareholders. Therefore, you should carefully review how you plan
to use your investment account before deciding which class of shares to buy.
Additionally, the dividends payable to Class B and Class C shareholders
will be reduced by the additional expenses borne by those classes that are
not borne by Class A shares, such as the Class B and Class C asset-based
sales charge described below and in the Statement of Additional Information.
Share certificates are not available for Class B and Class C shares, and if
you are considering using your shares as collateral for a loan, that may be a
factor to consider.
|X| How Does It Affect Payments to My Broker? A salesperson, such as a
broker, may receive different compensation for selling one class of shares
than for selling another class. It is important to remember that Class B and
Class C contingent deferred sales charges and asset-based sales charges have
the same purpose as the front-end sales charge on sales of Class A shares: to
compensate the Distributor for commissions and expenses it pays to dealers
and financial institutions for selling shares. The Distributor may pay
additional compensation from its own resources to securities dealers or
financial institutions based upon the value of shares of the Fund owned by
the dealer or financial institution for its own account or for its customers.
Special Sales Charge Arrangements and Waivers. Appendix C to the Statement
of Additional Information details the conditions for the waiver of sales
charges that apply in certain cases, and the special sales charge rates that
apply to purchases of shares of the Fund by certain groups, or under
specified retirement plan arrangements or in other special types of
transactions.
How Can I Buy Class A Shares? Class A shares are sold at their offering
price, which is normally net asset value plus an initial sales charge.
However, in some cases, described below, purchases are not subject to an
initial sales charge, and the offering price will be the net asset value. In
other cases, reduced sales charges may be available, as described below or in
the Statement of Additional Information. Out of the amount you invest, the
Fund receives the net asset value to invest for your account.
The sales charge varies depending on the amount of your purchase. A
portion of the sales charge may be retained by the Distributor or allocated
to your dealer as commission. The Distributor reserves the right to reallow
the entire commission to dealers. The current sales charge rates and
commissions paid to dealers and brokers are as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Front-End Sales Front-End Sales
Charge As a Charge As a Commission As
Percentage of Percentage of Net Percentage of
Amount of Purchase Offering Price Amount Invested Offering Price
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than $25,000 5.75% 6.10% 4.75%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$25,000 or more
but less than 5.50% 5.82% 4.75%
$50,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 or more
but less than 4.75% 4.99% 4.00%
$100,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$100,000 or more
but less than 3.75% 3.90% 3.00%
$250,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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$250,000 or more
but less than 2.50% 2.56% 2.00%
$500,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$500,000 or more
but less than $1 2.00% 2.04% 1.60%
million
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|X| Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. There is no initial
sales charge on purchases of Class A shares of any one or more of the
Oppenheimer funds aggregating $1 million or more or for certain purchases by
particular types of retirement plans described in Appendix C to the Statement
of Additional Information. The Distributor pays dealers of record
commissions in an amount equal to 1.0% of purchases of $1 million or more
other than by those retirement accounts. For those retirement plan accounts,
the commission is 1.0% of the first $2.5 million, plus 0.50% of the next $2.5
million, plus 0.25% of purchases over $5 million, calculated on a calendar
year basis. In either case, the commission will be paid only on purchases
that were not previously subject to a front-end sales charge and dealer
commission.3
If you redeem any of those shares within 18 months of the end of the
calendar month of their purchase, a contingent deferred sales charge (called
the "Class A contingent deferred sales charge") may be deducted from the
redemption proceeds. That sales charge will be equal to 1.0% of the lesser
of (1) the aggregate net asset value of the redeemed shares at the time of
redemption (excluding shares purchased by reinvestment of dividends or
capital gain distributions) or (2) the original net asset value of the
redeemed shares. However, the Class A contingent deferred sales charge will
not exceed the aggregate amount of the commissions the Distributor paid to
your dealer on all purchases of Class A shares of all Oppenheimer funds you
made that were subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales charge.
In determining whether a contingent deferred sales charge is payable
when shares are redeemed, the Fund will first redeem shares that are not
subject to the sales charge, including shares purchased by reinvestment of
dividends and capital gains. Then the Fund will redeem other shares in the
order in which you purchased them. The Class A contingent deferred sales
charge is waived in certain cases described in Appendix C to the Statement of
Additional Information.
The Class A contingent deferred sales charge is not charged on
exchanges of shares under the Fund's Exchange Privilege (described below).
However, if the shares acquired by exchange are redeemed within 18 calendar
months of the end of the calendar month in which the exchanged shares were
originally purchased, then the sales charge will apply.
How Can I Reduce Sales Charges for Class A Share Purchases? You may be
eligible to buy Class A shares at reduced sales charge rates under the Fund's
"Right of Accumulation" or a Letter of Intent, as described in Appendix C in
the Statement of Additional Information:
|X| Waivers of Class A Sales Charges. The Class A initial and
contingent deferred sales charges are not imposed in the circumstances
described in Appendix C in the Statement of Additional Information. In order
to receive a waiver of the Class A contingent deferred sales charge, you must
notify the Transfer Agent when purchasing shares whether any of the special
conditions apply.
How Can I Buy Class B Shares? Class B shares are sold at net asset value per
share without an initial sales charge. However, if Class B shares are
redeemed within 6 years of their purchase, a contingent deferred sales charge
will be deducted from the redemption proceeds. The Class B contingent
deferred sales charge is paid to compensate the Distributor for its expenses
of providing distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the
sale of Class B shares.
The contingent deferred sales charge will be based on the lesser of the
net asset value of the redeemed shares at the time of redemption or the
original net asset value. The contingent deferred sales charge is not
imposed on:
|_| the amount of your account value represented by an increase in
net asset value over the initial purchase price,
|_| shares purchased by the reinvestment of dividends or capital
gains distributions, or
|_| shares redeemed in the special circumstances described in
Appendix C to the Statement of Additional Information.
To determine whether the contingent deferred sales charge applies to a
redemption, the Fund redeems shares in the following order:
(4) shares acquired by reinvestment of dividends and capital gains
distributions,
(5) shares held for over 6 years, and
(6) shares held the longest during the 6-year period.
The amount of the contingent deferred sales charge will depend on the
number of years since you invested and the dollar amount being redeemed,
according to the following schedule:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge on
Years Since Beginning of Month in Redemptions in That Year
Which Purchase Order was Accepted (As % of Amount Subject to Charge)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 - 1 5.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 2 4.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 - 3 3.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 - 4 3.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 - 5 2.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 - 6 1.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 and following None
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the table, a "year" is a 12-month period. In applying the sales
charge, all purchases are considered to have been made on the first regular
business day of the month in which the purchase was made.
|X| Automatic Conversion of Class B Shares. Class B shares
automatically convert to Class A shares 72 months after you purchase them.
This conversion feature relieves Class B shareholders of the asset-based
sales charge that applies to Class B shares under the Class B Distribution
and Service Plan, described below. The conversion is based on the relative
net asset value of the two classes, and no sales load or other charge is
imposed. When Class B shares convert, any other Class B shares that were
acquired by the reinvestment of dividends and distributions on the converted
shares will also convert to Class A shares. The conversion feature is subject
to the continued availability of a tax ruling described in the Statement of
Additional Information.
How Can I Buy Class C Shares? Class C shares are sold at net asset value per
share without an initial sales charge. However, if Class C shares are
redeemed within 12 months of their purchase, a contingent deferred sales
charge of 1.0% will be deducted from the redemption proceeds. The Class C
contingent deferred sales charge is paid to compensate the Distributor for
its expenses of providing distribution-related services to the Fund in
connection with the sale of Class C shares.
The contingent deferred sales charge will be based on the lesser of the
net asset value of the redeemed shares at the time of redemption or the
original net asset value. The contingent deferred sales charge is not
imposed on:
o the amount of your account value represented by the increase in net
asset value over the initial purchase price,
o shares purchased by the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains
distributions, or
o shares redeemed in the special circumstances described in Appendix C to
the Statement of Additional Information.
To determine whether the contingent deferred sales charge applies to a
redemption, the Fund redeems shares in the following order:
(4) shares acquired by reinvestment of dividends and capital gains
distributions,
(5) shares held for over 12 months, and
(6) shares held the longest during the 12-month period.
Who Can Buy Class Y Shares? Class Y shares are sold at net asset value per
share without sales charge directly to certain institutional investors that
have special agreements with the Distributor for this purpose. They may
include insurance companies, registered investment companies and employee
benefit plans. For example, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, an
affiliate of the Manager, may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund and other
Oppenheimer funds (as well as Class Y shares of funds advised by MassMutual)
for asset allocation programs, investment companies or separate investment
accounts it sponsors and offers to its customers. Individual investors are
not able to buy Class Y shares directly.
An institutional investor that buys Class Y shares for its customers'
accounts may impose charges on those accounts. The procedures for buying,
selling, exchanging and transferring the Fund's other classes of shares and
the special account features available to investors buying those other
classes of shares do not apply to Class Y shares. An exception is that the
time those orders must be received by the Distributor or its agents or by the
Transfer Agent is the same for Class Y as for other share classes. However,
those instructions must be submitted by the institutional investor, not by
its customers for whose benefit the shares are held.
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Plans. Because these fees are paid out of
the Fund's assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase
the cost of your investment and may cost you more than other types of sales
charges.
|X| Distribution and Service Plan for Class A Shares. The Fund has
adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Class A shares. Under the plan
the Fund pays an asset-based sales charge to the Distributor at an annual
rate of 0.25% of average annual net assets of Class A shares the Fund. The
Fund also pays a service fee to the Distributor of 0.25% of the average
annual net assets of Class A shares. The Distributor currently uses all of
the fee and a portion of the asset-based sales charge to compensate dealers,
brokers, banks and other financial institutions quarterly for providing
personal service and maintenance of accounts of their customers that hold
Class A shares. The Distributor pays out the portion of the asset-based sales
charge equal to 0.15% of average annual net assets representing Class A
shares purchased before September 1, 1993, and 0.10% of average annual net
assets representing Class A shares purchased on or after that date.
|X| Distribution and Service Plans for Class B and Class C Shares. The
Fund has adopted Distribution and Service Plans for Class B and Class C
shares to pay the Distributor for its services and costs in distributing
Class B and Class C shares and servicing accounts. Under the plans, the Fund
pays the Distributor an annual asset-based sales charge of 0.75% per year on
Class B shares and on Class C shares. The Distributor also receives a
service fee of 0.25% per year under each plan. The asset-based sales charge
and service fees increase Class B and Class C expenses by up to 1.00% of the
net assets per year of the respective class.
The Distributor uses the service fees to compensate dealers for
providing personal services for accounts that hold Class B or Class C
shares. The Distributor pays the 0.25% service fees to dealers in advance
for the first year after the shares were sold by the dealer. After the
shares have been held for a year, the Distributor pays the service fees to
dealers on a quarterly basis.
The Distributor currently pays sales commission of 3.75% of the
purchase price of Class B shares to dealers from its own resources at the
time of sale. Including the advance of the service fee, the total amount
paid by the Distributor to the dealer at the time of sales of Class B shares
is therefore 4.00% of the purchase price. The Distributor retains the Class
B asset-based sales charge.
The Distributor currently pays sales commissions of 0.75% of the
purchase price of Class C shares to dealers from its own resources at the
time of sale. Including the advance of the service fee, the total amount
paid by the Distributor to the dealer at the time of sale of Class C shares
is therefore 1.00% of the purchase price. The Distributor pays the
asset-based sales charge as an ongoing commission to the dealer on Class C
shares that have been outstanding for a year or more.
Special Investor Services
AccountLink. You can use our AccountLink feature to link your Fund account
with an account at a U.S. bank or other financial institution. It must be an
Automated Clearing House (ACH) member. AccountLink lets you:
|_| transmit funds electronically to purchase shares by telephone
(through a service representative or by PhoneLink) or automatically
under Asset Builder Plans, or
|_| have the Transfer Agent send redemption proceeds or transmit
dividends and distributions directly to your bank account. Please call
the Transfer Agent for more information.
You may purchase shares by telephone only after your account has been
established. To purchase shares in amounts up to $250,000 through a telephone
representative, call the Distributor at 1-800-852-8457. The purchase payment
will be debited from your bank account.
AccountLink privileges should be requested on your Application or your
dealer's settlement instructions if you buy your shares through a dealer.
After your account is established, you can request AccountLink privileges by
sending signature-guaranteed instructions to the Transfer Agent. AccountLink
privileges will apply to each shareholder listed in the registration on your
account as well as to your dealer representative of record unless and until
the Transfer Agent receives written instructions terminating or changing
those privileges. After you establish AccountLink for your account, any
change of bank account information must be made by signature-guaranteed
instructions to the Transfer Agent signed by all shareholders who own the
account.
PhoneLink. PhoneLink is the OppenheimerFunds automated telephone system that
enables shareholders to perform a number of account transactions
automatically using a touch-tone phone. PhoneLink may be used on
already-established Fund accounts after you obtain a Personal Identification
Number (PIN), by calling the special PhoneLink number, 1-800-533-3310.
|_| Purchasing Shares. You may purchase shares in amounts up to
$100,000 by phone, by calling 1-800-533-3310. You must have established
AccountLink privileges to link your bank account with the Fund to pay for
these purchases.
|_| Exchanging Shares. With the OppenheimerFunds Exchange Privilege,
described below, you can exchange shares automatically by phone from your
Fund account to another OppenheimerFunds account you have already established
by calling the special PhoneLink number.
|_| Selling Shares. You can redeem shares by telephone automatically
by calling the PhoneLink number and the Fund will send the proceeds directly
to your AccountLink bank account. Please refer to "How to Sell Shares," below
for details.
Can I Submit Transaction Requests by Fax? You may send requests for certain
types of account transactions to the Transfer Agent by fax (telecopier).
Please call 1-800-525-7048 for information about which transactions may be
handled this way. Transaction requests submitted by fax are subject to the
same rules and restrictions as written and telephone requests described in
this Prospectus.
OppenheimerFunds Internet Web Site. You can obtain information about the
Fund, as well as your account balance, on the OppenheimerFunds Internet web
site, at http://www.oppenheimerfunds.com. Additionally, shareholders listed
in the account registration (and the dealer of record) may request certain
account transactions through a special section of that web site. To perform
account transactions, you must first obtain a personal identification number
(PIN) by calling the Transfer Agent at 1-800-533-3310. If you do not want to
have Internet account transaction capability for your account, please call
the Transfer Agent at 1-800-525-7048.
Automatic Withdrawal and Exchange Plans. The Fund has several plans that
enable you to sell shares automatically or exchange them to another
OppenheimerFunds account on a regular basis. Please call the Transfer Agent
or consult the Statement of Additional Information for details.
Reinvestment Privilege. If you redeem some or all of your Class A or Class B
shares of the Fund, you have up to 6 months to reinvest all or part of the
redemption proceeds in Class A shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds
without paying a sales charge. This privilege applies only to Class A shares
that you purchased subject to an initial sales charge and to Class A or Class
B shares on which you paid a contingent deferred sales charge when you
redeemed them. This privilege does not apply to Class C or Class Y shares.
You must be sure to ask the Distributor for this privilege when you send your
payment.
Retirement Plans. You may buy shares of the Fund for your retirement plan
account. If you participate in a plan sponsored by your employer, the plan
trustee or administrator must buy the shares for your plan account. The
Distributor also offers a number of different retirement plans that can be
used by individuals and employers:
|_| Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), including regular IRAs, Roth
IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, rollover and Education IRAs.
|_| SEP-IRAs, which are Simplified Employee Pensions Plan IRAs for
small business owners or self-employed individuals.
|_| 403(b)(7) Custodial Plans, that are tax deferred plans for
employees of eligible tax-exempt organizations, such as schools, hospitals
and charitable organizations.
|_| 401(k) Plans, which are special retirement plans for businesses.
|_| Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans, designed for businesses and
self-employed individuals.
Please call the Distributor for OppenheimerFunds retirement plan
documents, which include applications and important plan information.
How to Sell Shares
You can sell (redeem) some or all of your shares on any regular
business day. Your shares will be sold at the next net asset value
calculated after your order is received in proper form (which means it must
comply with the procedures described below) and is accepted by the Transfer
Agent. The Fund lets you sell your shares by writing a letter or by
telephone. You can also set up Automatic Withdrawal Plans to redeem shares
on a regular basis. If you have questions about any of these procedures, and
especially if you are redeeming shares in a special situation, such as due to
the death of the owner or from a retirement plan account, please call the
Transfer Agent first, at 1-800-525-7048, for assistance.
|X| Certain Requests Require a Signature Guarantee. To protect you and
the Fund from fraud, the following redemption requests must be in writing and
must include a signature guarantee (although there may be other situations
that also require a signature guarantee):
|_| You wish to redeem $50,000 or more and receive a check
|_| The redemption check is not payable to all shareholders listed on
the account statement
|_| The redemption check is not sent to the address of record on your
account statement
|_| Shares are being transferred to a Fund account with a different
owner or name
|_| Shares are being redeemed by someone (such as an Executor) other
than the owners
|X| Where Can I Have My Signature Guaranteed? The Transfer Agent will
accept a guarantee of your signature by a number of financial institutions,
including: a U.S. bank, trust company, credit union or savings association,
or by a foreign bank that has a U.S. correspondent bank, or by a U.S.
registered dealer or broker in securities, municipal securities or government
securities, or by a U.S. national securities exchange, a registered
securities association or a clearing agency. If you are signing on behalf of
a corporation, partnership or other business or as a fiduciary, you must also
include your title in the signature.
|X| Retirement Plan Accounts. There are special procedures to sell
shares in an OppenheimerFunds retirement plan account. Call the Transfer
Agent for a distribution request form. Special income tax withholding
requirements apply to distributions from retirement plans. You must submit a
withholding form with your redemption request to avoid delay in getting your
money and if you do not want tax withheld. If your employer holds your
retirement plan account for you in the name of the plan, you must ask the
plan trustee or administrator to request the sale of the Fund shares in your
plan account.
|X| Sending Redemption Proceeds by Wire. While the Fund normally sends
your money by check, you can arrange to have the proceeds of the shares you
sell sent by Federal Funds wire to a bank account you designate. It must be a
commercial bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve wire system. The
minimum redemption you can have sent by wire is $2,500. There is a $10 fee
for each wire. To find out how to set up this feature on your account or to
arrange a wire, call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-852-8457.
How Do I Sell Shares by Mail? Write a letter of instructions that includes:
|_| Your name
|_| The Fund's name
|_| Your Fund account number (from your account statement)
|_| The dollar amount or number of shares to be redeemed
|_| Any special payment instructions
|_| Any share certificates for the shares you are selling
|_| The signatures of all registered owners exactly as the account is
registered, and
|_| Any special documents requested by the Transfer Agent to assure
proper authorization of the person asking to sell the shares.
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Use the following address for requests by mail:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OppenheimerFunds Services
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.O. Box 5270, Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Send courier or express mail requests to:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OppenheimerFunds Services
10200 E. Girard Avenue, Building D
Denver, Colorado 80231
How Do I Sell Shares by Telephone? You and your dealer representative of
record may also sell your shares by telephone. To receive the redemption
price on a regular business day, your call must be received by the Transfer
Agent by the close of The New York Stock Exchange that day, which is normally
4:00 P.M., but may be earlier on some days. You may not redeem shares held
in an OppenheimerFunds retirement plan account or under a share certificate
by telephone.
|_| To redeem shares through a service representative, call
1-800-852-8457
|_| To redeem shares automatically on PhoneLink, call 1-800-533-3310
Whichever method you use, you may have a check sent to the address on
the account statement, or, if you have linked your Fund account to your bank
account on AccountLink, you may have the proceeds sent to that bank account.
Are There Limits on Amounts Redeemed by Telephone?
|X| Telephone Redemptions Paid by Check. Up to $50,000 may be redeemed
by telephone in any 7-day period. The check must be payable to all owners of
record of the shares and must be sent to the address on the account
statement. This service is not available within 30 days of changing the
address on an account.
|X| Telephone Redemptions Through AccountLink. There are no dollar
limits on telephone redemption proceeds sent to a bank account designated
when you establish AccountLink. Normally the ACH transfer to your bank is
initiated on the business day after the redemption. You do not receive
dividends on the proceeds of the shares you redeemed while they are waiting
to be transferred.
Can I Sell Shares Through My Dealer? The Distributor has made arrangements to
repurchase Fund shares from dealers and brokers on behalf of their
customers. Brokers or dealers may charge for that service. If your shares
are held in the name of your dealer, you must redeem them through your dealer.
How to Exchange Shares
Shares of the Fund may be exchanged for shares of certain Oppenheimer
funds at net asset value per share at the time of exchange, without sales
charge. To exchange shares, you must meet several conditions:
|_| Shares of the fund selected for exchange must be available for sale
in your state of residence.
|_| The prospectuses of this Fund and the fund whose shares you want to
buy must offer the exchange privilege.
|_| You must hold the shares you buy when you establish your account
for at least 7 days before you can exchange them. After the account is open 7
days, you can exchange shares every regular business day.
|_| You must meet the minimum purchase requirements for the fund you
purchase by exchange.
|_| Before exchanging into a fund, you should obtain and read its
prospectus.
Shares of a particular class of the Fund may be exchanged only for
shares of the same class in the other Oppenheimer funds. For example, you
can exchange Class A shares of this Fund only for Class A shares of another
fund. In some cases, sales charges may be imposed on exchange transactions.
For tax purposes, exchanges of shares involve a sale of the shares of the
fund you own and a purchase of the shares of the other fund, which may result
in a capital gain or loss. Please refer to "How to Exchange Shares" in the
Statement of Additional Information for more details.
How Do I Submit Exchange Requests? Exchanges may be requested in writing or
by telephone:
|X| Written Exchange Requests. Submit an OppenheimerFunds Exchange
Request form, signed by all owners of the account. Send it to the Transfer
Agent at the address on the Back Cover. Exchanges of shares held under
certificates cannot be processed unless the Transfer Agent receives the
certificates with the request.
|X| Telephone Exchange Requests. Telephone exchange requests may be
made either by calling a service representative at 1-800-852-8457, or by
using PhoneLink for automated exchanges by calling 1-800-533-3310. Telephone
exchanges may be made only between accounts that are registered with the same
name(s) and address. Shares held under certificates may not be exchanged by
telephone.
You can find a list of Oppenheimer funds currently available for
exchanges in the Statement of Additional Information or obtain one by calling
a service representative at 1-800-525-7048. That list can change from time
to time.
Are There Limitations on Exchanges? There are certain exchange policies you
should be aware of:
|_| Shares are normally redeemed from one fund and purchased from the
other fund in the exchange transaction on the same regular business day on
which the Transfer Agent receives an exchange request that conforms to the
policies described above. It must be received by the close of The New York
Stock Exchange that day, which is normally 4:00 P.M. but may be earlier on
some days. However, either fund may delay the purchase of shares of the fund
you are exchanging into up to seven days if it determines it would be
disadvantaged by a same-day exchange. For example, the receipt of multiple
exchange requests from a "market timer" might require the Fund to sell
securities at a disadvantageous time and/or price.
|_| Because excessive trading can hurt fund performance and harm
shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to refuse any exchange request that
it believes will disadvantage it, or to refuse multiple exchange requests
submitted by a shareholder or dealer.
|_| The Fund may amend, suspend or terminate the exchange privilege at
any time. Although the Fund will attempt to provide you notice whenever it
is reasonably able to do so, it may impose these changes at any time.
|_| If the Transfer Agent cannot exchange all the shares you request
because of a restriction cited above, only the shares eligible for exchange
will be exchanged.
Shareholder Account Rules and Policies
|X| The offering of shares may be suspended during any period in which
the determination of net asset value is suspended, and the offering may be
suspended by the Board of Trustees at any time the Board believes it is in
the Fund's best interest to do so.
|X| Telephone Transaction Privileges for purchases, redemptions or
exchanges may be modified, suspended or terminated by the Fund at any time.
If an account has more than one owner, the Fund and the Transfer Agent may
rely on the instructions of any one owner. Telephone privileges apply to each
owner of the account and the dealer representative of record for the account
unless the Transfer Agent receives cancellation instructions from an owner of
the account.
|X| The Transfer Agent will record any telephone calls to verify data
concerning transactions and has adopted other procedures to confirm that
telephone instructions are genuine, by requiring callers to provide tax
identification numbers and other account data or by using PINs, and by
confirming such transactions in writing. The Transfer Agent and the Fund will
not be liable for losses or expenses arising out of telephone instructions
reasonably believed to be genuine.
|X| Redemption or transfer requests will not be honored until the
Transfer Agent receives all required documents in proper form. From time to
time, the Transfer Agent in its discretion may waive certain of the
requirements for redemptions stated in this Prospectus.
|X| Dealers that can perform account transactions for their clients by
participating in NETWORKING through the National Securities Clearing
Corporation are responsible for obtaining their clients' permission to
perform those transactions, and are responsible to their clients who are
shareholders of the Fund if the dealer performs any transaction erroneously
or improperly.
|X| The redemption price for shares will vary from day to day because
the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio fluctuates. The
redemption price, which is the net asset value per share, will normally
differ for each class of shares. The redemption value of your shares may be
more or less than their original cost.
|X| Payment for redeemed shares ordinarily is made in cash. It is
forwarded by check or through AccountLink or by Federal Funds wire (as
elected by the shareholder) within seven days after the Transfer Agent
receives redemption instructions in proper form. However, under unusual
circumstances determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, payment
may be delayed or suspended. For accounts registered in the name of a
broker-dealer, payment will normally be forwarded within three business days
after redemption.
|X| The Transfer Agent may delay forwarding a check or processing a
payment via AccountLink for recently purchased shares, but only until the
purchase payment has cleared. That delay may be as much as 10 days from the
date the shares were purchased. That delay may be avoided if you purchase
shares by Federal Funds wire or certified check, or arrange with your bank to
provide telephone or written assurance to the Transfer Agent that your
purchase payment has cleared.
|X| Involuntary redemptions of small accounts may be made by the Fund
if the account value has fallen below $500 for reasons other than the fact
that the market value of shares has dropped. In some cases involuntary
redemptions may be made to repay the Distributor for losses from the
cancellation of share purchase orders.
|X| Shares may be "redeemed in kind" under unusual circumstances (such
as a lack of liquidity in the Fund's portfolio to meet redemptions). This
means that the redemption proceeds will be paid with securities from the
Fund's portfolio.
|X| "Backup Withholding" of Federal income tax may be applied against
taxable dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds (including
exchanges) if you fail to furnish the Fund your correct, certified Social
Security or Employer Identification Number when you sign your application, or
if you under-report your income to the Internal Revenue Service.
|X| To avoid sending duplicate copies of materials to households, the
Fund will mail only one copy of each annual and semi-annual report to
shareholders having the same last name and address on the Fund's records.
However, each shareholder may call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-525-7048 to
ask that copies of those materials be sent personally to that shareholder.
Dividends and Tax Information
Dividends. The Fund intends to declare dividends separately for each class of
shares from net investment income on an annual basis, on a date selected by
the Board of Trustees. Dividends and distributions paid on Class A and Class
Y shares will generally be higher than dividends for Class B and Class C
shares, which normally have higher expenses than Class A and Class Y. The
Fund has no fixed dividend rate and cannot guarantee that it will pay any
dividends or distributions.
Capital Gains. The Fund may realize capital gains on the sale of portfolio
securities. If it does, it may make distributions out of any net short-term
or long-term capital gains in December of each year. The Fund may make
supplemental distributions of dividends and capital gains following the end
of its fiscal year. There can be no assurance that the Fund will pay any
capital gains distributions in a particular year.
What Choices Do I Have for Receiving Distributions? When you open your
account, specify on your application how you want to receive your dividends
and distributions. You have four options:
|X| Reinvest All Distributions in the Fund. You can elect to reinvest
all dividends and long-term capital gains distributions in additional shares
of the Fund.
|X| Reinvest Long-Term Capital Gains Only. You can elect to reinvest
long-term capital gains distributions in the Fund while receiving dividends
by check or having them sent to your bank account through AccountLink.
|X| Receive All Distributions in Cash. You can elect to receive a
check for all dividends and long-term capital gains distributions or have
them sent to your bank through AccountLink.
|X| Reinvest Your Distributions in Another OppenheimerFunds Account.
You can reinvest all distributions in the same class of shares of another
OppenheimerFunds account you have established.
Taxes. If your shares are not held in a tax-deferred retirement account, you
should be aware of the following tax implications of investing in the Fund.
Distributions are subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state
or local taxes. Dividends paid from short-term capital gains and net
investment income are taxable as ordinary income. Long-term capital gains
are taxable as long-term capital gains when distributed to shareholders. It
does not matter how long you have held your shares. Whether you reinvest your
distributions in additional shares or take them in cash, the tax treatment is
the same.
Every year the Fund will send you and the IRS a statement showing the
amount of any taxable distribution you received in the previous year. Any
long-term capital gains will be separately identified in the tax information
the Fund sends you after the end of the calendar year.
|X| Avoid "Buying a Dividend". If you buy shares on or just before the
ex-dividend date or just before the Fund declares a capital gain
distribution, you will pay the full price for the shares and then receive a
portion of the price back as a taxable dividend or capital gain.
|X| Remember There May be Taxes on Transactions. Because the Fund's
share price fluctuates, you may have a capital gain or loss when you sell or
exchange your shares. A capital gain or loss is the difference between the
price you paid for the shares and the price you received when you sold them.
Any capital gain is subject to capital gains tax.
|X| Returns of Capital Can Occur. In certain cases, distributions
made by the Fund may be considered a non-taxable return of capital to
shareholders. If that occurs, it will be identified in notices to
shareholders.
This information is only a summary of certain federal tax information
about your investment. You should consult with your tax adviser about the
effect of an investment in the Fund on your particular tax situation.
<PAGE>
Financial Highlights
The Financial Highlights Table is presented to help you understand the Fund's
financial performance for the past 5 fiscal years. Certain information
reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the
table represent the rate that an investor would have earned [or lost] on an
investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and
distributions). This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, the Fund's independent auditors, whose report, along with the Fund's
financial statements, is included in the Statement of Additional Information,
which is available on request.
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<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For More Information:
The following additional information about the Fund is available without
charge upon request:
Statement of Additional Information
This document includes additional information about the Fund's investment
policies, risks, and operations. It is incorporated by reference into
this Prospectus (which means it is legally part of this Prospectus).
Annual and Semi-Annual Reports
Additional information about the Fund's investments and performance is
available in the Fund's Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders.
The Annual Report includes a discussion of market conditions and
investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance
during its last fiscal year.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Get More Information:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can request the Statement of Additional Information, the Annual and
Semi-Annual Reports, and other information about the Fund or your account:
By Telephone:
Call OppenheimerFunds Services toll-free:
1-800-525-7048
By Mail:
Write to:
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
On the Internet:
You can read or down-load documents on the OppenheimerFunds web site:
http://www.oppenheimerfunds.com
You can also obtain copies of the Statement of Additional Information and
other Fund documents and reports by visiting the SEC's Public Reference
Room in Washington, D.C. (Phone 1-800-SEC-0330) or the SEC's Internet web
site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies may be obtained upon payment of a
duplicating fee by writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section,
Washington, D.C. 20549-6009.
No one has been authorized to provide any information about the Fund or
to make any representations about the Fund other than what is contained
in this Prospectus. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell shares of the
Fund, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund, to any
person in any state or other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make
such an offer.
The Fund's shares are distributed by:
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
SEC File No. 811-5225
PR0225.001.0299 Printed on recycled paper.
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<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048-0203
1-800-525-7048
Statement of Additional Information dated February 19, 1999
This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus. This
document contains additional information about the Fund and supplements
information in the Prospectus dated February 19, 1999. It should be read
together with the Prospectus, which may be obtained by writing to the Fund's
Transfer Agent, OppenheimerFunds Services, at P.O. Box 5270, Denver, Colorado
80217, or by calling the Transfer Agent at the toll-free number shown above,
or by downloading it from the OppenheimerFunds Internet web site at
www.oppenheimerfunds.com.
Contents
Page
About the Fund
Additional Information About the Fund's Investment Policies and Risks..
The Fund's Investment Policies.....................................
Other Investment Techniques and Strategies.........................
Investment Restrictions............................................
How the Fund is Managed ...............................................
Organization and History...........................................
Trustees and Officers..............................................
The Manager........................................................
Brokerage Policies of the Fund.........................................
Distribution and Service Plans.........................................
Performance of the Fund................................................
About Your Account
How To Buy Shares......................................................
How To Sell Shares.....................................................
How To Exchange Shares.................................................
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes.....................................
Additional Information About the Fund..................................
Financial Information About the Fund
Independent Auditors' Report...........................................
Financial Statements...................................................
Appendix A: Description of Debt Security Ratings....................... A-1
Appendix B: Corporate Industry Classifications......................... B-1
Appendix C: Special Sales Charge Arrangements and Waivers.............. C-1
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<PAGE>
ABOUT THE FUND
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Information About the Fund's Investment Policies and Risks
The investment objective, the principal investment policies and the
main risks of the Fund are described in the Prospectus. This Statement of
Additional Information contains supplemental information about those policies
and risks and the types of securities that the Fund invests in. Additional
information is also provided about the Fund's investment Manager,
OppenheimerFunds, Inc., and the strategies that the Fund may use to try to
achieve its objective.
The Fund's Investment Policies. The composition of the Fund's portfolio and
the techniques and strategies that the Fund's Sub-Adviser, OpCap Advisors,
may use in selecting portfolio securities will vary over time. The Fund is
not required to use all of the investment techniques and strategies described
below at all times in seeking its goal. It may use some of the special
investment techniques and strategies at some times or not at all.
In selecting securities for the Fund's portfolio, the Sub-Adviser
evaluates the merits of particular equity and fixed-income securities
primarily through the exercise of its own investment analysis. That process
may include, among other things, evaluation of the issuer's historical
operations, prospects for the industry of which the issuer is part, the
issuer's financial condition, its pending product developments and business
(and those of competitors), the effect of general market and economic
conditions on the issuer's business, and legislative proposals that might
affect the issuer.
n Investments in Equity Securities. The Fund does not limit its
investments in equity securities to issuers having a market capitalization of
a specified size or range, and therefore may invest in securities of small-,
mid- and large-capitalization issuers. At times, the Fund may focus its
equity investments in securities of one or more capitalization ranges, based
upon the Sub-Adviser's judgment of where are the best market opportunities to
seek the Fund's objective. At times, the market may favor or disfavor
securities of issuers of a particular capitalization range, and securities of
small capitalization issuers may be subject to greater price volatility in
general than securities of larger companies. Therefore, if the Fund has
substantial investments in smaller capitalization companies at times of
market volatility, the Fund's share price may fluctuate more than that of
funds focusing on larger capitalization issuers.
o Value Investing. In selecting equity investments for the
Fund's portfolio, the portfolio manager currently uses a value investing
style. In using a value approach, the portfolio manager seeks stock and other
securities that appear to be temporarily undervalued, by various measures,
such as price/earnings ratios. This approach is subject to change and may not
necessarily be used in all cases. Value investing seeks stocks having prices
that are low in relation to their real worth or future prospects, in the hope
that the Fund will realize appreciation in the value of its holdings when
other investors realize the intrinsic value of the stock.
Using value investing requires research as to the issuer's underlying
financial condition and prospects. Some of the measures used to identify
these securities include, among others:
o Price/Earnings ratio, which is the stock's price divided by its
earnings per share. A stock having a price/earnings ratio lower than
its historical range, or the market as a whole or that of similar
companies may offer attractive investment opportunities.
o Price/book value ratio, which is the stock price divided by the book
value of the company per share, which measures the company's stock
price in relation to its asset value.
o Dividend Yield is measured by dividing the annual dividend by the
stock price per share.
o Valuation of Assets which compares the stock price to the value of
the company's underlying assets, including their projected value in the
marketplace and liquidation value.
o Preferred Stocks. Preferred stock, unlike common stock, has a
stated dividend rate payable from the corporation's earnings. Preferred
stock dividends may be cumulative or non-cumulative, participating, or
auction rate. "Cumulative" dividend provisions require all or a portion of
prior unpaid dividends to be paid.
If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be
less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline. Preferred
stock may have mandatory sinking fund provisions, as well as call/redemption
provisions prior to maturity, which can be a negative feature when interest
rates decline. Preferred stock also generally has a preference over common
stock on the distribution of a corporation's assets in the event of
liquidation of the corporation. Preferred stock may be "participating" stock,
which means that it may be entitled to a dividend exceeding the stated
dividend in certain cases. The rights of preferred stock on distribution of
a corporation's assets in the event of a liquidation are generally
subordinate to the rights associated with a corporation's debt securities.
o Rights and Warrants. The Fund can invest up to 5% of its total
assets in warrants but no more than 2% of its total assets may be invested in
warrants that are not listed on The New York Stock Exchange or The American
Stock Exchange. Those percentage limitations are fundamental policies.
Warrants basically are options to purchase equity securities at specific
prices valid for a specific period of time. Their prices do not necessarily
move parallel to the prices of the underlying securities. Rights are similar
to warrants, but normally have a short duration and are distributed directly
by the issuer to its shareholders. Rights and warrants have no voting
rights, receive no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of
the issuer.
o Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are debt
securities that are convertible into an issuer's common stock. Convertible
securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation's capital structure
and therefore are subject to less risk than common stock.
The value of a convertible security is a function of its "investment
value" and its "conversion value." If the investment value exceeds the
conversion value, the security will behave more like a debt security, and the
security's price will likely increase when interest rates fall and decrease
when interest rates rise. If the conversion value exceeds the investment
value, the security will behave more like an equity security: it will likely
sell at a premium over its conversion value, and its price will tend to
fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying security.
While convertible securities are a form of debt security in many cases,
their conversion feature (allowing conversion into equity securities) causes
them to be regarded more as "equity equivalents." As a result, the rating
assigned to the security has less impact on the Sub-Adviser's investment
decision with respect to convertible securities than in the case of
non-convertible fixed income securities. To determine whether convertible
securities should be regarded as "equity equivalents," the Sub-Adviser may
consider the following factors:
(4) whether, at the option of the investor, the convertible security can be
exchanged for a fixed number of shares of common stock of the
issuer,
(5) whether the issuer of the convertible securities has restated its
earnings per share of common stock on a fully diluted basis
(considering the effect of conversion of the convertible
securities), and
(6) the extent to which the convertible security may be a defensive "equity
substitute," providing the ability to participate in any
appreciation in the price of the issuer's common stock.
n Investments in Debt Securities. The Fund can invest in bonds,
debentures and other debt securities, including U.S. government securities.
It may do so to seek its objective if and at times the portfolio manager
believes that debt securities are preferable to equity investments and it may
also invest in them for liquidity or defensive purposes. Because the Fund
currently emphasizes investments in equity securities, such as stocks, it is
not anticipated that under normal market conditions more than 50% of the
Fund's assets will be invested in debt securities.
The Fund's debt investments can include U.S. government securities,
investment-grade bonds and money market instruments. Investment-grade bonds
are bonds rated at least "Baa" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., at least
"BBB" by Standard & Poor's Corporation or Duff & Phelps, Inc., or have
comparable ratings by another nationally recognized statistical rating
organization. In making investments in debt securities, the Sub-Adviser may
rely to some extent on the ratings of ratings organizations or it may use its
own research to evaluate a security's credit-worthiness. If the securities
are unrated, to be considered part of the Fund's holdings of investment-grade
securities, they must be judged by the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable
quality to bonds rated as investment grade by a rating organization.
o Interest Rate Risks. Interest rate risk refers to the
fluctuations in value of fixed-income securities resulting from the inverse
relationship between price and yield. For example, an increase in general
interest rates will tend to reduce the market value of already-issued
fixed-income investments, and a decline in general interest rates will tend
to increase their value. In addition, debt securities with longer maturities,
which tend to have higher yields, are subject to potentially greater
fluctuations in value from changes in interest rates than obligations with
shorter maturities.
Fluctuations in the market value of fixed-income securities after the
Fund buys them will not affect the interest payable on those securities, nor
the cash income from them. However, those price fluctuations will be
reflected in the valuations of the securities, and therefore the Fund's net
asset values will be affected by those fluctuations.
o Mortgage-Related Securities. Mortgage-related securities are a
form of derivative investment collateralized by pools of commercial or
residential mortgages. Pools of mortgage loans are assembled as securities
for sale to investors by government agencies or entities or by private
issuers. These securities include collateralized mortgage obligations
("CMOs"), mortgage pass-through securities, stripped mortgage pass-through
securities, interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits ("REMICs")
and other real-estate related securities.
Mortgage-related securities that are issued or guaranteed by agencies
or instrumentalities of the U.S. government have relatively little credit
risk (depending on the nature of the issuer) but are subject to interest rate
risks and prepayment risks, as described in the Prospectus.
As with other debt securities, the prices of mortgage-related
securities tend to move inversely to changes in interest rates. The Fund can
buy mortgage-related securities that have interest rates that move inversely
to changes in general interest rates, based on a multiple of a specific
index. Although the value of a mortgage-related security may decline when
interest rates rise, the converse is not always the case.
In periods of declining interest rates, mortgages are more likely to be
prepaid. Therefore, a mortgage-related security's maturity can be shortened
by unscheduled prepayments on the underlying mortgages. Therefore, it is not
possible to predict accurately the security's yield. The principal that is
returned earlier than expected may have to be reinvested in other investments
having a lower yield than the prepaid security. Therefore, these securities
may be less effective as a means of "locking in" attractive long-term
interest rates, and they may have less potential for appreciation during
periods of declining interest rates, than conventional bonds with comparable
stated maturities.
Prepayment risks can lead to substantial fluctuations in the value of a
mortgage-related security. In turn, this can affect the value of the Fund's
shares. If a mortgage-related security has been purchased at a premium, all
or part of the premium the Fund paid may be lost if there is a decline in the
market value of the security, whether that results from interest rate changes
or prepayments on the underlying mortgages. In the case of stripped
mortgage-related securities, if they experience greater rates of prepayment
than were anticipated, the Fund may fail to recoup its initial investment on
the security.
During periods of rapidly rising interest rates, prepayments of
mortgage-related securities may occur at slower than expected rates. Slower
prepayments effectively may lengthen a mortgage-related security's expected
maturity. Generally, that would cause the value of the security to fluctuate
more widely in responses to changes in interest rates. If the prepayments on
the Fund's mortgage-related securities were to decrease broadly, the Fund's
effective duration, and therefore its sensitivity to interest rate changes,
would increase.
As with other debt securities, the values of mortgage related
securities may be affected by changes in the market's perception of the
creditworthiness of the entity issuing the securities or guaranteeing them.
Their values may also be affected by changes in government regulations and
tax policies.
o Collateralized Mortgage Obligations. CMOs are multi-class
bonds that are backed by pools of mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through
certificates. They may be collateralized by:
(6) pass-through certificates issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, Fannie
Mae, or Freddie Mac,
(7) unsecuritized mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing
Administration or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans' Affairs,
(8) unsecuritized conventional mortgages,
(9) other mortgage-related securities, or
(10) any combination of these.
Each class of CMO, referred to as a "tranche," is issued at a specific
coupon rate and has a stated maturity or final distribution date. Principal
prepayments on the underlying mortgages may cause the CMO to be retired much
earlier than the stated maturity or final distribution date. The principal
and interest on the underlying mortgages may be allocated among the several
classes of a series of a CMO in different ways. One or more tranches may have
coupon rates that reset periodically at a specified increase over an index.
These are floating rate CMOs, and typically have a cap on the coupon rate.
Inverse floating rate CMOs have a coupon rate that moves in the reverse
direction to an applicable index. The coupon rate on these CMOs will increase
as general interest rates decrease. These are usually much more volatile than
fixed rate CMOs or floating rate CMOs.
n U.S. Government Securities. These are securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or other government agencies or corporate
entities referred to as "instrumentalities." The obligations of U.S.
government agencies or instrumentalities in which the Fund may invest may or
may not be guaranteed or supported by the "full faith and credit" of the
United States. "Full faith and credit" means generally that the taxing power
of the U.S. government is pledged to the payment of interest and repayment of
principal on a security. If a security is not backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States, the owner of the security must look principally
to the agency issuing the obligation for repayment. The owner might be able
to assert a claim against the United States if the issuing agency or
instrumentality does not meet its commitment. The Fund will invest in
securities of U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities only if the
Sub-Adviser is satisfied that the credit risk with respect to such
instrumentality is minimal.
o U.S. Treasury Obligations. These include Treasury bills
(maturities of one year or less when issued), Treasury notes (maturities of
from one to ten years), and Treasury bonds (maturities of more than ten
years). Treasury securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States as to timely payments of interest and repayments of principal.
They also can include U. S. Treasury securities that have been "stripped" by
a Federal Reserve Bank, zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities described below,
and as Treasury Inflation-Protection Securities ("TIPS").
o Treasury Inflation-Protection Securities. The Fund can
buy these U.S. Treasury securities, called "TIPS," that are designed to
provide an investment vehicle that is not vulnerable to inflation. The
interest rate paid by TIPS is fixed. The principal value rises or falls
semi-annually based on changes in the published Consumer Price Index. If
inflation occurs, the principal and interest payments on TIPS are adjusted to
protect investors from inflationary loss. If deflation occurs, the principal
and interest payments will be adjusted downward, although the principal will
not fall below its face amount at maturity.
o Obligations Issued or Guaranteed by U.S. Government Agencies or
Instrumentalities. These include direct obligations and mortgage related
securities that have different levels of credit support from the government.
Some are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, such
as Government National Mortgage Association pass-through mortgage
certificates (called "Ginnie Maes"). Some are supported by the right of the
issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury under certain circumstances, such as
Federal National Mortgage Association bonds ("Fannie Maes"). Others are
supported only by the credit of the entity that issued them, such as Federal
Home Loan Mortgage Corporation obligations ("Freddie Macs").
o U.S. Government Mortgage Related Securities. The Fund can
invest in a variety of mortgage related securities that are issued by U.S.
Government agencies or instrumentalities, some of which are described below.
o GNMA Certificates. The Government National Mortgage
Association ("GNMA") is a wholly-owned corporate instrumentality of the
United States within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
GNMA's principal programs involve its guarantees of privately-issued
securities backed by pools of mortgages. GNMA Certificates are debt
securities representing an interest in one or a pool of mortgages that are
insured by the Federal Housing Administration or the Farmers Home
Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration.
The GNMA Certificates in which the Fund can invest are of the "fully
modified pass-through" type. They provide that the registered holders of the
Certificates will receive timely monthly payments of the pro-rata share of
the scheduled principal payments on the underlying mortgages, whether or not
those amounts are collected by the issuers. Amounts paid include, on a pro
rata basis, any prepayment of principal of such mortgages and interest (net
of servicing and other charges) on the aggregate unpaid principal balance of
the GNMA Certificates, whether or not the interest on the underlying
mortgages has been collected by the issuers.
The GNMA Certificates purchased by the Fund are guaranteed as to timely
payment of principal and interest by GNMA. It is expected that payments
received by the issuers of GNMA Certificates on account of the mortgages
backing the Certificates will be sufficient to make the required payments of
principal of and interest on those GNMA Certificates. However if those
payments are insufficient, the guaranty agreements between the issuers of the
Certificates and GNMA require the issuers to make advances sufficient for the
payments. If the issuers fail to make those payments, GNMA will do so.
Under Federal law, the full faith and credit of the United States is
pledged to the payment of all amounts that may be required to be paid under
any guaranty issued by GNMA as to such mortgage pools. An opinion of an
Assistant Attorney General of the United States, dated December 9, 1969,
states that such guaranties "constitute general obligations of the United
States backed by its full faith and credit." GNMA is empowered to borrow
from the United States Treasury to the extent necessary to make any payments
of principal and interest required under those guaranties.
GNMA Certificates are backed by the aggregate indebtedness secured by
the underlying FHA-insured, FMHA-insured or VA-guaranteed mortgages. Except
to the extent of payments received by the issuers on account of such
mortgages, GNMA Certificates do not constitute a liability of those issuer,
nor do they evidence any recourse against those issuers. Recourse is solely
against GNMA. Holders of GNMA Certificates (such as the Fund) have no
security interest in or lien on the underlying mortgages.
Monthly payments of principal will be made, and additional prepayments
of principal may be made, to the Fund with respect to the mortgages
underlying the GNMA Certificates held by the Fund. All of the mortgages in
the pools relating to the GNMA Certificates in the Fund are subject to
prepayment without any significant premium or penalty, at the option of the
mortgagors. While the mortgages on 1-to-4-family dwellings underlying
certain GNMA Certificates have a stated maturity of up to 30 years, it has
been the experience of the mortgage industry that the average life of
comparable mortgages, as a result of prepayments, refinancing and payments
from foreclosures, is considerably less.
o Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Certificates.
FHLMC, a corporate instrumentality of the United States, issues FHLMC
Certificates representing interests in mortgage loans. FHLMC guarantees to
each registered holder of a FHLMC Certificate timely payment of the amounts
representing a holder's proportionate share in:
(i) interest payments less servicing and guarantee fees,
(ii) principal prepayments and
(iii) the ultimate collection of amounts representing the holder's
proportionate interest in principal payments on the mortgage
loans in the pool represented by the FHLMC Certificate, in each
case whether or not such amounts are actually received.
The obligations of FHLMC under its guarantees are obligations solely of
FHLMC and are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.
o Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae)
Certificates. Fannie Mae, a federally-chartered and privately-owned
corporation, issues Fannie Mae Certificates which are backed by a pool of
mortgage loans. Fannie Mae guarantees to each registered holder of a Fannie
Mae Certificate that the holder will receive amounts representing the
holder's proportionate interest in scheduled principal and interest payments,
and any principal prepayments, on the mortgage loans in the pool represented
by such Certificate, less servicing and guarantee fees, and the holder's
proportionate interest in the full principal amount of any foreclosed or
other liquidated mortgage loan. In each case the guarantee applies whether or
not those amounts are actually received. The obligations of Fannie Mae under
its guarantees are obligations solely of Fannie Mae and are not backed by the
full faith and credit of the United States or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities other than Fannie Mae.
o Money Market Instruments. The following is a brief description of
the types of money market securities the Fund may invest in. Money market
securities are high-quality, short-term debt instruments that may be issued
by the U.S. Government, corporations, banks or other entities. They may have
fixed, variable or floating interest rates.
o U.S. Government Securities. These include obligations issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities, described above.
o Bank Obligations. The Fund may buy time deposits,
certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances. Time deposits, other than
overnight deposits, may be subject to withdrawal penalties and if so they are
deemed "illiquid" investments."
The Fund can purchase bank obligations that are fully insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The FDIC insures the deposits of
member banks up to $100,000 per account. Insured bank obligations may have a
limited market and a particular investment of this type may be deemed
"illiquid" unless the Board of Trustees of the Fund determines that a
readily-available market exists for that particular obligation, or unless the
obligation is payable at principal amount plus accrued interest on demand or
within seven days after demand.
o Commercial Paper. The Fund may invest in commercial paper, if
it is rated within the top two rating categories of Standard & Poor's and
Moody's. If the paper is not rated, it may be purchased if issued by a
company having a credit rating of at least "AA" by Standard & Poor's or "Aa"
by Moody's.
The Fund may buy commercial paper, including U.S. dollar-denominated
securities of foreign branches of U.S. banks, issued by other entities if the
commercial paper is guaranteed as to principal and interest by a bank,
government or corporation whose certificates of deposit or commercial paper
may otherwise be purchased by the Fund.
o Variable Amount Master Demand Notes. Master demand notes are
corporate obligations that permit the investment of fluctuating amounts by
the Fund at varying rates of interest under direct arrangements between the
Fund, as lender, and the borrower. They permit daily changes in the amounts
borrowed. The Fund has the right to increase the amount under the note at
any time up to the full amount provided by the note agreement, or to decrease
the amount. The borrower may prepay up to the full amount of the note without
penalty. These notes may or may not be backed by bank letters of credit.
Because these notes are direct lending arrangements between the lender
and borrower, it is not expected that there will be a trading market for
them. There is no secondary market for these notes, although they are
redeemable (and thus are immediately repayable by the borrower) at principal
amount, plus accrued interest, at any time. Accordingly, the Fund's right to
redeem such notes is dependent upon the ability of the borrower to pay
principal and interest on demand.
The Fund has no limitations on the type of issuer from whom these notes
will be purchased. However, in connection with such purchases and on an
ongoing basis, the Sub-Adviser will consider the earning power, cash flow and
other liquidity ratios of the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and
interest on demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes
made demand simultaneously. Investments in master demand notes are subject
to the limitation on investments by the Fund in illiquid securities,
described in the Prospectus. The Fund does not intend that its investments in
variable amount master demand notes will exceed 5% of its total assets.
n Foreign Securities. The Fund can purchase equity and debt securities
issued or guaranteed by foreign companies or foreign governments or their
agencies. "Foreign securities" include equity and debt securities of
companies organized under the laws of countries other than the United States
and debt securities of foreign governments. They may be traded on foreign
securities exchanges or in the foreign over-the-counter markets.
Securities of foreign issuers that are represented by American
Depository Receipts or that are listed on a U.S. securities exchange or
traded in the U.S. over-the-counter markets are not considered "foreign
securities" for the purpose of the Fund's investment allocations. That is
because they are not subject to many of the special considerations and risks,
discussed below, that apply to foreign securities traded and held abroad.
Because the Fund may purchase securities denominated in foreign
currencies, a change in the value of such foreign currency against the U.S.
dollar will result in a change in the amount of income the Fund has available
for distribution. Because a portion of the Fund's investment income may be
received in foreign currencies, the Fund will be required to compute its
income in U.S. dollars for distribution to shareholders, and therefore the
Fund will absorb the cost of currency fluctuations. After the Fund has
distributed income, subsequent foreign currency losses may result in the
Fund's having distributed more income in a particular fiscal period than was
available from investment income, which could result in a return of capital
to shareholders.
Investing in foreign securities offers potential benefits not available
from investing solely in securities of domestic issuers. They include the
opportunity to invest in foreign issuers that appear to offer growth
potential, or in foreign countries with economic policies or business cycles
different from those of the U.S., or to reduce fluctuations in portfolio
value by taking advantage of foreign stock markets that do not move in a
manner parallel to U.S. markets. The Fund will hold foreign currency only in
connection with the purchase or sale of foreign securities.
o Foreign Debt Obligations. The debt obligations of foreign
governments and entities may or may not be supported by the full faith and
credit of the foreign government. The Fund may buy securities issued by
certain "supra-national" entities, which include entities designated or
supported by governments to promote economic reconstruction or development,
international banking organizations and related government agencies. Examples
are the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (commonly
called the "World Bank"), the Asian Development bank and the Inter-American
Development Bank.
The governmental members of these supranational entities are
"stockholders" that typically make capital contributions and may be committed
to make additional capital contributions if the entity is unable to repay its
borrowings. A supra-national entity's lending activities may be limited to a
percentage of its total capital, reserves and net income. There can be no
assurance that the constituent foreign governments will continue to be able
or willing to honor their capitalization commitments for those entities.
o Risks of Foreign Investing. Investments in foreign securities
may offer special opportunities for investing but also present special
additional risks and considerations not typically associated with investments
in domestic securities. Some of these additional risks are:
o reduction of income by foreign taxes;
o fluctuation in value of foreign investments due to changes in currency
rates or currency control regulations (for example, currency
blockage);
o transaction charges for currency exchange;
o lack of public information about foreign issuers;
o lack of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
in foreign countries comparable to those applicable to domestic
issuers;
o less volume on foreign exchanges than on U.S. exchanges;
o greater volatility and less liquidity on foreign markets than in the
U.S.;
o less governmental regulation of foreign issuers, stock exchanges and
brokers than in the U.S.;
o greater difficulties in commencing lawsuits;
o higher brokerage commission rates than in the U.S.;
o increased risks of delays in settlement of portfolio transactions or
loss of certificates for portfolio securities;
o possibilities in some countries of expropriation, confiscatory
taxation, political, financial or social instability or adverse
diplomatic developments; and
o unfavorable differences between the U.S. economy and foreign
economies.
In the past, U.S. Government policies have discouraged certain
investments abroad by U.S. investors, through taxation or other restrictions,
and it is possible that such restrictions could be re-imposed.
o Special Risks of Emerging Markets. Emerging and developing
markets abroad may also offer special opportunities for growth investing but
have greater risks than more developed foreign markets, such as those in
Europe and Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. There may be even less
liquidity in their stock markets, and settlements of purchases and sales of
securities may be subject to additional delays. They are subject to greater
risks of limitations on the repatriation of income and profits because of
currency restrictions imposed by local governments. Those countries may also
be subject to the risk of greater political and economic instability, which
can greatly affect the volatility of prices of securities in those countries.
The Sub-Adviser will consider these factors when evaluating securities in
these markets, because the selection of those securities must be consistent
with the Fund's goal of preservation of principal.
o Risks of Conversion to Euro. On January 1, 1999, eleven
countries in the European Union will have adopted the euro as their official
currency. However, their current currencies (for example, the franc, the
mark, and the lire) will also continue in use until January 1, 2002. After
that date, it is expected that only the euro will be used in those countries.
A common currency is expected to confer some benefits in those markets, by
consolidating the government debt market for those countries and reducing
some currency risks and costs. But the conversion to the new currency will
affect the Fund operationally and also has potential risks, some of which are
listed below. Among other things, the conversion will affect:
o issuers in which the Fund invests, because of changes in the
competitive environment from a consolidated currency market and greater
operational costs from converting to the new currency. This might
depress stock values.
o vendors the Fund depends on to carry out its business, such as its
Custodian (which holds the foreign securities the Fund buys), the
Manager (which must price the Fund's investments to deal with the
conversion to the euro) and brokers, foreign markets and securities
depositories. If they are not prepared, there could be delays in
settlements and additional costs to the Fund.
o exchange contracts and derivatives that are outstanding during the
transition to the euro. The lack of currency rate calculations between
the affected currencies and the need to update the Fund's contracts
could pose extra costs to the Fund.
The Manager is upgrading (at its expense) its computer and bookkeeping
systems to deal with the conversion. The Fund's Custodian has advised the
Manager of its plans to deal with the conversion, including how it will
update its record keeping systems and handle the redenomination of
outstanding foreign debt. The Fund's portfolio manager will also monitor the
effects of the conversion on the issuers in which the Fund invests. The
possible effect of these factors on the Fund's investments cannot be
determined with certainty at this time, but they may reduce the value of some
of the Fund's holdings and increase its operational costs.
n Portfolio Turnover. "Portfolio turnover" describes the rate at
which the Fund traded its portfolio securities during its last fiscal year.
For example, if a fund sold all of its securities during the year, its
portfolio turnover rate would have been 100% annually. The Fund's portfolio
turnover rate will fluctuate from year to year, but the Fund does not expect
to have a portfolio turnover rate of 100% or more. Increased portfolio
turnover creates higher brokerage and transaction costs for the Fund, which
may reduce its overall performance. Additionally, the realization of capital
gains from selling portfolio securities may result in distributions of
taxable long-term capital gains to shareholders, since the Fund will normally
distribute all of its capital gains realized each year, to avoid excise taxes
under the Internal Revenue Code.
Other Investment Techniques and Strategies. In seeking its objective, the
Fund may from time to time employ the types of investment strategies and
investments described below. It is not required to use all of these
strategies at all times, and at times may not use them.
n Investing in Small, Unseasoned Companies. The Fund can invest in
securities of small, unseasoned companies. These are companies that have
been in operation for less than three years, including the operations of any
predecessors. Securities of these companies may be subject to volatility in
their prices. They may have a limited trading market, which may adversely
affect the Fund's ability to dispose of them and can reduce the price the
Fund might be able to obtain for them. Other investors that own a security
issued by a small, unseasoned issuer for which there is limited liquidity
might trade the security when the Fund is attempting to dispose of its
holdings of that security. In that case the Fund might receive a lower price
for its holdings than might otherwise be obtained.
n When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions. The Fund may invest
in securities on a "when-issued" basis and may purchase or sell securities on
a "delayed delivery" basis. When-issued and delayed delivery are terms that
refer to securities whose terms and indenture are available and for which a
market exists, but which are not available for immediate delivery.
When such transactions are negotiated, the price (which is generally
expressed in yield terms) is fixed at the time the commitment is made.
Delivery and payment for the securities take place at a later date (generally
within 45 days of the date the offer is accepted). The securities are
subject to change in value from market fluctuations during the period until
settlement. The value at delivery may be less than the purchase price. For
example, changes in interest rates in a direction other than that expected by
the Sub-Adviser before settlement will affect the value of such securities
and may cause a loss to the Fund. During the period between purchase and
settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest
accrues to the Fund from the investment.
The Fund can engage in when-issued transactions to secure what the
Sub-Adviser considers to be an advantageous price and yield at the time of
entering into the obligation. When the Fund enters into a when-issued or
delayed-delivery transaction, it relies on the other party to complete the
transaction. Their failure to do so may cause the Fund to lose the
opportunity to obtain the security at a price and yield the Sub-Adviser
considers to be advantageous.
When the Fund engages in when-issued and delayed delivery transactions,
it does so for the purpose of acquiring or selling securities consistent with
its investment objective and policies for its portfolio or for delivery
pursuant to options contracts it has entered into, and not for the purpose of
investment leverage. Although the Fund will enter into delayed delivery or
when-issued purchase transactions to acquire securities, it may dispose of a
commitment prior to settlement. If the Fund chooses to dispose of the right
to acquire a when-issued security prior to its acquisition or to dispose of
its right to delivery or receive against a forward commitment, it may incur a
gain or loss.
At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase or sell a
security on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, it records the
transaction on its books and reflects the value of the security purchased in
determining the Fund's net asset value. In a sale transaction, it records
the proceeds to be received. The Fund will identify to its Custodian bank
cash, U.S. government securities or other high-grade debt obligations at lest
equal in value to the value of the Fund's purchase commitments until the Fund
pays for the investment. The Fund will not enter into when-issued commitments
if more than 15% of the Fund's net assets would be committed under these
transactions.
When issued and delayed-delivery transactions can be used by the Fund
as a defensive technique to hedge against anticipated changes in interest
rates and prices. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and
falling prices, the Fund might sell securities in its portfolio on a forward
commitment basis to attempt to limit its exposure to anticipated falling
prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, the Fund
might sell portfolio securities and purchase the same or similar securities
on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis to obtain the benefit of currently
higher cash yields.
n Repurchase Agreements. The Fund can acquire securities subject to
repurchase agreements. It might do so for liquidity purposes to meet
anticipated redemptions of Fund shares, or pending the investment of the
proceeds from sales of Fund shares, or pending the settlement of portfolio
securities transactions.
In a repurchase transaction, the Fund buys a security from, and
simultaneously resells it to, an approved vendor for delivery on an
agreed-upon future date. The resale price exceeds the purchase price by an
amount that reflects an agreed-upon interest rate effective for the period
during which the repurchase agreement is in effect. Approved vendors include
U.S. commercial banks, U.S. branches of foreign banks, or broker-dealers that
have been designated as primary dealers in government securities. They must
meet credit requirements set by the Fund's Board of Trustees from time to
time.
The majority of these transactions run from day to day, and delivery
pursuant to the resale typically occurs within one to five days of the
purchase. Repurchase agreements having a maturity beyond seven days are
subject to the Fund's limits on holding illiquid investments. There is no
limit on the amount of the Fund's net assets that may be subject to
repurchase agreements having maturities of seven days or less.
Repurchase agreements, considered "loans" under the Investment Company
Act, are collateralized by the underlying security. The Fund's repurchase
agreements require that at all times while the repurchase agreement is in
effect, the value of the collateral must equal or exceed the repurchase price
to fully collateralize the repayment obligation. However, if the vendor fails
to pay the resale price on the delivery date, the Fund may incur costs in
disposing of the collateral and may experience losses if there is any delay
in its ability to do so. The Sub-Adviser will impose creditworthiness
requirements to confirm that the vendor is financially sound and will
continuously monitor the collateral's value.
n Illiquid and Restricted Securities. To enable the Fund to sell its
holdings of a restricted security not registered under the Securities Act of
1933, the Fund may have to cause those securities to be registered. The
expenses of registering restricted securities may be negotiated by the Fund
with the issuer at the time the Fund buys the securities. When the Fund must
arrange registration because the Fund wishes to sell the security, a
considerable period may elapse between the time the decision is made to sell
the security and the time the security is registered so that the Fund could
sell it. The Fund would bear the risks of any downward price fluctuation
during that period.
The Fund may also acquire restricted securities through private
placements. Those securities have contractual restrictions on their public
resale. Those restrictions might limit the Fund's ability to dispose of the
securities and might lower the amount the Fund could realize upon the sale.
The Fund has limitations that apply to purchases of restricted
securities, as stated in the Prospectus. Those percentage restrictions do not
limit purchases of restricted securities that are eligible for sale to
qualified institutional purchasers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of
1933, if those securities have been determined to be liquid by the Manager
under Board-approved guidelines. Those guidelines take into account the
trading activity for such securities and the availability of reliable pricing
information, among other factors. If there is a lack of trading interest in
a particular Rule 144A security, the Fund's holdings of that security may be
considered to be illiquid.
n Loans of Portfolio Securities. The Fund can lend its portfolio
securities to certain types of eligible borrowers approved by the Board of
Trustees. It may do so to try to provide income or to raise cash for
liquidity purposes. These loans are limited to not more than 10% of the value
of the Fund's total assets. There are some risks in connection with
securities lending. The Fund might experience a delay in receiving additional
collateral to secure a loan, or a delay in recovery of the loaned securities.
The Fund presently does not intend to engage in loans of securities in the
coming year.
The Fund must receive collateral for a loan. Under current applicable
regulatory requirements (which are subject to change), on each business day
the loan collateral must be at least equal to the value of the loaned
securities. It must consist of cash, bank letters of credit, securities of
the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or other cash
equivalents in which the Fund is permitted to invest. To be acceptable as
collateral, letters of credit must obligate a bank to pay amounts demanded by
the Fund if the demand meets the terms of the letter. The terms of the
letter of credit and the issuing bank both must be satisfactory to the Fund.
When it lends securities, the Fund receives amounts equal to the
dividends or interest on loaned securities. It also receives one or more of
(a) negotiated loan fees, (b) interest on securities used as collateral, and
(c) interest on any short-term debt securities purchased with such loan
collateral. Either type of interest may be shared with the borrower. The
Fund may also pay reasonable finder's, custodian and administrative fees in
connection with these loans. The terms of the Fund's loans must meet
applicable tests under the Internal Revenue Code and must permit the Fund to
reacquire loaned securities on five days' notice or in time to vote on any
important matter.
Investment Restrictions
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n What Are "Fundamental Policies?" Fundamental policies are those
policies that the Fund has adopted to govern its investments that can be
changed only by the vote of a "majority" of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities. Under the Investment Company Act, a "majority" vote is defined
as the vote of the holders of the lesser of:
o 67% or more of the shares present or represented by proxy at a
shareholder meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding
shares are present or represented by proxy, or
o more than 50% of the outstanding shares.
The Fund's investment objective is a fundamental policy. Other policies
described in the Prospectus or this Statement of Additional Information are
"fundamental" only if they are identified as such. The Fund's Board of
Trustees can change non-fundamental policies without shareholder approval.
However, significant changes to investment policies will be described in
supplements or updates to the Prospectus or this Statement of Additional
Information, as appropriate. The Fund's most significant investment policies
are described in the Prospectus.
n Does the Fund Have Additional Fundamental Policies? The following
investment restrictions are fundamental policies of the Fund.
o The Fund cannot buy securities issued or guaranteed by any one
issuer if more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in securities of
that issuer. This limitation applies to 75% of the Fund's total assets.
o The Fund cannot purchase more than 10% of any class of security of
any issuer. All outstanding debt securities and all preferred stock of an
issuer is considered as one class. This restriction does not apply to
securities issued by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities.
o The Fund cannot its concentrate investments. That means it cannot
invest 25% or more of its total assets in any industry. However, there is no
limitation on investments in U.S. government securities. Moreover, if deemed
appropriate for seeking its investment objective, the Fund may invest less
than 25% of its total assets (valued at the time of investment) in any one
industry classification used by the Fund for investment purposes. Under this
restriction, a foreign government is considered an "industry."
o The Fund cannot borrow money in excess of one third of the value of
the Fund's total assets. The Fund can borrow only from banks and can borrow
only as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes. The Fund
will make no additional investments while borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund's
total assets. The Fund can borrow only if it maintains a 300% ratio of assets
to borrowings at all times in the manner set forth in the Investment Company
Act of 1940.
o The Fund cannot make loans to any person or individual. However,
portfolio securities may be loaned by the Fund within the limits set forth in
the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
o The Fund cannot invest in real estate or real estate limited
partnerships (direct participation programs). However, the Fund can purchase
securities of issuers that engage in real estate operations and securities
that are secured by real estate or interests in real estate.
o The Fund cannot invest for the purpose of exercising control or
management of another company.
o The Fund cannot underwrite securities of other companies. A
permitted exception is in case it is deemed to be an underwriter under the
Securities Act of 1933 when reselling any securities held in its own
portfolio.
o The Fund cannot invest or hold securities of any issuer if officers
and Trustees of the Fund or officers and directors of its Manager or
Sub-Adviser individually beneficially own more than 1/2 of 1% of the
securities of that issuer and together own more than 5% of the securities of
that issuer.
o The Fund cannot invest in physical commodities or physical commodity
contracts. However, the Fund may buy and sell hedging instruments to the
extent specified in its Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
from time to time. The Fund can also buy and sell options, futures, and
securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities or whose
investment return is linked to changes in the price of physical commodities.
o The Fund cannot purchase warrants that would cause more than 5% of
the Fund's total assets to be invested in warrants, or more than 2% of its
total assets to be invested in warrants that are not listed on The New York
Stock Exchange or The American Stock Exchange..
o The Fund cannot pledge its assets, or assign or otherwise encumber
its assets in an amount in excess of 10% of the value of its net assets. It
can pledge, assign or encumber its assets only to secure borrowings that
comply with the limits set forth in the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information.
o The Fund cannot issue senior securities (as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940). However, the Fund can enter into repurchase
agreements, borrow money in accordance with the restrictions set forth in its
other fundamental policies and lend its portfolio securities.
n Does the Fund Have Any Restrictions That Are Not Fundamental? The
Fund has a number of other investment restrictions that are not fundamental
policies, which means that they can be changed by the Board of Trustees
without shareholder approval.
o The Fund cannot invest in interests in oil, gas or other mineral
exploration or development programs or leases.
o The Fund cannot purchase securities on margin, except for those
short-term loans that are necessary for the clearance of purchases of
portfolio securities. Moreover, the Fund cannot make short sales of
securities. However, collateral arrangements in connection with transactions
in futures and options are not deemed to be margin transactions for this
purpose.
Unless the Prospectus or this Statement of Additional Information
states that a percentage restriction applies on an ongoing basis, it applies
only at the time the Fund makes an investment. The Fund need not sell
securities to meet the percentage limits if the value of the investment
increases in proportion to the size of the Fund.
For purposes of the Fund's policy not to concentrate its investments as
described above, the Fund has adopted the industry classifications set forth
in Appendix B to this Statement of Additional Information. This is not a
fundamental policy.
How the Fund is Managed
Organization and History. The Fund is an open-end, diversified management
investment company. The Fund is one of three series of Oppenheimer Quest for
Value Funds (the "Trust"), an open-end management investment company
organized as a Massachusetts business trust in April 1987.
The Fund is governed by a Board of Trustees, which is responsible for
protecting the interests of shareholders under Massachusetts law. The
Trustees meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Fund's
activities, review its performance, and review the actions of the Manager.
Although the Fund will not normally hold annual meetings of its shareholders,
it may hold shareholder meetings from time to time on important matters, and
shareholders have the right to call a meeting to remove a Trustee or to take
other action described in the Fund's Declaration of Trust.
o Classes of Shares. The Board of Trustees has the power, without
shareholder approval, to divide unissued shares of the Trust into two or more
series and each series into two or more classes. The Board has done so, and
the Fund currently has four classes of shares: Class A, Class B, Class C and
Class Y. All classes invest in the same investment portfolio. Each class of
shares:
o has its own dividends and distributions,
o pays certain expenses which may be different for the different classes,
o may have a different net asset value,
o may have separate voting rights on matters in which interests of one
class are different from interests of another class, and
o votes as a class on matters that affect that class alone.
Shares are freely transferable, and each share of each class has one
vote at shareholder meetings, with fractional shares voting proportionally on
matters submitted to the vote of shareholders. Each share of the Fund
represents an interest in the Fund proportionately equal to the interest of
each other share of the same class.
The Trustees are authorized to create new series of the Trust and new
classes of shares of the Fund. The Trustees may reclassify unissued shares
of the Fund into additional series or classes of shares. The Trustees also
may divide or combine the shares of a class into a greater or lesser number
of shares without changing the proportionate beneficial interest of a
shareholder in the Fund. Shares do not have cumulative voting rights or
preemptive or subscription rights. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy
at shareholder meetings.
o Meetings of Shareholders. Although the Fund is not required by
Massachusetts law to hold annual meetings, it may hold shareholder meetings
from time to time on important matters. The Fund's shareholders have the
right to call a meeting to remove a Trustee or to take certain other action
described in the Declaration of Trust.
The Fund will hold meetings when required to do so by the Investment
Company Act or other applicable law. The Fund will hold a meeting when the
Trustees call a meeting or upon proper request of shareholders. If the Fund
receives a written request of the record holders of at least 25% of the
outstanding shares eligible to be voted at a meeting to call a meeting for a
specified purpose (which might include the removal of a Trustee), the Fund
will call a meeting of shareholders for that specified purpose.
Shareholders of the different classes of the Fund vote together in the
aggregate on certain matters at shareholders' meetings. Those matters include
the election of Trustees and ratification of appointment of the independent
auditors. Shareholders of a particular series or class vote separately on
proposals that affect that series or class. Shareholders of a series or class
that is not affected by a proposal are not entitled to vote on the proposal.
For example, only shareholders of a particular series vote on any material
amendment to the investment advisory agreement for that series. Only
shareholders of a particular class of a series vote on certain amendments to
the Distribution and/or Service Plans if the amendments affect only that
class.
|_| Shareholder and Trustee Liability. The Trust's Declaration of
Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder or Trustee liability for
the Fund's obligations. It also provides for indemnification and
reimbursement of expenses out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held
personally liable for its obligations. The Declaration of Trust also states
that upon request, the Fund shall assume the defense of any claim made
against a shareholder for any act or obligation of the Fund and shall satisfy
any judgment on that claim. Massachusetts law permits a shareholder of a
business trust (such as the Fund) to be held personally liable as a "partner"
under certain circumstances. However, the risk that a Fund shareholder will
incur financial loss from being held liable as a "partner" of the Fund is
limited to the relatively remote circumstances in which the Fund would be
unable to meet its obligations.
The Fund's contractual arrangements state that any person doing
business with the Fund (and each shareholder of the Fund) agrees under its
Declaration of Trust to look solely to the assets of the Fund for
satisfaction of any claim or demand that may arise out of any dealings with
the Fund. The contracts further state that the Trustees shall have no
personal liability to any such person, to the extent permitted by law.
Trustees and Officers of the Fund. The Trustees and officers and their
principal occupations and business affiliations during the past five years
are listed below. Trustees denoted with an asterisk (*) below are deemed to
be "interested persons" of the Fund under the Investment Company Act. All of
the Trustees are also trustees, directors or managing general partners of the
following Oppenheimer funds:
Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc.,
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (a series Fund having the following series:
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund, Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Fund
and Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund), Oppenheimer Quest Global Value
Fund, Inc.,
Oppenheimer Quest Capital Value Fund, Inc.,
Rochester Portfolio Series (a series Fund having one series: Limited-Term New
York Municipal Fund)
Bond Fund Series (a series Fund having one series: Oppenheimer Convertible
Securities Fund),
Rochester Fund Municipals,
Oppenheimer Mid Cap Fund
Ms. Macaskill and Messrs. Swain, Bishop, Bowen, Donohue, Farrar and Zack,
who are officers of the Fund, respectively hold the same offices of the other
listed Oppenheimer funds. As of February 1, 1999, the Trustees and the
officers of the Fund as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares
of the Fund. The foregoing statement does not reflect shares held of record
by an employee benefit plan for employees of the Manager other than shares
beneficially owned under that plan by the officers of the Fund listed below.
Ms. Macaskill and Mr. Donohue, are trustees of that plan.
Bridget A. Macaskill, President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees*; Age:
50.
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048
President (since June 1991), Chief Executive Officer (since September 1995)
and a director (since December 1994) of the Manager; President and a director
(since June 1991) of HarbourView Asset Management Corp.; Chairman and a
director (since August 1994) of Shareholder Services, Inc. and (since
September 1995) Shareholder Financial Services, Inc.; President (since
September 1995) and a director (since October 1990) of Oppenheimer
Acquisition Corp.; President (since September 1995) and a director (since
November 1989) of Oppenheimer Partnership Holdings, Inc., a holding company
subsidiary of the Manager; a director of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management,
Inc. (since July 1996); President and a director (since October 1997) of
OppenheimerFunds International Ltd., an offshore fund management subsidiary
of the Manager, and Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc; President and a
director of other Oppenheimer funds; a director of Hillsdown Holdings plc (a
U.K. food company); formerly an Executive Vice President of the Manager.
Paul Y. Clinton, Trustee; Age: 68.
39 Blossom Avenue, Osterville, Massachusetts 02655
Principal of Clinton Management Associates, a financial and venture capital
consulting firm; Trustee of Capital Cash Management Trust, Narrangansett
Tax-Free Fund, and OCC Cash Accumulation Trust, investment companies;
Director of OCC Cash Reserves, an investment company; formerly: Director,
External Affairs, Kravco Corporation, a national real estate owner and
property management corporation; a general partner of Capital Growth Fund, a
venture capital partnership, and of Essex Limited Partnership, an investment
partnership; President of Geneve Corp., a venture capital fund; Chairman of
Woodland Capital Corp., a small business investment company; and Vice
President of W.R. Grace & Co., a manufacturing and chemical company.
Thomas W. Courtney, Trustee; Age: 65.
833 Wyndemere Way, Naples, Florida 34105
Principal of Courtney Associates, Inc., a venture capital firm; Trustee of
Cash Asset Trust, OCC Accumulation Trust, Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust and Tax
Free Trust of Arizona, investment companies; Director of OCC Cash Reserves,
Inc., an investment company; Director of several privately-owned
corporations; former General Partner of Trivest Venture Fund, a private
venture capital fund; former President of Investment Counseling of Federated
Investors, Inc., an investment advisory firm; former President of Boston
Company Institutional Investors, an investment advisory firm; and former
Director of Financial Analysts Federation.
Robert G. Galli, Trustee; Age: 65.
19750 Beach Road, Jupiter Island, Florida 33469
A Trustee or Director of other Oppenheimer funds. Within the past 5 years he
held the following positions: Vice Chairman of the Manager, OppenheimerFunds,
Inc. (October 1995 to December 1997); Vice President (June 1990 to March
1994) and General Counsel of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., the Manager's
parent holding company; Executive Vice President (December 1977 to October
1995), Executive Vice President and a director (April 1986 to October 1995)
of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation; Vice President and a director
(October 1988 to October 1993) of Centennial Asset Management Corporation,
(HarbourView and Centennial are investment adviser subsidiaries of the
Manager); and an officer of other Oppenheimer funds.
Lacy B. Herrmann, Trustee; Age: 69.
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, New York 10017
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aquila Management Corporation, the
sponsoring organization and manager, administrator and/or sub-adviser to the
following investment companies: Churchill Cash Reserves Trust, Aquila
Cascadia Equity Fund, Pacific Capital Cash Assets Trust, Pacific Capital U.S.
Treasuries Cash Asset Trust, Pacific Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets Trust,
Prime Cash Fund, Naragansett Insured Tax-Free Income Fund, Tax-Free Fund for
Utah, Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky, Tax-Free Fund of Colorado,
Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, Tax-Free Trust of Arizona, Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust
and Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund; Chairman of the Board of Trustees and
Chairman of the preceding investment companies; Vice President, Director,
Secretary and former Treasurer of Aquila Distributors, Inc., the distributor
of the preceding funds; President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of
Capital Cash Management Trust and a former officer and Trustee of its
predecessors; President and Director of STCM Management Company, Inc.,
sponsor and adviser to Capital Cash Management Trust; Chairman, President and
a Director of InCap Management Corporation, a fund sub-adviser and
administrator; Director of OCC Cash Reserves, Inc. and a Trustee of OCC
Accumulation Trust, investment companies; Trustee Emeritus of Brown
University.
George Loft, Trustee; Age: 84.
51 Herrick Road, Sharon, Connecticut 06069
Private investor; Director of OCC Cash Reserves, Inc. and Trustee of OCC
Accumulation Trust, investment companies.
Robert C. Doll, Jr., Vice President; Age: 44.
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048-0203
Executive Vice President and Director of Equity Investments and a Director of
the Manager (since January 1993); Vice President and a director of
Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. (since September 1995); Executive Vice
President of HarbourView Asset Management Corp. (since January 1993); an
officer of other Oppenheimer funds.
Andrew J. Donohue, Secretary; Age 48
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048
Executive Vice President (since January 1993), General Counsel (since
October 1991) and a Director (since September 1995) of the Manager;
Executive Vice President (since September 1993) and a director (since January
1992) of the Distributor; Executive Vice President, General Counsel and a
director of HarbourView Asset Management Corp., Shareholder Services, Inc.,
Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. and Oppenheimer Partnership Holdings,
Inc. (since September 1995); President and a director of Centennial Asset
Management Corp. (since September 1995); President and a director of
Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. (since July 1996); General Counsel
(since May 1996) and Secretary (since April 1997) of Oppenheimer Acquisition
Corp.; Vice President and a Director of OppenheimerFunds International Ltd.
and Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc (since October 1997); an officer of
other Oppenheimer funds.
George C. Bowen, Treasurer; Age 62
6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112
Senior Vice President (since September 1987) and Treasurer (since March 1985)
of the Manager; Vice President (since June 1983) and Treasurer (since March
1985) of the Distributor; Vice President (since October 1989) and Treasurer
(since April 1986) of HarbourView Asset Management Corp., an investment
adviser subsidiary of the Manager; Senior Vice President (since February
1992), Treasurer (since July 1991) and a director (since December 1991) of
Centennial Asset Management Corporation, an investment adviser subsidiary of
the Manager; Vice President and Treasurer (since August 1978) and Secretary
(since April 1981) of Shareholder Services Inc., a transfer agent subsidiary
of the Manager; Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary (since November 1989)
of Shareholder Financial Services, Inc., a transfer agent subsidiary of the
Manager; Assistant Treasurer (since March 1998) of Oppenheimer Acquisition
Corp., the parent company of the Manager; Treasurer of Oppenheimer
Partnership Holdings, Inc. (since November 1989); Vice President and
Treasurer of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. (since July 1996), an
investment adviser subsidiary of the Manager; an officer of other Oppenheimer
funds; formerly Treasurer (June 1990- March 1998) of Oppenheimer Acquisition
Corp.
Robert J. Bishop, Assistant Treasurer; Age 40
6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112
Vice President of the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (since May 1996); an
officer of other Oppenheimer funds; formerly an Assistant Vice President of
the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (April 1994-May 1996), and a Fund
Controller for the Manager.
Scott Farrar, Assistant Treasurer; Age 33
6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112
Vice President of the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (since May 1996);
Assistant Treasurer of Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc (since October 1997);
an officer of other Oppenheimer funds; formerly an Assistant Vice President
of the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (April 1994-May 1996), and a Fund
Controller for the Manager.
Robert G. Zack, Assistant Secretary; Age 50
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048-0203
Senior Vice President (since May 1985) and Associate General Counsel (since
May 1981) of the Manager, Assistant Secretary of Shareholder Services, Inc.
(since May 1985), and Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. (since November
1989); Assistant Secretary of Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc (since October
1997) and OppenheimerFunds International Ltd.; an officer of other
Oppenheimer funds.
n Remuneration of Trustees. The officers of the Fund and one Trustee,
Ms. Macaskill, are affiliated with the Manager and receive no salary or fee
from the Fund. The remaining Trustees received the compensation shown below.
The compensation from the Fund was paid during its fiscal year ended October
31, 1998. The table below also shows the total compensation from all of the
Oppenheimer funds listed above (referred to as the "Oppenheimer
Quest/Rochester Funds"), including the compensation from the Fund and three
other funds that are not Oppenheimer funds but for which the Sub-Adviser acts
as investment adviser. That amount represents compensation received as a
director, trustee, managing general partner or member of a committee of the
Board during the calendar year 1998.
<PAGE>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Compensation
From all Oppenheimer
Quest/Rochester
Aggregate Retirement Funds
Trustee's Name Compensation Benefits Accrued (11 Funds)1 and
From Fund as Part of Fund Three Other Funds2
Expenses
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
Paul Y. Clinton
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
Thomas W.
Courtney
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
Robert G. Galli
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
Lacy B. Herrmann
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
George Loft
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. For the 1998 calendar year. Includes compensation for a portion of the
year paid by Oppenheimer Quest Officers Value Fund, which was reorganized
into another Fund in June 1998. Each series of an investment company is
considered a separate "fund" for this purpose. For Mr. Galli, compensation
is for period from 6/2/98 to 10/31/98.
5. Includes compensation paid by three funds for which the Sub-Adviser
acts as investment adviser. Those funds are not Oppenheimer funds and are
not affiliated with the Oppenheimer funds, the Manager or the Distributor.
The amount of aggregate compensation paid by Fund Trustees from those
three other funds was as follows: Mr. Clinton: $_________; Mr. Courtney:
$_________; Mr. Hermann: $_________; and Mr. Loft: $_________.
6. Includes $_________ deferred under the Deferred Compensation Plan
described below. For Mr. Galli, compensation is for period from 6/2/98 to
10/31/98, and includes compensation from 20 other Oppenheimer funds for
which he serves as trustee or director..
|X| Retirement Plan for Trustees. The Fund has adopted a retirement
plan that provides for payments to retired Trustees. Payments are up to 80%
of the average compensation paid during a Trustee's five years of service in
which the highest compensation was received. A Trustee must serve as Trustee
for any of the Oppenheimer Quest/Rochester/MidCap funds listed above for at
least 15 years to be eligible for the maximum payment. Each Trustee's
retirement benefits will depend on the amount of the Trustee's future
compensation and length of service. Therefore the amount of those benefits
cannot be determined at this time, nor can we estimate the number of years of
credited service that will be used to determine those benefits.
n Deferred Compensation Plan. The Board of Trustees has adopted a
Deferred Compensation Plan for disinterested Trustees that enables them to
elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of the annual fees they are
entitled to receive from the Fund. Under the plan, the compensation deferred
by a Trustee is periodically adjusted as though an equivalent amount had been
invested in shares of one or more Oppenheimer funds selected by the Trustee.
The amount paid to the Trustee under the plan will be determined based upon
the performance of the selected funds.
Deferral of Trustees' fees under the plan will not materially affect the
Fund's assets, liabilities and net income per share. The plan will not
obligate the fund to retain the services of any Trustee or to pay any
particular level of compensation to any Trustee. Pursuant to an Order issued
by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may invest in the funds
selected by the Trustee under the plan without shareholder approval for the
limited purpose of determining the value of the Trustee's deferred fee
account.
n Major Shareholders. As of February 1, 1999, the only persons who
owned of record or were known by the Fund to own beneficially 5% or more of
the Fund's outstanding Class A, Class B, Class C or Class Y shares were :
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc., 4800 Deer Lake Dr. E Floor 3,
Jacksonville, FL 32246, which owned
- -------------------------------------------------------
Mass Mutual Life Insurance Co., 1295 State Street, Springfield, MA 01111,
which owned ______________ Class Y shares (representing ___% of the Fund's
then outstanding Class Y shares).
The Manager. The Manager is wholly-owned by Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., a
holding company controlled by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.
The Manager and the Fund have a Code of Ethics. It is designed to detect and
prevent improper personal trading by certain employees, including portfolio
managers, that would compete with or take advantage of the Fund's portfolio
transactions. Compliance with the Code of Ethics is carefully monitored and
enforced by the Manager.
n The Investment Advisory Agreement. The Manager provides investment
advisory and management services to the Fund under an investment advisory
agreement between the Manager and the Trust. The Manager handles the Fund's
day-to-day business, and the agreement permits the Manager to enter into
sub-advisory agreements with other registered investment advisers to obtain
specialized services for the Fund, as long as the Fund is not obligated to
pay any additional fees for those services. The Manager has retained the
Sub-Adviser pursuant to a separate Sub-Advisory Agreement, under which the
Sub-Adviser buys and sells portfolio securities for the Fund. The portfolio
manager of the Fund is employed by the Sub-Adviser and is the person who is
principally responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's
portfolio, as described below.
The investment advisory agreement between the Fund and the Manager
requires the Manager, at its expense, to provide the Fund with adequate
office space, facilities and equipment. It also requires the Manager to
provide and supervise the activities of all administrative and clerical
personnel required to provide effective administration for the Fund. Those
responsibilities include the compilation and maintenance of records with
respect to its operations, the preparation and filing of specified reports,
and composition of proxy materials and registration statements for continuous
public sale of shares of the Fund.
The Fund pays expenses not expressly assumed by the Manager under the
advisory agreement. Expenses for the Trust's three series are allocated to
the series in proportion to their net assets, unless allocations of expenses
can be made directly to a series. The advisory agreement lists examples of
expenses paid by the Fund. The major categories relate to calculation of the
Fund's net asset values per share, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions,
fees to certain Trustees, legal and audit expenses, custodian and transfer
agent expenses, share issuance costs, certain printing and registration costs
and non-recurring expenses, including litigation costs. The management fees
paid by the Fund to the Manager are calculated at the rates described in the
Prospectus, which are applied to the assets of the Fund as a whole. The fees
are allocated to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of
the Fund's net assets represented by that class.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fees Paid to Manager to
Management Fees Paid to Calculate Fund's Net
Fiscal Year ended OppenheimerFunds, Inc. Asset Values2
10/31:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19961 $10,059,240 $56,691
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $25,895,389 $53,998
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $___________ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. For the 11 month fiscal period commencing November 22, 1995, when the
Manager became the Fund's investment adviser. For the period from November
1, 1995 to November 22, 1995, the Fund paid an advisory fee of $407,877
and accounting services fees of $2,978 to the Sub-Adviser, which was then
the Fund's investment adviser.
4. During the fiscal years noted, the Fund paid the Manager a fee for
accounting services, consisting of a base fee of $55,000 per year plus
out-of-pocket expenses. The Manager has voluntarily agreed to eliminate
its fee for providing those services for fiscal years commencing November
1, 1998 and afterwards.
The investment advisory agreement contains an indemnity of the Manager.
In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the
performance of its duties or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
under the investment advisory agreement, the Manager is not liable for any
loss resulting from a good faith error or omission on its part with respect
to any of its duties under the agreement.
The agreement permits the Manager to act as investment adviser for any
other person, firm or corporation and to use the names "Oppenheimer" and
Quest for Value" in connection with other investment companies for which it
may act as investment adviser or general distributor. If the Manager shall no
longer act as investment adviser to the Fund, the Manager may withdraw the
right of the Fund to use the names "Oppenheimer" or "Quest for Value" as part
of its name.
The Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser is a majority-owned subsidiary of
Oppenheimer Capital, a registered investment adviser. From the Fund's
inception on April 30, 1980, until November 22, 1995, the Sub-Adviser (which
was then named Quest for Value Advisors) served as the Fund's investment
advisor. The Sub-Adviser acts as investment adviser to other investment
companies and for institutional investors.
On November 4, 1997, PIMCO Advisors L.P., a registered investment
adviser with $125 billion in assets under management through various
subsidiaries and affiliates, acquired control of Oppenheimer Capital and the
Sub-Adviser. On November 30, 1997, Oppenheimer Capital merged with a
subsidiary of PIMCO Advisors. As a result, Oppenheimer Capital and the
Sub-Adviser became indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of PIMCO Advisors.
PIMCO Advisors has two general partners: PIMCO Partners, G.P., a California
general partnership, and PIMCO Advisors Holdings L.P. (formerly Oppenheimer
Capital, L.P.), an New York Stock Exchange-listed Delaware limited
partnership of which PIMCO Partners, G.P. is the sole general partner.
PIMCO Partners, G.P. beneficially owns or controls (through its general
partner interest in Oppenheimer Capital, L.P.) more than 80% of the units of
limited partnership of PIMCO Advisors. PIMCO Partners, G.P. has two general
partners. The first of these is Pacific Investment Management Company, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Pacific Financial Asset Management Company, a
direct subsidiary of Pacific Life Insurance Company ("Pacific Life").
The managing general partner of PIMCO Partners, G.P. is PIMCO Partners
L.L.C. ("PPLLC"), a California limited liability company. PPLLC's members
are the Managing Directors (the "PIMCO Managers") of Pacific Investment
Management Company, a subsidiary of PIMCO Advisors (the "PIMCO
Subpartnership"). The PIMCO Managers are: William H. Gross, Dean S.
Meiling, James F. Muzzy, William F. Podlich, III, Brent R. Harris, John L.
Hague, William S. Thompson Jr., William C. Powers, David H. Edington,
Benjamin Trosky, William R. Benz, II and Lee R. Thomas, III.
PIMCO Advisors is governed by a Management Board, which consists of
sixteen members, pursuant to a delegation by its general partners. PIMCO
Partners G.P. has the power to designate up to nine members of the Management
Board and the PIMCO Subpartnership, of which the PIMCO Managers are the
Managing Directors, has the power to designate up to two members. In
addition, PIMCO Partners, G.P., as the controlling general partner of PIMCO
Advisors, has the power to revoke the delegation to the Management Board and
exercise control of PIMCO Advisors. As a result, Pacific Life and/or the
PIMCO Managers may be deemed to control PIMCO Advisors. Pacific Life and the
PIMCO Managers disclaim such control.
n The Sub-Advisory Agreement. Under the Sub-advisory Agreement between
the Manager and the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall regularly provide
investment advice with respect to the Fund and invest and reinvest cash,
securities and the property comprising the assets of the Fund. Under the
Subadvisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees not to change the portfolio
manager of the Fund without the written approval of the Manager. The
Sub-Adviser also agrees to provide assistance in the distribution and
marketing of the Fund.
Under the Subadvisory Agreement, the Manager pays the Sub-Adviser an
annual fee in monthly installments, based on the average daily net assets of
the Fund. The fee paid to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-advisory agreement is
paid by the Manager, not by the Fund. The fee is equal to 40% of the
investment advisory fee collected by the Manager from the Fund based on the
total net assets of the Fund as of November 22, 1995 (the "Base Amount") plus
30% of the investment advisory fee collected by the Manager based on the
total net assets of the Fund that exceed the Base Amount.
The Subadvisory Agreement provides that in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of its duties or
obligations, the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Manager for any act
or omission in the course of or connected with rendering services under the
Subadvisory Agreement or for any losses that may be sustained in the
purchase, holding or sale of any security.
Brokerage Policies of the Fund
Brokerage Provisions of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the
Sub-Advisory Agreement. One of the duties of the Sub-Adviser under the
Sub-Advisory Agreement is to arrange the portfolio transactions for the
Fund. The Fund's investment advisory agreement with the Manager and the
Sub-Advisory Agreement contain provisions relating to the employment of
broker-dealers to effect the Fund's portfolio transactions. The Manager and
the Sub-Adviser are authorized to employ broker-dealers, including
"affiliated" brokers, as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act.
They may employ broker-dealers that the Manager thinks, in its best judgment
based on all relevant factors, will implement the policy of the Fund to
obtain, at reasonable expense, the "best execution" of the Fund's portfolio
transactions. "Best execution" means prompt and reliable execution at the
most favorable price obtainable.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser need not seek competitive commission
bidding. However, they are expected to be aware of the current rates of
eligible brokers and to minimize the commissions paid to the extent
consistent with the interests and policies of the Fund as established by its
Board of Trustees.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser may select brokers (other than
affiliates) that provide brokerage and/or research services for the Fund
and/or the other accounts over which the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their
respective affiliates have investment discretion. The commissions paid to
such brokers may be higher than another qualified broker would charge, if the
Manager or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, makes a good faith determination that
the commission is fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided.
Subject to those considerations, as a factor in selecting brokers for the
Fund's portfolio transactions, the Manager and the Sub-Adviser may also
consider sales of shares of the Fund and other investment companies for which
the Manager or an affiliate serves as investment adviser.
Brokerage Practices. Brokerage for the Fund is allocated subject to the
provisions of the investment advisory agreement and the sub-advisory
agreement and the procedures and rules described above. Generally, the
Sub-Adviser's portfolio traders allocate brokerage based upon recommendations
from the Fund's portfolio manager. In certain instances, portfolio managers
may directly place trades and allocate brokerage. In either case, the
Sub-Adviser's executive officers supervise the allocation of brokerage.
Transactions in securities other than those for which an exchange is the
primary market are generally done with principals or market makers. In
transactions on foreign exchanges, the Fund may be required to pay fixed
brokerage commissions and thereby not have the benefit of negotiated
commissions available in U.S. markets. Brokerage commissions are paid
primarily for effecting transactions in listed securities or for certain
fixed-income agency transactions in the secondary market. Otherwise brokerage
commissions are paid only if it appears likely that a better price or
execution can be obtained by doing so.
The Sub-Adviser serves as investment manager to a number of clients,
including other investment companies, and may in the future act as investment
manager or advisor to others. It is the practice of the Sub-Adviser to
allocate purchase or sale transactions among the Fund and other clients whose
assets it manages in a manner it deems equitable. In making those
allocations, the Sub-Adviser considers several main factors, including the
respective investment objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of
the same or comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment,
the size of investment commitments generally held and the opinions of the
persons responsible for managing the portfolios of the Fund and each other
client's accounts.
When orders to purchase or sell the same security on identical terms are
placed by more than one of the funds and/or other advisory accounts managed
by the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates, the transactions are generally executed
as received, although a fund or advisory account that does not direct trades
to a specific broker (these are called "free trades") usually will have its
order executed first. Orders placed by accounts that direct trades to a
specific broker will generally be executed after the free trades. All orders
placed on behalf of the Fund are considered free trades. However, having an
order placed first in the market does not necessarily guarantee the most
favorable price. Purchases are combined where possible for the purpose of
negotiating brokerage commissions. In some cases that practice might have a
detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security in a particular
transaction for the Fund.
Most purchases of debt obligations are principal transactions at net
prices. Instead of using a broker for those transactions, the Fund normally
deals directly with the selling or purchasing principal or market maker
unless the Sub-Adviser determines that a better price or execution can be
obtained by using the services of a broker. Purchases of portfolio
securities from underwriters include a commission or concession paid by the
issuer to the underwriter. Purchases from dealers include a spread between
the bid and asked prices. The Fund seeks to obtain prompt execution of these
orders at the most favorable net price.
The investment advisory agreement and the sub-advisory agreement permit
the Manager and the Sub-Adviser to allocate brokerage for research services.
The research services provided by a particular broker may be useful only to
one or more of the advisory accounts of the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates.
The investment research received for the commissions of those other accounts
may be useful both to the Fund and one or more of the Sub-Adviser's other
accounts. Investment research may be supplied to the Sub-Adviser by a third
party at the instance of a broker through which trades are placed.
Investment research services include information and analysis on
particular companies and industries as well as market or economic trends and
portfolio strategy, market quotations for portfolio evaluations, information
systems, computer hardware and similar products and services. If a research
service also assists the Sub-Adviser in a non-research capacity (such as
bookkeeping or other administrative functions), then only the percentage or
component that provides assistance to the Sub-Adviser in the investment
decision-making process may be paid in commission dollars.
The research services provided by brokers broadens the scope and
supplements the research activities of the Sub-Adviser. That research
provides additional views and comparisons for consideration, and helps the
Sub-Adviser to obtain market information for the valuation of securities that
are either held in the Fund's portfolio or are being considered for
purchase. The Sub-Adviser provides information to the Manager and the Board
about the commissions paid to brokers furnishing such services, together with
the Sub-Adviser's representation that the amount of such commissions was
reasonably related to the value or benefit of such services.
Because the Sub-Adviser was an affiliate of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a
broker-dealer ("OpCo"), until November 3, 1997, the table below includes
information about brokerage commissions paid to OpCo for the Fund's portfolio
transactions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ Amount of
Total Transactions for Which
Brokerage Brokerage Commissions Brokerage Commissions
Fiscal Year Commissions Paid to OpCo: Were Paid to OpCo:
Ended 10/31 Paid1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dollar % of Total Dollar % of Total
Amount Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 $1,346,575 $396,844 29.5% $363,554,195 30.89%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $2,600,457 $868,206 33.4% $872,725,645 30.0%
--------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Amounts do not include spreads or concessions on principal transactions
on a net trade basis.
4. In the fiscal year ended 10/31/98, the amount of transactions directed
to brokers for research services was $_________________ and the amount of
the commissions paid to broker-dealers for those services was $_______.
Distribution and Service Plans
The Distributor. Under its General Distributor's Agreement with the Trust,
the Distributor acts as the Fund's principal underwriter in the continuous
public offering of shares of the Fund's classes of shares. The Distributor is
not obligated to sell a specific number of shares. Expenses normally
attributable to sales are borne by the Distributor.
The compensation paid to (or retained by) the Distributor from the sale
of shares or on the redemption of shares during the Fund's three most recent
fiscal years is shown in the table below.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aggregate Class A Commissions Commissions Commissions
Fiscal Front-End Front-End on Class A on Class B on Class C
Year Sales Sales Shares Shares Shares
Ended Charges on Charges Advanced by Advanced by Advanced by
10/31: Class A Retained by Distributor1 Distributor1 Distributor1
Shares Distributor
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19962 $ $ $ $ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $16,207,958 $ $ $ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $ $ $ $ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. The Distributor advances commission payments to dealers for certain
sales of Class A shares and for sales of Class B and Class C shares from
its own resources at the time of sale.
4. For the period from 11/22/95 to 10/31/96.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Contingent Class B Contingent Class C Contingent
Fiscal Deferred Sales Deferred Sales Deferred Sales Charges
Year Charges Retained by Charges Retained by Retained by Distributor
Ended Distributor Distributor
9/30
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $ $ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and Service Plans. The Fund has adopted Distribution and
Service Plans for Class A, Class B and Class C shares under Rule 12b-1 of the
Investment Company Act. Under those plans the Fund compensates the
Distributor for all or a portion of its costs incurred in connection with the
distribution and/or servicing of the shares of the particular class. Each
plan has been approved by a vote of the Board of Trustees, including a
majority of the Independent Trustees4, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on that plan, and by shareholders of a majority of each
class of shares of the Fund.
Under the plans, the Manager and the Distributor, in their sole
discretion, from time to time, may use their own resources (at no direct cost
to the Fund) to make payments to brokers, dealers or other financial
institutions for distribution and administrative services they perform. The
Manager may use its profits from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund.
In their sole discretion, the Distributor and the Manager may increase or
decrease the amount of payments they make from their own resources to plan
recipients.
Unless a plan is terminated as described below, the plan continues in
effect from year to year but only if the Fund's Board of Trustees and its
Independent Trustees specifically vote annually to approve its continuance.
Approval must be by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting on continuing the plan. A plan may be terminated at any time by the
vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders
of a "majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the outstanding
shares of that class.
The Board of Trustees and the Independent Trustees must approve all
material amendments to a plan. An amendment to increase materially the amount
of payments to be made under a plan must be approved by shareholders of the
class affected by the amendment. Because Class B shares of the Fund
automatically convert into Class A shares after six years, the Fund must
obtain the approval of both Class A and Class B shareholders for a proposed
material amendment to the Class A Plan that would materially increase
payments under the Plan. That approval must be by a "majority" (as defined
in the Investment Company Act) of the shares of each Class, voting separately
by class.
While the Plans are in effect, the Treasurer of the Fund shall provide
separate written reports on the plans to the Board of Trustees at least
quarterly for its review. The Reports shall detail the amount of all payments
made under a plan, the purpose for which the payments were made and the
identity of each recipient of a payment. The reports on the Class B Plan and
Class C Plan shall also include the Distributor's distribution costs for that
quarter and such costs for previous fiscal periods that have been carried
forward. Those reports are subject to the review and approval of the
Independent Trustees.
Each Plan states that while it is in effect, the selection and nomination
of those Trustees of the Fund who are not "interested persons" of the Fund is
committed to the discretion of the Independent Trustees. This does not
prevent the involvement of others in the selection and nomination process as
long as the final decision as to selection or nomination is approved by a
majority of the Independent Trustees.
Under the plans for a class, no payment will be made to any recipient in
any quarter in which the aggregate net asset value of all Fund shares of that
class held by the recipient for itself and its customers does not exceed a
minimum amount, if any, that may be set from time to time by a majority of
the Independent Trustees. The Board of Trustees has set no minimum amount of
assets to qualify for payments under the plans.
o Service Plans. Under the service plans, the Distributor currently uses
the fees it receives from the Fund to pay brokers, dealers and other
financial institutions (they are referred to as "recipients") for personal
services and account maintenance services they provide for their customers
who hold shares of a particular Class, A, B or C. The services include, among
others, answering customer inquiries about the Fund, assisting in
establishing and maintaining accounts in the Fund, making the Fund's
investment plans available and providing other services at the request of the
Fund or the Distributor. The service plans permit compensation to the
Distributor at a rate of up to 0.25% of average annual net assets of the
applicable class. The Board has set the rate at that level. While the plans
permit the Board to authorize payments to the Distributor to reimburse itself
for services under the plan, the Board has not yet done so. The Distributor
makes payments to plan recipients quarterly at an annual rate not to exceed
0.25% of the average annual net assets consisting of shares of the applicable
class held in the accounts of the recipients or their customers.
o Service and Distribution Plan Fees. Under each plan, service fees and
distribution fees are computed on the average of the net asset value of
shares in the respective class, determined as of the close of each regular
business day during the period. The plans compensate the Distributor at a
flat rate for its services and costs in distributing shares and servicing
accounts, whether the Distributor's expenses are more or less than the
amounts paid by the Fund under the plans during the period for which the fee
is paid.
The plans permit the Distributor to retain both the asset-based sales
charges and the service fees or to pay recipients the service fee on a
quarterly basis, without payment in advance. However, the Distributor
currently intends to pay the service fee to recipients in advance for the
first year after the shares are purchased. After the first year shares are
outstanding, the Distributor makes payments quarterly on those shares. The
advance payment is based on the net asset value of shares sold. Shares
purchased by exchange do not qualify for the service fee payment. If shares
are redeemed during the first year after their purchase, the recipient of the
service fees on those shares will be obligated to repay the Distributor a pro
rata portion of the advance payment of the service fee made on those shares.
Under the Class A plan, the Distributor pays a portion of the asset-based
sales charge to brokers, dealers and financial institutions and retains the
balance. The Distributor retains the asset-based sales charge on Class B
shares. The Distributor retains the asset-based sales charge on Class C
shares during the first year the shares are outstanding. It pays the
asset-based sales charge it receives on Class C shares as an ongoing
commission to the recipient on Class C shares outstanding for a year or more.
If a dealer has a special agreement with the Distributor, the Distributor
will pay the Class B and/or Class C service fee and the asset-based sales
charge to the dealer quarterly in lieu of paying the sales commissions and
service fee in advance at the time of purchase.
The asset-based sales charges on Class B and Class C shares allow
investors to buy shares without a front-end sales charge while allowing the
Distributor to reimburse dealers that sell those shares. The Fund pays the
asset-based sales charges to the Distributor for its services rendered in
distributing Class A, Class B and Class C shares. The payments are made to
the Distributor in recognition that the Distributor:
o pays sales commissions to authorized brokers and dealers at the time of
sale and pays service fees as described above,
o may finance payment of sales commissions and/or the advance of the
service fee payment to recipients under the plans, or may provide such
financing from its own resources or from the resources of an
affiliate,
o employs personnel to support distribution of shares, and
o bears the costs of sales literature, advertising and prospectuses
(other than those furnished to current shareholders) and state "blue
sky" registration fees and certain other distribution expenses.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998 payments under the Class A
Plan totaled $_________, (including $________ paid to an affiliate of the
Distributor's parent company). The Distributor retained $_____________ of the
total amount paid.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, payments under the Class B
plan totaled $___________ (including $___________ paid to an affiliate of the
Distributor's parent). The Distributor retained $__________________ of the
total amount.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, payments under the Class C
plan totaled $_______________, (including $___________ paid to an affiliate
of the Distributor's parent). The Distributor retained $_____________ of the
total amount.
The Distributor's actual expenses in selling shares may be more than the
payments it receives from the contingent deferred sales charges collected on
redeemed shares and from the Fund under the plans. As of October 31, 1998,
the Distributor had incurred unreimbursed expenses under the Class A plan in
the amount of $____________ (equal to ____% of the Fund's net assets
represented by Class A shares on that date). As of October 31, 1998, the
Distributor had incurred unreimbursed expenses under the Class B plan in the
amount of $_______________ (equal to ___% of the Fund's net assets
represented by Class B shares on that date) and unreimbursed expenses under
the Class C plan of $_____________ (equal to ___% of the Fund's net assets
represented by Class C shares on that date). If a plan is terminated by the
Fund, the Board of Trustees may allow the Fund to continue payments of the
asset-based sales charge to the Distributor for distributing shares before
the plan was terminated.
All payments under the plans are subject to the limitations imposed by
the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. on
payments of asset-based sales charges and service fees.
Performance of the Fund
Explanation of Performance Terminology. The Fund uses a variety of terms to
illustrate its investment performance. Those terms include "cumulative total
return," "average annual total return," "average annual total return at net
asset value" and "total return at net asset value." An explanation of how
total returns are calculated is set forth below. The charts below show the
Fund's performance as of the Fund's most recent fiscal year end. You can
obtain current performance information by calling the Fund's Transfer Agent
at 1-800-525-7048 or by visiting the OppenheimerFunds Internet web site at
http://www.oppenheimerfunds.com.
The Fund's illustrations of its performance data in advertisements must
comply with rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Those rules
describe the types of performance data that may be used and how it is to be
calculated. In general, any advertisement by the Fund of its performance data
must include the average annual total returns for the advertised class of
shares of the Fund. Those returns must be shown for the 1-, 5- and 10-year
periods (or the life of the class, if less) ending as of the most recently
ended calendar quarter prior to the publication of the advertisement (or its
submission for publication).
Use of standardized performance calculations enables an investor to
compare the Fund's performance to the performance of other funds for the same
periods. However, a number of factors should be considered before using the
Fund's performance information as a basis for comparison with other
investments:
|_| Total returns measure the performance of a hypothetical account in
the Fund over various periods and do not show the performance of each
shareholder's account. Your account's performance will vary from the model
performance data if your dividends are received in cash, or you buy or sell
shares during the period, or you bought your shares at a different time and
price than the shares used in the model.
o The Fund's performance returns do not reflect the effect of taxes on
dividends and capital gains distributions.
|_| An investment in the Fund is not insured by the FDIC or any other
government agency.
|_| The principal value of the Fund's shares and total returns are not
guaranteed and normally will fluctuate on a daily basis.
|_| When an investor's shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or
less than their original cost.
|_| Total returns for any given past period represent historical
performance information and are not, and should not be considered, a
prediction of future returns.
The performance of each class of shares is shown separately, because
the performance of each class of shares will usually be different. That is
because of the different kinds of expenses each class bears. The total
returns of each class of shares of the Fund are affected by market
conditions, the quality of the Fund's investments, the maturity of debt
investments, the types of investments the Fund holds, and its operating
expenses that are allocated to the particular class.
|X| Total Return Information. There are different types of "total
returns" to measure the Fund's performance. Total return is the change in
value of a hypothetical investment in the Fund over a given period, assuming
that all dividends and capital gains distributions are reinvested in
additional shares and that the investment is redeemed at the end of the
period. Because of differences in expenses for each class of shares, the
total returns for each class are separately measured. The cumulative total
return measures the change in value over the entire period (for example, ten
years). An average annual total return shows the average rate of return for
each year in a period that would produce the cumulative total return over the
entire period. However, average annual total returns do not show actual
year-by-year performance. The Fund uses standardized calculations for its
total returns as prescribed by the SEC. The methodology is discussed below.
In calculating total returns for Class A shares, the current maximum
sales charge of 5.75% (as a percentage of the offering price) is deducted
from the initial investment ("P") (unless the return is shown without sales
charge, as described below). For Class B shares, payment of the applicable
contingent deferred sales charge is applied, depending on the period for
which the return is shown: 5.0% in the first year, 4.0% in the second year,
3.0% in the third and fourth years, 2.0% in the fifth year, 1.0% in the sixth
year and none thereafter. For Class C shares, the 1% contingent deferred
sales charge is deducted for returns for the 1-year period. There is no
sales charge on Class Y shares.
|_| Average Annual Total Return. The "average annual total return" of
each class is an average annual compounded rate of return for each year in a
specified number of years. It is the rate of return based on the change in
value of a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000 ("P" in the formula
below) held for a number of years ("n" in the formula) to achieve an Ending
Redeemable Value ("ERV" in the formula) of that investment, according to the
following formula:
1/n
(ERV)
(---) -1 = Average Annual Total Return
( P )
|_| Cumulative Total Return. The "cumulative total return" calculation
measures the change in value of a hypothetical investment of $1,000 over an
entire period of years. Its calculation uses some of the same factors as
average annual total return, but it does not average the rate of return on an
annual basis. Cumulative total return is determined as follows:
ERV - P
------- = Total Return
P
|_| Total Returns at Net Asset Value. From time to time the Fund may
also quote a cumulative or an average annual total return "at net asset
value" (without deducting sales charges) for Class A, Class B or Class C
shares. Each is based on the difference in net asset value per share at the
beginning and the end of the period for a hypothetical investment in that
class of shares (without considering front-end or contingent deferred sales
charges) and takes into consideration the
reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund's Total Returns for the Periods Ended 10/31/98
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cumulative Total Average Annual Total Returns
Class Returns (10
of years or Life of
Shares Class)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-Year 10-Year
1-Year (or (or
life-of-class) life-of-class)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After Without After Without After Without After Without
Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales
Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A 1 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B 2 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C 3 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class Y N/A N/A N/A 4 N/A N/A
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Inception of Class A: 1/3/89
2. Inception of Class B: 9/1/93
3. Inception of Class C: 9/1/93
4. Inception of Class Y: 12/16/96
Other Performance Comparisons. The Fund compares its performance annually to
that of an appropriate broadly-based market index in its Annual Report to
shareholders. You can obtain that information by contacting the Transfer
Agent at the addresses or telephone numbers shown on the cover of this
Statement of Additional Information. The Fund may also compare its
performance to that of other investments, including other mutual funds, or
use rankings of its performance by independent ranking entities. Examples of
these performance comparisons are set forth below.
|_| Lipper Rankings. From time to time the Fund may publish the ranking
of the performance of its classes of shares by Lipper Analytical Services,
Inc. Lipper is a widely-recognized independent mutual fund monitoring
service. Lipper monitors the performance of regulated investment companies,
including the Fund, and ranks their performance for various periods based on
categories relating to investment objectives. Lipper currently ranks the
Fund's performance against all other flexible portfolio funds. The Lipper
performance rankings are based on total returns that include the reinvestment
of capital gain distributions and income dividends but do not take sales
charges or taxes into consideration. Lipper also publishes "peer-group"
indices of the performance of all mutual funds in a category that it monitors
and averages of the performance of the funds in particular categories.
|_| Morningstar Rankings. From time to time the Fund may publish the
star ranking of the performance of its classes of shares by Morningstar,
Inc., an independent mutual fund monitoring service. Morningstar ranks
mutual funds in broad investment categories: domestic stock funds,
international stock funds, taxable bond funds and municipal bond funds. The
Fund is ranked among domestic stock funds.
Morningstar star rankings are based on risk-adjusted total investment
return. Investment return measures a fund's (or class's) one-, three-, five-
and ten-year average annual total returns (depending on the inception of the
fund or class) in excess of 90-day U.S. Treasury bill returns after
considering the fund's sales charges and expenses. Risk measures a fund's
(or class's) performance below 90-day U.S. Treasury bill returns. Risk and
investment return are combined to produce star rankings reflecting
performance relative to the average fund in a fund's category. Five stars is
the "highest" ranking (top 10% of funds in a category), four stars is "above
average" (next 22.5%), three stars is "average" (next 35%), two stars is
"below average" (next 22.5%) and one star is "lowest" (bottom 10%). The
current star ranking is the fund's (or class's) 3-year ranking or its
combined 3- and 5-year ranking (weighted 60%/40% respectively), or its
combined 3-, 5-, and 10-year ranking (weighted 40%, 30% and 30%,
respectively), depending on the inception date of the fund (or class).
Rankings are subject to change monthly.
The Fund may also compare its performance to that of other funds in its
Morningstar category. In addition to its star rankings, Morningstar also
categorizes and compares a fund's 3-year performance based on Morningstar's
classification of the fund's investments and investment style, rather than
how a fund defines its investment objective. Morningstar's four broad
categories (domestic equity, international equity, municipal bond and taxable
bond) are each further subdivided into categories based on types of
investments and investment styles. Those comparisons by Morningstar are
based on the same risk and return measurements as its star rankings but do
not consider the effect of sales charges.
|_| Performance Rankings and Comparisons by Other Entities and
Publications. From time to time the Fund may include in its advertisements
and sales literature performance information about the Fund cited in
newspapers and other periodicals such as The New York Times, The Wall Street
Journal, Barron's, or similar publications. That information may include
performance quotations from other sources, including Lipper and Morningstar.
The performance of the Fund's classes of shares may be compared in
publications to the performance of various market indices or other
investments, and averages, performance rankings or other benchmarks prepared
by recognized mutual fund statistical services.
Investors may also wish to compare the returns on the Fund's share
classes to the return on fixed-income investments available from banks and
thrift institutions. Those include certificates of deposit, ordinary
interest-paying checking and savings accounts, and other forms of fixed or
variable time deposits, and various other instruments such as Treasury bills.
However, the Fund's returns and share price are not guaranteed or insured by
the FDIC or any other agency and will fluctuate daily, while bank depository
obligations may be insured by the FDIC and may provide fixed rates of return.
Repayment of principal and payment of interest on Treasury securities is
backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
From time to time, the Fund may publish rankings or ratings of the
Manager or Transfer Agent, and of the investor services provided by them to
shareholders of the Oppenheimer funds, other than performance rankings of the
Oppenheimer funds themselves. Those ratings or rankings of shareholder and
investor services by third parties may include comparisons of their services
to those provided by other mutual fund families selected by the rating or
ranking services. They may be based upon the opinions of the rating or
ranking service itself, using its research or judgment, or based upon surveys
of investors, brokers, shareholders or others.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy Shares
Additional information is presented below about the methods that can be
used to buy shares of the Fund. Appendix C contains more information about
the special sales charge arrangements offered by the Fund, and the
circumstances in which sales charges may be reduced or waived for certain
classes of investors.
AccountLink. When shares are purchased through AccountLink, each purchase
must be at least $25. Shares will be purchased on the regular business day
the Distributor is instructed to initiate the Automated Clearing House
("ACH") transfer to buy the shares. Dividends will begin to accrue on shares
purchased with the proceeds of ACH transfers on the business day the Fund
receives Federal Funds for the purchase through the ACH system before the
close of The New York Stock Exchange. The Exchange normally closes at 4:00
P.M., but may close earlier on certain days. If Federal Funds are received
on a business day after the close of the Exchange, the shares will be
purchased and dividends will begin to accrue on the next regular business
day. The proceeds of ACH transfers are normally received by the Fund 3 days
after the transfers are initiated. The Distributor and the Fund are not
responsible for any delays in purchasing shares resulting from delays in ACH
transmissions.
Reduced Sales Charges. As discussed in the Prospectus, a reduced sales
charge rate may be obtained for Class A shares under Right of Accumulation
and Letters of Intent because of the economies of sales efforts and reduction
in expenses realized by the Distributor, dealers and brokers making such
sales. No sales charge is imposed in certain other circumstances described
in Appendix C to this Statement of Additional Information because the
Distributor or dealer or broker incurs little or no selling expenses.
n Right of Accumulation. To qualify for the lower sales charge rates
that apply to larger purchases of Class A shares, you and your spouse can add
together:
o Class A and Class B shares you purchase for your individual
accounts, or for your joint accounts, or for trust or custodial
accounts on behalf of your children who are minors, and
o current purchases of Class A and Class B shares of the Fund and
other Oppenheimer funds to reduce the sales charge rate that
applies to current purchases of Class A shares, and
o Class A and Class B shares of Oppenheimer funds you previously
purchased subject to an initial or contingent deferred sales
charge to reduce the sales charge rate for current purchases of
Class A shares, provided that you still hold your investment in
one of the Oppenheimer funds.
A fiduciary can count all shares purchased for a trust, estate or other
fiduciary account (including one or more employee benefit plans of the same
employer) that has multiple accounts. The Distributor will add the value, at
current offering price, of the shares you previously purchased and currently
own to the value of current purchases to determine the sales charge rate that
applies. The reduced sales charge will apply only to current purchases. You
must request it when you buy shares.
n The Oppenheimer Funds. The Oppenheimer funds are those mutual funds
for which the Distributor acts as the distributor or the sub-distributor and
currently include the following:
Oppenheimer Municipal Bond Fund Oppenheimer Global Fund
Oppenheimer New York Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Global Growth & Income Fund
Oppenheimer California Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals
Oppenheimer Intermediate Municipal Fund Fund
Oppenheimer Insured Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street California Oppenheimer International Bond Fund
Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund
Oppenheimer Florida Municipal Fund Oppenheimer International Growth Fund
Oppenheimer New Jersey Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Developing Markets Fund
Oppenheimer Pennsylvania Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund
Oppenheimer Discovery Fund Oppenheimer International Small
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund Company Fund
Oppenheimer Growth Fund Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund
Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value
Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies Fund Fund
Oppenheimer Total Return Fund, Inc. Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc.
Fund Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund,
Oppenheimer High Yield Fund Inc.
Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund Oppenheimer Quest Capital Value Fund,
Oppenheimer Bond Fund Inc.
Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust Oppenheimer MidCap Fund
Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government Fund Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund
Oppenheimer Large Cap Growth Fund Rochester Fund Municipals
Limited-Term New York Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Disciplined Value Fund
Oppenheimer Disciplined Allocation
Fund
Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
and the following money market funds:
Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. Centennial Government Trust
Oppenheimer Cash Reserves Centennial New York Tax Exempt Trust
Centennial Money Market Trust Centennial California Tax Exempt Trust
Centennial Tax Exempt Trust Centennial America Fund, L.P.
There is an initial sales charge on the purchase of Class A shares of
each of the Oppenheimer funds except the money market funds. Under certain
circumstances described in this Statement of Additional Information,
redemption proceeds of certain money market fund shares may be subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge.
Letters of Intent. Under a Letter of Intent, if you purchase Class A shares
or Class A and Class B shares of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds during
a 13-month period, you can reduce the sales charge rate that applies to your
purchases of Class A shares. The total amount of your intended purchases of
both Class A and Class B shares will determine the reduced sales charge rate
for the Class A shares purchased during that period. You can include
purchases made up to 90 days before the date of the Letter.
A Letter of Intent is an investor's statement in writing to the
Distributor of the intention to purchase Class A shares or Class A and Class
B shares of the Fund (and other Oppenheimer funds) during a 13-month period
(the "Letter of Intent period"). At the investor's request, this may include
purchases made up to 90 days prior to the date of the Letter. The Letter
states the investor's intention to make the aggregate amount of purchases of
shares which, when added to the investor's holdings of shares of those funds,
will equal or exceed the amount specified in the Letter. Purchases made by
reinvestment of dividends or distributions of capital gains and purchases
made at net asset value without sales charge do not count toward satisfying
the amount of the Letter.
A Letter enables an investor to count the Class A and Class B shares
purchased under the Letter to obtain the reduced sales charge rate on
purchases of Class A shares of the Fund (and other Oppenheimer funds) that
applies under the Right of Accumulation to current purchases of Class A
shares. Each purchase of Class A shares under the Letter will be made at the
offering price (including the sales charge) that applies to a single lump-sum
purchase of shares in the amount intended to be purchased under the Letter.
In submitting a Letter, the investor makes no commitment to purchase
shares. However, if the investor's purchases of shares within the Letter of
Intent period, when added to the value (at offering price) of the investor's
holdings of shares on the last day of that period, do not equal or exceed the
intended purchase amount, the investor agrees to pay the additional amount of
sales charge applicable to such purchases. That amount is described in "Terms
of Escrow," below (those terms may be amended by the Distributor from time to
time). The investor agrees that shares equal in value to 5% of the intended
purchase amount will be held in escrow by the Transfer Agent subject to the
Terms of Escrow. Also, the investor agrees to be bound by the terms of the
Prospectus, this Statement of Additional Information and the Application used
for a Letter of Intent. If those terms are amended, as they may be from time
to time by the Fund, the investor agrees to be bound by the amended terms and
that those amendments will apply automatically to existing Letters of Intent.
If the total eligible purchases made during the Letter of Intent period
do not equal or exceed the intended purchase amount, the commissions
previously paid to the dealer of record for the account and the amount of
sales charge retained by the Distributor will be adjusted to the rates
applicable to actual total purchases. If total eligible purchases during the
Letter of Intent period exceed the intended purchase amount and exceed the
amount needed to qualify for the next sales charge rate reduction set forth
in the Prospectus, the sales charges paid will be adjusted to the lower rate.
That adjustment will be made only if and when the dealer returns to the
Distributor the excess of the amount of commissions allowed or paid to the
dealer over the amount of commissions that apply to the actual amount of
purchases. The excess commissions returned to the Distributor will be used
to purchase additional shares for the investor's account at the net asset
value per share in effect on the date of such purchase, promptly after the
Distributor's receipt thereof.
The Transfer Agent will not hold shares in escrow for purchases of
shares of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds by OppenheimerFunds prototype
401(k) plans under a Letter of Intent. If the intended purchase amount under
a Letter of Intent entered into by an OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k) plan
is not purchased by the plan by the end of the Letter of Intent period, there
will be no adjustment of commissions paid to the broker-dealer or financial
institution of record for accounts held in the name of that plan.
In determining the total amount of purchases made under a Letter,
shares redeemed by the investor prior to the termination of the Letter of
Intent period will be deducted. It is the responsibility of the dealer of
record and/or the investor to advise the Distributor about the Letter in
placing any purchase orders for the investor during the Letter of Intent
period. All of such purchases must be made through the Distributor.
o Terms of Escrow That Apply to Letters of Intent.
1. Out of the initial purchase (or subsequent purchases if necessary)
made pursuant to a Letter, shares of the Fund equal in value up to 5% of the
intended purchase amount specified in the Letter shall be held in escrow by
the Transfer Agent. For example, if the intended purchase amount is $50,000,
the escrow shall be shares valued in the amount of $2,500 (computed at the
offering price adjusted for a $50,000 purchase). Any dividends and capital
gains distributions on the escrowed shares will be credited to the investor's
account.
2. If the total minimum investment specified under the Letter is
completed within the thirteen-month Letter of Intent period, the escrowed
shares will be promptly released to the investor.
3. If, at the end of the thirteen-month Letter of Intent period the
total purchases pursuant to the Letter are less than the intended purchase
amount specified in the Letter, the investor must remit to the Distributor an
amount equal to the difference between the dollar amount of sales charges
actually paid and the amount of sales charges which would have been paid if
the total amount purchased had been made at a single time. That sales charge
adjustment will apply to any shares redeemed prior to the completion of the
Letter. If the difference in sales charges is not paid within twenty days
after a request from the Distributor or the dealer, the Distributor will,
within sixty days of the expiration of the Letter, redeem the number of
escrowed shares necessary to realize such difference in sales charges. Full
and fractional shares remaining after such redemption will be released from
escrow. If a request is received to redeem escrowed shares prior to the
payment of such additional sales charge, the sales charge will be withheld
from the redemption proceeds.
4. By signing the Letter, the investor irrevocably constitutes and
appoints the Transfer Agent as attorney-in-fact to surrender for redemption
any or all escrowed shares.
6. The shares eligible for purchase under the Letter (or the holding of
which may be counted toward completion of a Letter) include:
(d) Class A shares sold with a front-end sales charge or subject to a Class
A contingent deferred sales charge,
(e) Class B shares of other Oppenheimer funds acquired subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge, and
(f) Class A or Class B shares acquired by exchange of either (1) Class A
shares of one of the other Oppenheimer funds that were acquired
subject to a Class A initial or contingent deferred sales charge
or (2) Class B shares of one of the other Oppenheimer funds that
were acquired subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
6. Shares held in escrow hereunder will automatically be exchanged for
shares of another fund to which an exchange is requested, as described in the
section of the Prospectus entitled "How to Exchange Shares" and the escrow
will be transferred to that other fund.
Asset Builder Plans. To establish an Asset Builder Plan to buy shares
directly from a bank account, you must enclose a check (minimum $25) for the
initial purchase with your application. Shares purchased by Asset Builder
Plan payments from bank accounts are subject to the redemption restrictions
for recent purchases described in the Prospectus. Asset Builder Plans also
enable shareholders of Oppenheimer Cash Reserves to use their fund account to
make monthly automatic purchases of shares of up to four other Oppenheimer
funds.
If you make payments from your bank account to purchase shares of the
Fund, your bank account will be automatically debited, normally four to five
business days prior to the investment dates selected in the Application.
Neither the Distributor, the Transfer Agent nor the Fund shall be responsible
for any delays in purchasing shares resulting from delays in ACH
transmissions.
Before initiating Asset Builder payments, obtain a prospectus of the
selected fund(s) from the Distributor or your financial advisor and request
an application from the Distributor, complete it and return it. The amount
of the Asset Builder investment may be changed or the automatic investments
may be terminated at any time by writing to the Transfer Agent. The Transfer
Agent requires a reasonable period (approximately 15 days) after receipt of
such instructions to implement them. The Fund reserves the right to amend,
suspend, or discontinue offering Asset Builder plans at any time without
prior notice.
Retirement Plans. Certain types of retirement plans are entitled to purchase
shares of the Fund without sales charge or at reduced sales charge rates, as
described in Appendix C to this Statement of Additional Information. Certain
special sales charge arrangements described in that Appendix apply to
retirement plans whose records are maintained on a daily valuation basis by
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc. or an independent record keeper
that has a contract or special arrangement with Merrill Lynch. If on the date
the plan sponsor signed the Merrill Lynch record keeping service agreement
the Plan has less than $3 million in assets (other than assets invested in
money market funds) invested in applicable investments, then the retirement
plan may purchase only Class B shares of the Oppenheimer funds. Any
retirement plans in that category that currently invest in Class B shares of
the Fund will have their Class B shares converted to Class A shares of the
Fund when the plan's applicable investments reach $5 million.
Cancellation of Purchase Orders. Cancellation of purchase orders for the
Fund's shares (for example, when a purchase check is returned to the Fund
unpaid) causes a loss to be incurred when the net asset value of the Fund's
shares on the cancellation date is less than on the purchase date. That loss
is equal to the amount of the decline in the net asset value per share
multiplied by the number of shares in the purchase order. The investor is
responsible for that loss. If the investor fails to compensate the Fund for
the loss, the Distributor will do so. The Fund may reimburse the Distributor
for that amount by redeeming shares from any account registered in that
investor's name, or the Fund or the Distributor may seek other redress.
Classes of Shares. Each class of shares of the Fund represents an interest in
the same portfolio of investments of the Fund. However, each class has
different shareholder privileges and features. The net income attributable
to a class of shares and the dividends payable on a class of shares will be
reduced by incremental expenses borne solely by that class. Those expenses
include the asset-based sales charges to which Class A, Class B and Class C
are subject.
The availability of different classes of shares permits an investor to
choose the method of purchasing shares that is more appropriate for the
investor. That may depend on the amount of the purchase, the length of time
the investor expects to hold shares, and other relevant circumstances. Class
A shares in normally are sold subject to an initial sales charge. While
Class B and Class C shares have no initial sales charge, the purpose of the
deferred sales charge and asset-based sales charge on Class B and Class C
shares is the same as that of the initial sales charge on Class A shares - to
compensate the Distributor and brokers, dealers and financial institutions
that sell shares of the Fund. A salesperson who is entitled to receive
compensation from his or her firm for selling Fund shares may receive
different levels of compensation for selling one class of shares than
another.
The Distributor will not accept any order in the amount of $500,000 or
more for Class B shares or $1 million or more for Class C shares on behalf of
a single investor (not including dealer "street name" or omnibus accounts).
That is because generally it will be more advantageous for that investor to
purchase Class A shares of the Fund.
o Class B Conversion. The conversion of Class B shares to Class A
shares after six years is subject to the continuing availability of a private
letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel or
tax adviser, to the effect that the conversion of Class B shares does not
constitute a taxable event for the shareholder under Federal income tax law.
If such a revenue ruling or opinion is no longer available, the automatic
conversion feature may be suspended, in which event no further conversions of
Class B shares would occur while such suspension remained in effect. Although
Class B shares could then be exchanged for Class A shares on the basis of
relative net asset value of the two classes, without the imposition of a
sales charge or fee, such exchange could constitute a taxable event for the
shareholder, and absent such exchange, Class B shares might continue to be
subject to the asset-based sales charge for longer than six years.
o Allocation of Expenses. The Fund pays expenses related to its daily
operations, such as custodian fees, Trustees' fees, transfer agency fees,
legal fees and auditing costs. Those expenses are paid out of the Fund's
assets and are not paid directly by shareholders. However, those expenses
reduce the net asset value of shares, and therefore are indirectly borne by
shareholders through their investment.
The methodology for calculating the net asset value, dividends and
distributions of the Fund's share classes recognizes two types of expenses.
General expenses that do not pertain specifically to any one class are
allocated pro rata to the shares of all classes. The allocation is based on
the percentage of the Fund's total assets that is represented by the assets
of each class, and then equally to each outstanding share within a given
class. Such general expenses include management fees, legal, bookkeeping and
audit fees, printing and mailing costs of shareholder reports, Prospectuses,
Statements of Additional Information and other materials for current
shareholders, fees to unaffiliated Trustees, custodian expenses, share
issuance costs, organization and start-up costs, interest, taxes and
brokerage commissions, and non-recurring expenses, such as litigation costs.
Other expenses that are directly attributable to a particular class are
allocated equally to each outstanding share within that class. Examples of
such expenses include distribution and service plan (12b-1) fees, transfer
and shareholder servicing agent fees and expenses, and shareholder meeting
expenses (to the extent that such expenses pertain only to a specific class).
Determination of Net Asset Values Per Share. The net asset values per share
of each class of shares of the Fund are determined as of the close of
business of The New York Stock Exchange on each day that the Exchange is
open. The calculation is done by dividing the value of the Fund's net assets
attributable to a class by the number of shares of that class that are
outstanding. The Exchange normally closes at 4:00 P.M., New York time, but
may close earlier on some other days (for example, in case of weather
emergencies or on days falling before a holiday). The Exchange's most recent
annual announcement (which is subject to change) states that it will close on
New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Good Friday,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas
Day. It may also close on other days.
Dealers other than Exchange members may conduct trading in certain
securities on days on which the Exchange is closed (including weekends and
holidays) or after 4:00 P.M. on a regular business day. The Fund's net asset
values will not be calculated on those days, and the values of some of the
Fund's portfolio securities may change significantly on days when
shareholders may not purchase or redeem shares. Additionally, trading on
European and Asian stock exchanges and over-the-counter markets normally is
completed before the close of The New York Stock Exchange.
Changes in the values of securities traded on foreign exchanges or
markets as a result of events that occur after the prices of those securities
are determined, but before the close of The New York Stock Exchange, will not
be reflected in the Fund's calculation of its net asset values that day
unless the Board of Trustees determines that the event is likely to effect a
material change in the value of the security. The Manager may make that
determination, under procedures established by the Board.
n Securities Valuation. The Fund's Board of Trustees has established
procedures for the valuation of the Fund's securities. In general those
procedures are as follows:
o Equity securities traded on a U.S. securities exchange or on NASDAQ
are valued as follows:
(3) if last sale information is regularly reported, they are valued at the
last reported sale price on the principal exchange on which
they are traded or on NASDAQ, as applicable, on that day, or
(4) if last sale information is not available on a valuation date, they are
valued at the last reported sale price preceding the valuation
date if it is within the spread of the closing "bid" and
"asked" prices on the valuation date or, if not, at the
closing "bid" price on the valuation date.
o Equity securities traded on a foreign securities exchange generally
are valued in one of the following ways:
(4) at the last sale price available to the pricing service approved by the
Board of Trustees, or
(5) at the last sale price obtained by the Manager from the report of the
principal exchange on which the security is traded at its last
trading session on or immediately before the valuation date, or
(6) at the mean between the "bid" and "asked" prices obtained from the
principal exchange on which the security is traded or, on the
basis of reasonable inquiry, from two market makers in the
security.
o Long-term debt securities having a remaining maturity in excess of
60 days are valued based on the mean between the "bid" and "asked" prices
determined by a portfolio pricing service approved by the Fund's Board of
Trustees or obtained by the Manager from two active market makers in the
security on the basis of reasonable inquiry.
o The following securities are valued at the mean between the "bid"
and "asked" prices determined by a pricing service approved by the Fund's
Board of Trustees or obtained by the Manager from two active market makers in
the security on the basis of reasonable inquiry:
(4) debt instruments that have a maturity of more than 397 days when
issued,
(5) debt instruments that had a maturity of 397 days or less when issued
and have a remaining maturity of more than 60 days, and
(6) non-money market debt instruments that had a maturity of 397 days or
less when issued and which have a remaining maturity of 60 days or
less.
o The following securities are valued at cost, adjusted for
amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts:
(3) money market debt securities held by a non-money market fund that had a
maturity of less than 397 days when issued that have a remaining
maturity of 60 days or less, and
(4) debt instruments held by a money market fund that have a remaining
maturity of 397 days or less.
o Securities (including restricted securities) not having
readily-available market quotations are valued at fair value determined under
the Board's procedures. If the Manager is unable to locate two market makers
willing to give quotes, a security may be priced at the mean between the
"bid" and "asked" prices provided by a single active market maker (which in
certain cases may be the "bid" price if no "asked" price is available).
In the case of U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities,
corporate bonds and foreign government securities, when last sale information
is not generally available, the Manager may use pricing services approved by
the Board of Trustees. The pricing service may use "matrix" comparisons to
the prices for comparable instruments on the basis of quality, yield, and
maturity. Other special factors may be involved (such as the tax-exempt
status of the interest paid by municipal securities). The Manager will
monitor the accuracy of the pricing services. That monitoring may include
comparing prices used for portfolio valuation to actual sales prices of
selected securities.
The closing prices in the London foreign exchange market on a
particular business day that are provided to the Manager by a bank, dealer or
pricing service that the Manager has determined to be reliable are used to
value foreign currency, including forward contracts, and to convert to U.S.
dollars securities that are denominated in foreign currency.
Puts, calls, and futures are valued at the last sale price on the
principal exchange on which they are traded or on NASDAQ, as applicable, as
determined by a pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees or by the
Manager. If there were no sales that day, they shall be valued at the last
sale price on the preceding trading day if it is within the spread of the
closing "bid" and "asked" prices on the principal exchange or on NASDAQ on
the valuation date. If not, the value shall be the closing bid price on the
principal exchange or on NASDAQ on the valuation date. If the put, call or
future is not traded on an exchange or on NASDAQ, it shall be valued by the
mean between "bid" and "asked" prices obtained by the Manager from two active
market makers. In certain cases that may be at the "bid" price if no "asked"
price is available.
When the Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received
is included in the Fund's Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an asset. An
equivalent credit is included in the liability section. The credit is
adjusted ("marked-to-market") to reflect the current market value of the
option. In determining the Fund's gain on investments, if a call or put
written by the Fund is exercised, the proceeds are increased by the premium
received. If a call or put written by the Fund expires, the Fund has a gain
in the amount of the premium. If the Fund enters into a closing purchase
transaction, it will have a gain or loss, depending on whether the premium
received was more or less than the cost of the closing transaction. If the
Fund exercises a put it holds, the amount the Fund receives on its sale of
the underlying investment is reduced by the amount of premium paid by the
Fund.
How to Sell Shares
Information on how to sell shares of the Fund is stated in the
Prospectus. The information below provides additional information about the
procedures and conditions for redeeming shares.
Reinvestment Privilege. Within six months of a redemption, a shareholder may
reinvest all or part of the redemption proceeds of:
o Class A shares purchased subject to an initial sales charge or Class
A shares on which a contingent deferred sales charge was paid, or
o Class B shares that were subject to the Class B contingent deferred
sales charge when redeemed.
The reinvestment may be made without sales charge only in Class A
shares of the Fund or any of the other Oppenheimer funds into which shares of
the Fund are exchangeable as described in "How to Exchange Shares" below.
Reinvestment will be at the net asset value next computed after the Transfer
Agent receives the reinvestment order. The shareholder must ask the Transfer
Agent for that privilege at the time of reinvestment. This privilege does not
apply to Class C or Class Y shares. The Fund may amend, suspend or cease
offering this reinvestment privilege at any time as to shares redeemed after
the date of such amendment, suspension or cessation.
Any capital gain that was realized when the shares were redeemed is
taxable, and reinvestment will not alter any capital gains tax payable on
that gain. If there has been a capital loss on the redemption, some or all
of the loss may not be tax deductible, depending on the timing and amount of
the reinvestment. Under the Internal Revenue Code, if the redemption
proceeds of Fund shares on which a sales charge was paid are reinvested in
shares of the Fund or another of the Oppenheimer funds within 90 days of
payment of the sales charge, the shareholder's basis in the shares of the
Fund that were redeemed may not include the amount of the sales charge paid.
That would reduce the loss or increase the gain recognized from the
redemption. However, in that case the sales charge would be added to the
basis of the shares acquired by the reinvestment of the redemption proceeds.
Payments "In Kind". The Prospectus states that payment for shares tendered
for redemption is ordinarily made in cash. However, the Board of Trustees of
the Fund may determine that it would be detrimental to the best interests of
the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment of a redemption order
wholly or partly in cash. In that case, the Fund may pay the redemption
proceeds in whole or in part by a distribution "in kind" of securities from
the portfolio of the Fund, in lieu of cash.
The Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment
Company Act. Under that rule, the Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely
in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the Fund
during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. If shares are redeemed in
kind, the redeeming shareholder might incur brokerage or other costs in
selling the securities for cash. The Fund will value securities used to pay
redemptions in kind using the same method the Fund uses to value its
portfolio securities described above under "Determination of Net Asset Values
Per Share." That valuation will be made as of the time the redemption price
is determined.
Involuntary Redemptions. The Fund's Board of Trustees has the right to cause
the involuntary redemption of the shares held in any account if the aggregate
net asset value of those shares is less than $500 or such lesser amount as
the Board may fix. The Board will not cause the involuntary redemption of
shares in an account if the aggregate net asset value of such shares has
fallen below the stated minimum solely as a result of market fluctuations.
If the Board exercises this right, it may also fix the requirements for any
notice to be given to the shareholders in question (not less than 30 days).
The Board may alternatively set requirements for the shareholder to increase
the investment, or set other terms and conditions so that the shares would
not be involuntarily redeemed.
Transfers of Shares. A transfer of shares to a different registration is not
an event that triggers the payment of sales charges. Therefore, shares are
not subject to the payment of a contingent deferred sales charge of any class
at the time of transfer to the name of another person or entity. It does not
matter whether the transfer occurs by absolute assignment, gift or bequest,
as long as it does not involve, directly or indirectly, a public sale of the
shares. When shares subject to a contingent deferred sales charge are
transferred, the transferred shares will remain subject to the contingent
deferred sales charge. It will be calculated as if the transferee shareholder
had acquired the transferred shares in the same manner and at the same time
as the transferring shareholder.
If less than all shares held in an account are transferred, and some
but not all shares in the account would be subject to a contingent deferred
sales charge if redeemed at the time of transfer, the priorities described in
the Prospectus under "How to Buy Shares" for the imposition of the Class B or
Class C contingent deferred sales charge will be followed in determining the
order in which shares are transferred.
Selling Shares by Wire. The wire of redemptions proceeds may be delayed if
the Fund's custodian bank is not open for business on a day when the Fund
would normally authorize the wire to be made, which is usually the Fund's
next regular business day following the redemption. In those circumstances,
the wire will not be transmitted until the next bank business day on which
the Fund is open for business. No dividends will be paid on the proceeds of
redeemed shares awaiting transfer by wire.
Distributions From Retirement Plans. Requests for distributions from
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored IRAs, 403(b)(7) custodial plans, 401(k) plans or
pension or profit-sharing plans should be addressed to "Trustee,
OppenheimerFunds Retirement Plans," c/o the Transfer Agent at its address
listed in "How To Sell Shares" in the Prospectus or on the back cover of this
Statement of Additional Information. The request must
(4) state the reason for the distribution;
(5) state the owner's awareness of tax penalties if the distribution is
premature; and
(6) conform to the requirements of the plan and the Fund's other redemption
requirements.
Participants (other than self-employed persons) in
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored pension or profit-sharing plans with shares of the
Fund held in the name of the plan or its fiduciary may not directly request
redemption of their accounts. The plan administrator or fiduciary must sign
the request.
Distributions from pension and profit sharing plans are subject to
special requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and certain documents
(available from the Transfer Agent) must be completed and submitted to the
Transfer Agent before the distribution may be made. Distributions from
retirement plans are subject to withholding requirements under the Internal
Revenue Code, and IRS Form W-4P (available from the Transfer Agent) must be
submitted to the Transfer Agent with the distribution request, or the
distribution may be delayed. Unless the shareholder has provided the
Transfer Agent with a certified tax identification number, the Internal
Revenue Code requires that tax be withheld from any distribution even if the
shareholder elects not to have tax withheld. The Fund, the Manager, the
Distributor, and the Transfer Agent assume no responsibility to determine
whether a distribution satisfies the conditions of applicable tax laws and
will not be responsible for any tax penalties assessed in connection with a
distribution.
Special Arrangements for Repurchase of Shares from Dealers and Brokers. The
Distributor is the Fund's agent to repurchase its shares from authorized
dealers or brokers on behalf of their customers. Shareholders should contact
their broker or dealer to arrange this type of redemption. The repurchase
price per share will be the net asset value next computed after the
Distributor receives an order placed by the dealer or broker. However, if the
Distributor receives a repurchase order from a dealer or broker after the
close of The New York Stock Exchange on a regular business day, it will be
processed at that day's net asset value if the order was received by the
dealer or broker from its customers prior to the time the Exchange closes.
Normally, the Exchange closes at 4:00 P.M., but may do so earlier on some
days. Additionally, the order must have been transmitted to and received by
the Distributor prior to its close of business that day (normally 5:00
P.M.).
Ordinarily, for accounts redeemed by a broker-dealer under this
procedure, payment will be made within three business days after the shares
have been redeemed upon the Distributor's receipt of the required redemption
documents in proper form. The signature(s) of the registered owners on the
redemption documents must be guaranteed as described in the Prospectus.
Automatic Withdrawal and Exchange Plans. Investors owning shares of the Fund
valued at $5,000 or more can authorize the Transfer Agent to redeem shares
(having a value of at least $50) automatically on a monthly, quarterly,
semi-annual or annual basis under an Automatic Withdrawal Plan. Shares will
be redeemed three business days prior to the date requested by the
shareholder for receipt of the payment. Automatic withdrawals of up to
$1,500 per month may be requested by telephone if payments are to be made by
check payable to all shareholders of record. Payments must also be sent to
the address of record for the account and the address must not have been
changed within the prior 30 days. Required minimum distributions from
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored retirement plans may not be arranged on this
basis.
Payments are normally made by check, but shareholders having
AccountLink privileges (see "How To Buy Shares") may arrange to have
Automatic Withdrawal Plan payments transferred to the bank account designated
on the Account Application or by signature-guaranteed instructions sent to
the Transfer Agent. Shares are normally redeemed pursuant to an Automatic
Withdrawal Plan three business days before the payment transmittal date you
select in the Account Application. If a contingent deferred sales charge
applies to the redemption, the amount of the check or payment will be reduced
accordingly.
The Fund cannot guarantee receipt of a payment on the date requested.
The Fund reserves the right to amend, suspend or discontinue offering these
plans at any time without prior notice. Because of the sales charge assessed
on Class A share purchases, shareholders should not make regular additional
Class A share purchases while participating in an Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
Class B and Class C shareholders should not establish withdrawal plans,
because of the imposition of the contingent deferred sales charge on such
withdrawals (except where the contingent deferred sales charge is waived as
described in Appendix C below).
By requesting an Automatic Withdrawal or Exchange Plan, the shareholder
agrees to the terms and conditions that apply to such plans, as stated
below. These provisions may be amended from time to time by the Fund and/or
the Distributor. When adopted, any amendments will automatically apply to
existing Plans.
n Automatic Exchange Plans. Shareholders can authorize the Transfer
Agent to exchange a pre-determined amount of shares of the Fund for shares
(of the same class) of other Oppenheimer funds automatically on a monthly,
quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis under an Automatic Exchange Plan. The
minimum amount that may be exchanged to each other fund account is $25.
Instructions should be provided on the OppenheimerFunds Application or
signature-guaranteed instructions. Exchanges made under these plans are
subject to the restrictions that apply to exchanges as set forth in "How to
Exchange Shares" in the Prospectus and below in this Statement of Additional
Information.
n Automatic Withdrawal Plans. Fund shares will be redeemed as
necessary to meet withdrawal payments. Shares acquired without a sales
charge will be redeemed first. Shares acquired with reinvested dividends and
capital gains distributions will be redeemed next, followed by shares
acquired with a sales charge, to the extent necessary to make withdrawal
payments. Depending upon the amount withdrawn, the investor's principal may
be depleted. Payments made under these plans should not be considered as a
yield or income on your investment.
The Transfer Agent will administer the investor's Automatic Withdrawal
Plan as agent for the shareholder(s) (the "Planholder") who executed the Plan
authorization and application submitted to the Transfer Agent. Neither the
Fund nor the Transfer Agent shall incur any liability to the Planholder for
any action taken or not taken by the Transfer Agent in good faith to
administer the Plan. Share certificates will not be issued for shares of the
Fund purchased for and held under the Plan, but the Transfer Agent will
credit all such shares to the account of the Planholder on the records of the
Fund. Any share certificates held by a Planholder may be surrendered
unendorsed to the Transfer Agent with the Plan application so that the shares
represented by the certificate may be held under the Plan.
For accounts subject to Automatic Withdrawal Plans, distributions of
capital gains must be reinvested in shares of the Fund, which will be done at
net asset value without a sales charge. Dividends on shares held in the
account may be paid in cash or reinvested.
Shares will be redeemed to make withdrawal payments at the net asset
value per share determined on the redemption date. Checks or AccountLink
payments representing the proceeds of Plan withdrawals will normally be
transmitted three business days prior to the date selected for receipt of the
payment, according to the choice specified in writing by the Planholder.
Receipt of payment on the date selected cannot be guaranteed.
The amount and the interval of disbursement payments and the address to
which checks are to be mailed or AccountLink payments are to be sent may be
changed at any time by the Planholder by writing to the Transfer Agent. The
Planholder should allow at least two weeks' time after mailing such
notification for the requested change to be put in effect. The Planholder
may, at any time, instruct the Transfer Agent by written notice to redeem
all, or any part of, the shares held under the Plan. That notice must be in
proper form in accordance with the requirements of the then-current
Prospectus of the Fund. In that case, the Transfer Agent will redeem the
number of shares requested at the net asset value per share in effect and
will mail a check for the proceeds to the Planholder.
The Planholder may terminate a Plan at any time by writing to the
Transfer Agent. The Fund may also give directions to the Transfer Agent to
terminate a Plan. The Transfer Agent will also terminate a Plan upon its
receipt of evidence satisfactory to it that the Planholder has died or is
legally incapacitated. Upon termination of a Plan by the Transfer Agent or
the Fund, shares that have not been redeemed will be held in uncertificated
form in the name of the Planholder. The account will continue as a
dividend-reinvestment, uncertificated account unless and until proper
instructions are received from the Planholder, his or her executor or
guardian, or another authorized person.
To use shares held under the Plan as collateral for a debt, the
Planholder may request issuance of a portion of the shares in certificated
form. Upon written request from the Planholder, the Transfer Agent will
determine the number of shares for which a certificate may be issued without
causing the withdrawal checks to stop. However, should such uncertificated
shares become exhausted, Plan withdrawals will terminate.
If the Transfer Agent ceases to act as transfer agent for the Fund, the
Planholder will be deemed to have appointed any successor transfer agent to
act as agent in administering the Plan.
How to Exchange Shares
As stated in the Prospectus, shares of a particular class of
Oppenheimer funds having more than one class of shares may be exchanged only
for shares of the same class of other Oppenheimer funds. Shares of
Oppenheimer funds that have a single class without a class designation are
deemed "Class A" shares for this purpose. You can obtain a current list
showing which funds offer which classes by calling the Distributor at
1-800-525-7048.
o All of the Oppenheimer funds currently offer Class A, B and C shares
except Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc., Centennial Money Market Trust,
Centennial Tax Exempt Trust, Centennial Government Trust, Centennial New York
Tax Exempt Trust, Centennial California Tax Exempt Trust, and Centennial
America Fund, L.P., which only offer Class A shares.
o Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund currently offers
only Class A and Class B shares.
o Class B and Class C shares of Oppenheimer Cash Reserves are
generally available only by exchange from the same class of shares of other
Oppenheimer funds or through OppenheimerFunds sponsored 401 (k) plans.
o Class Y shares of Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund may not be exchanged
for shares of any other Fund.
Class A shares of Oppenheimer funds may be exchanged at net asset value
for shares of any money market fund offered by the Distributor. Shares of
any money market fund purchased without a sales charge may be exchanged for
shares of Oppenheimer funds offered with a sales charge upon payment of the
sales charge. They may also be used to purchase shares of Oppenheimer funds
subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
Shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. purchased with the
redemption proceeds of shares of other mutual funds (other than funds managed
by the Manager or its subsidiaries) redeemed within the 30 days prior to that
purchase may subsequently be exchanged for shares of other Oppenheimer funds
without being subject to an initial or contingent deferred sales charge. To
qualify for that privilege, the investor or the investor's dealer must notify
the Distributor of eligibility for this privilege at the time the shares of
Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. are purchased. If requested, they must
supply proof of entitlement to this privilege.
For accounts established on or before March 8, 1996 holding Class M
shares of Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund, Class M shares can be
exchanged only for Class A shares of other Oppenheimer funds. Exchanges to
Class M shares of Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund are permitted from
Class A shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. or Oppenheimer Cash
Reserves that were acquired by exchange of Class M shares. No other
exchanges may be made to Class M shares.
Shares of the Fund acquired by reinvestment of dividends or
distributions from any of the other Oppenheimer funds or from any unit
investment trust for which reinvestment arrangements have been made with the
Distributor may be exchanged at net asset value for shares of any of the
Oppenheimer funds.
o How Exchanges Affect Contingent Deferred Sales Charges. No
contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on exchanges of shares of any
class purchased subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. However, when
Class A shares acquired by exchange of Class A shares of other Oppenheimer
funds purchased subject to a Class A contingent deferred sales charge are
redeemed within 18 months of the end of the calendar month of the initial
purchase of the exchanged Class A shares, the Class A contingent deferred
sales charge is imposed on the redeemed shares. The Class B contingent
deferred sales charge is imposed on Class B shares acquired by exchange if
they are redeemed within 6 years of the initial purchase of the exchanged
Class B shares. The Class C contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on
Class C shares acquired by exchange if they are redeemed within 12 months of
the initial purchase of the exchanged Class C shares.
When Class B or Class C shares are redeemed to effect an exchange, the
priorities described in "How To Buy Shares" in the Prospectus for the
imposition of the Class B or the Class C contingent deferred sales charge
will be followed in determining the order in which the shares are exchanged.
Before exchanging shares, shareholders should take into account how the
exchange may affect any contingent deferred sales charge that might be
imposed in the subsequent redemption of remaining shares. Shareholders
owning shares of more than one class must specify which class of shares they
wish to exchange.
o Limits on Multiple Exchange Orders. The Fund reserves the right to
reject telephone or written exchange requests submitted in bulk by anyone on
behalf of more than one account. The Fund may accept requests for exchanges
of up to 50 accounts per day from representatives of authorized dealers that
qualify for this privilege.
o Telephone Exchange Requests. When exchanging shares by telephone, a
shareholder must have an existing account in the fund to which the exchange
is to be made. Otherwise, the investors must obtain a Prospectus of that fund
before the exchange request may be submitted. For full or partial exchanges
of an account made by telephone, any special account features such as Asset
Builder Plans and Automatic Withdrawal Plans will be switched to the new
account unless the Transfer Agent is instructed otherwise. If all telephone
lines are busy (which might occur, for example, during periods of substantial
market fluctuations), shareholders might not be able to request exchanges by
telephone and would have to submit written exchange requests.
o Processing Exchange Requests. Shares to be exchanged are redeemed on
the regular business day the Transfer Agent receives an exchange request in
proper form (the "Redemption Date"). Normally, shares of the fund to be
acquired are purchased on the Redemption Date, but such purchases may be
delayed by either fund up to five business days if it determines that it
would be disadvantaged by an immediate transfer of the redemption proceeds.
The Fund reserves the right, in its discretion, to refuse any exchange
request that may disadvantage it. For example, if the receipt of multiple
exchange requests from a dealer might require the disposition of portfolio
securities at a time or at a price that might be disadvantageous to the Fund,
the Fund may refuse the request.
In connection with any exchange request, the number of shares exchanged
may be less than the number requested if the exchange or the number requested
would include shares subject to a restriction cited in the Prospectus or this
Statement of Additional Information, or would include shares covered by a
share certificate that is not tendered with the request. In those cases,
only the shares available for exchange without restriction will be exchanged.
The different Oppenheimer funds available for exchange have different
investment objectives, policies and risks. A shareholder should assure that
the fund selected is appropriate for his or her investment and should be
aware of the tax consequences of an exchange. For federal income tax
purposes, an exchange transaction is treated as a redemption of shares of one
fund and a purchase of shares of another. "Reinvestment Privilege," above,
discusses some of the tax consequences of reinvestment of redemption proceeds
in such cases. The Fund, the Distributor, and the Transfer Agent are unable
to provide investment, tax or legal advice to a shareholder in connection
with an exchange request or any other investment transaction.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund has no fixed dividend rate and there
can be no assurance as to the payment of any dividends or the realization of
any capital gains. The dividends and distributions paid by a class of shares
will vary from time to time depending on market conditions, the composition
of the Fund's portfolio, and expenses borne by the Fund or borne separately
by a class. Dividends are calculated in the same manner, at the same time,
and on the same day for each class of shares. However, dividends on Class B
and Class C shares are expected to be lower than dividends on Class A and
Class Y shares. That is because of the effect of the higher asset-based sales
charge on Class B and Class C shares. Those dividends will also differ in
amount as a consequence of any difference in the net asset values of each
class of shares.
Dividends, distributions and proceeds of the redemption of Fund shares
represented by checks returned to the Transfer Agent by the Postal Service as
undeliverable will be invested in shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund,
Inc. Reinvestment will be made as promptly as possible after the return of
such checks to the Transfer Agent, to enable the investor to earn a return on
otherwise idle funds. Unclaimed accounts may be subject to state escheatment
laws, and the Fund and the Transfer Agent will not be liable to shareholders
or their representatives for compliance with those laws in good faith.
Tax Status of the Fund's Dividends and Distributions. The Federal tax
treatment of the Fund's dividends and capital gains distributions is briefly
highlighted in the Prospectus.
Special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code govern the
eligibility of the Fund's dividends for the dividends-received deduction for
corporate shareholders. Long-term capital gains distributions are not
eligible for the deduction. The amount of dividends paid by the Fund that
may qualify for the deduction is limited to the aggregate amount of
qualifying dividends that the Fund derives from portfolio investments that
the Fund has held for a minimum period, usually 46 days. A corporate
shareholder will not be eligible for the deduction on dividends paid on Fund
shares held for 45 days or less. To the extent the Fund's dividends are
derived from gross income from option premiums, interest income or short-term
gains from the sale of securities or dividends from foreign corporations,
those dividends will not qualify for the deduction.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, by December 31 each year, the Fund
must distribute 98% of its taxable investment income earned from January 1
through December 31 of that year and 98% of its capital gains realized in the
period from November 1 of the prior year through October 31 of the current
year. If it does not, the Fund must pay an excise tax on the amounts not
distributed. It is presently anticipated that the Fund will meet those
requirements. However, the Board of Trustees and the Manager might determine
in a particular year that it would be in the best interests of shareholders
for the Fund not to make such distributions at the required levels and to pay
the excise tax on the undistributed amounts. That would reduce the amount of
income or capital gains available for distribution to shareholders.
The Fund intends to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under
the Internal Revenue Code (although it reserves the right not to qualify).
That qualification enables the Fund to "pass through" its income and realized
capital gains to shareholders without having to pay tax on them. This avoids
a double tax on that income and capital gains, since shareholders normally
will be taxed on the dividends and capital gains they receive from the Fund
(unless the Fund's shares are held in a retirement account or the shareholder
is otherwise exempt from tax). If the Fund qualifies as a "regulated
investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code, it will not be liable
for Federal income taxes on amounts paid by it as dividends and
distributions. The Fund qualified as a regulated investment company in its
last fiscal year. The Internal Revenue Code contains a number of complex
tests relating to qualification which the Fund might not meet in any
particular year. If it did not so qualify, the Fund would be treated for tax
purposes as an ordinary corporation and receive no tax deduction for payments
made to shareholders.
If prior distributions made by the Fund must be re-characterized as a
non-taxable return of capital at the end of the fiscal year as a result of
the effect of the Fund's investment policies, they will be identified as such
in notices sent to shareholders.
Dividend Reinvestment in Another Fund. Shareholders of the Fund may elect to
reinvest all dividends and/or capital gains distributions in shares of the
same class of any of the other Oppenheimer funds listed above. Reinvestment
will be made without sales charge at the net asset value per share in effect
at the close of business on the payable date of the dividend or distribution.
To elect this option, the shareholder must notify the Transfer Agent in
writing and must have an existing account in the fund selected for
reinvestment. Otherwise the shareholder first must obtain a prospectus for
that fund and an application from the Distributor to establish an account.
Dividends and/or distributions from shares of certain other Oppenheimer funds
(other than Oppenheimer Cash Reserves) may be invested in shares of this Fund
on the same basis.
Additional Information About the Fund
The Distributor. The Fund's shares are sold through dealers, brokers and
other financial institutions that have a sales agreement with
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., a subsidiary of the Manager that acts as
the Fund's Distributor. The Distributor also distributes shares of the other
Oppenheimer funds and is sub-distributor for funds managed by a subsidiary of
the Manager.
The Transfer Agent. OppenheimerFunds Services, the Fund's Transfer Agent, is
a division of the Manager. It is responsible for maintaining the Fund's
shareholder registry and shareholder accounting records, and for paying
dividends and distributions to shareholders. It also handles shareholder
servicing and administrative functions. It acts on an "at-cost" basis. It
also acts as shareholder servicing agent for the other Oppenheimer funds.
Shareholders should direct inquiries about their accounts to the Transfer
Agent at the address and toll-free numbers shown on the back cover.
n Shareholder Servicing Agent for Certain Shareholders. Unified
Management Corporation (1-800-346-4601) is the shareholder servicing agent
for shareholders of the Fund who were former shareholders of the AMA Family
of Funds and clients of AMA Investment Advisers, Inc. (which had been the
investment adviser of AMA Family of Funds). It is also the servicing agent
for Fund shareholders who are:
(v) former shareholders of the Unified Funds and Liquid Green Trusts,
(vi) accounts that participated or participate in a retirement plan for
which Unified Investment Advisers, Inc. or an affiliate acts as
custodian or trustee,
(vii) accounts that have a Money Manager brokerage account, and
(viii) other accounts for which Unified Management Corporation is the
dealer of record.
The Custodian. Citibank, N.A. is the Custodian of the Fund's assets. The
Custodian's responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Fund's
portfolio securities and handling the delivery of such securities to and from
the Fund. It will be the practice of the Fund to deal with the Custodian in
a manner uninfluenced by any banking relationship the Custodian may have with
the Manager and its affiliates. The Fund's cash balances with the custodian
in excess of $100,000 are not protected by Federal deposit insurance. Those
uninsured balances at times may be substantial.
Independent Auditors. PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP are the independent
auditors of the Fund. They audit the Fund's financial statements and perform
other related audit services. They also act as auditors for certain other
funds advised by the Manager and its affiliates.
<PAGE>
Appendix A
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RATINGS DEFINITIONS
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Below are summaries of the rating definitions used by the
nationally-recognized rating agencies listed below. Those ratings
represent the opinion of the agency as to the credit quality of issues
that they rate. The summaries below are based upon publicly-available
information provided by the rating organizations.
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
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Long-Term (Taxable) Bond Ratings
Aaa: Bonds rated Aaa are judged to be the best quality. They carry the
smallest degree of investment risk. Interest payments are protected by a
large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While
the various protective elements are likely to change, the changes that can be
expected are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of
such issues.
Aa: Bonds rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards.
Together with the Aaa group, they comprise what are generally known as
high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins
of protection may not be as large as with Aaa securities or fluctuation of
protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other
elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than
those of Aaa securities.
A: Bonds rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be
considered as upper-medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to
principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present
which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa: Bonds rated Baa are considered medium grade obligations; that is, they
are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and
principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any
great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics
and have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba: Bonds rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements. Their future
cannot be considered well-assured. Often the protection of interest and
principal payments may be very moderate and not well safeguarded during both
good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes
bonds in this class.
B: Bonds rated B generally lack characteristics of desirable investment.
Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms
of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa: Bonds rated Caa are of poor standing and may be in default or there may
be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca: Bonds rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high
degree and are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C: Bonds rated C are the lowest class of rated bonds and can be regarded as
having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment
standing.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 in each generic rating
classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier "1" indicates that the
obligation ranks in the higher end of its category; the modifier "2"
indicates a mid-range ranking and the modifier "3" indicates a ranking in the
lower end of the category.
Short-Term Ratings - Taxable Debt
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These ratings apply to the ability of issuers to repay punctually senior debt
obligations having an original maturity not exceeding one year:
Prime-1: Issuer has a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term
debt obligations.
Prime-2: Issuer has a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt
obligations. Earnings trends and coverage, while sound, may be subject to
variation. Capitalization characteristics, while appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
Prime-3: Issuer has an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term
obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market compositions
may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result
in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and may require
relatively high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is
maintained.
Not Prime: Issuer does not fall within any Prime rating category.
Standard & Poor's Rating Services
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Long-Term Credit Ratings
AAA: Bonds rated "AAA" have the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.
The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is
extremely strong.
AA: Bonds rated "AA" differ from the highest rated obligations only in small
degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation is very strong.
A: Bonds rated "A" are somewhat more susceptible to adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in
higher-rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
BBB: Bonds rated BBB exhibit adequate protection parameters. However, adverse
economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a
weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation.
Bonds rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C are regarded as having significant
speculative characteristics. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and
C the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and
protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or
major exposures to adverse conditions.
BB: Bonds rated BB are less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative
issues. However, these face major uncertainties or exposure to adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor's
inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B: A bond rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than an obligation rated
BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation.
CCC: A bond rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent
upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor
to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse
business, financial or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have
the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CC: An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
C: The C rating may used where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or
similar action has been taken, but payments on this obligation are being
continued.
D: Bonds rated D are in default. Payments on the obligation are not being
made on the date due.
The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or
minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
The "r" symbol is attached to the ratings of instruments with significant
noncredit risks.
Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings
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A-1: Rated in the highest category. The obligor's capacity to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, a
plus (+) sign designation indicates the issuer's capacity to meet its
financial obligation is very strong.
A-2: Obligation is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher
rating categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3: Exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic
conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened
capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B: Regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor
currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to
the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation.
C: Currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable
business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation.
D: In payment default. Payments on the obligation have not been made on the
due date. The rating may also be used if a bankruptcy petition has been filed
or similar actions jeopardize payments on the obligation.
Fitch IBCA, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Long-Term Credit Ratings
Investment Grade:
AAA: Highest Credit Quality. "AAA" ratings denote the lowest expectation of
credit risk. They are assigned only in the case of exceptionally strong
capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly
unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA: Very High Credit Quality. "AA" ratings denote a very low expectation of
credit risk. They indicate a very strong capacity for timely payment of
financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to
foreseeable events.
A: High Credit Quality. "A" ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk.
The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered
strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in
circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB: Good Credit Quality. "BBB" ratings indicate that there is currently a
low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial
commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and
in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the
lowest investment-grade category.
Speculative Grade:
BB: Speculative. "BB" ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit
risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over
time. However, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow
financial commitments to be met.
B: Highly Speculative. "B" ratings indicate that significant credit risk is
present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are
currently being met. However, capacity for continued payment is contingent
upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
CCC, CC C: High Default Risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for
meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable
business or economic developments. A "CC" rating indicates that default of
some kind appears probable. "C" ratings signal imminent default.
DDD, DD, and D: Default. Securities are not meeting current obligations and
are extremely speculative. "DDD" designates the highest potential for
recovery of amounts outstanding on any securities involved.
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs may be appended to a rating symbol to denote
relative status within the rating category. Plus and minus signs are not
added to the "AAA" category or to categories below "CCC."
International Short-Term Credit Ratings
F1: Highest credit quality. Strongest capacity for timely payment. May have
an added "+" to denote exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2: Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment, but
the margin of safety is not as great as in higher ratings.
F3: Fair credit quality. Capacity for timely payment is adequate. However,
near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.
B: Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment, plus vulnerability to
near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C: High default risk. Default is a real possibility, Capacity for
meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable
business and economic environment.
D: Default. Denotes actual or imminent payment default.
Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. Ratings
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-Term Debt and Preferred Stock
AAA: Highest credit quality. The risk factors are negligible, being only
slightly more than for risk-free U.S. Treasury debt.
AA+, AA, AA-: High credit quality. Protection factors are strong. Risk is
modest but may vary slightly from time to time because of economic conditions.
A+, A & A-: Protection factors are average but adequate. However, risk
factors are more variable in periods of greater economic stress.
BBB+, BBB & BBB-: Below average protection factors but still considered
sufficient for prudent investment. Considerable variability in risk during
economic cycles.
BB+, BB & BB-: Below investment grade but deemed likely to meet obligations
when due. Present or prospective financial protection factors fluctuate
according to industry conditions. Overall quality may move up or down
frequently within the category.
B+, B & B-: Below investment grade and possessing risk that obligations will
not be met when due. Financial protection factors will fluctuate widely
according to economic cycles, industry conditions and/or company fortunes.
Potential exists for frequent changes in the rating within this category or
into a higher of lower rating grade.
CCC: Well below investment-grade securities. Considerable uncertainty
exists as to timely payment of principal, interest or preferred dividends.
Protection factors are narrow and risk can be substantial with unfavorable
economic/industry conditions, and/or with unfavorable company developments.
DD: Defaulted debt obligations. Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal
and/or interest payments.
DP: Preferred stock with dividend arrearages.
Short-Term Debt:
High Grade:
D-1+: Highest certainty of timely payment. Safety is just below risk-free
U.S. Treasury short-term debt.
D-1: Very high certainty of timely payment. Risk factors are minor.
D-1-: High certainty of timely payment. Risk factors are very small.
Good Grade:
D-2: Good certainty of timely payment. Risk factors are small.
Satisfactory Grade:
D-3: Satisfactory liquidity and other protection factors qualify issues as to
investment grade. Risk factors are larger and subject to more variation.
Nevertheless, timely payment is expected.
Non-Investment Grade:
D-4: Speculative investment characteristics. Liquidity is not sufficient to
insure against disruption in debt service.
Default:
D-5: Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or interest payments.
<PAGE>
Appendix B
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate Industry Classifications
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aerospace/Defense Food
Air Transportation Gas Utilities
Auto Parts Distribution Gold
Automotive Health Care/Drugs
Bank Holding Companies Health Care/Supplies & Services
Banks Homebuilders/Real Estate
Beverages Hotel/Gaming
Broadcasting Industrial Services
Broker-Dealers Information Technology
Building Materials Insurance
Cable Television Leasing & Factoring
Chemicals Leisure
Commercial Finance Manufacturing
Computer Hardware Metals/Mining
Computer Software Nondurable Household Goods
Conglomerates Oil - Integrated
Consumer Finance Paper
Containers Publishing/Printing
Convenience Stores Railroads
Department Stores Restaurants
Diversified Financial Savings & Loans
Diversified Media Shipping
Drug Stores Special Purpose Financial
Drug Wholesalers Specialty Retailing
Durable Household Goods Steel
Education Supermarkets
Electric Utilities Telecommunications - Technology
Electrical Equipment Telephone - Utility
Electronics Textile/Apparel
Energy Services & Producers Tobacco
Entertainment/Film Toys
Environmental Trucking
Wireless Services
<PAGE>
Appendix C
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OppenheimerFunds Special Sales Charge Arrangements and Waivers
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In certain cases, the initial sales charge that applies to purchases of
Class A shares of the Oppenheimer funds or the contingent deferred sales
charge that may apply to Class A, Class B or Class C shares may be waived.
That is because of the economies of sales efforts realized by the Distributor
or the dealers or other financial institutions offering those shares to
certain classes of investors or in certain transactions.
Not all waivers apply to all funds. For example, waivers relating to
Retirement Plans do not apply to Oppenheimer municipal funds, because shares
of those funds are not available for purchase by or on behalf of retirement
plans. Other waivers apply only to shareholders of certain funds that were
merged into or became Oppenheimer funds.
For the purposes of some of the waivers described below and in the
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the applicable
Oppenheimer funds, the term "Retirement Plan" refers to the following types
of plans:
(7) plans qualified under Sections 401(a) or 401(k) of the Internal
Revenue Code,
(8) non-qualified deferred compensation plans,
(9) employee benefit plans1
(10) Group Retirement Plans2
(11) 403(b)(7) custodial plan accounts
(12) SEP-IRAs, SARSEPs or SIMPLE plans
The interpretation of these provisions as to the applicability of a
waiver in a particular case is determined solely by the Distributor or the
Transfer Agent of the fund. These waivers and special arrangements may be
amended or terminated at any time by the applicable Fund and/or the
Distributor. Waivers that apply at the time shares are redeemed must be
requested by the shareholder and/or dealer in the redemption request.
- --------------
3. An "employee benefit plan" means any plan or arrangement, whether or
not it is "qualified" under the Internal Revenue Code, under which Class A
shares of an Oppenheimer fund or funds are purchased by a fiduciary or
other administrator for the account of participants who are employees of a
single employer or of affiliated employers. These may include, for
example, medical savings accounts, payroll deduction plans or similar
plans. The fund accounts must be registered in the name of the fiduciary
or administrator purchasing the shares for the benefit of participants in
the plan.
4. The term "Group Retirement Plan" means any qualified or non-qualified
retirement plan for employees of a corporation or sole proprietorship,
members and employees of a partnership or association or other organized
group of persons (the members of which may include other groups), if the
group has made special arrangements with the Distributor and all members
of the group participating in (or who are eligible to participate in) the
plan purchase Class A shares of an Oppenheimer fund or funds through a
single investment dealer, broker or other financial institution designated
by the group. Such plans include 457 plans, SEP-IRAs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE
plans and 403(b) plans other than plans for public school employees. The
term "Group Retirement Plan" also includes qualified retirement plans and
non-qualified deferred compensation plans and IRAs that purchase Class A
shares of an Oppenheimer fund or funds through a single investment dealer,
broker or other financial institution that has made special arrangements
with the Distributor enabling those plans to purchase Class A shares at
net asset value but subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales
charge.
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicability of Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charges in Certain Cases
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchases of Class A Shares of Oppenheimer Funds That Are Not Subject to
Initial Sales Charge but May Be Subject to the Class A Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge (unless a waiver applies).
There is no initial sales charge on purchases of Class A shares of any
of the Oppenheimer funds in the cases listed below. However, these purchases
may be subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales charge if redeemed
within 18 months of the end of the calendar month of their purchase, as
described in the Prospectus (unless a waiver described elsewhere in this
Appendix applies to the redemption). Additionally, on these purchases the
Distributor will pay the applicable commission described in the Prospectus
under "Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge":
o Purchases of Class A shares aggregating $1 million or more.
o Purchases by a Retirement Plan that:
(4) buys shares costing $500,000 or more, or
(5) has, at the time of purchase, 100 or more eligible participants or
total plan assets of $500,000 or more, or
(6) certifies to the Distributor that it projects to have annual plan
purchases of $200,000 or more.
o Purchases by an OppenheimerFunds-sponsored Rollover IRA, if the
purchases are made:
(3) through a broker, dealer, bank or registered investment adviser that
has made special arrangements with the Distributor for those
purchases, or
(4) by a direct rollover of a distribution from a qualified Retirement Plan
if the administrator of that Plan has made special arrangements
with the Distributor for those purchases.
o Purchases of Class A shares by Retirement Plans that have any of the
following record-keeping arrangements:
(4) The record keeping is performed by Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith,
Inc. ("Merrill Lynch") on a daily valuation basis for the
Retirement Plan. On the date the plan sponsor signs the
record-keeping service agreement with Merrill Lynch, the Plan
must have $3 million or more of its assets invested in (a) mutual
funds, other than those advised or managed by Merrill Lynch Asset
Management, L.P. ("MLAM"), that are made available under a
Service Agreement between Merrill Lynch and the mutual fund's
principal underwriter or distributor, and (b) funds advised or
managed by MLAM (the funds described in (a) and (b) are referred
to as "Applicable Investments").
(5) The record keeping for the Retirement Plan is performed on a daily
valuation basis by a record keeper whose services are provided
under a contract or arrangement between the Retirement Plan and
Merrill Lynch. On the date the plan sponsor signs the record
keeping service agreement with Merrill Lynch, the Plan must have
$3 million or more of its assets (excluding assets invested in
money market funds) invested in Applicable Investments.
(6) The record keeping for a Retirement Plan is handled under a service
agreement with Merrill Lynch and on the date the plan sponsor
signs that agreement, the Plan has 500 or more eligible employees
(as determined by the Merrill Lynch plan conversion manager).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waivers of Class A Sales Charges of Oppenheimer Funds
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waivers of Initial and Contingent Deferred Sales Charges for Certain
Purchasers.
Class A shares purchased by the following investors are not subject to any
Class A sales charges (and no commissions are paid by the Distributor on such
purchases):
|_| The Manager or its affiliates.
|_| Present or former officers, directors, trustees and employees (and
their "immediate families") of the Fund, the Manager and its affiliates, and
retirement plans established by them for their employees. The term "immediate
family" refers to one's spouse, children, grandchildren, grandparents,
parents, parents-in-law, brothers and sisters, sons- and daughters-in-law, a
sibling's spouse, a spouse's siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews;
relatives by virtue of a remarriage (step-children, step-parents, etc.) are
included.
|_| Registered management investment companies, or separate accounts
of insurance companies having an agreement with the Manager or the
Distributor for that purpose.
|_| Dealers or brokers that have a sales agreement with the
Distributor, if they purchase shares for their own accounts or for retirement
plans for their employees.
|_| Employees and registered representatives (and their spouses) of
dealers or brokers described above or financial institutions that have
entered into sales arrangements with such dealers or brokers (and which are
identified as such to the Distributor) or with the Distributor. The purchaser
must certify to the Distributor at the time of purchase that the purchase is
for the purchaser's own account (or for the benefit of such employee's spouse
or minor children).
|_| Dealers, brokers, banks or registered investment advisors that
have entered into an agreement with the Distributor providing specifically
for the use of shares of the Fund in particular investment products made
available to their clients. Those clients may be charged a transaction fee by
their dealer, broker, bank or advisor for the purchase or sale of Fund shares.
|_| Investment advisors and financial planners who have entered into
an agreement for this purpose with the Distributor and who charge an
advisory, consulting or other fee for their services and buy shares for their
own accounts or the accounts of their clients.
|_| "Rabbi trusts" that buy shares for their own accounts, if the
purchases are made through a broker or agent or other financial intermediary
that has made special arrangements with the Distributor for those purchases.
|_| Clients of investment advisors or financial planners (that have
entered into an agreement for this purpose with the Distributor) who buy
shares for their own accounts may also purchase shares without sales charge
but only if their accounts are linked to a master account of their investment
advisor or financial planner on the books and records of the broker, agent or
financial intermediary with which the Distributor has made such special
arrangements . Each of these investors may be charged a fee by the broker,
agent or financial intermediary for purchasing shares.
|_| Directors, trustees, officers or full-time employees of OpCap
Advisors or its affiliates, their relatives or any trust, pension, profit
sharing or other benefit plan which beneficially owns shares for those
persons.
|_| Accounts for which Oppenheimer Capital (or its successor) is the
investment advisor (the Distributor must be advised of this arrangement) and
persons who are directors or trustees of the company or trust which is the
beneficial owner of such accounts.
|_| A unit investment trust that has entered into an appropriate
agreement with the Distributor.
o Dealers, brokers, banks, or registered investment advisers that have
entered into an agreement with the Distributor to sell shares to defined
contribution employee retirement plans for which the dealer, broker or
investment adviser provides administration services.
o Retirement plans and deferred compensation plans and trusts used to
fund those plans (including, for example, plans qualified or created under
sections 401(a), 401(k), 403(b) or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code), in each
case if those purchases are made through a broker, agent or other financial
intermediary that has made special arrangements with the Distributor for
those purchases.
o A TRAC-2000 401(k) plan (sponsored by the former Quest for Value
Advisors) whose Class B or Class C shares of a Former Quest for Value Fund
were exchanged for Class A shares of that Fund due to the termination of the
Class B and Class C TRAC-2000 program on November 24, 1995.
o A qualified Retirement Plan that had agreed with the former Quest
for Value Advisors to purchase shares of any of the Former Quest for Value
Funds at net asset value, with such shares to be held through DCXchange, a
sub-transfer agency mutual fund clearinghouse, if that arrangement was
consummated and share purchases commenced by December 31, 1996.
Waivers of Initial and Contingent Deferred Sales Charges in Certain
Transactions.
Class A shares issued or purchased in the following transactions are not
subject to sales charges (and no commissions are paid by the Distributor on
such purchases):
|_| Shares issued in plans of reorganization, such as mergers, asset
acquisitions and exchange offers, to which the Fund is a party.
|_| Shares purchased by the reinvestment of dividends or other
distributions reinvested from the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds (other than
Oppenheimer Cash Reserves) or unit investment trusts for which reinvestment
arrangements have been made with the Distributor.
|_| Shares purchased and paid for with the proceeds of shares redeemed
in the prior 30 days from a mutual fund (other than a fund managed by the
Manager or any of its subsidiaries) on which an initial sales charge or
contingent deferred sales charge was paid. This waiver also applies to shares
purchased by exchange of shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. that
were purchased and paid for in this manner. This waiver must be requested
when the purchase order is placed for shares of the Fund, and the Distributor
may require evidence of qualification for this waiver.
|_| Shares purchased with the proceeds of maturing principal units of
any Qualified Unit Investment Liquid Trust Series.
o Shares purchased by the reinvestment of loan repayments by a
participant in a Retirement Plan for which the Manager or an affiliate acts
as sponsor.
Waivers of the Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge for Certain
Redemptions.
The Class A contingent deferred sales charge is also waived if shares that
would otherwise be subject to the contingent deferred sales charge are
redeemed in the following cases:
|_| To make Automatic Withdrawal Plan payments that are limited
annually to no more than 12% of the original account value.
|_| Involuntary redemptions of shares by operation of law or
involuntary redemptions of small accounts (see "Shareholder Account Rules and
Policies," in the Prospectus).
o For distributions from Retirement Plans, deferred compensation plans
or other employee benefit plans for any of the following purposes:
(10) Following the death or disability (as defined in the Internal Revenue
Code) of the participant or beneficiary. The death or disability
must occur after the participant's account was established.
(11) To return excess contributions.
(12) To return contributions made due to a mistake of fact.
(13) Hardship withdrawals, as defined in the plan.
(14) Under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code.
(15) To meet the minimum distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue
Code.
(16) To establish "substantially equal periodic payments" as described in
Section 72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(17) For retirement distributions or loans to participants or beneficiaries.
(18) Separation from service.
(10)Participant-directed redemptions to purchase shares of a mutual
fund other than a fund managed by the Manager or a subsidiary.
The fund must be one that is offered as an investment option
in a Retirement Plan in which Oppenheimer funds are also
offered as investment options under a special arrangement with the
Distributor.
(11) Plan termination or "in-service distributions," if the
redemption proceeds are rolled over directly to an
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored IRA.
o For distributions from Retirement Plans having 500 or more eligible
participants, except distributions due to termination of all of the
Oppenheimer funds as an investment option under the Plan.
o For distributions from 401(k) plans sponsored by broker-dealers that
have entered into a special agreement with the Distributor allowing this
waiver.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waivers of Class B and Class C Sales Charges of Oppenheimer Funds
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Class B and Class C contingent deferred sales charges will not be
applied to shares purchased in certain types of transactions or redeemed in
certain circumstances described below.
Waivers for Redemptions in Certain Cases.
The Class B and Class C contingent deferred sales charges will be waived for
redemptions of shares in the following cases:
o Shares redeemed involuntarily, as described in "Shareholder Account
Rules and Policies,"
in the applicable Prospectus.
o Distributions to participants or beneficiaries from Retirement
Plans, if the distributions are made:
(c) under an Automatic Withdrawal Plan after the participant reaches age
59-1/2, as long as the payments are no more than 10% of the
account value annually (measured from the date the Transfer Agent
receives the request), or
(d) following the death or disability (as defined in the Internal Revenue
Code) of the participant or beneficiary (the death or disability
must have occurred after the account was established).
o Redemptions from accounts other than Retirement Plans following the
death or disability of the last surviving shareholder, including a trustee of
a grantor trust or revocable living trust for which the trustee is also the
sole beneficiary. The death or disability must have occurred after the
account was established, and for disability you must provide evidence of a
determination of disability by the Social Security Administration.
o Returns of excess contributions to Retirement Plans.
o Distributions from Retirement Plans to make "substantially equal
periodic payments" as permitted in Section 72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code
that do not exceed 10% of the account value annually, measured from the date
the Transfer Agent receives the request.
o Distributions from OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k) plans and from
certain Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company prototype 401(k) plans:
(7) for hardship withdrawals;
(8) under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code;
(9) to meet minimum distribution requirements as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code;
(10) to make "substantially equal periodic payments" as described in Section
72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code;
(11) for separation from service; or
(12) for loans to participants or beneficiaries.
o Distributions from 401(k) plans sponsored by broker-dealers that
have entered into a special agreement with the Distributor allowing this
waiver.
o Redemptions of Class B shares held by Retirement Plans whose records
are maintained on a daily valuation basis by Merrill Lynch or an independent
record keeper under a contract with Merrill Lynch.
o Redemptions of Class C shares of Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust
from accounts of clients of financial institutions that have entered into a
special arrangement with the Distributor for this purpose.
Waivers for Shares Sold or Issued in Certain Transactions.
The contingent deferred sales charge is also waived on Class B and
Class C shares sold or issued in the following cases:
|_| Shares sold to the Manager or its affiliates.
|_| Shares sold to registered management investment companies or
separate accounts of insurance companies having an agreement with the Manager
or the Distributor for that purpose.
|_| Shares issued in plans of reorganization to which the Fund is
a party.
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Sales Charge Arrangements for Shareholders of Certain Oppenheimer
Funds Who Were Shareholders of the Former Quest for Value Funds
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The initial and contingent deferred sales charge rates and waivers for
Class A, Class B and Class C shares described in the Prospectus or Statement
of Additional Information of the Oppenheimer funds are modified as described
below for certain persons who were shareholders of the former Quest for Value
Funds. To be eligible, those persons must have been shareholders on November
24, 1995, when OppenheimerFunds, Inc. became the investment advisor to those
former Quest for Value Funds. Those funds include:
Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc.,
Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund,
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund,
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund and
Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund, Inc.
These arrangements also apply to shareholders of the following funds
when they merged into various Oppenheimer funds on November 24, 1995:
Quest for Value U.S. Government Income Fund,
Quest for Value Investment Quality Income Fund,
Quest for Value Global Income Fund,
Quest for Value New York Tax-Exempt Fund,
Quest for Value National Tax-Exempt Fund and
Quest for Value California Tax-Exempt Fund
All of the funds listed above are referred to in this Appendix as the
"Former Quest for Value Funds." The waivers of initial and contingent
deferred sales charges described in this Appendix apply to shares of an
Oppenheimer fund that are either:
|_| acquired by such shareholder pursuant to an exchange of shares
of an Oppenheimer fund that was one of the Former Quest for Value Funds or
|_| purchased by such shareholder by exchange of shares of another
Oppenheimer fund that were acquired pursuant to the merger of any of the
Former Quest for Value Funds into that other Oppenheimer fund on November 24,
1995.
Reductions or Waivers of Class A Sales Charges.
|X| Reduced Class A Initial Sales Charge Rates for Certain Former Quest
for Value Funds Shareholders
Purchases by Groups and Associations. The following table sets forth the
initial sales charge rates for Class A shares purchased by members of
"Associations" formed for any purpose other than the purchase of securities.
The rates in the table apply if that Association purchased shares of any of
the Former Quest for Value Funds or received a proposal to purchase such
shares from OCC Distributors prior to November 24, 1995.
<PAGE>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Initial Sales
Eligible Initial Sales Charge as a % of Commission as %
Employees or Charge as a % of Net Amount Invested of Offering Price
Members Offering Price
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 or Fewer 2.50% 2.56% 2.00%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At least 10 but
not more than 49 2.00% 2.04% 1.60%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For purchases by Associations having 50 or more eligible employees or
members, there is no initial sales charge on purchases of Class A shares, but
those shares are subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales charge
described in the applicable fund's Prospectus.
Purchases made under this arrangement qualify for the lower of either
the sales charge rate in the table based on the number of members of an
Association, or the sales charge rate that applies under the Right of
Accumulation described in the applicable fund's Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information. Individuals who qualify under this arrangement for
reduced sales charge rates as members of Associations also may purchase
shares for their individual or custodial accounts at these reduced sales
charge rates, upon request to the Distributor.
|X| Waiver of Class A Sales Charges for Certain Shareholders. Class A
shares purchased by the following investors are not subject to any Class A
initial or contingent deferred sales charges:
|_| Shareholders who were shareholders of the AMA Family of Funds on
February 28, 1991 and who acquired shares of any of the Former Quest for
Value Funds by merger of a portfolio of the AMA Family of Funds.
|_| Shareholders who acquired shares of any Former Quest for Value Fund
by merger of any of the portfolios of the Unified Funds.
|X| Waiver of Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge in Certain
Transactions. The Class A contingent deferred sales charge will not apply to
redemptions of Class A shares purchased by the following investors who were
shareholders of any Former Quest for Value Fund:
Investors who purchased Class A shares from a dealer that is or was not
permitted to receive a sales load or redemption fee imposed on a shareholder
with whom that dealer has a fiduciary relationship, under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and regulations adopted under that law.
Class A, Class B and Class C Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Waivers
|X| Waivers for Redemptions of Shares Purchased Prior to March 6,
1995. In the following cases, the contingent deferred sales charge will be
waived for redemptions of Class A, Class B or Class C shares of an
Oppenheimer fund. The shares must have been acquired by the merger of a
Former Quest for Value Fund into the fund or by exchange from an Oppenheimer
fund that was a Former Quest for Value Fund or into which such fund merged.
Those shares must have been purchased prior to March 6, 1995 in connection
with:
o withdrawals under an automatic withdrawal plan holding only either
Class B or Class C shares if the annual withdrawal does not exceed 10% of the
initial value of the account, and
o liquidation of a shareholder's account if the aggregate net asset
value of shares held in the account is less than the required minimum value
of such accounts.
|X| Waivers for Redemptions of Shares Purchased on or After March 6,
1995 but Prior to November 24, 1995. In the following cases, the contingent
deferred sales charge will be waived for redemptions of Class A, Class B or
Class C shares of an Oppenheimer fund. The shares must have been acquired by
the merger of a Former Quest for Value Fund into the fund or by exchange from
an Oppenheimer fund that was a Former Quest For Value Fund or into which such
Former Quest for Value Fund merged. Those shares must have been purchased on
or after March 6, 1995, but prior to November 24, 1995:
o redemptions following the death or disability of the shareholder(s)
(as evidenced by a determination of total disability by the U.S. Social
Security Administration);
o withdrawals under an automatic withdrawal plan (but only for Class B
or Class C shares) where the annual withdrawals do not exceed 10% of the
initial value of the account; and
o liquidation of a shareholder's account if the aggregate net asset
value of shares held in the account is less than the required minimum account
value.
A shareholder's account will be credited with the amount of any
contingent deferred sales charge paid on the redemption of any Class A, Class
B or Class C shares of the Oppenheimer fund described in this section if the
proceeds are invested in the same Class of shares in that fund or another
Oppenheimer fund within 90 days after redemption.
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Sales Charge Arrangements for Shareholders of Certain Oppenheimer
Funds Who Were Shareholders of Connecticut Mutual Investment Accounts, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The initial and contingent deferred sale charge rates and waivers
for Class A and Class B shares described in the Prospectus or this Appendix
for Oppenheimer U. S. Government Trust, Oppenheimer Bond Fund, Oppenheimer
Disciplined Value Fund and Oppenheimer Disciplined Allocation Fund (each is
included in the reference to "Fund" below) are modified as described below
for those shareholders who were shareholders of Connecticut Mutual Liquid
Account, Connecticut Mutual Government Securities Account, Connecticut Mutual
Income Account, Connecticut Mutual Growth Account, Connecticut Mutual Total
Return Account, CMIA LifeSpan Capital Appreciation Account, CMIA LifeSpan
Balanced Account and CMIA Diversified Income Account (the "Former Connecticut
Mutual Funds") on March 1, 1996, when OppenheimerFunds, Inc. became the
investment adviser to the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds.
Prior Class A CDSC and Class A Sales Charge Waivers
n Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Certain shareholders of a
Fund and the other Former Connecticut Mutual Funds are entitled to continue
to make additional purchases of Class A shares at net asset value without a
Class A initial sales charge, but subject to the Class A contingent deferred
sales charge that was in effect prior to March 18, 1996 (the "prior Class A
CDSC"). Under the prior Class A CDSC, if any of those shares are redeemed
within one year of purchase, they will be assessed a 1% contingent deferred
sales charge on an amount equal to the current market value or the original
purchase price of the shares sold, whichever is smaller (in such redemptions,
any shares not subject to the prior Class A CDSC will be redeemed first).
Those shareholders who are eligible for the prior Class A CDSC are:
(3) persons whose purchases of Class A shares of a Fund and other Former
Connecticut Mutual Funds were $500,000 prior to March 18, 1996, as a
result of direct purchases or purchases pursuant to the Fund's
policies on Combined Purchases or Rights of Accumulation, who still
hold those shares in that Fund or other Former Connecticut Mutual
Funds, and
(4) persons whose intended purchases under a Statement of Intention entered
into prior to March 18, 1996, with the former general distributor of
the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds to purchase shares valued at
$500,000 or more over a 13-month period entitled those persons to
purchase shares at net asset value without being subject to the
Class A initial sales charge.
Any of the Class A shares of a Fund and the other Former Connecticut
Mutual Funds that were purchased at net asset value prior to March 18, 1996,
remain subject to the prior Class A CDSC, or if any additional shares are
purchased by those shareholders at net asset value pursuant to this
arrangement they will be subject to the prior Class A CDSC.
n Class A Sales Charge Waivers. Additional Class A shares of a Fund
may be purchased without a sales charge, by a person who was in one (or more)
of the categories below and acquired Class A shares prior to March 18, 1996,
and still holds Class A shares:
(7) any purchaser, provided the total initial amount invested in the Fund
or any one or more of the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds totaled
$500,000 or more, including investments made pursuant to the
Combined Purchases, Statement of Intention and Rights of
Accumulation features available at the time of the initial purchase
and such investment is still held in one or more of the Former
Connecticut Mutual Funds or a Fund into which such Fund merged;
(8) any participant in a qualified plan, provided that the total initial
amount invested by the plan in the Fund or any one or more of the
Former Connecticut Mutual Funds totaled $500,000 or more;
(9) Directors of the Fund or any one or more of the Former Connecticut
Mutual Funds and members of their immediate families;
(10) employee benefit plans sponsored by Connecticut Mutual Financial
Services, L.L.C. ("CMFS"), the prior distributor of the Former
Connecticut Mutual Funds, and its affiliated companies;
(11) one or more members of a group of at least 1,000 persons (and persons
who are retirees from such group) engaged in a common business,
profession, civic or charitable endeavor or other activity, and the
spouses and minor dependent children of such persons, pursuant to a
marketing program between CMFS and such group; and
(12) an institution acting as a fiduciary on behalf of an individual or
individuals, if such institution was directly compensated by the
individual(s) for recommending the purchase of the shares of the
Fund or any one or more of the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds,
provided the institution had an agreement with CMFS.
Purchases of Class A shares made pursuant to (1) and (2) above may be
subject to the Class A CDSC of the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds described
above.
Additionally, Class A shares of a Fund may be purchased without a sales
charge by any holder of a variable annuity contract issued in New York State
by Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company through the Panorama Separate
Account which is beyond the applicable surrender charge period and which was
used to fund a qualified plan, if that holder exchanges the variable annuity
contract proceeds to buy Class A shares of the Fund.
Class A and Class B Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Waivers
In addition to the waivers set forth in the Prospectus and in this Appendix,
above, the contingent deferred sales charge will be waived for redemptions of
Class A and Class B shares of a Fund and exchanges of Class A or Class B
shares of a Fund into Class A or Class B shares of a Former Connecticut
Mutual Fund provided that the Class A or Class B shares of the Fund to be
redeemed or exchanged were (i) acquired prior to March 18, 1996 or (ii) were
acquired by exchange from an Oppenheimer fund that was a Former Connecticut
Mutual Fund. Additionally, the shares of such Former Connecticut Mutual Fund
must have been purchased prior to March 18, 1996:
(10) by the estate of a deceased shareholder;
(11) upon the disability of a shareholder, as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of
the Internal Revenue Code;
(12) for retirement distributions (or loans) to participants or
beneficiaries from retirement plans qualified under Sections 401(a)
or 403(b)(7)of the Code, or from IRAs, deferred compensation plans
created under Section 457 of the Code, or other employee benefit
plans;
(13) as tax-free returns of excess contributions to such retirement or
employee benefit plans;
(14) in whole or in part, in connection with shares sold to any state,
county, or city, or any instrumentality, department, authority, or
agency thereof, that is prohibited by applicable investment laws
from paying a sales charge or commission in connection with the
purchase of shares of any registered investment management company;
(15) in connection with the redemption of shares of the Fund due to a
combination with another investment company by virtue of a merger,
acquisition or similar reorganization transaction;
(16) in connection with the Fund's right to involuntarily redeem or
liquidate the Fund;
(17) in connection with automatic redemptions of Class A shares and Class B
shares in certain retirement plan accounts pursuant to an Automatic
Withdrawal Plan but limited to no more than 12% of the original
value annually; or
(18) as involuntary redemptions of shares by operation of law, or under
procedures set forth in the Fund's Articles of Incorporation, or as
adopted by the Board of Directors of the Fund.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Reduced Sales Charge for Former Shareholders of Advance America
Funds, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders of Oppenheimer Municipal Bond Fund, Oppenheimer U.S.
Government Trust, Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund and Oppenheimer Equity
Income Fund who acquired (and still hold) shares of those funds as a result
of the reorganization of series of Advance America Funds, Inc. into those
Oppenheimer funds on October 18, 1991, and who held shares of Advance America
Funds, Inc. on March 30, 1990, may purchase Class A shares of those four
Oppenheimer funds at a maximum sales charge rate of 4.50%.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
86
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Web Site:
www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Investment Adviser
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
Sub-Adviser
OpCap Advisors
One World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281
Distributor
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
Transfer Agent
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217
1-800-525-7048
Custodian Bank
Citibank, N.A.
111 Wall Street
New York, New York 10005
Independent Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
950 Seventeenth Street
Denver, Colorado 80202
Legal Counsel
Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen
Shalov & Wein
114 West 47th Street
New York, New York 10036
PX236.0299
<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
Prospectus dated February 19, 1999
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund is a mutual fund that seeks
appreciation of capital as its goal. It emphasizes investments in common
stocks and other equity securities of "small-cap" companies.
This Prospectus contains important information about the Fund's
objective, its investment policies, strategies and risks. It also contains
important information about how to buy and sell shares of the Fund and other
account features. Please read this Prospectus carefully before you invest and
keep it for future reference about your account.
(OppenheimerFunds logo)
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not
approved or disapproved the Fund's securities nor has it determined that this
Prospectus is accurate or complete. It is a criminal offense to represent
otherwise.
<PAGE>
Contents
About the Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund's Objective and Investment Strategies
Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
The Fund's Past Performance
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
About the Fund's Investments
How the Fund is Managed
About Your Account
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy Shares
Class A Shares
Class B Shares
Class C Shares
Special Investor Services
AccountLink
PhoneLink
OppenheimerFunds Web Site
Retirement Plans
How to Sell Shares
By Mail
By Telephone
How to Exchange Shares
Shareholder Account Rules and Policies
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Financial Highlights
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
About the Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund's Objective and Investment Strategies
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What Is the Fund's Investment Objective? The Fund's objective is to seek of
capital appreciation.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What Does the Fund Invest In? The Fund invests mainly in common stock of
companies that have market capitalizations under $1 billion. These are
described as "small-cap" companies. The Fund can also buy preferred stocks,
convertible securities and other securities having equity features. The
Fund focuses on equity securities on companies that the portfolio manager
believes are undervalued in the marketplace. The Fund may also use hedging
instruments and certain derivative investments to try to manage investment
risks. These investments are more fully explained in "About the Fund's
Investments" below.
The Fund may buy debt securities for liquidity and cash management
purposes, such as short-term U.S. government securities and money market
instruments. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in such securities
for defensive purposes. These investments are more fully explained in "About
the Fund's Investments," below.
n How Does the Portfolio Manager Decide What Securities to Buy or
Sell? In selecting securities for purchase or sale by the Fund, the Fund's
portfolio manager, who is employed by the Sub-Adviser, uses a "value"
approach to investing, and searches for securities of companies believed to
be undervalued in the marketplace, in relation to factors such as a company's
assets, earnings, growth potential and cash flows. While this process and the
inter-relationship of the factors used may change over time and its
implementation may vary in particular cases, in general the selection process
includes the following techniques:
o A "bottom up" analytical approach using fundamental research to
evaluate a company's characteristics, financial results and
management.
o Selection of securities of companies believed to be undervalued and
having a high return on capital, strong management committed
to shareholder value and positive cash flows.
o Ongoing monitoring of issuers for fundamental changes in the company
that might alter the portfolio manager's initial expectations
about the security.
Who Is the Fund Designed For? The Fund is designed primarily for investors
seeking capital growth in their investment over the long term. Those
investors should be willing to assume the greater risk of short-term share
price fluctuations that are typical for an aggressive fund focusing on
small-cap stock investments. The Fund does not seek current income and the
income from its investments will likely be small, so it is not designed for
investors needing investment income or preservation of capital. Because of
its focus on long-term growth, the Fund may be appropriate for a portion of
retirement plan investment.
Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
All investments carry risks to some degree. The Fund's investments in
stocks are subject to changes in their value from a number of factors.
Investments in stocks can be volatile and are subject to changes in general
stock market movements (this is referred to as "market risk"). At times, the
Fund may focus significant amounts of its equity investments in a particular
industry or industries. Therefore, it may be subject to the risks that
economic, political or other events can have a negative effect on the values
of issuers in those particular industries (this is referred to as "industry
risk"). Smaller capitalization companies may experience higher growth rates
and higher failure rates than do larger capitalization companies, and the
volatility of stocks of such issues is greater than other stocks. The Fund
can also buy foreign securities in both emerging and developed markets that
have special risks not associated with investments in domestic securities,
such as the effects of currency fluctuations on relative prices.
These risks collectively form the risk profile of the Fund, and can
affect the value of the Fund's investments, its investment performance and
its price per share. These risks mean that you can lose money by investing in
the Fund. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than
what you paid for them.
The Fund's investment Manager, OppenheimerFunds, Inc., has engaged a
Sub-Adviser, OpCap Advisors, to select securities for the Fund's portfolio.
The Sub-Adviser tries to reduce risks by carefully researching securities
before they are purchased and to reduce the Fund's exposure to market risks
by diversifying its investments, that is, by not holding a substantial amount
of stock of any one company and by not investing too great a percentage of
the Fund's assets in any one company. Also, the Fund does not concentrate
25% or more of its investments in any one industry. However, changes in the
overall market prices of securities and the income they pay can occur at any
time. The share price of the Fund will change daily based on changes in
market prices of securities and market conditions, and in response to other
economic events. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its
investment objective.
n Risks of Investing in Stocks. Stocks fluctuate in price, and their
short-term volatility at times may be great. Because the Fund normally
invests primarily in equity securities of small-cap companies, the value of
the Fund's portfolio will be affected by changes in the stock markets and the
special economic and other factors that might primarily affect the prices of
small cap stocks in the markets. Market risk will affect the Fund's net
asset value per share, which will fluctuate as the values of the Fund's
portfolio securities change. A variety of factors can affect the price of a
particular stock and the prices of individual stocks do not all move in the
same direction uniformly or at the same time. Different stock markets may
behave differently from each other. Because the Fund can buy both foreign
stocks and stocks of U.S. issuers, it will be affected by changes in domestic
and foreign stock markets.
Additionally, stocks of issuers in a particular industry may be
affected by changes in economic conditions by changes in government
regulation, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events that
affect that industry more than others. To the extent that the Fund is
emphasizing investments in a particular industry or sector, its share values
might fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector.
Other factors can affect a particular stock's price, such as poor
earnings reports by the issuer, loss of major customers, major litigation
against the issuer, or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer.
n Special Risks of Small-Cap Stocks. The Fund focuses its
investments on securities of companies having a market capitalization under
$1 billion, which generally are newer companies. While they may offer
greater opportunities for capital appreciation than larger, more established
companies, they involve substantially greater risks of loss and price
fluctuations than larger cap issuers. Small-cap companies may have limited
product lines or markets for their products, limited access to financial
resources and less depth in management skill than larger, more established
companies. Their stocks may be less liquid than those of larger issuers.
That means the Fund coulf have greater difficulty selling a security of a
small cap issuer at an acceptable price, especially in periods of market
volatility. That factor increases the potential for losses to the Fund.
Also, it make tale a substantial period of time before the Fund realizes a
gain on an investment in a small-cap company, if it realizes any gain at all.
o Industry Focus. At times the Fund may have substantial
investments in stocks of companies in a single industry. Stocks of issuers in
a particular industry may be affected by changes in economic conditions that
affect that industry more than others, or by changes in government
regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or other events. To
the extent that the Fund is emphasizing investments in a particular industry,
its share values may fluctuate in response to events affecting those
industries.
n Risks of Foreign Investing. The Fund can buy securities of
companies in developed and underdeveloped countries. While the Fund has no
limits on the amounts it can invest in foreign securities, it normally does
not expect to invest substantial amounts of its assets in foreign securities.
While foreign securities offer special investment opportunities, there are
also special risks.
The change in value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will
result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in that
foreign currency. Foreign issuers are not subject to the same accounting and
disclosure requirements that U.S. companies are subject to. The value of
foreign investments may be affected by exchange control regulations,
expropriation or nationalization of a company's assets, foreign taxes, delays
in settlement of transactions, changes in governmental economic or monetary
policy in the U.S. or abroad, or other political and economic factors. There
may be transaction costs and risks from the conversion of certain European
currencies to the Euro in January 1999.
n Risks in Using Hedging Instruments. The Fund may use certain
hedging instruments such as options, futures and forward contracts, to try to
hedge investment risks. The underlying security or investment on which the
hedging instrument is based, and the hedging instrument itself, may not
perform the way the Manager expected it to perform. If that happens, the
Fund's share price could decline. The Fund has limits on the amount of
particular types of hedging instruments it can hold. However, hedging can
cause the Fund to lose money on its investment or increase the volatility of
its share prices.
How Risky is the Fund Overall? The Fund focuses its investments on small cap
stocks for long-term capital growth; and in the short term, they can be
volatile. The price of the Fund's shares can go up and down substantially.
The Fund generally does not use income-oriented investments to help cushion
the Fund's total return to some degree from changes in stock prices, except
for defensive or liquidity purposes. In the OppenheimerFunds spectrum, the
Fund is generally a very aggressive investment vehicle, designed for
investors willing to assume greater risks in the hope of achieving long-term
capital appreciation. It is likely to be subject to greater fluctuations in
its share prices than funds that emphasize large capitalization stocks, or
funds that do not invest in foreign securities (especially emerging market
securities) or fund that focus on both stocks and bonds.
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
government agency.
The Fund's Past Performance
The bar chart and table below show one measure of the risks of
investing in the Fund, by showing changes in the Fund's performance (for its
Class A shares) from year to year for the calendar years since the Fund's
inception and by showing how the average annual total returns of the Fund's
shares compare to those of a broad-based market index. The Fund's past
investment performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will
perform in the future.
Annual Total Returns (Class A) (as of 12/31 each year)
[See appendix to prospectus for data in bar chart showing annual total
returns]
Sales charges are not included in the calculations of return in this bar
chart, and if those charges were included, the returns would be less than
those shown.
During the period shown in the bar chart, the highest return (not annualized)
for a calendar quarter was ___% (__Q'__) and the lowest return for a calendar
quarter was ___% (__Q'__).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Annual Total
Returns for the Past 1 Year Past 5 Years
periods (or life of class, Life of Class
ending December 31, if less)
1998
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Shares % % %*
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B Shares % % %*
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C Shares % % %*
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P 500 Index % % %*
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Inception dates of classes: Class A: 1/3/89. Class B: 9/1/93. Class C:
9/1/93. The index performance is shown from 1/1/89.
The Fund's average annual total returns in the table include the applicable
sales charge for Classes A, B and C shares: for Class A, the current maximum
initial sales charge of 5.75%; for Class B, the contingent deferred sales
charges of 5% (1-year) and 1% (life of class); and for Class C, the 1%
contingent deferred sales charge for the 1-year period.
The returns measure the performance of a hypothetical account and assume that
all dividends and capital gains distributions have been reinvested in
additional shares. Because the Fund normally invests primarily in stocks,
with an emphasis on small-cap stocks, the Fund's performance is compared to
the Russell 2000 Index, an index of the 2000 smallest securities in the
Russell 3000 Index with market values ranging from $25 million to $275
million. It must be remembered that the index performance reflects the
reinvestment of income but does not consider the effects of capital gains or
transaction costs.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
The Fund pays a variety of expenses directly for management of its
assets, administration, distribution of its shares and other services. Those
expenses are subtracted from the Fund's assets to calculate the Fund's net
asset value per share. All shareholders therefore pay those expenses
indirectly. Shareholders pay other expenses directly, such as sales charges
and account transaction charges. The following tables are provided to help
you understand the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares
of the Fund. The numbers below are based on the Fund's expenses during its
fiscal year ended October 31, 1998.
Shareholder Fees (charges paid directly from your investment):
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Shares Class B Class C Class Y
Shares Shares Shares
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) on purchases 5.75% None None None
(as % of offering
price)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Deferred
Sales Charge (Load)
(as % of the lower of None1 5%2 1%3 None
the original offering
price or redemption
proceeds)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. A contingent deferred sales charge may apply to redemptions of
investments of $1 million or more ($500,000 for retirement plan accounts)
of Class A shares. See "How to Buy Shares" for details.
8. Applies to redemptions in first year after purchase. The contingent
deferred sales charge declines to 1% in the sixth year and is eliminated
after that.
9. Applies to shares redeemed within 12 months of purchase.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (deducted from Fund assets):
(% of average daily net assets)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Class B Class C Class Y
Shares Shares Shares Shares
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management Fees % % % %
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and/or % 1.00% 1.00% None
Service (12b-1) Fees
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Expenses % % % %
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Annual Operating % % % %
Expenses
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Numbers in the chart are based on the Fund's expenses in its last fiscal
year, ended 10/31/98. Expenses may vary in future years. "Other expenses"
include transfer agent fees, custodial expenses, and accounting and legal
expenses the Fund pays.
Examples. These examples are intended to help you compare the cost of
investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The examples assume that you invest $10,000 in a class of shares of the
Fund for the time periods indicated and reinvest your dividends and
distributions. The first example assumes that you redeem all of your shares
at the end of those periods. The second example assumes that you keep your
shares. Both examples also assume that your investment has a 5% return each
year and that the class's operating expenses remain the same. Your actual
costs may be higher or lower because expenses will vary over time. Based on
these assumptions your expenses would be as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If shares are 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years1
redeemed:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Shares $ $ $ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B Shares $ $ $ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C Shares $ $ $ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If shares are not 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years1
redeemed:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Shares $ $ $ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B Shares $ $ $ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C Shares $ $ $ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the first example, expenses include the initial sales charge for Class A
and the applicable Class B or Class C contingent deferred sales charges. In
the second example, the Class A expenses include the sales charge, but Class
B and Class C expenses do not include the contingent deferred sales charges.
3. Class B expenses for years 7 through 10 are based on Class A expenses,
since Class B shares automatically convert to Class A after 6 years.
About the Fund's Investments
The Fund's Principal Investment Policies. The Fund's goal is to seek
long-term capital appreciation, and it focuses its investments on common
stocks of small-cap companies that the Manager believes are undervalued by
the market. The composition of the Fund's portfolio will vary over time based
upon the evaluation of economic and market trends by the Manager. Under
normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 65% of its total
assets in equity securities of companies with market capitalizations under $1
billion. The Fund emphasizes investments in equity securities of companies
believed to have favorable stock prices in relation to their book values
and/or sales, and in equity securities of companies believed to have limited
operating leverage and/or financial leverage.
The Statement of Additional Information contains more detailed
information about the Fund's investment policies and risks.
n Small-Cap Stock Investments. The Fund currently emphasizes
investments in equity securities, primarily common stocks. The Manager looks
for stocks of small companies that have been undervalued by the market. These
companies tend to be small companies with good businesses and companies with
increasing free cash flow. Current examples include companies in the fields
of telecommunications, biotechnology, computer software, and new consumer
products. These companies may be providing new products or services that can
enable them to capture a dominant or important market position. They may have
a special area of expertise or the capability to take advantage of changes in
demographic factors in a more profitable way than larger, more established
companies.
o Cyclical Opportunities. The Fund may also seek to take advantage of
changes in the business cycle by investing in companies that are sensitive to
those changes if the Manager believes they have growth potential. For
example, when the economy is expanding, companies in the consumer durables
and technology sectors may benefit and present long-term growth
opportunities. Other cyclical industries include insurance and forest
products, for example. The Fund focuses on seeking growth over the long term,
but may seek to take tactical advantage of short-term market movements or
events affecting particular issuers or industries.
o Industry Focus. At times, the Fund may increase the relative
emphasis of its investments in a particular industry or group of industries.
Stocks of issuers in a particular industry may be affected by changes in
economic conditions that affect that industry more than others, or by changes
in government regulations, availability of basic resources or supplies, or
other events. To the extent that the Fund has a greater emphasis on
investments in a particular industry or group of industries, its share values
may fluctuate in response to events affecting those industries. To some
extent that risk may be limited by the Fund's policy of not concentrating
more than 25% of its assets in investments in any one industry or group of
industries.
oOther Equity Securities. While the Fund emphasizes investments in
common stocks, it may also buy preferred stocks and securities convertible
into common stock. The Manager considers convertible securities to be "equity
equivalents" because of the conversion feature and because their rating has
less impact on the investment decision than in the case of other debt
securities. Nevertheless, convertible securities are subject to both "credit
risk" (the risk that the issuer will not pay interest or repay principal in a
timely manner) and "interest rate risk" (the risk that the prices of the
securities will be affected by changes in prevailing interest rates). To the
extent that the Fund buys convertible securities (or other debt securities)
it will focus primarily on investment-grade securities, which pose less
credit risk than lower-grade debt securities.
n Debt Securities. The Fund can also invest in debt securities, such
as U.S. government securities and domestic corporate bonds and debentures.
The Fund can also buy short-term debt securities for liquidity pending the
purchase of new investments or to have cash to pay for redemptions of Fund
shares. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in "lower-grade"
debt securities. These debt securities (commonly known as "junk bonds") are
rated below "investment grade." That means that they are rated lower than
"Baa" by Moody's Investors Service or "BBB" by Standard & Poor's Rating
Service or other comparable ratings by other nationally- recognized rating
organizations or they may be unrated securities assigned an equivalent rating
by the Sub-Adviser.
o U.S. Government Securities. The Fund's investments in U.S.
government securities can include U.S. Treasury securities and securities
issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government,
such as collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and other mortgage-related
securities. U.S. Treasury securities are backed by the full faith and credit
of the U.S. government and are subject to little credit risk. The Fund may
invest 100% of its total assets in such securities.
o Money Market Instruments. The Fund can also invest in "money
market instruments." These are U.S. Government securities and high-quality
corporate debt securities having a remaining maturity of one year or less.
They include commercial paper, other short-term corporate debt obligations,
certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances and repurchase agreements. They
do not generate capital growth if held to maturity.
n Can the Fund's Investment Objective and Policies Change? The Fund's
Board of Trustees may change non-fundamental investment policies without
shareholder approval, although significant changes will be described in
amendments to this Prospectus. Fundamental policies are those that cannot be
changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
shares. The Fund's objective is a fundamental policy. Other investment
restrictions that are fundamental policies are listed in the Statement of
Additional Information. An investment policy is not fundamental unless this
Prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information says it is. The Board
of Trustees may change non-fundamental policies without shareholder approval.
n Portfolio Turnover. The Fund does not expect to engage frequently in
short-term trading to try to achieve its objective. Portfolio turnover
affects brokerage costs the Fund pays. If the Fund realizes capital gains
when it sells its portfolio investments, it must generally pay those gains
out to shareholders, increasing their taxable distributions. The Financial
Highlights table below shows the Fund's portfolio turnover rates during prior
fiscal years.
Other Investment Strategies. To seek its objective, the Fund can also use
the investment techniques and strategies described below. The Manager might
not always use all of the different types of techniques and investments
described below. These techniques involve certain risks, although some are
designed to help reduce investment or market risks.
n Foreign Investing. The Fund may buy foreign securities that are
listed on a domestic or foreign stock exchange, traded in domestic or foreign
over-the-counter markets, or represented by American Depository Receipts.
Foreign investing has special risks, described above. The Fund may invest in
emerging markets which have greater risks than developed markets, making
these investments more volatile than other foreign investments. The Fund
currently intends that its purchases of securities issued by emerging market
countries or by companies located in those countries, if any, will be limited
to 5% of its total assets. The Fund will hold foreign currency only in
connection with buying and selling foreign securities.
n "When-Issued" and Delayed Delivery Transactions. The Fund may
purchase securities on a "when-issued" basis and may purchase or sell
securities on a "delayed delivery" basis. These terms refer to securities
that have been created and for which a market exists, but which are not
available for immediate delivery. There may be a risk of loss to the Fund if
the value of the security declines prior to the settlement date.
n Investing in Small, Unseasoned Companies. The Fund can invest up to
5% of its total assets in securities of small, unseasoned companies. These
are companies that have been in continuous operation for less than three
years, counting the operations of any predecessors. These securities may have
limited liquidity, so that the Fund could have difficulty selling them at an
acceptable price when it wants to. The values of these securities may be very
volatile.
n Investing in Other Investment Companies. The Fund can invest up to
10% of its total assets in shares of other investment companies. It can
invest up to 5% of its total assets in any one investment company (but cannot
own more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of that company). These
limits do not apply to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation,
reorganization or acquisition of another investment company. Because the Fund
would be subject to its ratable share of the other investment company's
expenses, the Fund will not make these investments unless the Sub-Adviser
believes that the potential investment benefits justify the added costs and
expenses.
n Illiquid and Restricted Securities. Under the policies and
procedures established by the Fund's Board of Trustees, the Manager
determines the liquidity of certain of the Fund's investments. Investments
may be illiquid because of the absence of an active trading market, making it
difficult to value them or dispose of them promptly at an acceptable price. A
restricted security is one that has a contractual restriction on its resale
or which cannot be sold publicly until it is registered under the Securities
Act of 1933. The Fund cannot invest more than 15% of its net assets in
illiquid or restricted securities. Certain restricted securities that are
eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers are not subject to
that limit. The Manager and Sub-Adviser monitor holdings of illiquid
securities on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any holdings to
maintain adequate liquidity.
Temporary Defensive Investments. In times of unstable or adverse market or
economic conditions, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in
temporary defensive investments. Generally they would be U.S. government
securities and the types of money market instruments described above. To the
extent the Fund invests defensively in these securities, it might not achieve
its investment objective of capital growth.
Year 2000 Risks. Because many computer software systems in use today cannot
distinguish the year 2000 from the year 1900, the markets for securities in
which the Fund invests could be detrimentally affected by computer failures
beginning January 1, 2000. Failure of computer systems used for securities
trading could result in settlement and liquidity problems for the Fund and
other investors. That failure could have a negative impact on handling
securities trades, pricing and accounting services. Data processing errors by
government issuers of securities could result in economic uncertainties, and
those issuers may incur substantial costs in attempting to prevent or fix
such errors, all of which could have a negative effect on the Fund's
investments and returns.
The Manager, the Sub-Adviser, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent
have been working on necessary changes to their computer systems to deal with
the year 2000 and expect that their systems will be adapted in time for that
event, although there cannot be assurance of success. Additionally, the
services they provide depend on the interaction of their computer systems
with those of brokers, information services, the Fund's Custodian and other
parties. Therefore, any failure of the computer systems of those parties to
deal with the year 2000 may also have a negative effect on the services they
provide to the Fund. The extent of that risk cannot be ascertained at this
time.
How the Fund Is Managed
The Manager. The Fund's investment Manager, OppenheimerFunds, Inc.,
supervises the Fund's investment program and handles its day-to-day
business. The Manager carries out its duties, subject to the policies
established by the Board of Trustees, under an Investment Advisory Agreement
that states the Manager's responsibilities. The Agreement sets forth the
fees paid by the Fund to the Manager and describes the expenses that the Fund
is responsible to pay to conduct its business. The Manager became the Fund's
investment manager November 22, 1995.
The Manager has operated as an investment adviser since 1959. The
Manager (including subsidiaries) currently manages investment companies,
including other Oppenheimer funds, with assets of more than $90 billion as of
December 31, 1998, and with more than 4 million shareholder accounts. The
Manager is located at Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York
10048-0203.
n The Manager's Fees. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the
Fund pays the Manager an advisory fee at an annual rate that declines on
additional assets as the Fund grows: 1.00% of the first $400 million of
average annual net assets of the Fund, 0.90% of the next $400 million, 0.85%
of average annual net assets in excess of $800 million. The Fund's
management fee for its last fiscal year ended October 31, 1998 was 0.__% of
average annual net assets for each class of shares.
The Sub-Adviser. On November 22, 1995, the Manager retained the Sub-Adviser
to provide day-to-day portfolio management for the Fund. Prior to that date
and from the inception of the Fund, the Sub-Adviser had been the Fund's
investment adviser. The Sub-Adviser has operated as an investment adviser to
investment companies and institutional investors since its organization in
__________, 1980, and as of December 31, 1998, advised accounts having assets
in excess of $________ billion. It is located at One World Financial Center,
200 Liberty Street, New York New York 10281.
The Manager, not the Fund, pays the Sub-Adviser an annual fee under the
Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. The fee is
calculated as a percentage of the fee the Fund pays the Manager. The rate is
40% of the advisory fee collected by the Manager based on the net assets of
the Fund as of November 22, 1995, and 30% of the fee collected by the Manager
on assets in excess of that amount.
nPortfolio Managers. The Fund's portfolio managers, Timothy
McCormack, Timothy Curro and Gavin Albert, are employed by the Sub-Adviser
and are primarily responsible for the selection of the Fund's portfolio
securities. Mr. McCormack has been a portfolio manager of the Fund since May
1996, and Messrs. Curro and Albert became the portfolio managers of the Fund
effective January 1, 1997. Mr. McCormack, a Vice President of Oppenheimer
Capital, joined that firm in 1994; from 1993 to 1994, he was a securities
analyst at U.S. Trust Company. Mr. Curro has been a Vice President of
Oppenheimer Capital since November 1996. Prior thereto, he was a general
partner of Value Holdings, L.P., an investment partnership, from May 1995 to
November 1996, a Vice President in the equity research department at UBS
Securities Inc., from June 1994 through May 1995 and from January 1991
through February1993 and was a partner with Omega Advisors, Inc. from March
1993 to March 1994. Mr. Albert, a Vice President of Oppenheimer Capital
since December 1996, joined that firm in September 1994 as a research
analyst. Prior thereto he was a management consultant for EDS Energy
Management in 1994 and a graduate student at the Vanderbilt University
Business School from September 1992 to May 1994.
Mr. George Long, who is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Investment Officer of Oppenheimer Capital, oversees the Sub-Adviser's equity
investment policy. He has been affiliated with Oppenheimer Capital since
1981.
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About Your Account
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy Shares
How Are Shares Purchased? You can buy shares several ways -- through any
dealer, broker or financial institution that has a sales agreement with the
Fund's Distributors, or directly through the Distributor, or automatically
through an Asset Builder Plan under the OppenheimerFunds AccountLink
service. The Distributor may appoint certain servicing agents to accept
purchase (and redemption) orders. The Distributor, in its sole discretion,
may reject any purchase order for the Fund's shares.
|X| Buying Shares Through Your Dealer. Your dealer will place your
order with the Distributor on your behalf.
|X| Buying Shares Through the Distributor. Complete an OppenheimerFunds
New Account Application and return it with a check payable to
"OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc." Mail it to P.O. Box 5270, Denver,
Colorado 80217. If you don't list a dealer on the application, the
Distributor will act as your agent in buying the shares. However, we
recommend that you discuss your investment with a financial advisor before
your make a purchase to be sure that the Fund is appropriate for you.
|X| Buying Shares by Federal Funds Wire. Shares purchased through the
Distributor may be paid for by Federal Funds wire. The minimum investment is
$2,500. Before sending a wire, call the Distributor's Wire Department at
1-800-525-7048 to notify the Distributor of the wire, and to receive further
instructions.
|X| Buying Shares Through OppenheimerFunds AccountLink. With
AccountLink, shares are purchased for your account on the regular business
day the Distributor is instructed by you to initiate the Automated Clearing
House (ACH) transfer to buy the shares. You can provide those instructions
automatically, under an Asset Builder Plan, described below, or by telephone
instructions using OppenheimerFunds PhoneLink, also described below. Please
refer to "AccountLink," below for more details.
|X| Buying Shares Through Asset Builder Plans. You may purchase shares
of the Fund (and up to four other Oppenheimer funds) automatically each month
from your account at a bank or other financial institution under an Asset
Builder Plan with AccountLink. Details are in the Asset Builder Application
and the Statement of Additional Information.
How Much Must You Invest? You can open a Fund account with a minimum initial
investment of $1,000 and make additional investments at any time with as
little as $25. There are reduced minimum investments under special investment
plans.
|_| With Asset Builder Plans, 403(b) plans, Automatic Exchange Plans
and military allotment plans, you can make initial and subsequent investments
for as little as $25. Subsequent purchases of at least $25 can be made by
telephone through AccountLink.
o Under retirement plans, such as IRAs, pension and profit-sharing
plans and 401(k) plans, you can start your account with as little as $250. If
your IRA is started under an Asset Builder Plan, the $25 minimum applies.
Additional purchases may be as little as $25.
|_| The minimum investment requirement does not apply to reinvesting
dividends from the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds (a list of them appears in
the Statement of Additional Information, or you can ask your dealer or call
the Transfer Agent), or reinvesting distributions from unit investment trusts
that have made arrangements with the Distributor.
At What Price Are Shares Sold? Shares are sold at their offering price (the
net asset value per share plus any initial sales charge that applies). The
offering price that applies to a purchase order is based on the next
calculation of the net asset value per share that is made after the
Distributor receives the purchase order at its offices in Denver, Colorado,
or after any agent appointed by the Distributor receives the order and sends
it to the Distributor.
|_| The net asset value of each class of shares is determined as of the
close of The New York Stock Exchange, on each day the Exchange is open for
trading (referred to in this Prospectus as a "regular business day"). The
Exchange normally closes at 4:00 P.M., New York time, but may close earlier
on some days. (All references to time in this Prospectus mean "New York
time").
The net asset value per share is determined by dividing the value of
the Fund's net assets attributable to a class by the number of shares of that
class that are outstanding. To determine net asset value, the Fund's Board
of Trustees has established procedures to value the Fund's securities, in
general based on market value. The Board has adopted special procedures for
valuing illiquid and restricted securities and obligations for which market
values cannot be readily obtained. Because foreign securities trade in
markets and exchanges that operate on holidays and weekends, the values of
the Fund's foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot buy
or redeem Fund shares.
|_| To receive the offering price for a particular day, in most cases
the Distributor or its designated agent must receive your order by the time
of day The New York Stock Exchange closes that day. If your order is
received on a day when the Exchange is closed or after it has closed, the
order will receive the next offering price that is determined after your
order is received.
|_| If you buy shares through a dealer, your dealer must receive the
order by the close of The New York Stock Exchange and transmit it to the
Distributor so that it is received before the Distributor's close of business
on a regular business day (normally 5:00 P.M.) to receive that day's offering
price. Otherwise, the order will receive the next offering price that is
determined.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What Classes of Shares Does the Fund Offer? The Fund offers investors four
different classes of shares. The different classes of shares represent
investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject
to different expenses and will likely have different share prices. When you
buy shares, be sure to specify the class of shares. If you do not choose a
class, your investment will be made in Class A shares.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|X| Class A Shares. If you buy Class A shares, you pay an initial
sales charge (on investments up to $1 million for regular accounts or
$500,000 for certain retirement plans). The amount of that initial sales
charge will vary depending on the amount you invest. The sales charge rates
are listed in "How Can I Buy Class A Shares?" below. There is also an
asset-based sales charge on Class A shares.
|X| Class B Shares. If you buy Class B shares, you pay no sales charge
at the time of purchase, but you will pay an annual asset-based sales charge
and if you sell your shares within six years of buying them, you will
normally pay a contingent deferred sales charge. That contingent deferred
sales charge varies depending on how long you own your shares, as described
in "How Can I Buy Class B Shares?" below.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|X| Class C Shares. If you buy Class C shares, you pay no sales charge
at the time of purchase, but you will pay an annual asset-based sales charge
and if you sell your shares within 12 months of buying them, you will
normally pay a contingent deferred sales charge of 1%, as described in "How
Can I Buy Class C Shares?" below.
n Class Y Shares. Class Y shares are offered only to certain
institutional investors that have special agreements with the Distributor.
Which Class of Shares Should You Choose? Once you decide that the Fund is an
appropriate investment for you, the decision as to which class of shares is
best suited to your needs depends on a number of factors that you should
discuss with your financial advisor. Some factors to consider are how much
you plan to invest and how long you plan to hold your investment. If your
goals and objectives change over time and you plan to purchase additional
shares, you should re-evaluate those factors to see if you should consider
another class of shares. The Fund's operating costs that apply to a class of
shares and the effect of the different types of sales charges on your
investment will vary your investment results over time.
The discussion below is not intended to be investment advice or a
recommendation, because each investor's financial considerations are
different. You should review these factors with your financial advisor. The
discussion below assumes that you will purchase only one class of shares, and
not a combination of shares of different classes.
|X| How Long Do You Expect to Hold Your Investment? While future
financial needs cannot be predicted with certainty, knowing how long you
expect to hold your investment will assist you in selecting the appropriate
class of shares. Because of the effect of class-based expenses, your choice
will also depend on how much you plan to invest. For example, the reduced
sales charges available for larger purchases of Class A shares may, over
time, offset the effect of paying an initial sales charge on your investment,
compared to the effect over time of higher class-based expenses on shares of
Class B or Class C.
|_| Investing for the Short Term. If you have a relatively short-term
investment horizon (that is, you plan to hold your shares for not more than
six years), you should probably consider purchasing Class A or Class C shares
rather than Class B shares. That is because of the effect of the Class B
contingent deferred sales charge if you redeem within six years, as well as
the effect of the Class B asset-based sales charge on the investment return
for that class in the short-term. Class C shares might be the appropriate
choice (especially for investments of less than $100,000), because there is
no initial sales charge on Class C shares, and the contingent deferred sales
charge does not apply to amounts you sell after holding them one year.
However, if you plan to invest more than $100,000 for the shorter term,
then as your investment horizon increases toward six years, Class C shares
might not be as advantageous as Class A shares. That is because the annual
asset-based sales charge on Class C shares will have a greater impact on your
account over the longer term than the reduced front-end sales charge
available for larger purchases of Class A shares.
And for investors who invest $1 million or more, in most cases Class A
shares will be the most advantageous choice, no matter how long you intend to
hold your shares. For that reason, the Distributor normally will not accept
purchase orders of $500,000 or more of Class B shares or $1 million or more
of Class C shares from a single investor.
|_| Investing for the Longer Term. If you are investing less than
$100,000 for the longer-term, for example for retirement, and do not expect
to need access to your money for seven years or more, Class B shares may be
appropriate.
Of course, these examples are based on approximations of the effect of
current sales charges and expenses projected over time, and do not detail all
of the considerations in selecting a class of shares. You should analyze your
options carefully with your financial advisor before making that choice.
|X| Are There Differences in Account Features That Matter to You? Some
account features may not be available to Class B or Class C shareholders.
Other features (such as Automatic Withdrawal Plans) may not be advisable
(because of the effect of the contingent deferred sales charge) for Class B
or Class C shareholders. Therefore, you should carefully review how you plan
to use your investment account before deciding which class of shares to buy.
Additionally, the dividends payable to Class B and Class C shareholders
will be reduced by the additional expenses borne by those classes that are
not borne by Class A shares, such as the Class B and Class C asset-based
sales charge described below and in the Statement of Additional Information.
Share certificates are not available for Class B and Class C shares, and if
you are considering using your shares as collateral for a loan, that may be a
factor to consider.
|X| How Does It Affect Payments to My Broker? A salesperson, such as a
broker, may receive different compensation for selling one class of shares
than for selling another class. It is important to remember that Class B and
Class C contingent deferred sales charges and asset-based sales charges have
the same purpose as the front-end sales charge on sales of Class A shares: to
compensate the Distributor for commissions and expenses it pays to dealers
and financial institutions for selling shares. The Distributor may pay
additional compensation from its own resources to securities dealers or
financial institutions based upon the value of shares of the Fund owned by
the dealer or financial institution for its own account or for its customers.
Special Sales Charge Arrangements and Waivers. Appendix C to the Statement
of Additional Information details the conditions for the waiver of sales
charges that apply in certain cases, and the special sales charge rates that
apply to purchases of shares of the Fund by certain groups, or under
specified retirement plan arrangements or in other special types of
transactions.
How Can I Buy Class A Shares? Class A shares are sold at their offering
price, which is normally net asset value plus an initial sales charge.
However, in some cases, described below, purchases are not subject to an
initial sales charge, and the offering price will be the net asset value. In
other cases, reduced sales charges may be available, as described below or in
the Statement of Additional Information. Out of the amount you invest, the
Fund receives the net asset value to invest for your account.
The sales charge varies depending on the amount of your purchase. A
portion of the sales charge may be retained by the Distributor or allocated
to your dealer as commission. The Distributor reserves the right to reallow
the entire commission to dealers. The current sales charge rates and
commissions paid to dealers and brokers are as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Front-End Sales Front-End Sales
Charge As a Charge As a Commission As
Percentage of Percentage of Net Percentage of
Amount of Purchase Offering Price Amount Invested Offering Price
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than $25,000 5.75% 6.10% 4.75%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$25,000 or more
but less than 5.50% 5.82% 4.75%
$50,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 or more
but less than 4.75% 4.99% 4.00%
$100,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$100,000 or more
but less than 3.75% 3.90% 3.00%
$250,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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$250,000 or more
but less than 2.50% 2.56% 2.00%
$500,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$500,000 or more
but less than $1 2.00% 2.04% 1.60%
million
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|X| Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. There is no initial
sales charge on purchases of Class A shares of any one or more of the
Oppenheimer funds aggregating $1 million or more or for certain purchases by
particular types of retirement plans described in Appendix C to the Statement
of Additional Information. The Distributor pays dealers of record
commissions in an amount equal to 1.0% of purchases of $1 million or more
other than by those retirement accounts. For those retirement plan accounts,
the commission is 1.0% of the first $2.5 million, plus 0.50% of the next $2.5
million, plus 0.25% of purchases over $5 million, calculated on a calendar
year basis. In either case, the commission will be paid only on purchases
that were not previously subject to a front-end sales charge and dealer
commission.5
If you redeem any of those shares within 18 months of the end of the
calendar month of their purchase, a contingent deferred sales charge (called
the "Class A contingent deferred sales charge") may be deducted from the
redemption proceeds. That sales charge will be equal to 1.0% of the lesser
of (1) the aggregate net asset value of the redeemed shares at the time of
redemption (excluding shares purchased by reinvestment of dividends or
capital gain distributions) or (2) the original net asset value of the
redeemed shares. However, the Class A contingent deferred sales charge will
not exceed the aggregate amount of the commissions the Distributor paid to
your dealer on all purchases of Class A shares of all Oppenheimer funds you
made that were subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales charge.
In determining whether a contingent deferred sales charge is payable
when shares are redeemed, the Fund will first redeem shares that are not
subject to the sales charge, including shares purchased by reinvestment of
dividends and capital gains. Then the Fund will redeem other shares in the
order in which you purchased them. The Class A contingent deferred sales
charge is waived in certain cases described in Appendix C to the Statement of
Additional Information.
The Class A contingent deferred sales charge is not charged on
exchanges of shares under the Fund's exchange privilege (described below).
However, if the shares acquired by exchange are redeemed within 18 calendar
months of the end of the calendar month in which the exchanged shares were
originally purchased, then the sales charge will apply.
How Can I Reduce Sales Charges for Class A Share Purchases? You may be
eligible to buy Class A shares at reduced sales charge rates under the Fund's
"Right of Accumulation" or a Letter of Intent, as described in Appendix C in
the Statement of Additional Information:
|X| Waivers of Class A Sales Charges. The Class A initial and
contingent deferred sales charges are not imposed in the circumstances
described in Appendix C in the Statement of Additional Information. In order
to receive a waiver of the Class A contingent deferred sales charge, you must
notify the Transfer Agent when purchasing shares whether any of the special
conditions apply.
How Can I Buy Class B Shares? Class B shares are sold at net asset value per
share without an initial sales charge. However, if Class B shares are
redeemed within 6 years of their purchase, a contingent deferred sales charge
will be deducted from the redemption proceeds. The Class B contingent
deferred sales charge is paid to compensate the Distributor for its expenses
of providing distribution-related services to the Fund in connection with the
sale of Class B shares.
The contingent deferred sales charge will be based on the lesser of the
net asset value of the redeemed shares at the time of redemption or the
original net asset value. The contingent deferred sales charge is not
imposed on:
|_| the amount of your account value represented by an increase in
net asset value over the initial purchase price,
|_| shares purchased by the reinvestment of dividends or capital
gains distributions, or
|_| shares redeemed in the special circumstances described in
Appendix C to the Statement of Additional Information.
To determine whether the contingent deferred sales charge applies to a
redemption, the Fund redeems shares in the following order:
(7) shares acquired by reinvestment of dividends and capital gains
distributions,
(8) shares held for over 6 years, and
(9) shares held the longest during the 6-year period.
The amount of the contingent deferred sales charge will depend on the
number of years since you invested and the dollar amount being redeemed,
according to the following schedule:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge on
Years Since Beginning of Month in Redemptions in That Year
Which Purchase Order was Accepted (As % of Amount Subject to Charge)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 - 1 5.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 2 4.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 - 3 3.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 - 4 3.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 - 5 2.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 - 6 1.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 and following None
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the table, a "year" is a 12-month period. In applying the sales
charge, all purchases are considered to have been made on the first regular
business day of the month in which the purchase was made.
|X| Automatic Conversion of Class B Shares. Class B shares
automatically convert to Class A shares 72 months after you purchase them.
This conversion feature relieves Class B shareholders of the asset-based
sales charge that applies to Class B shares under the Class B Distribution
and Service Plan, described below. The conversion is based on the relative
net asset value of the two classes, and no sales load or other charge is
imposed. When Class B shares convert, any other Class B shares that were
acquired by the reinvestment of dividends and distributions on the converted
shares will also convert to Class A shares. The conversion feature is subject
to the continued availability of a tax ruling described in the Statement of
Additional Information.
How Can I Buy Class C Shares? Class C shares are sold at net asset value per
share without an initial sales charge. However, if Class C shares are
redeemed within 12 months of their purchase, a contingent deferred sales
charge of 1.0% will be deducted from the redemption proceeds. The Class C
contingent deferred sales charge is paid to compensate the Distributor for
its expenses of providing distribution-related services to the Fund in
connection with the sale of Class C shares.
The contingent deferred sales charge will be based on the lesser of the
net asset value of the redeemed shares at the time of redemption or the
original net asset value. The contingent deferred sales charge is not
imposed on:
o the amount of your account value represented by the increase in net
asset value over the initial purchase price,
o shares purchased by the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains
distributions, or
o shares redeemed in the special circumstances described in Appendix C to
the Statement of Additional Information.
To determine whether the contingent deferred sales charge applies to a
redemption, the Fund redeems shares in the following order:
(7) shares acquired by reinvestment of dividends and capital gains
distributions,
(8) shares held for over 12 months, and
(9) shares held the longest during the 12-month period.
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Plans. Because these fees are paid out of
the Fund's assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase
the cost of your investment and may cost you more than other types of sales
charges.
|X| Distribution and Service Plan for Class A Shares. The Fund has
adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Class A shares. Under the plan
the Fund pays an asset-based sales charge to the Distributor at an annual
rate of 0.25% of average annual net assets of Class A shares the Fund. The
Fund also pays a service fee to the Distributor of 0.25% of the average
annual net assets of Class A shares. The Distributor currently uses all of
the fee and a portion of the asset-based sales charge to compensate dealers,
brokers, banks and other financial institutions quarterly for providing
personal service and maintenance of accounts of their customers that hold
Class A shares. The Distributor pays out the portion of the asset-based sales
charge equal to 0.15% of average annual net assets representing Class A
shares purchased before September 1, 1993, and 0.10% of average annual net
assets representing Class A shares purchased on or after that date.
|X| Distribution and Service Plans for Class B and Class C Shares. The
Fund has adopted Distribution and Service Plans for Class B and Class C
shares to pay the Distributor for its services and costs in distributing
Class B and Class C shares and servicing accounts. Under the plans, the Fund
pays the Distributor an annual asset-based sales charge of 0.75% per year on
Class B shares and on Class C shares. The Distributor also receives a
service fee of 0.25% per year under each plan. The asset-based sales charge
and service fees increase Class B and Class C expenses by up to 1.00% of the
net assets per year of the respective class.
The Distributor uses the service fees to compensate dealers for
providing personal services for accounts that hold Class B or Class C
shares. The Distributor pays the 0.25% service fees to dealers in advance
for the first year after the shares were sold by the dealer. After the
shares have been held for a year, the Distributor pays the service fees to
dealers on a quarterly basis.
The Distributor currently pays sales commission of 3.75% of the
purchase price of Class B shares to dealers from its own resources at the
time of sale. Including the advance of the service fee, the total amount
paid by the Distributor to the dealer at the time of sales of Class B shares
is therefore 4.00% of the purchase price. The Distributor retains the Class
B asset-based sales charge.
The Distributor currently pays sales commissions of 0.75% of the
purchase price of Class C shares to dealers from its own resources at the
time of sale. Including the advance of the service fee, the total amount
paid by the Distributor to the dealer at the time of sale of Class C shares
is therefore 1.00% of the purchase price. The Distributor pays the
asset-based sales charge as an ongoing commission to the dealer on Class C
shares that have been outstanding for a year or more.
Special Investor Services
AccountLink. You can use our AccountLink feature to link your Fund account
with an account at a U.S. bank or other financial institution. It must be an
Automated Clearing House (ACH) member. AccountLink lets you:
|_| transmit funds electronically to purchase shares by telephone
(through a service representative or by PhoneLink) or automatically
under Asset Builder Plans, or
|_| have the Transfer Agent send redemption proceeds or transmit
dividends and distributions directly to your bank account. Please call
the Transfer Agent for more information.
You may purchase shares by telephone only after your account has been
established. To purchase shares in amounts up to $250,000 through a telephone
representative, call the Distributor at 1-800-852-8457. The purchase payment
will be debited from your bank account.
AccountLink privileges should be requested on your Application or your
dealer's settlement instructions if you buy your shares through a dealer.
After your account is established, you can request AccountLink privileges by
sending signature-guaranteed instructions to the Transfer Agent. AccountLink
privileges will apply to each shareholder listed in the registration on your
account as well as to your dealer representative of record unless and until
the Transfer Agent receives written instructions terminating or changing
those privileges. After you establish AccountLink for your account, any
change of bank account information must be made by signature-guaranteed
instructions to the Transfer Agent signed by all shareholders who own the
account.
PhoneLink. PhoneLink is the OppenheimerFunds automated telephone system that
enables shareholders to perform a number of account transactions
automatically using a touch-tone phone. PhoneLink may be used on
already-established Fund accounts after you obtain a Personal Identification
Number (PIN), by calling the special PhoneLink number, 1-800-533-3310.
|_| Purchasing Shares. You may purchase shares in amounts up to
$100,000 by phone, by calling 1-800-533-3310. You must have established
AccountLink privileges to link your bank account with the Fund to pay for
these purchases.
|_| Exchanging Shares. With the OppenheimerFunds Exchange Privilege,
described below, you can exchange shares automatically by phone from your
Fund account to another OppenheimerFunds account you have already established
by calling the special PhoneLink number.
|_| Selling Shares. You can redeem shares by telephone automatically
by calling the PhoneLink number and the Fund will send the proceeds directly
to your AccountLink bank account. Please refer to "How to Sell Shares," below
for details.
Can I Submit Transaction Requests by Fax? You may send requests for certain
types of account transactions to the Transfer Agent by fax (telecopier).
Please call 1-800-525-7048 for information about which transactions may be
handled this way. Transaction requests submitted by fax are subject to the
same rules and restrictions as written and telephone requests described in
this Prospectus.
OppenheimerFunds Internet Web Site. You can obtain information about the
Fund, as well as your account balance, on the OppenheimerFunds Internet web
site, at http://www.oppenheimerfunds.com. Additionally, shareholders listed
in the account registration (and the dealer of record) may request certain
account transactions through a special section of that web site. To perform
account transactions, you must first obtain a personal identification number
(PIN) by calling the Transfer Agent at 1-800-533-3310. If you do not want to
have Internet account transaction capability for your account, please call
the Transfer Agent at 1-800-525-7048.
Automatic Withdrawal and Exchange Plans. The Fund has several plans that
enable you to sell shares automatically or exchange them to another
OppenheimerFunds account on a regular basis. Please call the Transfer Agent
or consult the Statement of Additional Information for details.
Reinvestment Privilege. If you redeem some or all of your Class A or Class B
shares of the Fund, you have up to 6 months to reinvest all or part of the
redemption proceeds in Class A shares of the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds
without paying a sales charge. This privilege applies only to Class A shares
that you purchased subject to an initial sales charge and to Class A or Class
B shares on which you paid a contingent deferred sales charge when you
redeemed them. This privilege does not apply to Class C or Class Y shares.
You must be sure to ask the Distributor for this privilege when you send your
payment.
Retirement Plans. You may buy shares of the Fund for your retirement plan
account. If you participate in a plan sponsored by your employer, the plan
trustee or administrator must buy the shares for your plan account. The
Distributor also offers a number of different retirement plans that can be
used by individuals and employers:
|_| Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), including regular IRAs, Roth
IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, rollover and Education IRAs.
|_| SEP-IRAs, which are Simplified Employee Pensions Plan IRAs for
small business owners or self-employed individuals.
|_| 403(b)(7) Custodial Plans, that are tax deferred plans for
employees of eligible tax-exempt organizations, such as schools, hospitals
and charitable organizations.
|_| 401(k) Plans, which are special retirement plans for businesses.
|_| Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans, designed for businesses and
self-employed individuals.
Please call the Distributor for OppenheimerFunds retirement plan
documents, which include applications and important plan information.
How to Sell Shares
You can sell (redeem) some or all of your shares on any regular
business day. Your shares will be sold at the next net asset value
calculated after your order is received in proper form (which means it must
comply with the procedures described below) and is accepted by the Transfer
Agent. The Fund lets you sell your shares by writing a letter or by
telephone. You can also set up Automatic Withdrawal Plans to redeem shares
on a regular basis. If you have questions about any of these procedures, and
especially if you are redeeming shares in a special situation, such as due to
the death of the owner or from a retirement plan account, please call the
Transfer Agent first, at 1-800-525-7048, for assistance.
|X| Certain Requests Require a Signature Guarantee. To protect you and
the Fund from fraud, the following redemption requests must be in writing and
must include a signature guarantee (although there may be other situations
that also require a signature guarantee):
|_| You wish to redeem $50,000 or more and receive a check
|_| The redemption check is not payable to all shareholders listed on
the account statement
|_| The redemption check is not sent to the address of record on your
account statement
|_| Shares are being transferred to a Fund account with a different
owner or name
|_| Shares are being redeemed by someone (such as an Executor) other
than the owners
|X| Where Can I Have My Signature Guaranteed? The Transfer Agent will
accept a guarantee of your signature by a number of financial institutions,
including: a U.S. bank, trust company, credit union or savings association,
or by a foreign bank that has a U.S. correspondent bank, or by a U.S.
registered dealer or broker in securities, municipal securities or government
securities, or by a U.S. national securities exchange, a registered
securities association or a clearing agency. If you are signing on behalf of
a corporation, partnership or other business or as a fiduciary, you must also
include your title in the signature.
|X| Retirement Plan Accounts. There are special procedures to sell
shares in an OppenheimerFunds retirement plan account. Call the Transfer
Agent for a distribution request form. Special income tax withholding
requirements apply to distributions from retirement plans. You must submit a
withholding form with your redemption request to avoid delay in getting your
money and if you do not want tax withheld. If your employer holds your
retirement plan account for you in the name of the plan, you must ask the
plan trustee or administrator to request the sale of the Fund shares in your
plan account.
|X| Sending Redemption Proceeds by Wire. While the Fund normally sends
your money by check, you can arrange to have the proceeds of the shares you
sell sent by Federal Funds wire to a bank account you designate. It must be a
commercial bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve wire system. The
minimum redemption you can have sent by wire is $2,500. There is a $10 fee
for each wire. To find out how to set up this feature on your account or to
arrange a wire, call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-852-8457.
How Do I Sell Shares by Mail? Write a letter of instructions that includes:
|_| Your name
|_| The Fund's name
|_| Your Fund account number (from your account statement)
|_| The dollar amount or number of shares to be redeemed
|_| Any special payment instructions
|_| Any share certificates for the shares you are selling
|_| The signatures of all registered owners exactly as the account is
registered, and
|_| Any special documents requested by the Transfer Agent to assure
proper authorization of the person asking to sell the shares.
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Use the following address for requests by mail:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OppenheimerFunds Services
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P.O. Box 5270, Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Send courier or express mail requests to:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OppenheimerFunds Services
10200 E. Girard Avenue, Building D
Denver, Colorado 80231
How Do I Sell Shares by Telephone? You and your dealer representative of
record may also sell your shares by telephone. To receive the redemption
price on a regular business day, your call must be received by the Transfer
Agent by the close of The New York Stock Exchange that day, which is normally
4:00 P.M., but may be earlier on some days. You may not redeem shares held
in an OppenheimerFunds retirement plan account or under a share certificate
by telephone.
|_| To redeem shares through a service representative, call
1-800-852-8457
|_| To redeem shares automatically on PhoneLink, call 1-800-533-3310
Whichever method you use, you may have a check sent to the address on
the account statement, or, if you have linked your Fund account to your bank
account on AccountLink, you may have the proceeds sent to that bank account.
Are There Limits on Amounts Redeemed by Telephone?
|X| Telephone Redemptions Paid by Check. Up to $50,000 may be redeemed
by telephone in any 7-day period. The check must be payable to all owners of
record of the shares and must be sent to the address on the account
statement. This service is not available within 30 days of changing the
address on an account.
|X| Telephone Redemptions Through AccountLink. There are no dollar
limits on telephone redemption proceeds sent to a bank account designated
when you establish AccountLink. Normally the ACH transfer to your bank is
initiated on the business day after the redemption. You do not receive
dividends on the proceeds of the shares you redeemed while they are waiting
to be transferred.
Can I Sell Shares Through My Dealer? The Distributor has made arrangements to
repurchase Fund shares from dealers and brokers on behalf of their
customers. Brokers or dealers may charge for that service. If your shares
are held in the name of your dealer, you must redeem them through your dealer.
How to Exchange Shares
Shares of the Fund may be exchanged for shares of certain Oppenheimer
funds at net asset value per share at the time of exchange, without sales
charge. To exchange shares, you must meet several conditions:
|_| Shares of the fund selected for exchange must be available for sale
in your state of residence.
|_| The prospectuses of this Fund and the fund whose shares you want to
buy must offer the exchange privilege.
|_| You must hold the shares you buy when you establish your account
for at least 7 days before you can exchange them. After the account is open 7
days, you can exchange shares every regular business day.
|_| You must meet the minimum purchase requirements for the fund you
purchase by exchange.
|_| Before exchanging into a fund, you should obtain and read its
prospectus.
Shares of a particular class of the Fund may be exchanged only for
shares of the same class in the other Oppenheimer funds. For example, you
can exchange Class A shares of this Fund only for Class A shares of another
fund. In some cases, sales charges may be imposed on exchange transactions.
For tax purposes, exchanges of shares involve a sale of the shares of the
fund you own and a purchase of the shares of the other fund, which may result
in a capital gain or loss. Please refer to "How to Exchange Shares" in the
Statement of Additional Information for more details.
How Do I Submit Exchange Requests? Exchanges may be requested in writing or
by telephone:
|X| Written Exchange Requests. Submit an OppenheimerFunds Exchange
Request form, signed by all owners of the account. Send it to the Transfer
Agent at the address on the Back Cover. Exchanges of shares held under
certificates cannot be processed unless the Transfer Agent receives the
certificates with the request.
|X| Telephone Exchange Requests. Telephone exchange requests may be
made either by calling a service representative at 1-800-852-8457, or by
using PhoneLink for automated exchanges by calling 1-800-533-3310. Telephone
exchanges may be made only between accounts that are registered with the same
name(s) and address. Shares held under certificates may not be exchanged by
telephone.
You can find a list of Oppenheimer funds currently available for
exchanges in the Statement of Additional Information or obtain one by calling
a service representative at 1-800-525-7048. That list can change from time
to time.
Are There Limitations on Exchanges? There are certain exchange policies you
should be aware of:
|_| Shares are normally redeemed from one fund and purchased from the
other fund in the exchange transaction on the same regular business day on
which the Transfer Agent receives an exchange request that conforms to the
policies described above. It must be received by the close of The New York
Stock Exchange that day, which is normally 4:00 P.M. but may be earlier on
some days. However, either fund may delay the purchase of shares of the fund
you are exchanging into up to seven days if it determines it would be
disadvantaged by a same-day exchange. For example, the receipt of multiple
exchange requests from a "market timer" might require the Fund to sell
securities at a disadvantageous time and/or price.
|_| Because excessive trading can hurt fund performance and harm
shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to refuse any exchange request that
it believes will disadvantage it, or to refuse multiple exchange requests
submitted by a shareholder or dealer.
|_| The Fund may amend, suspend or terminate the exchange privilege at
any time. Although the Fund will attempt to provide you notice whenever it
is reasonably able to do so, it may impose these changes at any time.
|_| If the Transfer Agent cannot exchange all the shares you request
because of a restriction cited above, only the shares eligible for exchange
will be exchanged.
Shareholder Account Rules and Policies
|X| The offering of shares may be suspended during any period in which
the determination of net asset value is suspended, and the offering may be
suspended by the Board of Trustees at any time the Board believes it is in
the Fund's best interest to do so.
|X| Telephone Transaction Privileges for purchases, redemptions or
exchanges may be modified, suspended or terminated by the Fund at any time.
If an account has more than one owner, the Fund and the Transfer Agent may
rely on the instructions of any one owner. Telephone privileges apply to each
owner of the account and the dealer representative of record for the account
unless the Transfer Agent receives cancellation instructions from an owner of
the account.
|X| The Transfer Agent will record any telephone calls to verify data
concerning transactions and has adopted other procedures to confirm that
telephone instructions are genuine, by requiring callers to provide tax
identification numbers and other account data or by using PINs, and by
confirming such transactions in writing. The Transfer Agent and the Fund will
not be liable for losses or expenses arising out of telephone instructions
reasonably believed to be genuine.
|X| Redemption or transfer requests will not be honored until the
Transfer Agent receives all required documents in proper form. From time to
time, the Transfer Agent in its discretion may waive certain of the
requirements for redemptions stated in this Prospectus.
|X| Dealers that can perform account transactions for their clients by
participating in NETWORKING through the National Securities Clearing
Corporation are responsible for obtaining their clients' permission to
perform those transactions, and are responsible to their clients who are
shareholders of the Fund if the dealer performs any transaction erroneously
or improperly.
|X| The redemption price for shares will vary from day to day because
the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio fluctuates. The
redemption price, which is the net asset value per share, will normally
differ for each class of shares. The redemption value of your shares may be
more or less than their original cost.
|X| Payment for redeemed shares ordinarily is made in cash. It is
forwarded by check or through AccountLink or by Federal Funds wire (as
elected by the shareholder) within seven days after the Transfer Agent
receives redemption instructions in proper form. However, under unusual
circumstances determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, payment
may be delayed or suspended. For accounts registered in the name of a
broker-dealer, payment will normally be forwarded within three business days
after redemption.
|X| The Transfer Agent may delay forwarding a check or processing a
payment via AccountLink for recently purchased shares, but only until the
purchase payment has cleared. That delay may be as much as 10 days from the
date the shares were purchased. That delay may be avoided if you purchase
shares by Federal Funds wire or certified check, or arrange with your bank to
provide telephone or written assurance to the Transfer Agent that your
purchase payment has cleared.
|X| Involuntary redemptions of small accounts may be made by the Fund
if the account value has fallen below $500 for reasons other than the fact
that the market value of shares has dropped. In some cases involuntary
redemptions may be made to repay the Distributor for losses from the
cancellation of share purchase orders.
|X| Shares may be "redeemed in kind" under unusual circumstances (such
as a lack of liquidity in the Fund's portfolio to meet redemptions). This
means that the redemption proceeds will be paid with securities from the
Fund's portfolio.
|X| "Backup Withholding" of Federal income tax may be applied against
taxable dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds (including
exchanges) if you fail to furnish the Fund your correct, certified Social
Security or Employer Identification Number when you sign your application, or
if you under-report your income to the Internal Revenue Service.
|X| To avoid sending duplicate copies of materials to households, the
Fund will mail only one copy of each annual and semi-annual report to
shareholders having the same last name and address on the Fund's records.
However, each shareholder may call the Transfer Agent at 1-800-525-7048 to
ask that copies of those materials be sent personally to that shareholder.
Dividends and Tax Information
Dividends. The Fund intends to declare dividends separately for each class of
shares from net investment income on an annual basis, on a date selected by
the Board of Trustees. Dividends and distributions paid on Class A shares
will generally be higher than dividends for Class B and Class C shares, which
normally have higher expenses than Class A. The Fund has no fixed dividend
rate and cannot guarantee that it will pay any dividends or distributions.
Capital Gains. The Fund may realize capital gains on the sale of portfolio
securities. If it does, it may make distributions out of any net short-term
or long-term capital gains in December of each year. The Fund may make
supplemental distributions of dividends and capital gains following the end
of its fiscal year. There can be no assurance that the Fund will pay any
capital gains distributions in a particular year.
What Choices Do I Have for Receiving Distributions? When you open your
account, specify on your application how you want to receive your dividends
and distributions. You have four options:
|X| Reinvest All Distributions in the Fund. You can elect to reinvest
all dividends and long-term capital gains distributions in additional shares
of the Fund.
|X| Reinvest Long-Term Capital Gains Only. You can elect to reinvest
long-term capital gains distributions in the Fund while receiving dividends
by check or having them sent to your bank account through AccountLink.
|X| Receive All Distributions in Cash. You can elect to receive a
check for all dividends and long-term capital gains distributions or have
them sent to your bank through AccountLink.
|X| Reinvest Your Distributions in Another OppenheimerFunds Account.
You can reinvest all distributions in the same class of shares of another
OppenheimerFunds account you have established.
Taxes. If your shares are not held in a tax-deferred retirement account, you
should be aware of the following tax implications of investing in the Fund.
Distributions are subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state
or local taxes. Dividends paid from short-term capital gains and net
investment income are taxable as ordinary income. Long-term capital gains
are taxable as long-term capital gains when distributed to shareholders. It
does not matter how long you have held your shares. Whether you reinvest your
distributions in additional shares or take them in cash, the tax treatment is
the same.
Every year the Fund will send you and the IRS a statement showing the
amount of any taxable distribution you received in the previous year. Any
long-term capital gains will be separately identified in the tax information
the Fund sends you after the end of the calendar year.
|X| Avoid "Buying a Dividend". If you buy shares on or just before the
ex-dividend date or just before the Fund declares a capital gain
distribution, you will pay the full price for the shares and then receive a
portion of the price back as a taxable dividend or capital gain.
|X| Remember There May be Taxes on Transactions. Because the Fund's
share price fluctuates, you may have a capital gain or loss when you sell or
exchange your shares. A capital gain or loss is the difference between the
price you paid for the shares and the price you received when you sold them.
Any capital gain is subject to capital gains tax.
|X| Returns of Capital Can Occur. In certain cases, distributions
made by the Fund may be considered a non-taxable return of capital to
shareholders. If that occurs, it will be identified in notices to
shareholders.
This information is only a summary of certain federal tax information
about your investment. You should consult with your tax adviser about the
effect of an investment in the Fund on your particular tax situation.
<PAGE>
Financial Highlights
The Financial Highlights Table is presented to help you understand the Fund's
financial performance for the past 5 fiscal years. Certain information
reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the
table represent the rate that an investor would have earned [or lost] on an
investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and
distributions). This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, the Fund's independent auditors, whose report, along with the Fund's
financial statements, is included in the Statement of Additional Information,
which is available on request.
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<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For More Information:
The following additional information about the Fund is available without
charge upon request:
Statement of Additional Information
This document includes additional information about the Fund's investment
policies, risks, and operations. It is incorporated by reference into
this Prospectus (which means it is legally part of this Prospectus).
Annual and Semi-Annual Reports
Additional information about the Fund's investments and performance is
available in the Fund's Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders.
The Annual Report includes a discussion of market conditions and
investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance
during its last fiscal year.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Get More Information:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can request the Statement of Additional Information, the Annual and
Semi-Annual Reports, and other information about the Fund or your account:
By Telephone:
Call OppenheimerFunds Services toll-free:
1-800-525-7048
By Mail:
Write to:
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217-5270
On the Internet:
You can read or down-load documents on the OppenheimerFunds web site:
http://www.oppenheimerfunds.com
You can also obtain copies of the Statement of Additional Information and
other Fund documents and reports by visiting the SEC's Public Reference
Room in Washington, D.C. (Phone 1-800-SEC-0330) or the SEC's Internet web
site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies may be obtained upon payment of a
duplicating fee by writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section,
Washington, D.C. 20549-6009.
No one has been authorized to provide any information about the Fund or
to make any representations about the Fund other than what is contained
in this Prospectus. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell shares of the
Fund, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Fund, to any
person in any state or other jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make
such an offer.
The Fund's shares are distributed by:
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
SEC File No. 811-5225
PR0251.001.0299 Printed on recycled paper.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048-0203
1-800-525-7048
Statement of Additional Information dated February 19, 1999
This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus. This
document contains additional information about the Fund and supplements
information in the Prospectus dated February 19, 1999. It should be read
together with the Prospectus, which may be obtained by writing to the Fund's
Transfer Agent, OppenheimerFunds Services, at P.O. Box 5270, Denver, Colorado
80217, or by calling the Transfer Agent at the toll-free number shown above,
or by downloading it from the OppenheimerFunds Internet web site at
www.oppenheimerfunds.com.
Contents
Page
About the Fund
Additional Information About the Fund's Investment Policies and Risks..
The Fund's Investment Policies.....................................
Other Investment Techniques and Strategies.........................
Investment Restrictions............................................
How the Fund is Managed ...............................................
Organization and History...........................................
Trustees and Officers..............................................
The Manager........................................................
Brokerage Policies of the Fund.........................................
Distribution and Service Plans.........................................
Performance of the Fund................................................
About Your Account
How To Buy Shares......................................................
How To Sell Shares.....................................................
How To Exchange Shares.................................................
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes.....................................
Additional Information About the Fund..................................
Financial Information About the Fund
Independent Auditors' Report...........................................
Financial Statements...................................................
Appendix A: Description of Debt Security Ratings....................... A-1
Appendix B: Corporate Industry Classifications......................... B-1
Appendix C: Special Sales Charge Arrangements and Waivers.............. C-1
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<PAGE>
ABOUT THE FUND
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Information About the Fund's Investment Policies and Risks
The investment objective, the principal investment policies and the
main risks of the Fund are described in the Prospectus. This Statement of
Additional Information contains supplemental information about those policies
and risks and the types of securities that the Fund invests in. Additional
information is also provided about the Fund's investment Manager,
OppenheimerFunds, Inc., and the strategies that the Fund may use to try to
achieve its objective.
The Fund's Investment Policies. The composition of the Fund's portfolio and
the techniques and strategies that the Fund's Sub-Adviser, OpCap Advisors,
may use in selecting portfolio securities will vary over time. The Fund is
not required to use all of the investment techniques and strategies described
below at all times in seeking its goal. It may use some of the special
investment techniques and strategies at some times or not at all.
In selecting securities for the Fund's portfolio, the Sub-Adviser
evaluates the merits of particular equity and fixed-income securities
primarily through the exercise of its own investment analysis. That process
may include, among other things, evaluation of the issuer's historical
operations, prospects for the industry of which the issuer is part, the
issuer's financial condition, its pending product developments and business
(and those of competitors), the effect of general market and economic
conditions on the issuer's business, and legislative proposals that might
affect the issuer.
Investments in Equity Securities. The Fund focuses its investments on equity
securities of small-cap companies. Equity securities include common stocks,
preferred stocks, rights and warrants, and securities convertible into common
stock. The Fund's investments primarily include stocks of companies having a
market capitalization under $1 billion, but the Fund can purchase securities
of issuers having a larger market capitalization.
Current income is not a criterion used to select portfolio securities.
However, certain debt securities can be selected for the Fund's portfolio for
defensive purposes (including debt securities that the Manager believes might
offer some opportunities for capital appreciation when stocks are disfavored).
Securities of newer small-cap growth companies might offer greater
opportunities for capital appreciation than securities of large, more
established companies. However, these securities also involve greater risks
than securities of larger companies. Securities of small capitalization
issuers may be subject to greater price volatility in general than securities
of large-cap and mid-cap companies. Therefore, to the degree that the Fund
has investments in smaller capitalization companies at times of market
volatility, the Fund's share price may fluctuate more.
o Value Investing. In selecting equity investments for the
Fund's portfolio, the portfolio manager currently uses a value investing
style. In using a value approach, the portfolio manager seeks stock and other
securities that appear to be temporarily undervalued, by various measures,
such as price/earnings ratios. This approach is subject to change and may not
necessarily be used in all cases. Value investing seeks stocks having prices
that are low in relation to their real worth or future prospects, in the hope
that the Fund will realize appreciation in the value of its holdings when
other investors realize the intrinsic value of the stock.
Using value investing requires research as to the issuer's underlying
financial condition and prospects. Some of the measures used to identify
these securities include, among others:
o Price/Earnings ratio, which is the stock's price divided by its
earnings per share. A stock having a price/earnings ratio lower than
its historical range, or the market as a whole or that of similar
companies may offer attractive investment opportunities.
o Price/book value ratio, which is the stock price divided by the book
value of the company per share, which measures the company's stock
price in relation to its asset value.
o Dividend Yield is measured by dividing the annual dividend by the
stock price per share.
o Valuation of Assets which compares the stock price to the value of
the company's underlying assets, including their projected value in the
marketplace and liquidation value.
o Preferred Stocks. Preferred stock, unlike common stock, has a
stated dividend rate payable from the corporation's earnings. Preferred
stock dividends may be cumulative or non-cumulative, participating, or
auction rate. "Cumulative" dividend provisions require all or a portion of
prior unpaid dividends to be paid.
If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be
less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline. Preferred
stock may have mandatory sinking fund provisions, as well as call/redemption
provisions prior to maturity, which can be a negative feature when interest
rates decline. Preferred stock also generally has a preference over common
stock on the distribution of a corporation's assets in the event of
liquidation of the corporation. Preferred stock may be "participating" stock,
which means that it may be entitled to a dividend exceeding the stated
dividend in certain cases. The rights of preferred stock on distribution of
a corporation's assets in the event of a liquidation are generally
subordinate to the rights associated with a corporation's debt securities.
o Rights and Warrants. The Fund can invest up to 5% of its total
assets in warrants and rights. Warrants basically are options to purchase
equity securities at specific prices valid for a specific period of time.
Their prices do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying
securities. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a short
duration and are distributed directly by the issuer to its shareholders.
Rights and warrants have no voting rights, receive no dividends and have no
rights with respect to the assets of the issuer.
o Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are debt
securities that are convertible into an issuer's common stock. Convertible
securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation's capital structure
and therefore are subject to less risk than common stock.
The value of a convertible security is a function of its "investment
value" and its "conversion value." If the investment value exceeds the
conversion value, the security will behave more like a debt security, and the
security's price will likely increase when interest rates fall and decrease
when interest rates rise. If the conversion value exceeds the investment
value, the security will behave more like an equity security: it will likely
sell at a premium over its conversion value, and its price will tend to
fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying security.
While convertible securities are a form of debt security in many cases,
their conversion feature (allowing conversion into equity securities) causes
them to be regarded more as "equity equivalents." As a result, the rating
assigned to the security has less impact on the Sub-Adviser's investment
decision with respect to convertible securities than in the case of
non-convertible fixed income securities. To determine whether convertible
securities should be regarded as "equity equivalents," the Sub-Adviser may
consider the following factors:
(7) whether, at the option of the investor, the convertible security can be
exchanged for a fixed number of shares of common stock of the
issuer,
(8) whether the issuer of the convertible securities has restated its
earnings per share of common stock on a fully diluted basis
(considering the effect of conversion of the convertible
securities), and
(9) the extent to which the convertible security may be a defensive "equity
substitute," providing the ability to participate in any
appreciation in the price of the issuer's common stock.
n Debt Securities. While the Fund does not invest for the purpose of seeking
current income, at times certain debt securities (other than convertible debt
securities described above under the description of equity investments) may
be selected for investment by the Fund for defensive purposes, as described
below. For example, when the stock market is volatile, or when the portfolio
manager believes that growth opportunities in stocks are not attractive,
certain debt securities might provide not only offer defensive opportunities
but also some opportunities for capital appreciation. These investments could
include corporate bonds and notes of foreign or U.S. companies, as well as
U.S. and foreign government securities. It is not expected that this will be
a significant portfolio strategy of the Fund under normal market
circumstances.
o Credit Risk. Debt securities are subject to credit
risk. Credit risk relates to the ability of the issuer of a debt security to
make interest or principal payments on the security as they become due. If
the issuer fails to pay interest, the Fund's income may be reduced and if the
issuer fails to repay principal, the value of that bond and of the Fund's
shares may be reduced. The Sub-Adviser may rely to some extent on credit
ratings by nationally recognized rating agencies in evaluating the credit
risk of securities selected for the Fund's portfolio. It may also use its own
research and analysis. Many factors affect an issuer's ability to make
timely payments, and the credit risks of a particular security may change
over time. The Fund can invest up to 5% of its total assets in
higher-yielding lower-grade debt securities (that is, securities below
investment grade).
O Lower-Grade Securities. The Fund may invest up to
5% of its total assets in lower-grade securities. Lower-grade securities
(commonly known as "junk bonds") are rated less than "BBB" by Standard &
Poor's Corporation, or less than "Baa" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or
have a comparable rating from another rating organization. If unrated, the
security is determined by the Sub-Adviser to be of comparable quality to
securities rated less than investment grade.
Special Risks of Lower-Grade Securities. High yield,
lower-grade securities, whether rated or unrated, often have speculative
characteristics. Lower-grade securities have special risks that make them
riskier investments than investment grade securities. They may be subject to
greater market fluctuations and risk of loss of income and principal than
lower yielding, investment-grade securities. There may be less of a market
for them and therefore they may be harder to sell at an acceptable price.
There is a relatively greater possibility that the issuer's earnings may be
insufficient to make the payments of interest due on the bonds. The issuer's
low creditworthiness may increase the potential for its insolvency.
These risks mean that the Fund may not achieve the expected income from
lower-grade securities, and that the Fund's net asset value per share may be
affected by declines in value of these securities. However, the Fund's
limitations on investments in these types of securities may reduce some of
the risk, as will the Fund's policy of diversifying its investments.
o Interest Rate Risks. In addition to credit risks, debt
securities are subject to changes in value when prevailing interest rates
change. When interest rates fall, the values of outstanding debt securities
generally rise, and the bonds may sell for more than their face amount. When
interest rates rise, the values of outstanding debt securities generally
decline, and the bonds may sell at a discount from their face amount. The
magnitude of these price changes is generally greater for bonds with longer
maturities. Therefore, when the average maturity of the Fund's debt
securities is longer, its share price may fluctuate more when interest rates
change.
n U.S. Government Securities. These are securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury or other government agencies or corporate
entities referred to as "instrumentalities." The obligations of U.S.
government agencies or instrumentalities in which the Fund may invest may or
may not be guaranteed or supported by the "full faith and credit" of the
United States. "Full faith and credit" means generally that the taxing power
of the U.S. government is pledged to the payment of interest and repayment of
principal on a security. If a security is not backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States, the owner of the security must look principally
to the agency issuing the obligation for repayment. The owner might be able
to assert a claim against the United States if the issuing agency or
instrumentality does not meet its commitment. The Fund will invest in
securities of U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities only if the
Sub-Adviser is satisfied that the credit risk with respect to such
instrumentality is minimal.
o Money Market Instruments. The following is a brief description of
the types of money market securities the Fund may invest in. Money market
securities are high-quality, short-term debt instruments that may be issued
by the U.S. Government, corporations, banks or other entities. They may have
fixed, variable or floating interest rates.
o U.S. Government Securities. These include obligations issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities, described above.
o Bank Obligations. The Fund may buy time deposits,
certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances. Time deposits, other than
overnight deposits, may be subject to withdrawal penalties and if so they are
deemed "illiquid" investments." Investment in such deposits which are
subject to withdrawal penalties, other than overnight deposits, are subject
to the 10% limit on illiquid investments.
The Fund can purchase bank obligations that are fully insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The FDIC insures the deposits of
member banks up to $100,000 per account. Insured bank obligations may have a
limited market and a particular investment of this type may be deemed
"illiquid" unless the Board of Trustees of the Fund determines that a
readily-available market exists for that particular obligation, or unless the
obligation is payable at principal amount plus accrued interest on demand or
within seven days after demand.
o Commercial Paper. The Fund may invest in commercial paper, if
it is rated within the top two rating categories of Standard & Poor's and
Moody's. If the paper is not rated, it may be purchased if issued by a
company having a credit rating of at least "AA" by Standard & Poor's or "Aa"
by Moody's.
The Fund may buy commercial paper, including U.S. dollar-denominated
securities of foreign branches of U.S. banks, issued by other entities if the
commercial paper is guaranteed as to principal and interest by a bank,
government or corporation whose certificates of deposit or commercial paper
may otherwise be purchased by the Fund.
o Variable Amount Master Demand Notes. Master demand notes are
corporate obligations that permit the investment of fluctuating amounts by
the Fund at varying rates of interest under direct arrangements between the
Fund, as lender, and the borrower. They permit daily changes in the amounts
borrowed. The Fund has the right to increase the amount under the note at
any time up to the full amount provided by the note agreement, or to decrease
the amount. The borrower may prepay up to the full amount of the note without
penalty. These notes may or may not be backed by bank letters of credit.
Because these notes are direct lending arrangements between the lender
and borrower, it is not expected that there will be a trading market for
them. There is no secondary market for these notes, although they are
redeemable (and thus are immediately repayable by the borrower) at principal
amount, plus accrued interest, at any time. Accordingly, the Fund's right to
redeem such notes is dependent upon the ability of the borrower to pay
principal and interest on demand.
The Fund has no limitations on the type of issuer from whom these notes
will be purchased. However, in connection with such purchases and on an
ongoing basis, the Sub-Adviser will consider the earning power, cash flow and
other liquidity ratios of the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and
interest on demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes
made demand simultaneously. Investments in master demand notes are subject
to the limitation on investments by the Fund in illiquid securities,
described in the Prospectus. The Fund does not intend that its investments in
variable amount master demand notes will exceed 5% of its total assets.
n Foreign Securities. The Fund can purchase equity and debt securities
issued or guaranteed by foreign companies or foreign governments or their
agencies. "Foreign securities" include equity and debt securities of
companies organized under the laws of countries other than the United States
and debt securities of foreign governments. They may be traded on foreign
securities exchanges or in the foreign over-the-counter markets.
Securities of foreign issuers that are represented by American
Depository Receipts or that are listed on a U.S. securities exchange or
traded in the U.S. over-the-counter markets are not considered "foreign
securities" for the purpose of the Fund's investment allocations. That is
because they are not subject to many of the special considerations and risks,
discussed below, that apply to foreign securities traded and held abroad.
Because the Fund may purchase securities denominated in foreign
currencies, a change in the value of such foreign currency against the U.S.
dollar will result in a change in the amount of income the Fund has available
for distribution. Because a portion of the Fund's investment income may be
received in foreign currencies, the Fund will be required to compute its
income in U.S. dollars for distribution to shareholders, and therefore the
Fund will absorb the cost of currency fluctuations. After the Fund has
distributed income, subsequent foreign currency losses may result in the
Fund's having distributed more income in a particular fiscal period than was
available from investment income, which could result in a return of capital
to shareholders.
Investing in foreign securities offers potential benefits not available
from investing solely in securities of domestic issuers. They include the
opportunity to invest in foreign issuers that appear to offer growth
potential, or in foreign countries with economic policies or business cycles
different from those of the U.S., or to reduce fluctuations in portfolio
value by taking advantage of foreign stock markets that do not move in a
manner parallel to U.S. markets. The Fund will hold foreign currency only in
connection with the purchase or sale of foreign securities.
o Foreign Debt Obligations. The debt obligations of foreign
governments and entities may or may not be supported by the full faith and
credit of the foreign government. The Fund may buy securities issued by
certain "supra-national" entities, which include entities designated or
supported by governments to promote economic reconstruction or development,
international banking organizations and related government agencies. Examples
are the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (commonly
called the "World Bank"), the Asian Development bank and the Inter-American
Development Bank.
The governmental members of these supranational entities are
"stockholders" that typically make capital contributions and may be committed
to make additional capital contributions if the entity is unable to repay its
borrowings. A supra-national entity's lending activities may be limited to a
percentage of its total capital, reserves and net income. There can be no
assurance that the constituent foreign governments will continue to be able
or willing to honor their capitalization commitments for those entities.
o Risks of Foreign Investing. Investments in foreign securities
may offer special opportunities for investing but also present special
additional risks and considerations not typically associated with investments
in domestic securities. Some of these additional risks are:
o reduction of income by foreign taxes;
o fluctuation in value of foreign investments due to changes in currency
rates or currency control regulations (for example, currency
blockage);
o transaction charges for currency exchange;
o lack of public information about foreign issuers;
o lack of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
in foreign countries comparable to those applicable to domestic
issuers;
o less volume on foreign exchanges than on U.S. exchanges;
o greater volatility and less liquidity on foreign markets than in the
U.S.;
o less governmental regulation of foreign issuers, stock exchanges and
brokers than in the U.S.;
o greater difficulties in commencing lawsuits;
o higher brokerage commission rates than in the U.S.;
o increased risks of delays in settlement of portfolio transactions or
loss of certificates for portfolio securities;
o possibilities in some countries of expropriation, confiscatory
taxation, political, financial or social instability or adverse
diplomatic developments; and
o unfavorable differences between the U.S. economy and foreign
economies.
In the past, U.S. Government policies have discouraged certain
investments abroad by U.S. investors, through taxation or other restrictions,
and it is possible that such restrictions could be re-imposed.
o Special Risks of Emerging Markets. Emerging and developing
markets abroad may also offer special opportunities for growth investing but
have greater risks than more developed foreign markets, such as those in
Europe and Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. There may be even less
liquidity in their stock markets, and settlements of purchases and sales of
securities may be subject to additional delays. They are subject to greater
risks of limitations on the repatriation of income and profits because of
currency restrictions imposed by local governments. Those countries may also
be subject to the risk of greater political and economic instability, which
can greatly affect the volatility of prices of securities in those countries.
The Sub-Adviser will consider these factors when evaluating securities in
these markets, because the selection of those securities must be consistent
with the Fund's goal of preservation of principal.
o Risks of Conversion to Euro. On January 1, 1999, eleven
countries in the European Union adopted the euro as their official currency.
However, their current currencies (for example, the franc, the mark, and the
lire) will also continue in use until January 1, 2002. After that date, it is
expected that only the euro will be used in those countries. A common
currency is expected to confer some benefits in those markets, by
consolidating the government debt market for those countries and reducing
some currency risks and costs. But the conversion to the new currency will
affect the Fund operationally and also has potential risks, some of which are
listed below. Among other things, the conversion will affect:
o issuers in which the Fund invests, because of changes in the
competitive environment from a consolidated currency market and greater
operational costs from converting to the new currency. This might
depress stock values.
o vendors the Fund depends on to carry out its business, such as its
Custodian (which holds the foreign securities the Fund buys), the
Manager (which must price the Fund's investments to deal with the
conversion to the euro) and brokers, foreign markets and securities
depositories. If they are not prepared, there could be delays in
settlements and additional costs to the Fund.
o exchange contracts and derivatives that are outstanding during the
transition to the euro. The lack of currency rate calculations between
the affected currencies and the need to update the Fund's contracts
could pose extra costs to the Fund.
The Manager is upgrading (at its expense) its computer and bookkeeping
systems to deal with the conversion. The Fund's Custodian has advised the
Manager of its plans to deal with the conversion, including how it will
update its record keeping systems and handle the redenomination of
outstanding foreign debt. The Fund's portfolio manager will also monitor the
effects of the conversion on the issuers in which the Fund invests. The
possible effect of these factors on the Fund's investments cannot be
determined with certainty at this time, but they may reduce the value of some
of the Fund's holdings and increase its operational costs.
n Portfolio Turnover. "Portfolio turnover" describes the rate at
which the Fund traded its portfolio securities during its last fiscal year.
For example, if a fund sold all of its securities during the year, its
portfolio turnover rate would have been 100%. The Fund's portfolio turnover
rate will fluctuate from year to year, but the Fund does not expect to have a
portfolio turnover rate of 100% or more. Increased portfolio turnover creates
higher brokerage and transaction costs for the Fund, which may reduce its
overall performance. Additionally, the realization of capital gains from
selling portfolio securities may result in distributions of taxable long-term
capital gains to shareholders, since the Fund will normally distribute all of
its capital gains realized each year, to avoid excise taxes under the
Internal Revenue Code.
Other Investment Techniques and Strategies. In seeking its objective, the
Fund may from time to time employ the types of investment strategies and
investments described below. It is not required to use all of these
strategies at all times, and at times may not use them.
n Investing in Small, Unseasoned Companies. The Fund may invest in
securities of small, unseasoned companies. These are companies that have
been in operation for less than three years, including the operations of any
predecessors. Securities of these companies may be subject to volatility in
their prices. They may have a limited trading market, which may adversely
affect the Fund's ability to dispose of them and can reduce the price the
Fund might be able to obtain for them. Other investors that own a security
issued by a small, unseasoned issuer for which there is limited liquidity
might trade the security when the Fund is attempting to dispose of its
holdings of that security. In that case the Fund might receive a lower price
for its holdings than might otherwise be obtained.
n When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions. The Fund may invest
in securities on a "when-issued" basis and may purchase or sell securities on
a "delayed delivery" basis. When-issued and delayed delivery are terms that
refer to securities whose terms and indenture are available and for which a
market exists, but which are not available for immediate delivery.
When such transactions are negotiated, the price (which is generally
expressed in yield terms) is fixed at the time the commitment is made.
Delivery and payment for the securities take place at a later date (generally
within 45 days of the date the offer is accepted). The securities are
subject to change in value from market fluctuations during the period until
settlement. The value at delivery may be less than the purchase price. For
example, changes in interest rates in a direction other than that expected by
the Sub-Adviser before settlement will affect the value of such securities
and may cause a loss to the Fund. During the period between purchase and
settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest
accrues to the Fund from the investment.
The Fund can engage in when-issued transactions to secure what the
Sub-Adviser considers to be an advantageous price and yield at the time of
entering into the obligation. When the Fund enters into a when-issued or
delayed-delivery transaction, it relies on the other party to complete the
transaction. Their failure to do so may cause the Fund to lose the
opportunity to obtain the security at a price and yield the Sub-Adviser
considers to be advantageous.
When the Fund engages in when-issued and delayed delivery transactions,
it does so for the purpose of acquiring or selling securities consistent with
its investment objective and policies for its portfolio or for delivery
pursuant to options contracts it has entered into, and not for the purpose of
investment leverage. Although the Fund will enter into delayed delivery or
when-issued purchase transactions to acquire securities, it may dispose of a
commitment prior to settlement. If the Fund chooses to dispose of the right
to acquire a when-issued security prior to its acquisition or to dispose of
its right to delivery or receive against a forward commitment, it may incur a
gain or loss.
At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase or sell a
security on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, it records the
transaction on its books and reflects the value of the security purchased in
determining the Fund's net asset value. In a sale transaction, it records
the proceeds to be received. The Fund will identify to its Custodian bank
cash, U.S. government securities or other high-grade debt obligations at
least equal in value to the value of the Fund's purchase commitments until
the Fund pays for the investment. The Fund will not enter into when-issued
commitments if more than 15% of the Fund's net assets would be committed
under these transactions.
When issued and delayed-delivery transactions can be used by the Fund
as a defensive technique to hedge against anticipated changes in interest
rates and prices. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and
falling prices, the Fund might sell securities in its portfolio on a forward
commitment basis to attempt to limit its exposure to anticipated falling
prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, the Fund
might sell portfolio securities and purchase the same or similar securities
on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis to obtain the benefit of currently
higher cash yields.
n Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may acquire securities subject to
repurchase agreements. It may do so for liquidity purposes to meet
anticipated redemptions of Fund shares, or pending the investment of the
proceeds from sales of Fund shares, or pending the settlement of portfolio
securities.
In a repurchase transaction, the Fund buys a security from, and
simultaneously resells it to, an approved vendor for delivery on an
agreed-upon future date. Approved vendors include U.S. commercial banks, U.S.
branches of foreign banks, or broker-dealers that have been designated as
primary dealers in government securities. They must meet credit requirements
set by the Fund's Board of Trustees from time to time. The resale price
exceeds the purchase price by an amount that reflects an agreed-upon interest
rate effective for the period during which the repurchase agreement is in
effect.
The majority of these transactions run from day to day, and delivery
pursuant to the resale typically occurs within one to five days of the
purchase. Repurchase agreements having a maturity beyond seven days are
subject to the Fund's limits on holding illiquid investments. There is no
limit on the amount of the Fund's net assets that may be subject to
repurchase agreements having maturities of seven days or less.
Repurchase agreements, considered "loans" under the Investment Company
Act, are collateralized by the underlying security. The Fund's repurchase
agreements require that at all times while the repurchase agreement is in
effect, the value of the collateral must equal or exceed the repurchase price
to fully collateralize the repayment obligation. However, if the vendor fails
to pay the resale price on the delivery date, the Fund may incur costs in
disposing of the collateral and may experience losses if there is any delay
in its ability to do so. The Sub-Adviser will impose creditworthiness
requirements to confirm that the vendor is financially sound and will
continuously monitor the collateral's value.
n Illiquid and Restricted Securities. To enable the Fund to sell its
holdings of a restricted security not registered under the Securities Act of
1933, the Fund may have to cause those securities to be registered. The
expenses of registering restricted securities may be negotiated by the Fund
with the issuer at the time the Fund buys the securities. When the Fund must
arrange registration because the Fund wishes to sell the security, a
considerable period may elapse between the time the decision is made to sell
the security and the time the security is registered so that the Fund could
sell it. The Fund would bear the risks of any downward price fluctuation
during that period.
The Fund may also acquire restricted securities through private
placements. Those securities have contractual restrictions on their public
resale. Those restrictions might limit the Fund's ability to dispose of the
securities and might lower the amount the Fund could realize upon the sale.
The Fund has limitations that apply to purchases of restricted
securities, as stated in the Prospectus. Those percentage restrictions do not
limit purchases of restricted securities that are eligible for sale to
qualified institutional purchasers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of
1933, if those securities have been determined to be liquid by the Manager
under Board-approved guidelines. Those guidelines take into account the
trading activity for such securities and the availability of reliable pricing
information, among other factors. If there is a lack of trading interest in
a particular Rule 144A security, the Fund's holdings of that security may be
considered to be illiquid.
n Loans of Portfolio Securities. The Fund can lend its portfolio
securities to certain types of eligible borrowers approved by the Board of
Trustees. It may do so to try to provide income or to raise cash for
liquidity purposes. These loans are limited to not more than 10% of the value
of the Fund's total assets. There are some risks in connection with
securities lending. The Fund might experience a delay in receiving additional
collateral to secure a loan, or a delay in recovery of the loaned securities.
The Fund presently does not intend to engage in loans of securities in the
coming year.
The Fund must receive collateral for a loan. Under current applicable
regulatory requirements (which are subject to change), on each business day
the loan collateral must be at least equal to the value of the loaned
securities. It must consist of cash, bank letters of credit, securities of
the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or other cash
equivalents in which the Fund is permitted to invest. To be acceptable as
collateral, letters of credit must obligate a bank to pay amounts demanded by
the Fund if the demand meets the terms of the letter. The terms of the
letter of credit and the issuing bank both must be satisfactory to the Fund.
When it lends securities, the Fund receives amounts equal to the
dividends or interest on loaned securities. It also receives one or more of
(a) negotiated loan fees, (b) interest on securities used as collateral, and
(c) interest on any short-term debt securities purchased with such loan
collateral. Either type of interest may be shared with the borrower. The
Fund may also pay reasonable finders, custodian and administrative fees in
connection with these loans. The terms of the Fund's loans must meet
applicable tests under the Internal Revenue Code and must permit the Fund to
reacquire loaned securities on five days' notice or in time to vote on any
important matter.
n Borrowing. As a fundamental policy, the Fund may not borrow money
except as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, and
loans may not exceed 33-1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets.
Additionally, as part of that fundamental policy, the Fund will not purchase
securities at times when loans exceed 5% of its total assets.
The Fund may borrow only from banks. Under current regulatory
requirements, borrowings can be made only to the extent that the value of the
Fund's assets, less its liabilities other than borrowings, is equal to at
least 300% of all borrowings (including the proposed borrowing). If the value
of the Fund's assets sails to meet this 300% asset coverage requirement, the
Fund will reduce its bank debt within three days to meet the requirement. To
do so, the Fund might have to sell a portion of its investments at a
disadvantageous time.
The Fund will pay interest on these loans, and that interest expense
will raise the overall expenses of the Fund and reduce its returns. If it
does borrow, its expenses will be greater than comparable funds that do not
borrow. Additionally, the Fund's net asset value per share might fluctuate
more than that of funds that do not borrow.
n Hedging. Although the Fund can use hedging instruments, it is not
obligated to use them in seeking its objective. It does not currently
contemplate using them to any significant degree. The Fund may use hedging to
attempt to protect against declines in the market value of the Fund's
portfolio, to permit the Fund to retain unrealized gains in the value of
portfolio securities which have appreciated, or to facilitate selling
securities for investment reasons. To do so, the Fund may:
o sell futures contracts,
o buy puts on such futures or on securities, or
o write covered calls on securities or futures.
The Fund may use hedging to establish a position in the securities
market as a temporary substitute for purchasing particular securities. In
that case the Fund will normally seek to purchase the securities and then
terminate that hedging position. The Fund might also use this type of hedge
to attempt to protect against the possibility that its portfolio securities
would not be fully included in a rise in value of the market. To do so the
Fund may:
o buy futures, or
o buy calls on such futures or on securities.
The Fund's strategy of hedging with futures and options on futures will
be incidental to the Fund's activities in the underlying cash market. The
particular hedging instruments the Fund can use are described below. The
Fund may employ new hedging instruments and strategies when they are
developed, if those investment methods are consistent with the Fund's
investment objective and are permissible under applicable regulations
governing the Fund.
o Futures. The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts that relate to
(1) broadly-based securities indices (these are referred to as stock index
futures), (2) foreign currencies (these are referred to as forward
contracts), and (3) commodities (these are referred to as commodity futures).
A broadly-based stock index is used as the basis for trading stock
index futures. These indices may in some cases be based on stocks of issuers
in a particular industry or group of industries. A stock index assigns
relative values to the common stocks included in the index and its value
fluctuates in response to the changes in value of the underlying stocks. A
stock index cannot be purchased or sold directly. These contracts obligate
the seller to deliver, and the purchaser to take, cash to settle the futures
transaction. There is no delivery made of the underlying securities to settle
the futures obligation. Either party may also settle the transaction by
entering into an offsetting contract.
The Fund can invests a portion of its assets in commodity futures
contracts. Commodity futures may be based upon commodities within five main
commodity groups: (1) energy, which includes crude oil, natural gas, gasoline
and heating oil; (2) livestock, which includes cattle and hogs; (3)
agriculture, which includes wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, coffee, sugar and
cocoa; (4) industrial metals, which includes aluminum, copper, lead, nickel,
tin and zinc; and (5) precious metals, which includes gold, platinum and
silver. The Fund may purchase and sell commodity futures contracts, options
on futures contracts and options and futures on commodity indices with
respect to these five main commodity groups and the individual commodities
within each group, as well as other types of commodities.
No payment is paid or received by the Fund on the purchase or sale of a
future. Upon entering into a futures transaction, the Fund will be required
to deposit an initial margin payment with the futures commission merchant
(the "futures broker"). Initial margin payments will be deposited with the
Fund's Custodian bank in an account registered in the futures broker's name.
However, the futures broker can gain access to that account only under
specified conditions. As the future is marked to market (that is, its value
on the Fund's books is changed) to reflect changes in its market value,
subsequent margin payments, called variation margin, will be paid to or by
the futures broker daily.
At any time prior to expiration of the future, the Fund may elect to
close out its position by taking an opposite position, at which time a final
determination of variation margin is made and any additional cash must be
paid by or released to the Fund. Any loss or gain on the future is then
realized by the Fund for tax purposes. All futures transactions are effected
through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange on which the contracts
are traded.
o Put and Call Options. The Fund may buy and sell certain kinds of put
options ("puts") and call options ("calls"). The Fund may buy and sell
exchange-traded and over-the-counter put and call options, including options
on broadly-based indices, securities, and stock index futures. The Trustees
have adopted a non-fundamental policy that the Fund may write covered call
options or write covered put options with respect to no more than 5% of the
value of its net assets. Similarly, the Fund may only purchase call options
and put options with a value of up to 5% of its net assets.
o Writing Covered Call Options. The Fund may write (that is,
sell) covered calls. If the Fund sells a call option, it must be covered.
For options on securities, that means the Fund must own the security subject
to the call while the call is outstanding. For stock index options, that
means the call must be covered by segregating liquid assets to enable the
Fund to satisfy its obligations if the call is exercised.
When the Fund writes a call, it receives cash (a premium). For calls on
securities, the Fund agrees to sell the underlying security to a purchaser of
a corresponding call on the same security during the call period at a fixed
exercise price regardless of market price changes during the call period. The
call period is usually not more than nine months. The exercise price may
differ from the market price of the underlying security. The Fund has the
risk of loss that the price of the underlying security may decline during the
call period. That risk may be offset to some extent by the premium the Fund
receives. If the value of the investment does not rise above the call price,
it is likely that the call will lapse without being exercised. In that case
the Fund would keep the cash premium and the investment.
If the buyer of a call on a stock index exercises it, the Fund will pay
an amount of cash equal to the difference between the closing price of the
call and the exercise price, multiplied by a specified multiple that
determines the total value of the call for each point of difference. If the
value of the underlying investment does not rise above the call price, it is
likely that the call will lapse without being exercised. In that case the
Fund would keep the cash premium.
Settlement of puts and calls on broadly-based stock indices is in cash.
Gain or loss on options on stock indices depends on changes in the index in
question (and thus on price movements in the stock market generally).
The Fund's Custodian, or a securities depository acting for the
Custodian, will act as the Fund's escrow agent, through the facilities of the
Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC"), as to the investments on which the Fund
has written calls traded on exchanges or as to other acceptable escrow
securities. In that way, no margin will be required for such transactions.
OCC will release the securities on the expiration of the option or when the
Fund enters into a closing transaction.
When the Fund writes an over-the-counter ("OTC") option, it will enter
into an arrangement with a primary U.S. government securities dealer which
will establish a formula price at which the Fund will have the absolute right
to repurchase that OTC option. The formula price will generally be based on
a multiple of the premium received for the option, plus the amount by which
the option is exercisable below the market price of the underlying security
(that is, the option is "in the money"). When the Fund writes an OTC option,
it will treat as illiquid (for purposes of its restriction on holding
illiquid securities) the mark-to-market value of any OTC option it holds,
unless the option is subject to a buy-back agreement by the executing broker.
To terminate its obligation on a call it has written, the Fund may
purchase a corresponding call in a "closing purchase transaction." The Fund
will then realize a profit or loss, depending upon whether the net of the
amount of the option transaction costs and the premium received on the call
the Fund wrote is more or less than the price of the call the Fund purchases
to close out the transaction. The Fund may realize a profit if the call
expires unexercised, because the Fund will retain the premium it received
when it wrote the call. Any such profits are considered short-term capital
gains for Federal income tax purposes, as are the premiums on lapsed calls.
When distributed by the Fund they are taxable as ordinary income. If the
Fund cannot effect a closing purchase transaction due to the lack of a
market, it will have to hold the escrowed assets in escrow until the call
expires or is exercised.
The Fund may also write calls on a futures contract without owning the
futures contract or securities deliverable under the contract. To do so, at
the time the call is written, the Fund must cover the call by segregating an
equivalent dollar amount of liquid assets. The Fund will segregate
additional liquid assets if the value of the segregated assets drops below
100% of the current value of the future. Because of this segregation
requirement, in no circumstances would the Fund's receipt of an exercise
notice as to that future require the Fund to deliver a futures contract. It
would simply put the Fund in a short futures position, which is permitted by
the Fund's hedging policies.
o Writing Put Options. The Fund may sell put options on
broadly-based stock indices, foreign currencies or stock index futures. If
the Fund writes a put, the put must be covered by segregated liquid assets.
The premium the Fund receives from writing a put represents a profit,
as long as the price of the underlying investment remains equal to or above
the exercise price of the put. However, the Fund also assumes the obligation
during the option period to settle the transaction in cash with the buyer of
the put at the exercise price, even if the value of the underlying investment
falls below the exercise price. If a put the Fund has written expires
unexercised, the Fund realizes a gain in the amount of the premium less the
transaction costs incurred. If the put is exercised, the Fund must fulfill
its obligation to settle in cash at the exercise price. That price will
usually exceed the market value of the investment at that time.
As long as the Fund's obligation as the put writer continues, it may be
assigned an exercise notice by the broker-dealer through which the put was
sold. That notice will require the Fund to settle the transaction in cash at
the exercise price. The Fund has no control over when it may be required to
settle the transaction, since it may be assigned an exercise notice at any
time prior to the termination of its obligation as the writer of the put.
That obligation terminates upon expiration of the put. It may also terminate
if, before it receives an exercise notice, the Fund effects a closing
purchase transaction by purchasing a put of the same series as it sold. Once
the Fund has been assigned an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing
purchase transaction.
The Fund may decide to effect a closing purchase transaction to realize
a profit on an outstanding put option it has written. The Fund will realize a
profit or loss from a closing purchase transaction depending on whether the
cost of the transaction is less or more than the premium received from
writing the put option. Any profits from writing puts are considered
short-term capital gains for Federal tax purposes, and when distributed by
the Fund, are taxable as ordinary income.
o Purchasing Calls and Puts. The Fund may buy calls on
securities it intends to purchase and puts on securities that it owns. The
Fund may purchase calls to protect against the possibility that the Fund's
portfolio will not participate in an anticipated rise in the securities
market.
When the Fund buys a call (other than in a closing purchase
transaction), it pays a premium. Buying a call on a security or future gives
the Fund the right to buy the underlying investment from a seller of a
corresponding call on the same investment during the call period at a fixed
exercise price. The Fund benefits only if it sells the call at a profit or
if, during the call period, the market price of the underlying investment is
above the sum of the call price plus the transaction costs and the premium
paid for the call and the Fund exercises the call. If the Fund does not
exercise the call or sell it (whether or not at a profit), the call will
become worthless at its expiration date. In that case the Fund will have paid
the premium but lost the right to purchase the underlying investment.
In the case of a purchase of a call on a stock index, if the Fund
exercises the call during the call period, a seller of a corresponding call
on the same index will pay the Fund an amount of cash to settle the call if
the closing level of the stock index upon which the call is based is greater
than the exercise price of the call. That cash payment is equal to the
difference between the closing price of the call and the exercise price of
the call times a specified multiple (the "multiplier") which determines the
total dollar value for each point of difference.
When the Fund buys a put, it pays a premium. It has the right during
the put period to require a seller of a corresponding put, upon the Fund's
exercise of its put, to buy the underlying security (in the case of puts on
securities or futures) or in the case of puts on stock indices, to deliver
cash to the Fund to settle the put if the closing level of the stock index
upon which the put is based is less than the exercise price of the put. That
cash payment is determined by the multiplier, in the same manner as described
above as to calls.
Buying a put on a security or future enables the Fund to sell the
underlying investment to a seller of a corresponding put on the same
investment during the put period at a fixed exercise price. Buying a put on
securities or Futures the Fund owns enables the Fund to attempt to protect
itself during the put period against a decline in the value of the underlying
investment below the exercise price by selling the underlying investment at
the exercise price to a seller of a corresponding put. If the market price of
the underlying investment is equal to or above the exercise price and, as a
result, the put is not exercised or resold, the put will become worthless at
its expiration date. In that case the Fund will have paid the premium but
lost the right to sell the underlying investment. However, the Fund may sell
the put prior to its expiration. That sale may or may not be at a profit.
Buying a put on an investment the Fund does not own (such as an index
or future) permits the Fund either to resell the put or to buy the underlying
investment and sell it at the exercise price. The resale price will vary
inversely to the price of the underlying investment. If the market price of
the underlying investment is above the exercise price and, as a result, the
put is not exercised, the put will become worthless on its expiration date.
When the Fund purchases a put on a stock index, the put protects the
Fund to the extent that the index moves in a similar pattern to the
securities the Fund holds. The Fund can resell the put. The resale price of
the put will vary inversely with the price of the underlying investment. If
the market price of the underlying investment is above the exercise price,
and as a result the put is not exercised, the put will become worthless on
the expiration date. In the event of a decline in price of the underlying
investment, the Fund could exercise or sell the put at a profit to attempt to
offset some or all of its loss on its portfolio securities.
o Buying and Selling Options on Foreign Currencies. The Fund
can buy and sell calls and puts on foreign currencies. They include puts and
calls that trade on a securities or commodities exchange or in the
over-the-counter markets or are quoted by major recognized dealers in such
options. The Fund would use these calls and puts to try to protect against
declines in the dollar value of foreign securities and increases in the
dollar cost of foreign securities the Fund wants to acquire.
If the Sub-Adviser anticipates a rise in the dollar value of a foreign
currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated, the increased
cost of those securities may be partially offset by purchasing calls or
writing puts on that foreign currency. If the Sub-Adviser anticipates a
decline in the dollar value of a foreign currency, the decline in the dollar
value of portfolio securities denominated in that currency may be partially
offset by writing calls or purchasing puts on that foreign currency.
However, the currency rates could fluctuate in a direction adverse to the
Fund's position. The Fund will then have incurred option premium payments and
transaction costs without a corresponding benefit.
A call the Fund writes on a foreign currency is "covered" if the Fund
owns the underlying foreign currency covered by the call or has an absolute
and immediate right to acquire that foreign currency without additional cash
consideration (or it can do so for additional cash consideration held in a
segregated account by its Custodian bank) upon conversion or exchange of
other foreign currency held in its portfolio.
o Risks of Hedging with Options and Futures. The use of hedging
instruments requires special skills and knowledge of investment techniques
that are different than what is required for normal portfolio management. If
the Sub-Adviser uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges market
conditions incorrectly, hedging strategies may reduce the Fund's return. The
Fund could also experience losses if the prices of its futures and options
positions were not correlated with its other investments. The Fund's option
activities may affect its costs.
The Fund's option activities may affect its portfolio turnover rate and
brokerage commissions. The exercise of calls written by the Fund may cause
the Fund to sell related portfolio securities, thus increasing its turnover
rate. The exercise by the Fund of puts on securities will cause the sale of
underlying investments, increasing portfolio turnover. Although the decision
whether to exercise a put it holds is within the Fund's control, holding a
put might cause the Fund to sell the related investments for reasons that
would not exist in the absence of the put.
The Fund may pay a brokerage commission each time it buys a call or
put, sells a call or put, or buys or sells an underlying investment in
connection with the exercise of a call or put. Those commissions may be
higher on a relative basis than the commissions for direct purchases or sales
of the underlying investments. Premiums paid for options are small in
relation to the market value of the underlying investments. Consequently, put
and call options offer large amounts of leverage. The leverage offered by
trading in options could result in the Fund's net asset value being more
sensitive to changes in the value of the underlying investment.
If a covered call written by the Fund is exercised on an investment
that has increased in value, the Fund will be required to sell the investment
at the call price. It will not be able to realize any profit if the
investment has increased in value above the call price.
An option position may be closed out only on a market that provides
secondary trading for options of the same series, and there is no assurance
that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option. The
Fund could experience losses if it could not close out a position because of
an illiquid market for the future or option.
There is a risk in using short hedging by selling futures or purchasing
puts on broadly-based indices or futures to attempt to protect against
declines in the value of the Fund's portfolio securities. The risk is that
the prices of the futures or the applicable index will correlate imperfectly
with the behavior of the cash prices of the Fund's securities. For example,
it is possible that while the Fund has used hedging instruments in a short
hedge, the market may advance and the value of the securities held in the
Fund's portfolio may decline. If that occurred, the Fund would lose money on
the hedging instruments and also experience a decline in the value of its
portfolio securities. However, while this could occur for a very brief period
or to a very small degree, over time the value of a diversified portfolio of
securities will tend to move in the same direction as the indices upon which
the hedging instruments are based.
The risk of imperfect correlation increases as the composition of the
Fund's portfolio diverges from the securities included in the applicable
index. To compensate for the imperfect correlation of movements in the price
of the portfolio securities being hedged and movements in the price of the
hedging instruments, the Fund may use hedging instruments in a greater dollar
amount than the dollar amount of portfolio securities being hedged. It might
do so if the historical volatility of the prices of the portfolio securities
being hedged is more than the historical volatility of the applicable index.
The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets are
subject to distortions, due to differences in the nature of those markets.
First, all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit
and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit
requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting
transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the cash and
futures markets. Second, the liquidity of the futures market depends on
participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or
taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery,
liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, thus producing distortion.
Third, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements in the
futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities
markets. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the futures
market may cause temporary price distortions.
The Fund can use hedging instruments to establish a position in the
securities markets as a temporary substitute for the purchase of individual
securities (long hedging) by buying futures and/or calls on such futures,
broadly-based indices or on securities. It is possible that when the Fund
does so the market may decline. If the Fund then concludes not to invest in
securities because of concerns that the market may decline further or for
other reasons, the Fund will realize a loss on the hedging instruments that
is not offset by a reduction in the price of the securities purchased.
o Forward Contracts. Forward contracts are foreign currency exchange
contracts. They are used to buy or sell foreign currency for future delivery
at a fixed price. The Fund uses them to "lock in" the U.S. dollar price of a
security denominated in a foreign currency that the Fund has bought or sold,
or to protect against possible losses from changes in the relative values of
the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency. The Fund limits its exposure in
foreign currency exchange contracts in a particular foreign currency to the
amount of its assets denominated in that currency or a closely-correlated
currency. The Fund may also use "cross-hedging" where the Fund hedges
against changes in currencies other than the currency in which a security it
holds is denominated.
Under a forward contract, one party agrees to purchase, and another
party agrees to sell, a specific currency at a future date. That date may be
any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the
parties. The transaction price is set at the time the contract is entered
into. These contracts are traded in the inter-bank market conducted directly
among currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers.
The Fund may use forward contracts to protect against uncertainty in
the level of future exchange rates. The use of forward contracts does not
eliminate the risk of fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities
the Fund owns or intends to acquire, but it does fix a rate of exchange in
advance. Although forward contracts may reduce the risk of loss from a
decline in the value of the hedged currency, at the same time they limit any
potential gain if the value of the hedged currency increases.
When the Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a
security denominated in a foreign currency, or when it anticipates receiving
dividend payments in a foreign currency, the Fund may desire to "lock-in" the
U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of the
dividend payments. To do so, the Fund may enter into a forward contract for
the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in the
underlying transaction, in a fixed amount of U.S. dollars per unit of the
foreign currency. This is called a "transaction hedge." The transaction hedge
will protect the Fund against a loss from an adverse change in the currency
exchange rates during the period between the date on which the security is
purchased or sold or on which the payment is declared, and the date on which
the payments are made or received.
The Fund may also use forward contracts to lock in the U.S. dollar
value of portfolio positions. This is called a "position hedge." When the
Fund believes that foreign currency may suffer a substantial decline against
the U.S. dollar, it may enter into a forward contract to sell an amount of
that foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the Fund's
portfolio securities denominated in that foreign currency. When the Fund
believes that the U.S. dollar may suffer a substantial decline against a
foreign currency, it may enter into a forward contract to buy that foreign
currency for a fixed dollar amount. Alternatively, the Fund may enter into a
forward contract to sell a different foreign currency for a fixed U.S. dollar
amount if the Fund believes that the U.S. dollar value of the foreign
currency to be sold pursuant to its forward contract will fall whenever there
is a decline in the U.S. dollar value of the currency in which portfolio
securities of the Fund are denominated. That is referred to as a "cross
hedge."
The Fund will cover its short positions in these cases by identifying
to its Custodian bank assets having a value equal to the aggregate amount of
the Fund's commitment under forward contracts. The Fund will not enter into
forward contracts or maintain a net exposure to such contracts if the
consummation of the contracts would obligate the Fund to deliver an amount of
foreign currency in excess of the value of the Fund's portfolio securities or
other assets denominated in that currency or another currency that is the
subject of the hedge. However, to avoid excess transactions and transaction
costs, the Fund may maintain a net exposure to forward contracts in excess of
the value of the Fund's portfolio securities or other assets denominated in
foreign currencies if the excess amount is "covered" by liquid securities
denominated in any currency. The cover must be at least equal at all times to
the amount of that excess.
As one alternative, the Fund may purchase a call option permitting the
Fund to purchase the amount of foreign currency being hedged by a forward
sale contract at a price no higher than the forward contract price. As
another alternative, the Fund may purchase a put option permitting the Fund
to sell the amount of foreign currency subject to a forward purchase contract
at a price as high or higher than the forward contact price.
The precise matching of the amounts under forward contracts and the
value of the securities involved generally will not be possible because the
future value of securities denominated in foreign currencies will change as a
consequence of market movements between the date the forward contract is
entered into and the date it is sold. In some cases the Sub-Adviser may
decide to sell the security and deliver foreign currency to settle the
original purchase obligation. If the market value of the security is less
than the amount of foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver, the
Fund may have to purchase additional foreign currency on the "spot" (that is,
cash) market to settle the security trade. If the market value of the
security instead exceeds the amount of foreign currency the Fund is obligated
to deliver to settle the trade, the Fund may have to sell on the spot market
some of the foreign currency received upon the sale of the security. There
will be additional transaction costs on the spot market in those cases.
The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely
difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is
highly uncertain. Forward contracts involve the risk that anticipated
currency movements will not be accurately predicted, causing the Fund to
sustain losses on these contracts and to pay additional transactions costs.
The use of forward contracts in this manner may reduce the Fund's performance
if there are unanticipated changes in currency prices to a greater degree
than if the Fund had not entered into such contracts.
At or before the maturity of a forward contract requiring the Fund to
sell a currency, the Fund might sell a portfolio security and use the sale
proceeds to make delivery of the currency. In the alternative the Fund might
retain the security and offset its contractual obligation to deliver the
currency by purchasing a second contract. Under that contract the Fund will
obtain, on the same maturity date, the same amount of the currency that it is
obligated to deliver. Similarly, the Fund might close out a forward contract
requiring it to purchase a specified currency by entering into a second
contract entitling it to sell the same amount of the same currency on the
maturity date of the first contract. The Fund would realize a gain or loss
as a result of entering into such an offsetting forward contract under either
circumstance. The gain or loss will depend on the extent to which the
exchange rate or rates between the currencies involved moved between the
execution dates of the first contract and offsetting contract.
The costs to the Fund of engaging in forward contracts varies with
factors such as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period
and the market conditions then prevailing. Because forward contracts are
usually entered into on a principal basis, no brokerage fees or commissions
are involved. Because these contracts are not traded on an exchange, the
Fund must evaluate the credit and performance risk of the counterparty under
each forward contract.
Although the Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, it
does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S.
dollars on a daily basis. The Fund may convert foreign currency from time to
time, and will incur costs in doing so. Foreign exchange dealers do not
charge a fee for conversion, but they do seek to realize a profit based on
the difference between the prices at which they buy and sell various
currencies. Thus, a dealer might offer to sell a foreign currency to the
Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange if the Fund
desires to resell that currency to the dealer.
o Regulatory Aspects of Hedging Instruments. When using futures and
options on futures, the Fund is required to operate within certain guidelines
and restrictions with respect to the use of futures as established by the
Commodities Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC"). In particular, the Fund
is exempted from registration with the CFTC as a "commodity pool operator" if
the Fund complies with the requirements of Rule 4.5 adopted by the CFTC. The
Rule does not limit the percentage of the Fund's assets that may be used for
futures margin and related options premiums for a bona fide hedging
position. However, under the Rule, the Fund must limit its aggregate initial
futures margin and related options premiums to not more than 5% of the Fund's
net assets for hedging strategies that are not considered bona fide hedging
strategies under the Rule. Under the Rule, the Fund must also use short
futures and options on futures solely for bona fide hedging purposes within
the meaning and intent of the applicable provisions of the Commodity Exchange
Act.
Transactions in options by the Fund are subject to limitations
established by the option exchanges. The exchanges limit the maximum number
of options that may be written or held by a single investor or group of
investors acting in concert. Those limits apply regardless of whether the
options were written or purchased on the same or different exchanges or are
held in one or more accounts or through one or more different exchanges or
through one or more brokers. Thus, the number of options that the Fund may
write or hold may be affected by options written or held by other entities,
including other investment companies having the same adviser as the Fund (or
an adviser that is an affiliate of the Fund's adviser or Sub-Adviser). The
exchanges also impose position limits on futures transactions. An exchange
may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of those
limits and may impose certain other sanctions.
Under the Investment Company Act, when the Fund purchases a future, it
must maintain cash or readily marketable short-term debt instruments in an
amount equal to the market value of the securities underlying the future,
less the margin deposit applicable to it. The account must be a segregated
account or accounts held by the Fund's Custodian bank.
o Tax Aspects of Certain Hedging Instruments. Certain foreign currency
exchange contracts in which the Fund may invest are treated as "section 1256
contracts" under the Internal Revenue Code. In general, gains or losses
relating to section 1256 contracts are characterized as 60% long-term and 40%
short-term capital gains or losses under the Code. However, foreign currency
gains or losses arising from section 1256 contracts that are forward
contracts generally are treated as ordinary income or loss. In addition,
section 1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of each taxable year are
"marked-to-market," and unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they
were realized. These contracts also may be marked-to-market for purposes of
determining the excise tax applicable to investment company distributions and
for other purposes under rules prescribed pursuant to the Internal Revenue
Code. An election can be made by the Fund to exempt those transactions from
this marked-to-market treatment.
Certain forward contracts the Fund enters into may result in
"straddles" for Federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules may affect
the character and timing of gains (or losses) recognized by the Fund on
straddle positions. Generally, a loss sustained on the disposition of a
position making up a straddle is allowed only to the extent that the loss
exceeds any unrecognized gain in the offsetting positions making up the
straddle. Disallowed loss is generally allowed at the point where there is
no unrecognized gain in the offsetting positions making up the straddle, or
the offsetting position is disposed of.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, the following gains or losses are
treated as ordinary income or loss:
(1) gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates that
occur between the time the Fund accrues interest or other
receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities
denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund
actually collects such receivables or pays such liabilities,
and
(2) gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in the value of a foreign
currency between the date of acquisition of a debt security
denominated in a foreign currency or foreign currency forward
contracts and the date of disposition.
Currency gains and losses are offset against market gains and losses on
each trade before determining a net "Section 988" gain or loss under the
Internal Revenue Code for that trade, which may increase or decrease the
amount of the Fund's investment company income available for distribution to
its shareholders.
Investment Restrictions
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
n What Are "Fundamental Policies?" Fundamental policies are those
policies that the Fund has adopted to govern its investments that can be
changed only by the vote of a "majority" of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities. Under the Investment Company Act, a "majority" vote is defined
as the vote of the holders of the lesser of:
o 67% or more of the shares present or represented by proxy at a
shareholder meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding
shares are present or represented by proxy, or
o more than 50% of the outstanding shares.
The Fund's investment objective is a fundamental policy. Other policies
described in the Prospectus or this Statement of Additional Information are
"fundamental" only if they are identified as such. The Fund's Board of
Trustees can change non-fundamental policies without shareholder approval.
However, significant changes to investment policies will be described in
supplements or updates to the Prospectus or this Statement of Additional
Information, as appropriate. The Fund's most significant investment policies
are described in the Prospectus.
n Does the Fund Have Additional Fundamental Policies? The following
investment restrictions are fundamental policies of the Fund.
G The Fund cannot invest more than 5% of the value of its total assets
in the securities of any one issuer. This limitation applies to 75% of the
Fund's total assets.
G The Fund cannot purchase more than 10% of any class of security of
any issuer. All outstanding debt securities and all preferred stock of an
issuer are considered as one class. This restriction does not apply to
securities issued by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities.
G The Fund cannot concentrate its investments. That means it cannot
invest 25% or more of its total assets in any industry. If deemed
appropriate for attaining its investment objective, the Fund may invest less
than 25% of its total assets (valued at the time of investment) in any one
industry classification used by the Fund for investment purposes. For this
purpose, a foreign government is considered an industry.
G The Fund cannot borrow money in excess of 33-1/3% of the value of the
Fund's total assets. The Fund may borrow only from banks and only as a
temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes. The Fund will
make no additional investments while such borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund's
total assets. The Fund can borrow only if it maintains a 300% ratio of
assets to borrowings at all times in the manner set forth in the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
G The Fund cannot invest in physical commodities or physical commodity
contracts. However, the Fund may buy and sell hedging instruments to the
extent specified in its Prospectus from time to time. The Fund can also buy
and sell options, futures, securities or other instruments backed by, or the
investment return from which is linked to, changes in the price of physical
commodities.
G The Fund cannot invest in real estate or real estate limited
partnerships (direct participation programs). However, the Fund may purchase
securities of issuers which engage in real estate operations and securities
which are secured by real estate or interests therein.
G The Fund cannot underwrite securities of other companies. A
permitted exception is in case it is deemed to be an underwriter under the
Securities Act of 1933 when reselling any securities held in its own
portfolio.
G The Fund cannot invest in securities of any issuer if, to the
knowledge of the Trust, any officer or trustee of the Trust or any officer or
director of the Manager or Sub-Adviser owns more than 1/2 of 1% of the
outstanding securities of such issuer, and such officers, trustees and
directors who own more than 1/2 of l% own in the aggregate more than 5% of
the outstanding securities of such issuer.
G The Fund cannot pledge its assets or assign or otherwise encumber its
assets in excess of 10% of its net assets (taken at market value at the time
of pledging). It can pledge, assign or encumber its assets only to secure
borrowings effected within the limitations set forth in the Prospectus.
G The Fund cannot invest for the purpose of exercising control or
management of another company.
G The Fund cannot issue senior securities (as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940). However, the Fund can enter into any
repurchase agreement, borrow money in accordance with restrictions described
above and lend its portfolio securities.
G The Fund cannot make loans to any person or individual. However, the
Fund may loan portfolio securities within the limitations set forth in the
Prospectus.
n Does the Fund Have Any Restrictions That Are Not Fundamental? The
Fund has other investment restrictions that are not fundamental policies,
which means that they can be changed by the Board of Trustees without
shareholder approval.
G The Fund cannot purchase securities on margin, except for such
short-term loans as are necessary for the clearance of purchases of portfolio
securities. Moreover, the Fund cannot make short sales of securities.
However, collateral arrangements in connection with transactions in futures
and options are not deemed to be margin transactions for this purpose.
G The Fund cannot invest in interests in oil, gas or other mineral
exploration or development programs or leases.
Unless the Prospectus or this Statement of Additional Information
states that a percentage restriction applies on an ongoing basis, it applies
only at the time the Fund makes an investment. The Fund need not sell
securities to meet the percentage limits if the value of the investment
increases in proportion to the size of the Fund.
For purposes of the Fund's policy not to concentrate its investments as
described above, the Fund has adopted the industry classifications set forth
in Appendix B to this Statement of Additional Information. This is not a
fundamental policy.
How the Fund is Managed
Organization and History. The Fund is an open-end, diversified management
investment company. The Fund is one of three series of Oppenheimer Quest for
Value Funds (the "Trust"), an open-end management investment company
organized as a Massachusetts business trust in April 1987.
The Fund is governed by a Board of Trustees, which is responsible for
protecting the interests of shareholders under Massachusetts law. The
Trustees meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Fund's
activities, review its performance, and review the actions of the Manager.
Although the Fund will not normally hold annual meetings of its shareholders,
it may hold shareholder meetings from time to time on important matters, and
shareholders have the right to call a meeting to remove a Trustee or to take
other action described in the Fund's Declaration of Trust.
o Classes of Shares. The Board of Trustees has the power, without
shareholder approval, to divide unissued shares of the Trust into two or more
series and each series into two or more classes. The Board has done so, and
the Fund currently has four classes of shares: Class A, Class B and, Class
C. All classes invest in the same investment portfolio. Each class of
shares:
o has its own dividends and distributions,
o pays certain expenses which may be different for the different classes,
o may have a different net asset value,
o may have separate voting rights on matters in which interests of one
class are different from interests of another class, and
o votes as a class on matters that affect that class alone.
Shares are freely transferable, and each share of each class has one
vote at shareholder meetings, with fractional shares voting proportionally on
matters submitted to the vote of shareholders. Each share of the Fund
represents an interest in the Fund proportionately equal to the interest of
each other share of the same class.
The Trustees are authorized to create new series of the Trust and new
classes of shares of the Fund. The Trustees may reclassify unissued shares
of the Fund into additional series or classes of shares. The Trustees also
may divide or combine the shares of a class into a greater or lesser number
of shares without changing the proportionate beneficial interest of a
shareholder in the Fund. Shares do not have cumulative voting rights or
preemptive or subscription rights. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy
at shareholder meetings.
o Meetings of Shareholders. Although the Fund is not required by
Massachusetts law to hold annual meetings, it may hold shareholder meetings
from time to time on important matters. The Fund's shareholders have the
right to call a meeting to remove a Trustee or to take certain other action
described in the Declaration of Trust.
The Fund will hold meetings when required to do so by the Investment
Company Act or other applicable law. The Fund will hold a meeting when the
Trustees call a meeting or upon proper request of shareholders. If the Fund
receives a written request of the record holders of at least 25% of the
outstanding shares eligible to be voted at a meeting to call a meeting for a
specified purpose (which might include the removal of a Trustee), the Fund
will call a meeting of shareholders for that specified purpose.
Shareholders of the different classes of the Fund vote together in the
aggregate on certain matters at shareholders' meetings. Those matters include
the election of Trustees and ratification of appointment of the independent
auditors. Shareholders of a particular series or class vote separately on
proposals that affect that series or class. Shareholders of a series or class
that is not affected by a proposal are not entitled to vote on the proposal.
For example, only shareholders of a particular series vote on any material
amendment to the investment advisory agreement for that series. Only
shareholders of a particular class of a series vote on certain amendments to
the Distribution and/or Service Plans if the amendments affect only that
class.
|_| Shareholder and Trustee Liability. The Trust's Declaration of
Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder or Trustee liability for
the Fund's obligations. It also provides for indemnification and
reimbursement of expenses out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held
personally liable for its obligations. The Declaration of Trust also states
that upon request, the Fund shall assume the defense of any claim made
against a shareholder for any act or obligation of the Fund and shall satisfy
any judgment on that claim. Massachusetts law permits a shareholder of a
business trust (such as the Fund) to be held personally liable as a "partner"
under certain circumstances. However, the risk that a Fund shareholder will
incur financial loss from being held liable as a "partner" of the Fund is
limited to the relatively remote circumstances in which the Fund would be
unable to meet its obligations.
The Fund's contractual arrangements state that any person doing
business with the Fund (and each shareholder of the Fund) agrees under its
Declaration of Trust to look solely to the assets of the Fund for
satisfaction of any claim or demand that may arise out of any dealings with
the Fund. The contracts further state that the Trustees shall have no
personal liability to any such person, to the extent permitted by law.
Trustees and Officers of the Fund. The Trustees and officers and their
principal occupations and business affiliations during the past five years
are listed below. Trustees denoted with an asterisk (*) below are deemed to
be "interested persons" of the Fund under the Investment Company Act. All of
the Trustees are also trustees, directors or managing general partners of the
following Oppenheimer funds:
Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc.,
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (a series Fund having the following series:
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund, Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund
and Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund), Oppenheimer Quest Global
Value Fund, Inc.,
Oppenheimer Quest Capital Value Fund, Inc.,
Rochester Portfolio Series (a series Fund having one series: Limited-Term
New York Municipal, Fund), Rochester Fund Municipals,
Bond Fund Series (a series Fund having one series: Oppenheimer Convertible
Securities Fund),
Oppenheimer Mid Cap Fund
Ms. Macaskill and Messrs. Swain, Bishop, Bowen, Donohue, Farrar and Zack,
who are officers of the Fund, respectively hold the same offices of the other
listed Oppenheimer funds. As of February 1, 1999, the Trustees and the
officers of the Fund as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares
of the Fund. The foregoing statement does not reflect shares held of record
by an employee benefit plan for employees of the Manager other than shares
beneficially owned under that plan by the officers of the Fund listed below.
Ms. Macaskill and Mr. Donohue, are trustees of that plan.
Bridget A. Macaskill, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and President; Age:
50*
President (since June 1991), Chief Executive Officer (since September 1995)
and a Director (since December 1994) of the Manager; President and director
(since June 1991) of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation
("HarbourView"), an investment adviser subsidiary of the Manager; Chairman
and a director of Shareholder Services, Inc. ("SSI") (since August 1994), and
Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. ("SFSI") (September 1995), transfer
agent subsidiaries of the Manager; President (since September 1995) and a
director (since October 1990) of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. ("OAC"),
the Manager's parent holding company; President (since September 1995) and a
director (since November 1989) of Oppenheimer Partnership Holdings, Inc.
("OPHI"), a holding company subsidiary of the Manager; a director of
Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. (since July 1996); President and a
director (since October 1997) of OppenheimerFunds International Ltd., an
offshore fund manager subsidiary of the Manager ("OFIL"); Chairman, President
and a director of Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc (since October 1997);
President and a director of other Oppenheimer funds; Member, Board of
Governors, NASD, Inc.; a director of Hillsdown Holdings plc (a U.K. food
company); formerly an Executive Vice President of the Manager, a director of
the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.
Paul Y. Clinton, Trustee; Age: 68
39 Blossom Avenue, Osterville, Massachusetts 02655
Principal of Clinton Management Associates, a financial and venture
capital consulting firm; Trustee of Capital Cash Management Trust, a
money-market fund and Narragansett Tax-Free Fund, a tax-exempt bond fund;
Director of OCC Cash Reserves, Inc. and Trustee of OCC Accumulation
Trust, both of which are open-end investment companies. Formerly:
Director, External Affairs, Kravco Corporation, a national real estate
owner and property management corporation; President of Essex Management
Corporation, a management consulting company; a general partner of
Capital Growth Fund, a venture capital partnership; a general partner of
Essex Limited Partnership, an investment partnership; President of
Geneve Corp., a venture capital fund; Chairman of Woodland Capital Corp.,
a small business investment company; and Vice President of W.R. Grace &
Co.
Thomas W. Courtney, Trustee; Age: 65
833 Wyndemere Way, Naples, Florida 34105
Principal of Courtney Associates, Inc. (venture capital firm); former General
Partner of Trivest Venture Fund (private venture capital fund); former
President of Investment Counseling Federated Investors, Inc.; Trustee of Cash
Assets Trust, a money market fund; Director of OCC Cash Reserves, Inc., and
Trustee of OCC Accumulation Trust, both of which are open-end investment
companies; former President of Boston Company Institutional Investors;
Trustee of Hawaiian Tax-Free Trust and Tax Free Trust of Arizona, tax-exempt
bond funds; Director of several privately owned corporations; former Director
of Financial Analysts Federation.
Robert G. Galli, Trustee; Age: 65
19750 Beach Road, Jupiter Island, FL 33469
Formerly he held the following positions: Vice Chairman of OppenheimerFunds,
Inc. (the "Manager") (October 1995 to December 1997), Vice President (June
1990 to March 1994) and Counsel of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. ("OAC"), the
Manager's parent holding company.
Lacy B. Herrmann, Trustee; Age: 69
380 Madison Avenue, Suite 2300, New York, New York 10017
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aquila Management Corporation, the
sponsoring organization and manager, administrator and/or sub-Adviser to the
following open-end investment companies, and Chairman of the Board of
Trustees and President of each: Churchill Cash Reserves Trust, Aquila
Cascadia Equity Fund, Pacific Capital Cash Assets Trust, Pacific Capital
U.S. Treasuries Cash Assets Trust, Pacific Capital Tax-Free Cash Assets
Trust, Prime Cash Fund, Narragansett Insured Tax-Free Income Fund, Tax-Free
Fund For Utah, Churchill Tax-Free Fund of Kentucky, Tax-Free Fund of
Colorado, Tax-Free Trust of Oregon, Tax-Free Trust of Arizona, Hawaiian
Tax-Free Trust, and Aquila Rocky Mountain Equity Fund; Vice President,
Director, Secretary, and formerly Treasurer of Aquila Distributors, Inc.,
distributor of the above funds; President and Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of Capital Cash Management Trust ("CCMT"), and an Officer and
Trustee/Director of its predecessors; President and Director of STCM
Management Company, Inc., sponsor and adviser to CCMT; Chairman, President
and a Director of InCap Management Corporation, formerly sub-adviser and
administrator of Prime Cash Fund and Short Term Asset Reserves; Director of
OCC Cash Reserves, Inc., and Trustee of OCC Accumulation Trust, both of which
are open-end investment companies; Trustee Emeritus of Brown University.
George Loft, Trustee; Age: 84
51 Herrick Road, Sharon, Connecticut 06069
Private Investor; Director of OCC Cash Reserves, Inc., and Trustee of OCC
Accumulation Trust, both of which are open-end investment companies.
Andrew J. Donohue, Secretary; Age: 48
Executive Vice President (since January 1993), General Counsel (since
October 1991) and a Director (since September 1995) of the Manager;
Executive Vice President and General Counsel (since September 1993) and a
director (since January 1992) of the Distributor; Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and a director of HarbourView, SSI, SFSI and Oppenheimer
Partnership Holdings, Inc. (since September 1995); President and a director
of Centennial (since September 1995); President, General Counsel and a
director of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. (since July 1996);
General Counsel (since May 1996) and Secretary (since April 1997) of OAC;
Vice President and a director of OFIL and Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc
(since October 1997); an officer of other Oppenheimer funds.
George C. Bowen, Treasurer; Age: 62
6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112
Senior Vice President (since September 1987) and Treasurer (since March 1985)
of the Manager; Vice President (since June 1983) and Treasurer (since March
1985) of the Distributor; Vice President (since October 1989) and Treasurer
(since April 1986) of HarbourView; Senior Vice President (since February
1992), Treasurer (since July 1991) and a director (since December 1991) of
Centennial; President, Treasurer and a director of Centennial Capital
Corporation (since June 1989); Vice President and Treasurer (since August
1978) and Secretary (since April 1981) of SSI; Vice President, Treasurer and
Secretary of SFSI (since November 1989); Assistant Treasurer of OAC (since
March 1998); Treasurer of OPHI (since November 1989); Vice President and
Treasurer of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. (since July 1996);
Treasurer of OFIL and Oppenheimer Millennium Fund plc (since October 1997); a
director or trustee and an officer of other Oppenheimer funds; formerly
Treasurer of OAC (June 1990-March 1998).
Robert Bishop, Assistant Treasurer; Age: 40
6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112
Vice President of the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (since May 1996); an
officer of other Oppenheimer funds; formerly an Assistant Vice President of
the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (April 1994-May 1996), and a Fund
Controller for the Manager.
Scott T. Farrar, Assistant Treasurer; Age: 33
6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112
Vice President of the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (since May 1996);
Assistant Treasurer of Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc (since October 1997);
an officer of other Oppenheimer funds; formerly an Assistant Vice President
of the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (April 1994-May 1996), and a Fund
Controller for the Manager.
Robert G. Zack, Assistant Secretary; Age: 50
Senior Vice President (since May 1985) and Associate General Counsel (since
May 1981) of the Manager, Assistant Secretary of SSI (since May 1985), and
SFSI (since November 1989); Assistant Secretary of OFIL and Oppenheimer
Millennium Funds plc (since October 1997); an officer of other Oppenheimer
funds.
n Remuneration of Trustees. The officers of the Fund and one Trustee,
Ms. Macaskill, are affiliated with the Manager and receive no salary or fee
from the Fund. The remaining Trustees received the compensation shown below.
The compensation from the Fund was paid during its fiscal year ended October
31, 1998. The table below also shows the total compensation from all of the
Oppenheimer funds listed above (referred to as the "Oppenheimer
Quest/Rochester Funds"), including the compensation from the Fund and three
other funds that are not Oppenheimer funds but for which the Sub-Adviser acts
as investment adviser. That amount represents compensation received as a
director, trustee, managing general partner or member of a committee of the
Board during the calendar year 1998.
<PAGE>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Compensation
From all Oppenheimer
Quest/Rochester
Aggregate Retirement Funds
Trustee's Name Compensation Benefits Accrued (11 Funds)1 and
From Fund as Part of Fund Three Other Funds2
Expenses
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
Paul Y. Clinton
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
Thomas W.
Courtney
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
Robert G. Galli
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
Lacy B. Herrmann
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3 $ $
George Loft
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. For the 1998 calendar year. Includes compensation for a portion of the
year paid by Oppenheimer Quest Officers Value Fund, which was reorganized
into another Fund in June 1998. Each series of an investment company is
considered a separate "fund" for this purpose. For Mr. Galli, compensation
is for period from 6/2/98 to 10/31/98.
8. Includes compensation paid by three funds for which the Sub-Adviser
acts as investment adviser. Those funds are not Oppenheimer funds and are
not affiliated with the Oppenheimer funds, the Manager or the Distributor.
The amount of aggregate compensation paid by Fund Trustees from those
three other funds was as follows: Mr. Clinton: $_________; Mr. Courtney:
$_________; Mr. Hermann: $_________; and Mr. Loft: $_________.
9. Includes $_________ deferred under the Deferred Compensation Plan
described below. For Mr. Galli, compensation is for period from 6/2/98 to
10/31/98, and includes compensation from 20 other Oppenheimer funds for
which he serves as trustee or director.
|X| Retirement Plan for Trustees. The Fund has adopted a retirement
plan that provides for payments to retired Trustees. Payments are up to 80%
of the average compensation paid during a Trustee's five years of service in
which the highest compensation was received. A Trustee must serve as Trustee
for any of the Oppenheimer Quest/Rochester/MidCap funds listed above for at
least 15 years to be eligible for the maximum payment. Each Trustee's
retirement benefits will depend on the amount of the Trustee's future
compensation and length of service. Therefore the amount of those benefits
cannot be determined at this time, nor can we estimate the number of years of
credited service that will be used to determine those benefits.
n Deferred Compensation Plan. The Board of Trustees has adopted a
Deferred Compensation Plan for disinterested Trustees that enables them to
elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of the annual fees they are
entitled to receive from the Fund. Under the plan, the compensation deferred
by a Trustee is periodically adjusted as though an equivalent amount had been
invested in shares of one or more Oppenheimer funds selected by the Trustee.
The amount paid to the Trustee under the plan will be determined based upon
the performance of the selected funds.
Deferral of Trustees' fees under the plan will not materially affect the
Fund's assets, liabilities and net income per share. The plan will not
obligate the fund to retain the services of any Trustee or to pay any
particular level of compensation to any Trustee. Pursuant to an Order issued
by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may invest in the funds
selected by the Trustee under the plan without shareholder approval for the
limited purpose of determining the value of the Trustee's deferred fee
account.
n Major Shareholders. As of February 1, 1999, the only persons who
owned of record or were known by the Fund to own beneficially 5% or more of
the Fund's outstanding Class A, Class B or Class C shares were:
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc., 4800 Deer Lake Dr. E Floor 3,
Jacksonville, FL 32246, which owned
- -------------------------------------------------------
The Manager. The Manager is wholly-owned by Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., a
holding company controlled by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.
The Manager and the Fund have a Code of Ethics. It is designed to detect and
prevent improper personal trading by certain employees, including portfolio
managers, that would compete with or take advantage of the Fund's portfolio
transactions. Compliance with the Code of Ethics is carefully monitored and
enforced by the Manager.
n The Investment Advisory Agreement. The Manager provides investment
advisory and management services to the Fund under an investment advisory
agreement between the Manager and the Trust. The Manager handles the Fund's
day-to-day business, and the agreement permits the Manager to enter into
sub-advisory agreements with other registered investment advisers to obtain
specialized services for the Fund, as long as the Fund is not obligated to
pay any additional fees for those services. The Manager has retained the
Sub-Adviser pursuant to a separate Sub-Advisory Agreement, under which the
Sub-Adviser buys and sells portfolio securities for the Fund. The portfolio
manager of the Fund is employed by the Sub-Adviser and is the person who is
principally responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's
portfolio, as described below.
The investment advisory agreement between the Fund and the Manager
requires the Manager, at its expense, to provide the Fund with adequate
office space, facilities and equipment. It also requires the Manager to
provide and supervise the activities of all administrative and clerical
personnel required to provide effective administration for the Fund. Those
responsibilities include the compilation and maintenance of records with
respect to its operations, the preparation and filing of specified reports,
and composition of proxy materials and registration statements for continuous
public sale of shares of the Fund.
The Fund pays expenses not expressly assumed by the Manager under the
advisory agreement. Expenses for the Trust's three series are allocated to
the series in proportion to their net assets, unless allocations of expenses
can be made directly to a series. The advisory agreement lists examples of
expenses paid by the Fund. The major categories relate to calculation of the
Fund's net asset values per share, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions,
fees to certain Trustees, legal and audit expenses, custodian and transfer
agent expenses, share issuance costs, certain printing and registration costs
and non-recurring expenses, including litigation costs. The management fees
paid by the Fund to the Manager are calculated at the rates described in the
Prospectus, which are applied to the assets of the Fund as a whole. The fees
are allocated to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of
the Fund's net assets represented by that class.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fees Paid to Manager to
Management Fees Paid to Calculate Fund's Net
Fiscal Year ended OppenheimerFunds, Inc. Asset Values2
10/31:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19961 $1,467,707 $51,634
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $1,959,159 $58,334
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $___________ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. For the 11 month fiscal period commencing November 22, 1995, when the
Manager became the Fund's investment adviser. For the period from November
1, 1995 to November 22, 1995, the Fund paid an advisory fee of $90,775
and accounting services fees of $2,292 to the Sub-Adviser, which was then
the Fund's investment adviser.
6. During the fiscal years noted, the Fund paid the Manager a fee for
accounting services, consisting of a base fee of $55,000 per year plus
out-of-pocket expenses. The Manager has voluntarily agreed to eliminate
its fee for providing those services for fiscal years commencing as of the
date of this Statement of Additional Information and afterwards.
The investment advisory agreement contains an indemnity of the Manager.
In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the
performance of its duties or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
under the investment advisory agreement, the Manager is not liable for any
loss resulting from a good faith error or omission on its part with respect
to any of its duties under the agreement.
The agreement permits the Manager to act as investment adviser for any
other person, firm or corporation and to use the names "Oppenheimer" and
Quest for Value" in connection with other investment companies for which it
may act as investment adviser or general distributor. If the Manager shall no
longer act as investment adviser to the Fund, the Manager may withdraw the
right of the Fund to use the names "Oppenheimer" or "Quest for Value" as part
of its name.
The Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser is a majority-owned subsidiary of
Oppenheimer Capital, a registered investment adviser. From the Fund's
inception on April 30, 1980, until November 22, 1995, the Sub-Adviser (which
was then named Quest for Value Advisors) served as the Fund's investment
advisor. The Sub-Adviser acts as investment adviser to other investment
companies and for institutional investors.
On November 4, 1997, PIMCO Advisors L.P., a registered investment
adviser with $125 billion in assets under management through various
subsidiaries and affiliates, acquired control of Oppenheimer Capital and the
Sub-Adviser. On November 30, 1997, Oppenheimer Capital merged with a
subsidiary of PIMCO Advisors. As a result, Oppenheimer Capital and the
Sub-Adviser became indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of PIMCO Advisors.
PIMCO Advisors has two general partners: PIMCO Partners, G.P., a California
general partnership, and PIMCO Advisors Holdings L.P. (formerly Oppenheimer
Capital, L.P.), an New York Stock Exchange-listed Delaware limited
partnership of which PIMCO Partners, G.P. is the sole general partner.
PIMCO Partners, G.P. beneficially owns or controls (through its general
partner interest in Oppenheimer Capital, L.P.) more than 80% of the units of
limited partnership of PIMCO Advisors. PIMCO Partners, G.P. has two general
partners. The first of these is Pacific Investment Management Company, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Pacific Financial Asset Management Company, a
direct subsidiary of Pacific Life Insurance Company ("Pacific Life").
The managing general partner of PIMCO Partners, G.P. is PIMCO Partners
L.L.C. ("PPLLC"), a California limited liability company. PPLLC's members
are the Managing Directors (the "PIMCO Managers") of Pacific Investment
Management Company, a subsidiary of PIMCO Advisors (the "PIMCO
Subpartnership"). The PIMCO Managers are: William H. Gross, Dean S.
Meiling, James F. Muzzy, William F. Podlich, III, Brent R. Harris, John L.
Hague, William S. Thompson Jr., William C. Powers, David H. Edington,
Benjamin Trosky, William R. Benz, II and Lee R. Thomas, III.
PIMCO Advisors is governed by a Management Board, which consists of
sixteen members, pursuant to a delegation by its general partners. PIMCO
Partners G.P. has the power to designate up to nine members of the Management
Board and the PIMCO Subpartnership, of which the PIMCO Managers are the
Managing Directors, has the power to designate up to two members. In
addition, PIMCO Partners, G.P., as the controlling general partner of PIMCO
Advisors, has the power to revoke the delegation to the Management Board and
exercise control of PIMCO Advisors. As a result, Pacific Life and/or the
PIMCO Managers may be deemed to control PIMCO Advisors. Pacific Life and the
PIMCO Managers disclaim such control.
n The Sub-Advisory Agreement. Under the Sub-advisory Agreement between
the Manager and the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser shall regularly provide
investment advice with respect to the Fund and invest and reinvest cash,
securities and the property comprising the assets of the Fund. Under the
Sub-advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser agrees not to change the portfolio
manager of the Fund without the written approval of the Manager. The
Sub-Adviser also agrees to provide assistance in the distribution and
marketing of the Fund.
Under the Sub-advisory Agreement, the Manager pays the Sub-Adviser an
annual fee in monthly installments, based on the average daily net assets of
the Fund. The fee paid to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-advisory agreement is
paid by the Manager, not by the Fund. The fee is equal to 40% of the
investment advisory fee collected by the Manager from the Fund based on the
total net assets of the Fund as of November 22, 1995 (the "Base Amount") plus
30% of the investment advisory fee collected by the Manager based on the
total net assets of the Fund that exceed the Base Amount.
The Subadvisory Agreement provides that in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of its duties or
obligations, the Sub-Adviser shall not be liable to the Manager for any act
or omission in the course of or connected with rendering services under the
Subadvisory Agreement or for any losses that may be sustained in the
purchase, holding or sale of any security.
Brokerage Policies of the Fund
Brokerage Provisions of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the
Sub-Advisory Agreement. One of the duties of the Sub-Adviser under the
Sub-Advisory Agreement is to arrange the portfolio transactions for the
Fund. The Fund's investment advisory agreement with the Manager and the
Sub-Advisory Agreement contain provisions relating to the employment of
broker-dealers to effect the Fund's portfolio transactions. The Manager and
the Sub-Adviser are authorized to employ broker-dealers, including
"affiliated" brokers, as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act.
They may employ broker-dealers that, in their best judgment based on all
relevant factors, will implement the policy of the Fund to obtain, at
reasonable expense, the "best execution" of the Fund's portfolio
transactions. "Best execution" means prompt and reliable execution at the
most favorable price obtainable.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser need not seek competitive commission
bidding. However, they are expected to be aware of the current rates of
eligible brokers and to minimize the commissions paid to the extent
consistent with the interests and policies of the Fund as established by its
Board of Trustees.
The Manager and the Sub-Adviser may select brokers (other than
affiliates) that provide brokerage and/or research services for the Fund
and/or the other accounts over which the Manager, the Sub-Adviser or their
respective affiliates have investment discretion. The commissions paid to
such brokers may be higher than another qualified broker would charge, if the
Manager or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, makes a good faith determination that
the commission is fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided.
Subject to those considerations, as a factor in selecting brokers for the
Fund's portfolio transactions, the Manager and the Sub-Adviser may also
consider sales of shares of the Fund and other investment companies for which
the Manager or an affiliate serves as investment adviser.
The Sub-advisory Agreement permits the Sub-Adviser to enter into
"soft-dollar" arrangements through the agency of third parties to obtain
services for the Fund. Pursuant to these arrangements, the Sub-Adviser will
undertake to place brokerage business with broker-dealers who pay third
parties that provide services. Any such "soft-dollar" arrangements will be
made in accordance with policies adopted by the Board of the Trust and in
compliance with applicable law.
Brokerage Practices Followed by the Manager. Brokerage for the Fund is
allocated subject to the provisions of the investment advisory agreement and
the sub-advisory agreement and the procedures and rules described above.
Generally, the Sub-Adviser's portfolio traders allocate brokerage based upon
recommendations from the Fund's portfolio manager. In certain instances,
portfolio managers may directly place trades and allocate brokerage. In
either case, the Sub-Adviser's executive officers supervise the allocation of
brokerage.
Transactions in securities other than those for which an exchange is the
primary market are generally done with principals or market makers. In
transactions on foreign exchanges, the Fund may be required to pay fixed
brokerage commissions and therefore would not have the benefit of negotiated
commissions available in U.S. markets. Brokerage commissions are paid
primarily for effecting transactions in listed securities or for certain
fixed-income agency transactions in the secondary market. Otherwise brokerage
commissions are paid only if it appears likely that a better price or
execution can be obtained by doing so.
The Sub-Adviser serves as investment manager to a number of clients,
including other investment companies, and may in the future act as investment
manager or advisor to others. It is the practice of the Sub-Adviser to
allocate purchase or sale transactions among the Fund and other clients whose
assets it manages in a manner it deems equitable. In making those
allocations, the Sub-Adviser considers several main factors, including the
respective investment objectives, the relative size of portfolio holdings of
the same or comparable securities, the availability of cash for investment,
the size of investment commitments generally held and the opinions of the
persons responsible for managing the portfolios of the Fund and each other
client's accounts.
When orders to purchase or sell the same security on identical terms are
placed by more than one of the funds and/or other advisory accounts managed
by the Sub-Adviser or its affiliates, the transactions are generally executed
as received, although a fund or advisory account that does not direct trades
to a specific broker (these are called "free trades") usually will have its
order executed first. Orders placed by accounts that direct trades to a
specific broker will generally be executed after the free trades. All orders
placed on behalf of the Fund are considered free trades. However, having an
order placed first in the market does not necessarily guarantee the most
favorable price. Purchases are combined where possible for the purpose of
negotiating brokerage commissions. In some cases that practice might have a
detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security in a particular
transaction for the Fund.
Most purchases of debt obligations are principal transactions at net
prices. Instead of using a broker for those transactions, the Fund normally
deals directly with the selling or purchasing principal or market maker
unless the Sub-Adviser determines that a better price or execution can be
obtained by using the services of a broker. Purchases of portfolio
securities from underwriters include a commission or concession paid by the
issuer to the underwriter. Purchases from dealers include a spread between
the bid and asked prices. The Fund seeks to obtain prompt execution of these
orders at the most favorable net price.
The investment advisory agreement and the sub-advisory agreement permit
the Manager and the Sub-Adviser to allocate brokerage for research services.
The research services provided by a particular broker may be useful only to
one or more of the advisory accounts of the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates.
The investment research received for the commissions of those other accounts
may be useful both to the Fund and one or more of the Sub-Adviser's other
accounts. Investment research may be supplied to the Sub-Adviser by a third
party at the instance of a broker through which trades are placed.
Investment research services include information and analysis on
particular companies and industries as well as market or economic trends and
portfolio strategy, market quotations for portfolio evaluations, information
systems, computer hardware and similar products and services. If a research
service also assists the Sub-Adviser in a non-research capacity (such as
bookkeeping or other administrative functions), then only the percentage or
component that provides assistance to the Sub-Adviser in the investment
decision-making process may be paid in commission dollars.
The research services provided by brokers broadens the scope and
supplements the research activities of the Sub-Adviser. That research
provides additional views and comparisons for consideration, and helps the
Sub-Adviser to obtain market information for the valuation of securities that
are either held in the Fund's portfolio or are being considered for
purchase. The Sub-Adviser provides information to the Manager and the Board
about the commissions paid to brokers furnishing such services, together with
the Sub-Adviser's representation that the amount of such commissions was
reasonably related to the value or benefit of such services.
Because the Sub-Adviser was an affiliate of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a
broker-dealer ("OpCo"), until November 3, 1997, the table below includes
information about brokerage commissions paid to OpCo for the Fund's portfolio
transactions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ Amount of
Total Transactions for Which
Brokerage Brokerage Commissions Brokerage Commissions
Fiscal Year Commissions Paid to OpCo: Were Paid to OpCo:
Ended 10/31 Paid1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dollar % of Total Dollar % of Total
Amount Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 $362,454 $147,765 40.8% $61,029,692 29.1%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $548,930 $177,714 32.4% $75,367,689 21.9%
--------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Amounts do not include spreads or concessions on principal transactions
on a net trade basis.
6. In the fiscal year ended 10/31/98, the amount of transactions directed
to brokers for research services was $_________________ and the amount of
the commissions paid to broker-dealers for those services was $_______.
Distribution and Service Plans
The Distributor. Under its General Distributor's Agreement with the Trust,
the Distributor acts as the Fund's principal underwriter in the continuous
public offering of shares of the Fund's classes of shares. The Distributor is
not obligated to sell a specific number of shares. Expenses normally
attributable to sales are borne by the Distributor.
The compensation paid to (or retained by) the Distributor from the sale
of shares or on the redemption of shares during the Fund's three most recent
fiscal years is shown in the table below.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aggregate Class A Commissions Commissions Commissions
Fiscal Front-End Front-End on Class A on Class B on Class C
Year Sales Sales Shares Shares Shares
Ended Charges on Charges Advanced by Advanced by Advanced by
10/31: Class A Retained by Distributor1 Distributor1 Distributor1
Shares Distributor
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19962 $ $ $ $ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $765,109 $ $ $ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $ $ $ $ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. The Distributor advances commission payments to dealers for certain
sales of Class A shares and for sales of Class B and Class C shares from
its own resources at the time of sale.
6. For the period from 11/22/95 to 10/31/96.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Contingent Class B Contingent Class C Contingent
Fiscal Deferred Sales Deferred Sales Deferred Sales Charges
Year Charges Retained by Charges Retained by Retained by Distributor
Ended Distributor Distributor
10/31
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $ $ $
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and Service Plans. The Fund has adopted Distribution and
Service Plans for Class A, Class B and Class C shares under Rule 12b-1 of the
Investment Company Act. Under those plans the Fund compensates the
Distributor for all or a portion of its costs incurred in connection with the
distribution and/or servicing of the shares of the particular class. Each
plan has been approved by a vote of the Board of Trustees, including a
majority of the Independent Trustees6, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on that plan, and by shareholders of a majority of each
class of shares of the Fund.
Under the plans, the Manager and the Distributor, in their sole
discretion, from time to time, may use their own resources (at no direct cost
to the Fund) to make payments to brokers, dealers or other financial
institutions for distribution and administrative services they perform. The
Manager may use its profits from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund.
In their sole discretion, the Distributor and the Manager may increase or
decrease the amount of payments they make from their own resources to plan
recipients.
Unless a plan is terminated as described below, the plan continues in
effect from year to year but only if the Fund's Board of Trustees and its
Independent Trustees specifically vote annually to approve its continuance.
Approval must be by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting on continuing the plan. A plan may be terminated at any time by the
vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders
of a "majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the outstanding
shares of that class.
The Board of Trustees and the Independent Trustees must approve all
material amendments to a plan. An amendment to increase materially the amount
of payments to be made under a plan must be approved by shareholders of the
class affected by the amendment. Because Class B shares of the Fund
automatically convert into Class A shares after six years, the Fund must
obtain the approval of both Class A and Class B shareholders for a proposed
material amendment to the Class A Plan that would materially increase
payments under the Plan. That approval must be by a "majority" (as defined
in the Investment Company Act) of the shares of each Class, voting separately
by class.
While the Plans are in effect, the Treasurer of the Fund shall provide
separate written reports on the plans to the Board of Trustees at least
quarterly for its review. The Reports shall detail the amount of all payments
made under a plan, the purpose for which the payments were made and the
identity of each recipient of a payment. The reports on the Class B Plan and
Class C Plan shall also include the Distributor's distribution costs for that
quarter and such costs for previous fiscal periods that have been carried
forward. Those reports are subject to the review and approval of the
Independent Trustees.
Each Plan states that while it is in effect, the selection and nomination
of those Trustees of the Fund who are not "interested persons" of the Fund is
committed to the discretion of the Independent Trustees. This does not
prevent the involvement of others in the selection and nomination process as
long as the final decision as to selection or nomination is approved by a
majority of the Independent Trustees.
Under the plans, no payment will be made to any recipient in any quarter
in which the aggregate net asset value of all for a class, Fund shares held
by the recipient for itself and its customers does not exceed a minimum
amount, if any, that may be set from time to time by a majority of the
Independent Trustees. The Board of Trustees has set no minimum amount of
assets to qualify for payments under the plans.
o Service Plans. Under the service plans, the Distributor currently uses
the fees it receives from the Fund to pay brokers, dealers and other
financial institutions (they are referred to as "recipients") for personal
services and account maintenance services they provide for their customers
who hold shares of a particular Class, A, B or C. The services include, among
others, answering customer inquiries about the Fund, assisting in
establishing and maintaining accounts in the Fund, making the Fund's
investment plans available and providing other services at the request of the
Fund or the Distributor. The service plans permit compensation to the
Distributor at a rate of up to 0.25% of average annual net assets of the
applicable class. The Board has set the rate at that level. While the plans
permit the Board to authorize payments to the Distributor to reimburse itself
for services under the plan, the Board has not yet done so. The Distributor
makes payments to plan recipients quarterly at an annual rate not to exceed
0.25% of the average annual net assets consisting of shares of the applicable
class held in the accounts of the recipients or their customers.
o Service and Distribution Plan Fees. Under each plan, service fees and
distribution fees are computed on the average of the net asset value of
shares in the respective class, determined as of the close of each regular
business day during the period. The plans compensate the Distributor at a
flat rate for its services and costs in distributing shares and servicing
accounts, whether the Distributor's expenses are more or less than the
amounts paid by the Fund under the plans during the period for which the fee
is paid.
The plans permit the Distributor to retain both the asset-based sales
charges and the service fees or to pay recipients the service fee on a
quarterly basis, without payment in advance. However, the Distributor
currently intends to pay the service fee to recipients in advance for the
first year after the shares are purchased. After the first year shares are
outstanding, the Distributor makes payments quarterly on those shares. The
advance payment is based on the net asset value of shares sold. Shares
purchased by exchange do not qualify for the service fee payment. If shares
are redeemed during the first year after their purchase, the recipient of the
service fees on those shares will be obligated to repay the Distributor a pro
rata portion of the advance payment of the service fee made on those shares.
Under the Class A plan, the Distributor pays a portion of the asset-based
sales charge to brokers, dealers and financial institutions and retains the
balance. The Distributor retains the asset-based sales charge on Class B
shares. The Distributor retains the asset-based sales charge on Class C
shares during the first year the shares are outstanding. It pays the
asset-based sales charge it receives on Class C shares as an ongoing
commission to the recipient on Class C shares outstanding for a year or more.
If a dealer has a special agreement with the Distributor, the Distributor
will pay the Class B and/or Class C service fee and the asset-based sales
charge to the dealer quarterly in lieu of paying the sales commissions and
service fee in advance at the time of purchase.
The asset-based sales charges on Class B and Class C shares allow
investors to buy shares without a front-end sales charge while allowing the
Distributor to compensate dealers that sell those shares. The Fund pays the
asset-based sales charges to the Distributor for its services rendered in
distributing Class A, Class B and Class C shares. The payments are made to
the Distributor in recognition that the Distributor:
o pays sales commissions to authorized brokers and dealers at the time of
sale and pays service fees as described above,
o may finance payment of sales commissions and/or the advance of the
service fee payment to recipients under the plans, or may provide such
financing from its own resources or from the resources of an
affiliate,
o employs personnel to support distribution of shares, and
o bears the costs of sales literature, advertising and prospectuses
(other than those furnished to current shareholders) and state "blue
sky" registration fees and certain other distribution expenses.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998 payments under the Class A
Plan totaled $_________, (including $________ paid to an affiliate of the
Distributor's parent company). The Distributor retained $_____________ of the
total amount paid.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, payments under the Class B
plan totaled $___________ (including $___________ paid to an affiliate of the
Distributor's parent). The Distributor retained $__________________ of the
total amount.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, payments under the Class C
plan totaled $_______________, (including $___________ paid to an affiliate
of the Distributor's parent). The Distributor retained $_____________ of the
total amount.
The Distributor's actual expenses in selling shares may be more than the
payments it receives from the contingent deferred sales charges collected on
redeemed shares and from the Fund under the plans. As of October 31, 1998,
the Distributor had incurred unreimbursed expenses under the Class A plan in
the amount of $____________ (equal to ____% of the Fund's net assets
represented by Class A shares on that date). As of October 31, 1998, the
Distributor had incurred unreimbursed expenses under the Class B plan in the
amount of $_______________ (equal to ___% of the Fund's net assets
represented by Class B shares on that date) and unreimbursed expenses under
the Class C plan of $_____________ (equal to ___% of the Fund's net assets
represented by Class C shares on that date). If a plan is terminated by the
Fund, the Board of Trustees may allow the Fund to continue payments of the
asset-based sales charge to the Distributor for distributing shares before
the plan was terminated.
All payments under the plans are subject to the limitations imposed by
the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. on
payments of asset-based sales charges and service fees.
Performance of the Fund
Explanation of Performance Terminology. The Fund uses a variety of terms to
illustrate its investment performance. Those terms include "cumulative total
return," "average annual total return," "average annual total return at net
asset value" and "total return at net asset value." An explanation of how
total returns are calculated is set forth below. The charts below show the
Fund's performance as of the Fund's most recent fiscal year end. You can
obtain current performance information by calling the Fund's Transfer Agent
at 1-800-525-7048 or by visiting the OppenheimerFunds Internet web site at
http://www.oppenheimerfunds.com.
The Fund's illustrations of its performance data in advertisements must
comply with rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Those rules
describe the types of performance data that may be used and how it is to be
calculated. In general, any advertisement by the Fund of its performance data
must include the average annual total returns for the advertised class of
shares of the Fund. Those returns must be shown for the 1-, 5- and 10-year
periods (or the life of the class, if less) ending as of the most recently
ended calendar quarter prior to the publication of the advertisement (or its
submission for publication).
Use of standardized performance calculations enable an investor to
compare the Fund's performance to the performance of other funds for the same
periods. However, a number of factors should be considered before using the
Fund's performance information as a basis for comparison with other
investments:
|_| Total returns measure the performance of a hypothetical account in
the Fund over various periods and do not show the performance of each
shareholder's account. Your account's performance will vary from the model
performance data if your dividends are received in cash, or you buy or sell
shares during the period, or you bought your shares at a different time and
price than the shares used in the model.
o The Fund's performance returns do not reflect the effect of taxes on
dividends and capital gains distributions.
|_| An investment in the Fund is not insured by the FDIC or any other
government agency.
|_| The principal value of the Fund's shares and total returns are not
guaranteed and normally will fluctuate on a daily basis.
|_| When an investor's shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or
less than their original cost.
|_| Total returns for any given past period represent historical
performance information and are not, and should not be considered, a
prediction of future returns.
The performance of each class of shares is shown separately, because
the performance of each class of shares will usually be different. That is
because of the different kinds of expenses each class bears. The total
returns of each class of shares of the Fund are affected by market
conditions, the quality of the Fund's investments, the maturity of debt
investments, the types of investments the Fund holds, and its operating
expenses that are allocated to the particular class.
|X| Total Return Information. There are different types of "total
returns" to measure the Fund's performance. Total return is the change in
value of a hypothetical investment in the Fund over a given period, assuming
that all dividends and capital gains distributions are reinvested in
additional shares and that the investment is redeemed at the end of the
period. Because of differences in expenses for each class of shares, the
total returns for each class are separately measured. The cumulative total
return measures the change in value over the entire period (for example, ten
years). An average annual total return shows the average rate of return for
each year in a period that would produce the cumulative total return over the
entire period. However, average annual total returns do not show actual
year-by-year performance. The Fund uses standardized calculations for its
total returns as prescribed by the SEC. The methodology is discussed below.
In calculating total returns for Class A shares, the current maximum
sales charge of 5.75% (as a percentage of the offering price) is deducted
from the initial investment ("P") (unless the return is shown without sales
charge, as described below). For Class B shares, payment of the applicable
contingent deferred sales charge is applied, depending on the period for
which the return is shown: 5.0% in the first year, 4.0% in the second year,
3.0% in the third and fourth years, 2.0% in the fifth year, 1.0% in the sixth
year and none thereafter. For Class C shares, the 1% contingent deferred
sales charge is deducted for returns for the 1-year period.
|_| Average Annual Total Return. The "average annual total return" of
each class is an average annual compounded rate of return for each year in a
specified number of years. It is the rate of return based on the change in
value of a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000 ("P" in the formula
below) held for a number of years ("n" in the formula) to achieve an Ending
Redeemable Value ("ERV" in the formula) of that investment, according to the
following formula:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/n
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ERV)
(---) -1 = Average Annual Total Return
( P )
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|_| Cumulative Total Return. The "cumulative total return" calculation
measures the change in value of a hypothetical investment of $1,000 over an
entire period of years. Its calculation uses some of the same factors as
average annual total return, but it does not average the rate of return on an
annual basis. Cumulative total return is determined as follows:
ERV - P
------- = Total Return
P
|_| Total Returns at Net Asset Value. From time to time the Fund may
also quote a cumulative or an average annual total return "at net asset
value" (without deducting sales charges) for Class A, Class B or Class C
shares. Each is based on the difference in net asset value per share at the
beginning and the end of the period for a hypothetical investment in that
class of shares (without considering front-end or contingent deferred sales
charges) and takes into consideration the
reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund's Total Returns for the Periods Ended 10/31/98
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cumulative Total Average Annual Total Returns
Class Returns (10
of years or Life of
Shares Class)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-Year 10-Year
1-Year (or (or
life-of-class) life-of-class)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After Without After Without After Without After Without
Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales
Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A 1 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B 2 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C 3 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Inception of Class A: 1/3/89
2. Inception of Class B: 9/1/93
3. Inception of Class C: 9/1/93
Other Performance Comparisons. The Fund compares its performance annually to
that of an appropriate broadly-based market index in its Annual Report to
shareholders. You can obtain that information by contacting the Transfer
Agent at the addresses or telephone numbers shown on the cover of this
Statement of Additional Information. The Fund may also compare its
performance to that of other investments, including other mutual funds, or
use rankings of its performance by independent ranking entities. Examples of
these performance comparisons are set forth below.
|_| Lipper Rankings. From time to time the Fund may publish the ranking
of the performance of its classes of shares by Lipper Analytical Services,
Inc. Lipper is a widely-recognized independent mutual fund monitoring
service. Lipper monitors the performance of regulated investment companies,
including the Fund, and ranks their performance for various periods based on
categories relating to investment objectives. Lipper currently ranks the
Fund's performance against all other flexible portfolio funds. The Lipper
performance rankings are based on total returns that include the reinvestment
of capital gain distributions and income dividends but do not take sales
charges or taxes into consideration. Lipper also publishes "peer-group"
indices of the performance of all mutual funds in a category that it monitors
and averages of the performance of the funds in particular categories.
|_| Morningstar Rankings. From time to time the Fund may publish the
star ranking of the performance of its classes shares by Morningstar, Inc.,
an independent mutual fund monitoring service. Morningstar ranks mutual
funds in broad investment categories: domestic stock funds, international
stock funds, taxable bond funds and municipal bond funds. The Fund is ranked
among domestic stock funds.
Morningstar star rankings are based on risk-adjusted total investment
return. Investment return measures a fund's (or class's) one-, three-, five-
and ten-year average annual total returns (depending on the inception of the
fund or class) in excess of 90-day U.S. Treasury bill returns after
considering the fund's sales charges and expenses. Risk measures a fund's
(or class's) performance below 90-day U.S. Treasury bill returns. Risk and
investment return are combined to produce star rankings reflecting
performance relative to the average fund in a fund's category. Five stars is
the "highest" ranking (top 10% of funds in a category), four stars is "above
average" (next 22.5%), three stars is "average" (next 35%), two stars is
"below average" (next 22.5%) and one star is "lowest" (bottom 10%). The
current star ranking is the fund's (or class's) 3-year ranking or its
combined 3- and 5-year ranking (weighted 60%/40% respectively), or its
combined 3-, 5-, and 10-year ranking (weighted 40%, 30% and 30%,
respectively), depending on the inception date of the fund (or class).
Rankings are subject to change monthly.
The Fund may also compare its performance to that of other funds in its
Morningstar category. In addition to its star rankings, Morningstar also
categorizes and compares a fund's 3-year performance based on Morningstar's
classification of the fund's investments and investment style, rather than
how a fund defines its investment objective. Morningstar's four broad
categories (domestic equity, international equity, municipal bond and taxable
bond) are each further subdivided into categories based on types of
investments and investment styles. Those comparisons by Morningstar are
based on the same risk and return measurements as its star rankings but do
not consider the effect of sales charges.
|_| Performance Rankings and Comparisons by Other Entities and
Publications. From time to time the Fund may include in its advertisements
and sales literature performance information about the Fund cited in
newspapers and other periodicals such as The New York Times, The Wall Street
Journal, Barron's, or similar publications. That information may include
performance quotations from other sources, including Lipper and Morningstar.
The performance of the Fund's classes of shares may be compared in
publications to the performance of various market indices or other
investments, and averages, performance rankings or other benchmarks prepared
by recognized mutual fund statistical services.
Investors may also wish to compare the returns on the Fund's share
classes to the return on fixed-income investments available from banks and
thrift institutions. Those include certificates of deposit, ordinary
interest-paying checking and savings accounts, and other forms of fixed or
variable time deposits, and various other instruments such as Treasury bills.
However, the Fund's returns and share price are not guaranteed or insured by
the FDIC or any other agency and will fluctuate daily, while bank depository
obligations may be insured by the FDIC and may provide fixed rates of return.
Repayment of principal and payment of interest on Treasury securities is
backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
From time to time, the Fund may publish rankings or ratings of the
Manager or Transfer Agent, and of the investor services provided by them to
shareholders of the Oppenheimer funds, other than performance rankings of the
Oppenheimer funds themselves. Those ratings or rankings of shareholder and
investor services by third parties may include comparisons of their services
to those provided by other mutual fund families selected by the rating or
ranking services. They may be based upon the opinions of the rating or
ranking service itself, using its research or judgment, or based upon surveys
of investors, brokers, shareholders or others.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy Shares
Additional information is presented below about the methods that can be
used to buy shares of the Fund. Appendix C contains more information about
the special sales charge arrangements offered by the Fund, and the
circumstances in which sales charges may be reduced or waived for certain
classes of investors.
AccountLink. When shares are purchased through AccountLink, each purchase
must be at least $25. Shares will be purchased on the regular business day
the Distributor is instructed to initiate the Automated Clearing House
("ACH") transfer to buy the shares. Dividends will begin to accrue on shares
purchased with the proceeds of ACH transfers on the business day the Fund
receives Federal Funds for the purchase through the ACH system before the
close of The New York Stock Exchange. The Exchange normally closes at 4:00
P.M., but may close earlier on certain days. If Federal Funds are received
on a business day after the close of the Exchange, the shares will be
purchased and dividends will begin to accrue on the next regular business
day. The proceeds of ACH transfers are normally received by the Fund 3 days
after the transfers are initiated. The Distributor and the Fund are not
responsible for any delays in purchasing shares resulting from delays in ACH
transmissions.
Reduced Sales Charges. As discussed in the Prospectus, a reduced sales
charge rate may be obtained for Class A shares under Right of Accumulation
and Letters of Intent because of the economies of sales efforts and reduction
in expenses realized by the Distributor, dealers and brokers making such
sales. No sales charge is imposed in certain other circumstances described
in Appendix C to this Statement of Additional Information because the
Distributor or dealer or broker incurs little or no selling expenses.
n Right of Accumulation. To qualify for the lower sales charge rates
that apply to larger purchases of Class A shares, you and your spouse can add
together:
o Class A and Class B shares you purchase for your individual
accounts, or for your joint accounts, or for trust or custodial
accounts on behalf of your children who are minors,
o current purchases of Class A and Class B shares of the Fund and
other Oppenheimer funds to reduce the sales charge rate that
applies to current purchases of Class A shares, and
o Class A and Class B shares of Oppenheimer funds you previously
purchased subject to an initial or contingent deferred sales
charge to reduce the sales charge rate for current purchases of
Class A shares, provided that you still hold your investment in
one of the Oppenheimer funds.
A fiduciary can count all shares purchased for a trust, estate or other
fiduciary account (including one or more employee benefit plans of the same
employer) that has multiple accounts. The Distributor will add the value, at
current offering price, of the shares you previously purchased and currently
own to the value of current purchases to determine the sales charge rate that
applies. The reduced sales charge will apply only to current purchases. You
must request it when you buy shares.
n The Oppenheimer Funds. The Oppenheimer funds are those mutual funds
for which the Distributor acts as the distributor or the sub-distributor and
currently include the following:
Oppenheimer Municipal Bond Fund Oppenheimer Global Fund
Oppenheimer New York Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Global Growth & Income Fund
Oppenheimer California Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals
Oppenheimer Intermediate Municipal Fund Fund
Oppenheimer Insured Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street California Oppenheimer International Bond Fund
Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund
Oppenheimer Florida Municipal Fund Oppenheimer International Growth Fund
Oppenheimer New Jersey Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Developing Markets Fund
Oppenheimer Pennsylvania Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund
Oppenheimer Discovery Fund Oppenheimer International Small
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund Company Fund
Oppenheimer Growth Fund Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund
Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value
Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies Fund Fund
Oppenheimer Total Return Fund, Inc. Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc.
Fund Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund,
Oppenheimer High Yield Fund Inc.
Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund Oppenheimer Quest Capital Value Fund,
Oppenheimer Bond Fund Inc.
Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust Oppenheimer MidCap Fund
Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government Fund Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund
Oppenheimer Large Cap Growth Fund Rochester Fund Municipals
Limited-Term New York Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Disciplined Value Fund
Oppenheimer Disciplined Allocation
Fund
Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
and the following money market funds:
Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. Centennial Government Trust
Oppenheimer Cash Reserves Centennial New York Tax Exempt Trust
Centennial Money Market Trust Centennial California Tax Exempt Trust
Centennial Tax Exempt Trust Centennial America Fund, L.P.
There is an initial sales charge on the purchase of Class A shares of
each of the Oppenheimer funds except the money market funds. Under certain
circumstances described in this Statement of Additional Information,
redemption proceeds of certain money market fund shares may be subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge.
Letters of Intent. Under a Letter of Intent, if you purchase Class A shares
or Class A and Class B shares of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds during
a 13-month period, you can reduce the sales charge rate that applies to your
purchases of Class A shares. The total amount of your intended purchases of
both Class A and Class B shares will determine the reduced sales charge rate
for the Class A shares purchased during that period. You can include
purchases made up to 90 days before the date of the Letter.
A Letter of Intent is an investor's statement in writing to the
Distributor of the intention to purchase Class A shares or Class A and Class
B shares of the Fund (and other Oppenheimer funds) during a 13-month period
(the "Letter of Intent period"). At the investor's request, this may include
purchases made up to 90 days prior to the date of the Letter. The Letter
states the investor's intention to make the aggregate amount of purchases of
shares which, when added to the investor's holdings of shares of those funds,
will equal or exceed the amount specified in the Letter. Purchases made by
reinvestment of dividends or distributions of capital gains and purchases
made at net asset value without sales charge do not count toward satisfying
the amount of the Letter.
A Letter enables an investor to count the Class A and Class B shares
purchased under the Letter to obtain the reduced sales charge rate on
purchases of Class A shares of the Fund (and other Oppenheimer funds) that
applies under the Right of Accumulation to current purchases of Class A
shares. Each purchase of Class A shares under the Letter will be made at the
public offering price (including the sales charge) that applies to a single
lump-sum purchase of shares in the amount intended to be purchased under the
Letter.
In submitting a Letter, the investor makes no commitment to purchase
shares. However, if the investor's purchases of shares within the Letter of
Intent period, when added to the value (at offering price) of the investor's
holdings of shares on the last day of that period, do not equal or exceed the
intended purchase amount, the investor agrees to pay the additional amount of
sales charge applicable to such purchases. That amount is described in "Terms
of Escrow," below (those terms may be amended by the Distributor from time to
time). The investor agrees that shares equal in value to 5% of the intended
purchase amount will be held in escrow by the Transfer Agent subject to the
Terms of Escrow. Also, the investor agrees to be bound by the terms of the
Prospectus, this Statement of Additional Information and the Application used
for a Letter of Intent. If those terms are amended, as they may be from time
to time by the Fund, the investor agrees to be bound by the amended terms and
that those amendments will apply automatically to existing Letters of Intent.
If the total eligible purchases made during the Letter of Intent period
do not equal or exceed the intended purchase amount, the commissions
previously paid to the dealer of record for the account and the amount of
sales charge retained by the Distributor will be adjusted to the rates
applicable to actual total purchases. If total eligible purchases during the
Letter of Intent period exceed the intended purchase amount and exceed the
amount needed to qualify for the next sales charge rate reduction set forth
in the Prospectus, the sales charges paid will be adjusted to the lower rate.
That adjustment will be made only if and when the dealer returns to the
Distributor the excess of the amount of commissions allowed or paid to the
dealer over the amount of commissions that apply to the actual amount of
purchases. The excess commissions returned to the Distributor will be used
to purchase additional shares for the investor's account at the net asset
value per share in effect on the date of such purchase, promptly after the
Distributor's receipt thereof.
The Transfer Agent will not hold shares in escrow for purchases of
shares of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds by OppenheimerFunds prototype
401(k) plans under a Letter of Intent. If the intended purchase amount under
a Letter of Intent entered into by an OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k) plan
is not purchased by the plan by the end of the Letter of Intent period, there
will be no adjustment of commissions paid to the broker-dealer or financial
institution of record for accounts held in the name of that plan.
In determining the total amount of purchases made under a Letter,
shares redeemed by the investor prior to the termination of the Letter of
Intent period will be deducted. It is the responsibility of the dealer of
record and/or the investor to advise the Distributor about the Letter in
placing any purchase orders for the investor during the Letter of Intent
period. All of such purchases must be made through the Distributor.
o Terms of Escrow That Apply to Letters of Intent.
1. Out of the initial purchase (or subsequent purchases if necessary)
made pursuant to a Letter, shares of the Fund equal in value up to 5% of the
intended purchase amount specified in the Letter shall be held in escrow by
the Transfer Agent. For example, if the intended purchase amount is $50,000,
the escrow shall be shares valued in the amount of $2,500 (computed at the
public offering price adjusted for a $50,000 purchase). Any dividends and
capital gains distributions on the escrowed shares will be credited to the
investor's account.
2. If the total minimum investment specified under the Letter is
completed within the thirteen-month Letter of Intent period, the escrowed
shares will be promptly released to the investor.
3. If, at the end of the thirteen-month Letter of Intent period the
total purchases pursuant to the Letter are less than the intended purchase
amount specified in the Letter, the investor must remit to the Distributor an
amount equal to the difference between the dollar amount of sales charges
actually paid and the amount of sales charges which would have been paid if
the total amount purchased had been made at a single time. That sales charge
adjustment will apply to any shares redeemed prior to the completion of the
Letter. If the difference in sales charges is not paid within twenty days
after a request from the Distributor or the dealer, the Distributor will,
within sixty days of the expiration of the Letter, redeem the number of
escrowed shares necessary to realize such difference in sales charges. Full
and fractional shares remaining after such redemption will be released from
escrow. If a request is received to redeem escrowed shares prior to the
payment of such additional sales charge, the sales charge will be withheld
from the redemption proceeds.
4. By signing the Letter, the investor irrevocably constitutes and
appoints the Transfer Agent as attorney-in-fact to surrender for redemption
any or all escrowed shares.
7. The shares eligible for purchase under the Letter (or the holding of
which may be counted toward completion of a Letter) include:
(g) Class A shares sold with a front-end sales charge or subject to a Class
A contingent deferred sales charge,
(h) Class B shares of other Oppenheimer funds acquired subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge, and
(i) Class A or Class B shares acquired by exchange of either (1) Class A
shares of one of the other Oppenheimer funds that were acquired
subject to a Class A initial or contingent deferred sales charge
or (2) Class B shares of one of the other Oppenheimer funds that
were acquired subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
6. Shares held in escrow hereunder will automatically be exchanged for
shares of another fund to which an exchange is requested, as described in the
section of the Prospectus entitled "How to Exchange Shares" and the escrow
will be transferred to that other fund.
Asset Builder Plans. To establish an Asset Builder Plan to buy shares
directly from a bank account, you must enclose a check (minimum $25) for the
initial purchase with your application. Shares purchased by Asset Builder
Plan payments from bank accounts are subject to the redemption restrictions
for recent purchases described in the Prospectus. Asset Builder Plans also
enable shareholders of Oppenheimer Cash Reserves to use their fund account to
make monthly automatic purchases of shares of up to four other Oppenheimer
funds.
If you make payments from your bank account to purchase shares of the
Fund, your bank account will be automatically debited, normally four to five
business days prior to the investment dates selected in the Application.
Neither the Distributor, the Transfer Agent nor the Fund shall be responsible
for any delays in purchasing shares resulting from delays in ACH
transmissions.
Before initiating Asset Builder payments, obtain a prospectus of the
selected fund(s) from the Distributor or your financial advisor and request
an application from the Distributor, complete it and return it. The amount
of the Asset Builder investment may be changed or the automatic investments
may be terminated at any time by writing to the Transfer Agent. The Transfer
Agent requires a reasonable period (approximately 15 days) after receipt of
such instructions to implement them. The Fund reserves the right to amend,
suspend, or discontinue offering Asset Builder plans at any time without
prior notice.
Retirement Plans. Certain types of retirement plans are entitled to purchase
shares of the Fund without sales charge or at reduced sales charge rates, as
described in Appendix C to this Statement of Additional Information. Certain
special sales charge arrangements described in that Appendix apply to
retirement plans whose records are maintained on a daily valuation basis by
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc. or an independent record keeper
that has a contract or special arrangement with Merrill Lynch. If on the date
the plan sponsor signed the Merrill Lynch record keeping service agreement
the plan has less than $3 million in assets (other than assets invested in
money market funds) invested in applicable investments, then the retirement
plan may purchase only Class B shares of the Oppenheimer funds. Any
retirement plans in that category that currently invest in Class B shares of
the Fund will have their Class B shares converted to Class A shares of the
Fund when the plan's applicable investments reach $5 million.
Cancellation of Purchase Orders. Cancellation of purchase orders for the
Fund's shares (for example, when a purchase check is returned to the Fund
unpaid) causes a loss to be incurred when the net asset value of the Fund's
shares on the cancellation date is less than on the purchase date. That loss
is equal to the amount of the decline in the net asset value per share
multiplied by the number of shares in the purchase order. The investor is
responsible for that loss. If the investor fails to compensate the Fund for
the loss, the Distributor will do so. The Fund may reimburse the Distributor
for that amount by redeeming shares from any account registered in that
investor's name, or the Fund or the Distributor may seek other redress.
Classes of Shares. Each class of shares of the Fund represents an interest in
the same portfolio of investments of the Fund. However, each class has
different shareholder privileges and features. The net income attributable
to a class of shares and the dividends payable on a class of shares will be
reduced by incremental expenses borne solely by that class. Those expenses
include the asset-based sales charges to which Class A, Class B and Class C
are subject.
The availability of different classes of shares permits an investor to
choose the method of purchasing shares that is more appropriate for the
investor. That may depend on the amount of the purchase, the length of time
the investor expects to hold shares, and other relevant circumstances. Class
A shares normally are sold subject to an initial sales charge. While Class B
and Class C shares have no initial sales charge, the purpose of the deferred
sales charge and asset-based sales charge on Class B and Class C shares is
the same as that of the initial sales charge on Class A shares - to
compensate the Distributor and brokers, dealers and financial institutions
that sell shares of the Fund. A salesperson who is entitled to receive
compensation for selling from his or her firm Fund shares may receive
different levels of compensation for selling one class of shares than
another.
The Distributor will not accept any order in the amount of $500,000 or
more for Class B shares or $1 million or more for Class C shares on behalf of
a single investor (not including dealer "street name" or omnibus accounts).
That is because generally it will be more advantageous for that investor to
purchase Class A shares of the Fund.
o Class B Conversion. The conversion of Class B shares to Class A
shares after six years is subject to the continuing availability of a private
letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel or
tax adviser, to the effect that the conversion of Class B shares does not
constitute a taxable event for the shareholder under Federal income tax law.
If such a revenue ruling or opinion is no longer available, the automatic
conversion feature may be suspended, in which event no further conversions of
Class B shares would occur while such suspension remained in effect. Although
Class B shares could then be exchanged for Class A shares on the basis of
relative net asset value of the two classes, without the imposition of a
sales charge or fee, such exchange could constitute a taxable event for the
shareholder, and absent such exchange, Class B shares might continue to be
subject to the asset-based sales charge for longer than six years.
o Allocation of Expenses. The Fund pays expenses related to its daily
operations, such as custodian fees, Trustees' fees, transfer agency fees,
legal fees and auditing costs. Those expenses are paid out of the Fund's
assets and are not paid directly by shareholders. However, those expenses
reduce the net asset value of shares, and therefore are indirectly borne by
shareholders through their investment.
The methodology for calculating the net asset value, dividends and
distributions of the Fund's share classes recognizes two types of expenses.
General expenses that do not pertain specifically to any one class are
allocated pro rata to the shares of all classes. The allocation is based on
the percentage of the Fund's total assets that is represented by the assets
of each class, and then equally to each outstanding share within a given
class. Such general expenses include management fees, legal, bookkeeping and
audit fees, printing and mailing costs of shareholder reports, Prospectuses,
Statements of Additional Information and other materials for current
shareholders, fees to unaffiliated Trustees, custodian expenses, share
issuance costs, organization and start-up costs, interest, taxes and
brokerage commissions, and non-recurring expenses, such as litigation costs.
Other expenses that are directly attributable to a particular class are
allocated equally to each outstanding share within that class. Examples of
such expenses include distribution and service plan (12b-1) fees, transfer
and shareholder servicing agent fees and expenses, and shareholder meeting
expenses (to the extent that such expenses pertain only to a specific class).
Determination of Net Asset Values Per Share. The net asset values per share
of each class of shares of the Fund are determined as of the close of
business of The New York Stock Exchange on each day that the Exchange is
open. The calculation is done by dividing the value of the Fund's net assets
attributable to a class by the number of shares of that class that are
outstanding. The Exchange normally closes at 4:00 P.M., New York time, but
may close earlier on some other days (for example, in case of weather
emergencies or on days falling before a holiday). The Exchange's most recent
annual announcement (which is subject to change) states that it will close on
New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Good Friday,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas
Day. It may also close on other days.
Dealers other than Exchange members may conduct trading in certain
securities on days on which the Exchange is closed (including weekends and
holidays) or after 4:00 P.M. on a regular business day. The Fund's net asset
values will not be calculated on those days, and the Fund's values of some of
the portfolio securities may change significantly on those days when
shareholders may not purchase or redeem shares. Additionally, trading on
European and Asian stock exchanges and over-the-counter markets normally is
completed before the close of The New York Stock Exchange.
Changes in the values of securities traded on foreign exchanges or
markets as a result of events that occur after the prices of those securities
are determined, but before the close of The New York Stock Exchange, will not
be reflected in the Fund's calculation of its net asset values that day
unless the Board of Trustees determines that the event is likely to effect a
material change in the value of the security. The Manager may make that
determination, under procedures established by the Board.
n Securities Valuation. The Fund's Board of Trustees has established
procedures for the valuation of the Fund's securities. In general those
procedures are as follows:
o Equity securities traded on a U.S. securities exchange or on NASDAQ
are valued as follows:
(5) if last sale information is regularly reported, they are valued at the
last reported sale price on the principal exchange on which
they are traded or on NASDAQ, as applicable, on that day, or
(6) if last sale information is not available on a valuation date, they are
valued at the last reported sale price preceding the valuation
date if it is within the spread of the closing "bid" and
"asked" prices on the valuation date or, if not, at the
closing "bid" price on the valuation date.
o Equity securities traded on a foreign securities exchange generally
are valued in one of the following ways:
(7) at the last sale price available to the pricing service approved by the
Board of Trustees,
(8) at the last sale price obtained by the Manager from the report of the
principal exchange on which the security is traded at its last
trading session on or immediately before the valuation date, or
(9) at the mean between the "bid" and "asked" prices obtained from the
principal exchange on which the security is traded or, on the
basis of reasonable inquiry, from two market makers in the
security.
o Long-term debt securities having a remaining maturity in excess of
60 days are valued based on the mean between the "bid" and "asked" prices
determined by a portfolio pricing service approved by the Fund's Board of
Trustees or obtained by the Manager from two active market makers in the
security on the basis of reasonable inquiry.
o The following securities are valued at the mean between the "bid"
and "asked" prices determined by a pricing service approved by the Fund's
Board of Trustees or obtained by the Manager from two active market makers in
the security on the basis of reasonable inquiry:
(7) debt instruments that have a maturity of more than 397 days when
issued,
(8) debt instruments that had a maturity of 397 days or less when issued
and have a remaining maturity of more than 60 days, and
(9) non-money market debt instruments that had a maturity of 397 days or
less when issued and which have a remaining maturity of 60 days or
less.
o The following securities are valued at cost, adjusted for
amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts:
(5) money market debt securities held by a non-money market fund that had a
maturity of less than 397 days when issued that have a remaining
maturity of 60 days or less, and
(6) debt instruments held by a money market fund that have a remaining
maturity of 397 days or less.
o Securities (including restricted securities) not having
readily-available market quotations are valued at fair value determined under
the Board's procedures. If the Manager is unable to locate two market makers
willing to give quotes, a security may be priced at the mean between the
"bid" and "asked" prices provided by a single active market maker (which in
certain cases may be the "bid" price if no "asked" price is available).
In the case of U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities,
corporate bonds and foreign government securities, when last sale information
is not generally available, the Manager may use pricing services approved by
the Board of Trustees. The pricing service may use "matrix" comparisons to
the prices for comparable instruments on the basis of quality, yield,
maturity. Other special factors may be involved (such as the tax-exempt
status of the interest paid by municipal securities). The Manager will
monitor the accuracy of the pricing services. That monitoring may include
comparing prices used for portfolio valuation to actual sales prices of
selected securities.
The closing prices in the London foreign exchange market on a
particular business day that are provided to the Manager by a bank, dealer or
pricing service that the Manager has determined to be reliable are used to
value foreign currency, including forward contracts, and to convert to U.S.
dollars securities that are denominated in foreign currency.
Puts, calls, and futures are valued at the last sale price on the
principal exchange on which they are traded or on NASDAQ, as applicable, as
determined by a pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees or by the
Manager. If there were no sales that day, they shall be valued at the last
sale price on the preceding trading day if it is within the spread of the
closing "bid" and "asked" prices on the principal exchange or on NASDAQ on
the valuation date. If not, the value shall be the closing bid price on the
principal exchange or on NASDAQ on the valuation date. If the put, call or
future is not traded on an exchange or on NASDAQ, it shall be valued by the
mean between "bid" and "asked" prices obtained by the Manager from two active
market makers. In certain cases that may be at the "bid" price if no "asked"
price is available.
When the Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received
is included in the Fund's Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an asset. An
equivalent credit is included in the liability section. The credit is
adjusted ("marked-to-market") to reflect the current market value of the
option. In determining the Fund's gain on investments, if a call or put
written by the Fund is exercised, the proceeds are increased by the premium
received. If a call or put written by the Fund expires, the Fund has a gain
in the amount of the premium. If the Fund enters into a closing purchase
transaction, it will have a gain or loss, depending on whether the premium
received was more or less than the cost of the closing transaction. If the
Fund exercises a put it holds, the amount the Fund receives on its sale of
the underlying investment is reduced by the amount of premium paid by the
Fund.
How to Sell Shares
Information on how to sell shares of the Fund is stated in the
Prospectus. The information below provides additional information about the
procedures and conditions for redeeming shares.
Reinvestment Privilege. Within six months of a redemption, a shareholder may
reinvest all or part of the redemption proceeds of:
o Class A shares purchased subject to an initial sales charge or Class
A shares on which a contingent deferred sales charge was paid, or
o Class B shares that were subject to the Class B contingent deferred
sales charge when redeemed.
The reinvestment may be made without sales charge only in Class A
shares of the Fund or any of the other Oppenheimer funds into which shares of
the Fund are exchangeable as described in "How to Exchange Shares" below.
Reinvestment will be at the net asset value next computed after the Transfer
Agent receives the reinvestment order. The shareholder must ask the Transfer
Agent for that privilege at the time of reinvestment. This privilege does not
apply to Class C shares. The Fund may amend, suspend or cease offering this
reinvestment privilege at any time as to shares redeemed after the date of
such amendment, suspension or cessation.
Any capital gain that was realized when the shares were redeemed is
taxable, and reinvestment will not alter any capital gains tax payable on
that gain. If there has been a capital loss on the redemption, some or all
of the loss may not be tax deductible, depending on the timing and amount of
the reinvestment. Under the Internal Revenue Code, if the redemption
proceeds of Fund shares on which a sales charge was paid are reinvested in
shares of the Fund or another of the Oppenheimer funds within 90 days of
payment of the sales charge, the shareholder's basis in the shares of the
Fund that were redeemed may not include the amount of the sales charge paid.
That would reduce the loss or increase the gain recognized from the
redemption. However, in that case the sales charge would be added to the
basis of the shares acquired by the reinvestment of the redemption proceeds.
Payments "In Kind". The Prospectus states that payment for shares tendered
for redemption is ordinarily made in cash. However, the Board of Trustees of
the Fund may determine that it would be detrimental to the best interests of
the remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment of a redemption order
wholly or partly in cash. In that case, the Fund may pay the redemption
proceeds in whole or in part by a distribution "in kind" of securities from
the portfolio of the Fund, in lieu of cash.
The Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment
Company Act. Under that rule, the Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely
in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the Fund
during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. If shares are redeemed in
kind, the redeeming shareholder might incur brokerage or other costs in
selling the securities for cash. The Fund will value securities used to pay
redemptions in kind using the same method the Fund uses to value its
portfolio securities described above under "Determination of Net Asset Values
Per Share." That valuation will be made as of the time the redemption price
is determined.
Involuntary Redemptions. The Fund's Board of Trustees has the right to cause
the involuntary redemption of the shares held in any account if the aggregate
net asset value of those shares is less than $500 or such lesser amount as
the Board may fix. The Board will not cause the involuntary redemption of
shares in an account if the aggregate net asset value of such shares has
fallen below the stated minimum solely as a result of market fluctuations.
If the Board exercises this right, it may also fix the requirements for any
notice to be given to the shareholders in question (not less than 30 days).
The Board may alternatively set requirements for the shareholder to increase
the investment, or set other terms and conditions so that the shares would
not be involuntarily redeemed.
Transfers of Shares. A transfer of shares to a different registration is not
an event that triggers the payment of sales charges. Therefore, shares are
not subject to the payment of a contingent deferred sales charge of any class
at the time of transfer to the name of another person or entity. It does not
matter whether the transfer occurs by absolute assignment, gift or bequest,
as long as it does not involve, directly or indirectly, a public sale of the
shares. When shares subject to a contingent deferred sales charge are
transferred, the transferred shares will remain subject to the contingent
deferred sales charge. It will be calculated as if the transferee shareholder
had acquired the transferred shares in the same manner and at the same time
as the transferring shareholder.
If less than all shares held in an account are transferred, and some
but not all shares in the account would be subject to a contingent deferred
sales charge if redeemed at the time of transfer, the priorities described in
the Prospectus under "How to Buy Shares" for the imposition of the Class B or
Class C contingent deferred sales charge will be followed in determining the
order in which shares are transferred.
Selling Shares by Wire. The wire of redemption proceeds may be delayed if
the Fund's custodian bank is not open for business on a day when the Fund
would normally authorize the wire to be made, which is usually the Fund's
next regular business day following the redemption. In those circumstances,
the wire will not be transmitted until the next bank business day on which
the Fund is open for business. No dividends will be paid on the proceeds of
redeemed shares awaiting transfer by wire.
Distributions From Retirement Plans. Requests for distributions from
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored IRAs, 403(b)(7) custodial plans, 401(k) plans or
pension or profit-sharing plans should be addressed to "Trustee,
OppenheimerFunds Retirement Plans," c/o the Transfer Agent at its address
listed in "How To Sell Shares" in the Prospectus or on the back cover of this
Statement of Additional Information. The request must
(7) state the reason for the distribution;
(8) state the owner's awareness of tax penalties if the distribution is
premature; and
(9) conform to the requirements of the plan and the Fund's other redemption
requirements.
Participants (other than self-employed persons) in
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored pension or profit-sharing plans with shares of the
Fund held in the name of the plan or its fiduciary may not directly request
redemption of their accounts. The plan administrator or fiduciary must sign
the request.
Distributions from pension and profit sharing plans are subject to
special requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and certain documents
(available from the Transfer Agent) must be completed and submitted to the
Transfer Agent before the distribution may be made. Distributions from
retirement plans are subject to withholding requirements under the Internal
Revenue Code, and IRS Form W-4P (available from the Transfer Agent) must be
submitted to the Transfer Agent with the distribution request, or the
distribution may be delayed. Unless the shareholder has provided the
Transfer Agent with a certified tax identification number, the Internal
Revenue Code requires that tax be withheld from any distribution even if the
shareholder elects not to have tax withheld. The Fund, the Manager, the
Distributor, and the Transfer Agent assume no responsibility to determine
whether a distribution satisfies the conditions of applicable tax laws and
will not be responsible for any tax penalties assessed in connection with a
distribution.
Special Arrangements for Repurchase of Shares from Dealers and Brokers. The
Distributor is the Fund's agent to repurchase its shares from authorized
dealers or brokers on behalf of their customers. Shareholders should contact
their broker or dealer to arrange this type of redemption. The repurchase
price per share will be the net asset value next computed after the
Distributor receives an order placed by the dealer or broker. However, if the
Distributor receives a repurchase order from a dealer or broker after the
close of The New York Stock Exchange on a regular business day, it will be
processed at that day's net asset value if the order was received by the
dealer or broker from its customers prior to the time the Exchange closes.
Normally, the Exchange closes at 4:00 P.M., but may do so earlier on some
days. Additionally, the order must have been transmitted to and received by
the Distributor prior to its close of business that day (normally 5:00
P.M.).
Ordinarily, for accounts redeemed by a broker-dealer under this
procedure, payment will be made within three business days after the shares
have been redeemed upon the Distributor's receipt of the required redemption
documents in proper form. The signature(s) of the registered owners on the
redemption documents must be guaranteed as described in the Prospectus.
Automatic Withdrawal and Exchange Plans. Investors owning shares of the Fund
valued at $5,000 or more can authorize the Transfer Agent to redeem shares
(having a value of at least $50) automatically on a monthly, quarterly,
semi-annual or annual basis under an Automatic Withdrawal Plan. Shares will
be redeemed three business days prior to the date requested by the
shareholder for receipt of the payment. Automatic withdrawals of up to
$1,500 per month may be requested by telephone if payments are to be made by
check payable to all shareholders of record. Payments must also be sent to
the address of record for the account and the address must not have been
changed within the prior 30 days. Required minimum distributions from
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored retirement plans may not be arranged on this
basis.
Payments are normally made by check, but shareholders having
AccountLink privileges (see "How To Buy Shares") may arrange to have
Automatic Withdrawal Plan payments transferred to the bank account designated
on the Account Application or by signature-guaranteed instructions sent to
the Transfer Agent. Shares are normally redeemed pursuant to an Automatic
Withdrawal Plan three business days before the payment transmittal date you
select in the Account Application. If a contingent deferred sales charge
applies to the redemption, the amount of the check or payment will be reduced
accordingly.
The Fund cannot guarantee receipt of a payment on the date requested.
The Fund reserves the right to amend, suspend or discontinue offering these
plans at any time without prior notice. Because of the sales charge assessed
on Class A share purchases, shareholders should not make regular additional
Class A share purchases while participating in an Automatic Withdrawal Plan.
Class B and Class C shareholders should not establish withdrawal plans,
because of the imposition of the contingent deferred sales charge on such
withdrawals (except where the contingent deferred sales charge is waived as
described in Appendix B to this Statement of Additional Information.
By requesting an Automatic Withdrawal or Exchange Plan, the shareholder
agrees to the terms and conditions that apply to such plans, as stated
below. These provisions may be amended from time to time by the Fund and/or
the Distributor. When adopted, any amendments will automatically apply to
existing Plans.
n Automatic Exchange Plans. Shareholders can authorize the Transfer
Agent to exchange a pre-determined amount of shares of the Fund for shares
(of the same class) of other Oppenheimer funds automatically on a monthly,
quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis under an Automatic Exchange Plan. The
minimum amount that may be exchanged to each other fund account is $25.
Instructions should be provided on the OppenheimerFunds Application or
signature-guaranteed instructions. Exchanges made under these plans are
subject to the restrictions that apply to exchanges as set forth in "How to
Exchange Shares" in the Prospectus and below in this Statement of Additional
Information.
n Automatic Withdrawal Plans. Fund shares will be redeemed as
necessary to meet withdrawal payments. Shares acquired without a sales
charge will be redeemed first. Shares acquired with reinvested dividends and
capital gains distributions will be redeemed next, followed by shares
acquired with a sales charge, to the extent necessary to make withdrawal
payments. Depending upon the amount withdrawn, the investor's principal may
be depleted. Payments made under these plans should not be considered as a
yield or income on your investment.
The Transfer Agent will administer the investor's Automatic Withdrawal
Plan as agent for the shareholder(s) (the "Planholder") who executed the Plan
authorization and application submitted to the Transfer Agent. Neither the
Fund nor the Transfer Agent shall incur any liability to the Planholder for
any action taken or not taken by the Transfer Agent in good faith to
administer the Plan. Share certificates will not be issued for shares of the
Fund purchased for and held under the Plan, but the Transfer Agent will
credit all such shares to the account of the Planholder on the records of the
Fund. Any share certificates held by a Planholder may be surrendered
unendorsed to the Transfer Agent with the Plan application so that the shares
represented by the certificate may be held under the Plan.
For accounts subject to Automatic Withdrawal Plans, distributions of
capital gains must be reinvested in shares of the Fund, which will be done at
net asset value without a sales charge. Dividends on shares held in the
account may be paid in cash or reinvested.
Shares will be redeemed to make withdrawal payments at the net asset
value per share determined on the redemption date. Checks or AccountLink
payments representing the proceeds of Plan withdrawals will normally be
transmitted three business days prior to the date selected for receipt of the
payment, according to the choice specified in writing by the Planholder.
Receipt of payment on the date selected cannot be guaranteed.
The amount and the interval of disbursement payments and the address to
which checks are to be mailed or AccountLink payments are to be sent may be
changed at any time by the Planholder by writing to the Transfer Agent. The
Planholder should allow at least two weeks' time after mailing such
notification for the requested change to be put in effect. The Planholder
may, at any time, instruct the Transfer Agent by written notice to redeem
all, or any part of, the shares held under the Plan. That notice must be in
proper form in accordance with the requirements of the then-current
Prospectus of the Fund. In that case, the Transfer Agent will redeem the
number of shares requested at the net asset value per share in effect and
will mail a check for the proceeds to the Planholder.
The Planholder may terminate a Plan at any time by writing to the
Transfer Agent. The Fund may also give directions to the Transfer Agent to
terminate a Plan. The Transfer Agent will also terminate a Plan upon its
receipt of evidence satisfactory to it that the Planholder has died or is
legally incapacitated. Upon termination of a Plan by the Transfer Agent or
the Fund, shares that have not been redeemed will be held in uncertificated
form in the name of the Planholder. The account will continue as a
dividend-reinvestment, uncertificated account unless and until proper
instructions are received from the Planholder, his or her executor or
guardian, or another authorized person.
To use shares held under the Plan as collateral for a debt, the
Planholder may request issuance of a portion of the shares in certificated
form. Upon written request from the Planholder, the Transfer Agent will
determine the number of shares for which a certificate may be issued without
causing the withdrawal checks to stop. However, should such uncertificated
shares become exhausted, Plan withdrawals will terminate.
If the Transfer Agent ceases to act as transfer agent for the Fund, the
Planholder will be deemed to have appointed any successor transfer agent to
act as agent in administering the Plan.
How to Exchange Shares
As stated in the Prospectus, shares of a particular class of
Oppenheimer funds having more than one class of shares may be exchanged only
for shares of the same class of other Oppenheimer funds. Shares of
Oppenheimer funds that have a single class without a class designation are
deemed "Class A" shares for this purpose. You can obtain a current list
showing which funds offer which classes by calling the Distributor at
1-800-525-7048.
o All of the Oppenheimer funds currently offer Class A, B and C shares
except Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc., Centennial Money Market Trust,
Centennial Tax Exempt Trust, Centennial Government Trust, Centennial New York
Tax Exempt Trust, Centennial California Tax Exempt Trust, and Centennial
America Fund, L.P., which only offer Class A shares.
o Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund currently offers
only Class A and Class B shares.
o Class B and Class C shares of Oppenheimer Cash Reserves are
generally available only by exchange from the same class of shares of other
Oppenheimer funds or through OppenheimerFunds sponsored 401 (k) plans.
o Class Y shares of Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund may not be exchanged
for shares of any other Fund.
Class A shares of Oppenheimer funds may be exchanged at net asset value
for shares of any money market fund offered by the Distributor. Shares of
any money market fund purchased without a sales charge may be exchanged for
shares of Oppenheimer funds offered with a sales charge upon payment of the
sales charge. They may also be used to purchase shares of Oppenheimer funds
subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
Shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. purchased with the
redemption proceeds of shares of other mutual funds (other than funds managed
by the Manager or its subsidiaries) redeemed within the 30 days prior to that
purchase may subsequently be exchanged for shares of other Oppenheimer funds
without being subject to an initial or contingent deferred sales charge. To
qualify for that privilege, the investor or the investor's dealer must notify
the Distributor of eligibility for this privilege at the time the shares of
Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. are purchased. If requested, they must
supply proof of entitlement to this privilege.
For accounts established on or before March 8, 1996 holding Class M
shares of Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund, Class M shares can be
exchanged only for Class A shares of other Oppenheimer funds. Exchanges to
Class M shares of Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund are permitted from
Class A shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. or Oppenheimer Cash
Reserves that were acquired by exchange of Class M shares. No other
exchanges may be made to Class M shares.
Shares of the Fund acquired by reinvestment of dividends or
distributions from any of the other Oppenheimer funds or from any unit
investment trust for which reinvestment arrangements have been made with the
Distributor may be exchanged at net asset value for shares of any of the
Oppenheimer funds.
o How Exchanges Affect Contingent Deferred Sales Charges. No
contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on exchanges of shares of any
class purchased subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. However, when
Class A shares acquired by exchange of Class A shares of other Oppenheimer
funds purchased subject to a Class A contingent deferred sales charge are
redeemed within 18 months of the end of the calendar month of the initial
purchase of the exchanged Class A shares, the Class A contingent deferred
sales charge is imposed on the redeemed shares. The Class B contingent
deferred sales charge is imposed on Class B shares acquired by exchange if
they are redeemed within 6 years of the initial purchase of the exchanged
Class B shares. The Class C contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on
Class C shares acquired by exchange if they are redeemed within 12 months of
the initial purchase of the exchanged Class C shares.
When Class B or Class C shares are redeemed to effect an exchange, the
priorities described in "How To Buy Shares" in the Prospectus for the
imposition of the Class B or the Class C contingent deferred sales charge
will be followed in determining the order in which the shares are exchanged.
Before exchanging shares, shareholders should take into account how the
exchange may affect any contingent deferred sales charge that might be
imposed in the subsequent redemption of remaining shares. Shareholders
owning shares of more than one class must specify which class of shares they
wish to exchange.
o Limits on Multiple Exchange Orders. The Fund reserves the right to
reject telephone or written exchange requests submitted in bulk by anyone on
behalf of more than one account. The Fund may accept requests for exchanges
of up to 50 accounts per day from representatives of authorized dealers that
qualify for this privilege.
o Telephone Exchange Requests. When exchanging shares by telephone, a
shareholder must have an existing account in the fund to which the exchange
is to be made. Otherwise, the investors must obtain a Prospectus of that fund
before the exchange request may be submitted. For full or partial exchanges
of an account made by telephone, any special account features such as Asset
Builder Plans and Automatic Withdrawal Plans will be switched to the new
account unless the Transfer Agent is instructed otherwise. If all telephone
lines are busy (which might occur, for example, during periods of substantial
market fluctuations), shareholders might not be able to request exchanges by
telephone and would have to submit written exchange requests.
o Processing Exchange Requests. Shares to be exchanged are redeemed on
the regular business day the Transfer Agent receives an exchange request in
proper form (the "Redemption Date"). Normally, shares of the fund to be
acquired are purchased on the Redemption Date, but such purchases may be
delayed by either fund up to five business days if it determines that it
would be disadvantaged by an immediate transfer of the redemption proceeds.
The Fund reserves the right, in its discretion, to refuse any exchange
request that may disadvantage it. For example, if the receipt of multiple
exchange requests from a dealer might require the disposition of portfolio
securities at a time or at a price that might be disadvantageous to the Fund,
the Fund may refuse the request.
In connection with any exchange request, the number of shares exchanged
may be less than the number requested if the exchange or the number requested
would include shares subject to a restriction cited in the Prospectus or this
Statement of Additional Information, or would include shares covered by a
share certificate that is not tendered with the request. In those cases,
only the shares available for exchange without restriction will be exchanged.
The different Oppenheimer funds available for exchange have different
investment objectives, policies and risks. A shareholder should assure that
the fund selected is appropriate for his or her investment and should be
aware of the tax consequences of an exchange. For federal income tax
purposes, an exchange transaction is treated as a redemption of shares of one
fund and a purchase of shares of another. "Reinvestment Privilege," above,
discusses some of the tax consequences of reinvestment of redemption proceeds
in such cases. The Fund, the Distributor, and the Transfer Agent are unable
to provide investment, tax or legal advice to a shareholder in connection
with an exchange request or any other investment transaction.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund has no fixed dividend rate and there
can be no assurance as to the payment of any dividends or the realization of
any capital gains. The dividends and distributions paid by a class of shares
will vary from time to time depending on market conditions, the composition
of the Fund's portfolio, and expenses borne by the Fund or borne separately
by a class. Dividends are calculated in the same manner, at the same time,
and on the same day for each class of shares. However, dividends on Class B
and Class C shares are expected to be lower than dividends on Class A shares.
That is because of the effect of the higher asset-based sales charge on Class
B and Class C shares. Those dividends will also differ in amount as a
consequence of any difference in the net asset values of each class of shares.
Dividends, distributions and proceeds of the redemption of Fund shares
represented by checks returned to the Transfer Agent by the Postal Service as
undeliverable will be invested in shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund,
Inc. Reinvestment will be made as promptly as possible after the return of
such checks to the Transfer Agent, to enable the investor to earn a return on
otherwise idle funds. Unclaimed accounts may be subject to state escheatment
laws, and the Fund and the Transfer Agent will not be liable to shareholders
or their representatives for compliance with those laws in good faith.
Tax Status of the Fund's Dividends and Distributions. The Federal tax
treatment of the Fund's dividends and capital gains distributions is briefly
highlighted in the Prospectus.
Special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code govern the
eligibility of the Fund's dividends for the dividends-received deduction for
corporate shareholders. Long-term capital gains distributions are not
eligible for the deduction. The amount of dividends paid by the Fund that
may qualify for the deduction is limited to the aggregate amount of
qualifying dividends that the Fund derives from portfolio investments that
the Fund has held for a minimum period, usually 46 days. A corporate
shareholder will not be eligible for the deduction on dividends paid on Fund
shares held for 45 days or less. To the extent the Fund's dividends are
derived from gross income from option premiums, interest income or short-term
gains from the sale of securities or dividends from foreign corporations,
those dividends will not qualify for the deduction.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, by December 31 each year, the Fund
must distribute 98% of its taxable investment income earned from January 1
through December 31 of that year and 98% of its capital gains realized in the
period from November 1 of the prior year through October 31 of the current
year. If it does not, the Fund must pay an excise tax on the amounts not
distributed. It is presently anticipated that the Fund will meet those
requirements. However, the Board of Trustees and the Manager might determine
in a particular year that it would be in the best interests of shareholders
for the Fund not to make such distributions at the required levels and to pay
the excise tax on the undistributed amounts. That would reduce the amount of
income or capital gains available for distribution to shareholders.
The Fund intends to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under
the Internal Revenue Code (although it reserves the right not to qualify).
That qualification enables the Fund to "pass through" its income and realized
capital gains to shareholders without having to pay tax on them. This avoids
a double tax on that income and capital gains, since shareholders normally
will be taxed on the dividends and capital gains they receive from the Fund
(unless the Fund's shares are held in a retirement account or the shareholder
is otherwise exempt from tax). If the Fund qualifies as a "regulated
investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code, it will not be liable
for Federal income taxes on amounts paid by it as dividends and
distributions. The Fund qualified as a regulated investment company in its
last fiscal year. The Internal Revenue Code contains a number of complex
tests relating to qualification which the Fund might not meet in any
particular year. If it did not so qualify, the Fund would be treated for tax
purposes as an ordinary corporation and receive no tax deduction for payments
made to shareholders.
If prior distributions made by the Fund must be re-characterized as a
non-taxable return of capital at the end of the fiscal year as a result of
the effect of the Fund's investment policies, they will be identified as such
in notices sent to shareholders.
Dividend Reinvestment in Another Fund. Shareholders of the Fund may elect to
reinvest all dividends and/or capital gains distributions in shares of the
same class of any of the other Oppenheimer funds listed above. Reinvestment
will be made without sales charge at the net asset value per share in effect
at the close of business on the payable date of the dividend or distribution.
To elect this option, the shareholder must notify the Transfer Agent in
writing and must have an existing account in the fund selected for
reinvestment. Otherwise the shareholder first must obtain a prospectus for
that fund and an application from the Distributor to establish an account.
Dividends and/or distributions from shares of certain other Oppenheimer funds
(other than Oppenheimer Cash Reserves) may be invested in shares of this Fund
on the same basis.
Additional Information About the Fund
The Distributor. The Fund's shares are sold through dealers, brokers and
other financial institutions that have a sales agreement with
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., a subsidiary of the Manager that acts as
the Fund's Distributor. The Distributor also distributes shares of the other
Oppenheimer funds and is sub-distributor for funds managed by a subsidiary of
the Manager.
The Transfer Agent. OppenheimerFunds Services, the Fund's Transfer Agent, is
a division of the Manager. It is responsible for maintaining the Fund's
shareholder registry and shareholder accounting records, and for paying
dividends and distributions to shareholders. It also handles shareholder
servicing and administrative functions. It acts on an "at-cost" basis. It
also acts as shareholder servicing agent for the other Oppenheimer funds.
Shareholders should direct inquiries about their accounts to the Transfer
Agent at the address and toll-free numbers shown on the back cover.
n Shareholder Servicing Agent for Certain Shareholders. Unified
Management Corporation (1-800-346-4601) is the shareholder servicing agent
for shareholders of the Fund who were former shareholders of the AMA Family
of Funds and clients of AMA Investment Advisers, Inc. (which had been the
investment adviser of AMA Family of Funds). It is also the servicing agent
for Fund shareholders who are:
(ix) former shareholders of the Unified Funds and Liquid Green Trusts,
(x) accounts that participated or participate in a retirement plan for
which Unified Investment Advisers, Inc. or an affiliate acts as
custodian or trustee,
(xi) accounts that have a Money Manager brokerage account, and
(xii) other accounts for which Unified Management Corporation is the dealer
of record.
The Custodian. Citibank, N.A. is the Custodian of the Fund's assets. The
Custodian's responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Fund's
portfolio securities and handling the delivery of such securities to and from
the Fund. It will be the practice of the Fund to deal with the Custodian in
a manner uninfluenced by any banking relationship the Custodian may have with
the Manager and its affiliates. The Fund's cash balances with the custodian
in excess of $100,000 are not protected by Federal deposit insurance. Those
uninsured balances at times may be substantial.
Independent Auditors. PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP are the independent
auditors of the Fund. They audit the Fund's financial statements and perform
other related audit services. They also act as auditors for certain other
funds advised by the Manager and its affiliates.
<PAGE>
A-5
Appendix A
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RATINGS DEFINITIONS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below are summaries of the rating definitions used by the
nationally-recognized rating agencies listed below. Those ratings
represent the opinion of the agency as to the credit quality of issues
that they rate. The summaries below are based upon publicly-available
information provided by the rating organizations.
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-Term (Taxable) Bond Ratings
Aaa: Bonds rated Aaa are judged to be the best quality. They carry the
smallest degree of investment risk. Interest payments are protected by a
large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While
the various protective elements are likely to change, the changes that can be
expected are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of
such issues.
Aa: Bonds rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards.
Together with the Aaa group, they comprise what are generally known as
high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins
of protection may not be as large as with Aaa securities or fluctuation of
protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other
elements present which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than
those of Aaa securities.
A: Bonds rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be
considered as upper-medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to
principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present
which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa: Bonds rated Baa are considered medium grade obligations; that is, they
are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and
principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any
great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics
and have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba: Bonds rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements. Their future
cannot be considered well-assured. Often the protection of interest and
principal payments may be very moderate and not well safeguarded during both
good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes
bonds in this class.
B: Bonds rated B generally lack characteristics of desirable investment.
Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms
of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa: Bonds rated Caa are of poor standing and may be in default or there may
be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca: Bonds rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high
degree and are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C: Bonds rated C are the lowest class of rated bonds and can be regarded as
having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment
standing.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 in each generic rating
classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier "1" indicates that the
obligation ranks in the higher end of its category; the modifier "2"
indicates a mid-range ranking and the modifier "3" indicates a ranking in the
lower end of the category.
Short-Term Ratings - Taxable Debt
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These ratings apply to the ability of issuers to repay punctually senior debt
obligations having an original maturity not exceeding one year:
Prime-1: Issuer has a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term
debt obligations.
Prime-2: Issuer has a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt
obligations. Earnings trends and coverage, while sound, may be subject to
variation. Capitalization characteristics, while appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
Prime-3: Issuer has an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term
obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market compositions
may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result
in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and may require
relatively high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is
maintained.
Not Prime: Issuer does not fall within any Prime rating category.
Standard & Poor's Rating Services
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-Term Credit Ratings
AAA: Bonds rated "AAA" have the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.
The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is
extremely strong.
AA: Bonds rated "AA" differ from the highest rated obligations only in small
degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation is very strong.
A: Bonds rated "A" are somewhat more susceptible to adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in
higher-rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
BBB: Bonds rated BBB exhibit adequate protection parameters. However, adverse
economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a
weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation.
Bonds rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C are regarded as having significant
speculative characteristics. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and
C the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and
protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or
major exposures to adverse conditions.
BB: Bonds rated BB are less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative
issues. However, these face major uncertainties or exposure to adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor's
inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B: A bond rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than an obligation rated
BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation.
CCC: A bond rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent
upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor
to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse
business, financial or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have
the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CC: An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
C: The C rating may used where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or
similar action has been taken, but payments on this obligation are being
continued.
D: Bonds rated D are in default. Payments on the obligation are not being
made on the date due.
The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or
minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
The "r" symbol is attached to the ratings of instruments with significant
noncredit risks.
Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-1: Rated in the highest category. The obligor's capacity to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, a
plus (+) sign designation indicates the issuer's capacity to meet its
financial obligation is very strong.
A-2: Obligation is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of
changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher
rating categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3: Exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic
conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened
capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B: Regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor
currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to
the obligor's inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation.
C: Currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable
business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation.
D: In payment default. Payments on the obligation have not been made on the
due date. The rating may also be used if a bankruptcy petition has been filed
or similar actions jeopardize payments on the obligation.
Fitch IBCA, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Long-Term Credit Ratings
Investment Grade:
AAA: Highest Credit Quality. "AAA" ratings denote the lowest expectation of
credit risk. They are assigned only in the case of exceptionally strong
capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly
unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA: Very High Credit Quality. "AA" ratings denote a very low expectation of
credit risk. They indicate a very strong capacity for timely payment of
financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to
foreseeable events.
A: High Credit Quality. "A" ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk.
The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered
strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in
circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB: Good Credit Quality. "BBB" ratings indicate that there is currently a
low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial
commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and
in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the
lowest investment-grade category.
Speculative Grade:
BB: Speculative. "BB" ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit
risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over
time. However, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow
financial commitments to be met.
B: Highly Speculative. "B" ratings indicate that significant credit risk is
present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are
currently being met. However, capacity for continued payment is contingent
upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
CCC, CC C: High Default Risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for
meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable
business or economic developments. A "CC" rating indicates that default of
some kind appears probable. "C" ratings signal imminent default.
DDD, DD, and D: Default. Securities are not meeting current obligations and
are extremely speculative. "DDD" designates the highest potential for
recovery of amounts outstanding on any securities involved.
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs may be appended to a rating symbol to denote
relative status within the rating category. Plus and minus signs are not
added to the "AAA" category or to categories below "CCC."
International Short-Term Credit Ratings
F1: Highest credit quality. Strongest capacity for timely payment. May have
an added "+" to denote exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2: Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment, but
the margin of safety is not as great as in higher ratings.
F3: Fair credit quality. Capacity for timely payment is adequate. However,
near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.
B: Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment, plus vulnerability to
near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C: High default risk. Default is a real possibility, Capacity for
meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable
business and economic environment.
D: Default. Denotes actual or imminent payment default.
Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. Ratings
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-Term Debt and Preferred Stock
AAA: Highest credit quality. The risk factors are negligible, being only
slightly more than for risk-free U.S. Treasury debt.
AA+, AA, AA-: High credit quality. Protection factors are strong. Risk is
modest but may vary slightly from time to time because of economic conditions.
A+, A & A-: Protection factors are average but adequate. However, risk
factors are more variable in periods of greater economic stress.
BBB+, BBB & BBB-: Below average protection factors but still considered
sufficient for prudent investment. Considerable variability in risk during
economic cycles.
BB+, BB & BB-: Below investment grade but deemed likely to meet obligations
when due. Present or prospective financial protection factors fluctuate
according to industry conditions. Overall quality may move up or down
frequently within the category.
B+, B & B-: Below investment grade and possessing risk that obligations will
not be met when due. Financial protection factors will fluctuate widely
according to economic cycles, industry conditions and/or company fortunes.
Potential exists for frequent changes in the rating within this category or
into a higher of lower rating grade.
CCC: Well below investment-grade securities. Considerable uncertainty
exists as to timely payment of principal, interest or preferred dividends.
Protection factors are narrow and risk can be substantial with unfavorable
economic/industry conditions, and/or with unfavorable company developments.
DD: Defaulted debt obligations. Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal
and/or interest payments.
DP: Preferred stock with dividend arrearages.
Short-Term Debt:
High Grade:
D-1+: Highest certainty of timely payment. Safety is just below risk-free
U.S. Treasury short-term debt.
D-1: Very high certainty of timely payment. Risk factors are minor.
D-1-: High certainty of timely payment. Risk factors are very small.
Good Grade:
D-2: Good certainty of timely payment. Risk factors are small.
Satisfactory Grade:
D-3: Satisfactory liquidity and other protection factors qualify issues as to
investment grade. Risk factors are larger and subject to more variation.
Nevertheless, timely payment is expected.
Non-Investment Grade:
D-4: Speculative investment characteristics. Liquidity is not sufficient to
insure against disruption in debt service.
Default:
D-5: Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or interest payments.
<PAGE>
B-1
Appendix B
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate Industry Classifications
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aerospace/Defense Food
Air Transportation Gas Utilities
Auto Parts Distribution Gold
Automotive Health Care/Drugs
Bank Holding Companies Health Care/Supplies & Services
Banks Homebuilders/Real Estate
Beverages Hotel/Gaming
Broadcasting Industrial Services
Broker-Dealers Information Technology
Building Materials Insurance
Cable Television Leasing & Factoring
Chemicals Leisure
Commercial Finance Manufacturing
Computer Hardware Metals/Mining
Computer Software Nondurable Household Goods
Conglomerates Oil - Integrated
Consumer Finance Paper
Containers Publishing/Printing
Convenience Stores Railroads
Department Stores Restaurants
Diversified Financial Savings & Loans
Diversified Media Shipping
Drug Stores Special Purpose Financial
Drug Wholesalers Specialty Retailing
Durable Household Goods Steel
Education Supermarkets
Electric Utilities Telecommunications - Technology
Electrical Equipment Telephone - Utility
Electronics Textile/Apparel
Energy Services & Producers Tobacco
Entertainment/Film Toys
Environmental Trucking
Wireless Services
<PAGE>
C-12
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix C
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OppenheimerFunds Special Sales Charge Arrangements and Waivers
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In certain cases, the initial sales charge that applies to purchases of
Class A shares of the Oppenheimer funds or the contingent deferred sales
charge that may apply to Class A, Class B or Class C shares may be waived.
That is because of the economies of sales efforts realized by the Distributor
or the dealers or other financial institutions offering those shares to
certain classes of investors or in certain transactions.
Not all waivers apply to all funds. For example, waivers relating to
Retirement Plans do not apply to Oppenheimer municipal funds, because shares
of those funds are not available for purchase by or on behalf of retirement
plans. Other waivers apply only to shareholders of certain funds that were
merged into or became Oppenheimer funds.
For the purposes of some of the waivers described below and in the
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the applicable
Oppenheimer funds, the term "Retirement Plan" refers to the following types
of plans:
(13) plans qualified under Sections 401(a) or 401(k) of the Internal
Revenue Code,
(14) non-qualified deferred compensation plans,
(15) employee benefit plans1
(16) Group Retirement Plans2
(17) 403(b)(7) custodial plan accounts
(18) SEP-IRAs, SARSEPs or SIMPLE plans
The interpretation of these provisions as to the applicability of a
waiver in a particular case is determined solely by the Distributor or the
Transfer Agent of the fund. These waivers and special arrangements may be
amended or terminated at any time by the applicable Fund and/or the
Distributor. Waivers that apply at the time shares are redeemed must be
requested by the shareholder and/or dealer in the redemption request.
- --------------
5. An "employee benefit plan" means any plan or arrangement, whether or
not it is "qualified" under the Internal Revenue Code, under which Class A
shares of an Oppenheimer fund or funds are purchased by a fiduciary or
other administrator for the account of participants who are employees of a
single employer or of affiliated employers. These may include, for
example, medical savings accounts, payroll deduction plans or similar
plans. The fund accounts must be registered in the name of the fiduciary
or administrator purchasing the shares for the benefit of participants in
the plan.
6. The term "Group Retirement Plan" means any qualified or non-qualified
retirement plan for employees of a corporation or sole proprietorship,
members and employees of a partnership or association or other organized
group of persons (the members of which may include other groups), if the
group has made special arrangements with the Distributor and all members
of the group participating in (or who are eligible to participate in) the
plan purchase Class A shares of an Oppenheimer fund or funds through a
single investment dealer, broker or other financial institution designated
by the group. Such plans include 457 plans, SEP-IRAs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE
plans and 403(b) plans other than plans for public school employees. The
term "Group Retirement Plan" also includes qualified retirement plans and
non-qualified deferred compensation plans and IRAs that purchase Class A
shares of an Oppenheimer fund or funds through a single investment dealer,
broker or other financial institution that has made special arrangements
with the Distributor enabling those plans to purchase Class A shares at
net asset value but subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales
charge.
<PAGE>
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Applicability of Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charges in Certain Cases
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchases of Class A Shares of Oppenheimer Funds That Are Not Subject to
Initial Sales Charge but May Be Subject to the Class A Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge (unless a waiver applies).
There is no initial sales charge on purchases of Class A shares of any
of the Oppenheimer funds in the cases listed below. However, these purchases
may be subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales charge if redeemed
within 18 months of the end of the calendar month of their purchase, as
described in the Prospectus (unless a waiver described elsewhere in this
Appendix applies to the redemption). Additionally, on these purchases the
Distributor will pay the applicable commission described in the Prospectus
under "Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge":
o Purchases of Class A shares aggregating $1 million or more.
o Purchases by a Retirement Plan that:
(7) buys shares costing $500,000 or more, or
(8) has, at the time of purchase, 100 or more eligible participants or
total plan assets of $500,000 or more, or
(9) certifies to the Distributor that it projects to have annual plan
purchases of $200,000 or more.
o Purchases by an OppenheimerFunds-sponsored Rollover IRA, if the
purchases are made:
(5) through a broker, dealer, bank or registered investment adviser that
has made special arrangements with the Distributor for those
purchases, or
(6) by a direct rollover of a distribution from a qualified Retirement Plan
if the administrator of that Plan has made special arrangements
with the Distributor for those purchases.
o Purchases of Class A shares by Retirement Plans that have any of the
following record-keeping arrangements:
(7) The record keeping is performed by Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith,
Inc. ("Merrill Lynch") on a daily valuation basis for the
Retirement Plan. On the date the plan sponsor signs the
record-keeping service agreement with Merrill Lynch, the Plan
must have $3 million or more of its assets invested in (a) mutual
funds, other than those advised or managed by Merrill Lynch Asset
Management, L.P. ("MLAM"), that are made available under a
Service Agreement between Merrill Lynch and the mutual fund's
principal underwriter or distributor, and (b) funds advised or
managed by MLAM (the funds described in (a) and (b) are referred
to as "Applicable Investments").
(8) The record keeping for the Retirement Plan is performed on a daily
valuation basis by a record keeper whose services are provided
under a contract or arrangement between the Retirement Plan and
Merrill Lynch. On the date the plan sponsor signs the record
keeping service agreement with Merrill Lynch, the Plan must have
$3 million or more of its assets (excluding assets invested in
money market funds) invested in Applicable Investments.
(9) The record keeping for a Retirement Plan is handled under a service
agreement with Merrill Lynch and on the date the plan sponsor
signs that agreement, the Plan has 500 or more eligible employees
(as determined by the Merrill Lynch plan conversion manager).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waivers of Class A Sales Charges of Oppenheimer Funds
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waivers of Initial and Contingent Deferred Sales Charges for Certain
Purchasers.
Class A shares purchased by the following investors are not subject to any
Class A sales charges (and no commissions are paid by the Distributor on such
purchases):
|_| The Manager or its affiliates.
|_| Present or former officers, Trustees, trustees and employees (and
their "immediate families") of the Fund, the Manager and its affiliates, and
retirement plans established by them for their employees. The term "immediate
family" refers to one's spouse, children, grandchildren, grandparents,
parents, parents-in-law, brothers and sisters, sons- and daughters-in-law, a
sibling's spouse, a spouse's siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews;
relatives by virtue of a remarriage (step-children, step-parents, etc.) are
included.
|_| Registered management investment companies, or separate accounts
of insurance companies having an agreement with the Manager or the
Distributor for that purpose.
|_| Dealers or brokers that have a sales agreement with the
Distributor, if they purchase shares for their own accounts or for retirement
plans for their employees.
|_| Employees and registered representatives (and their spouses) of
dealers or brokers described above or financial institutions that have
entered into sales arrangements with such dealers or brokers (and which are
identified as such to the Distributor) or with the Distributor. The purchaser
must certify to the Distributor at the time of purchase that the purchase is
for the purchaser's own account (or for the benefit of such employee's spouse
or minor children).
|_| Dealers, brokers, banks or registered investment advisors that
have entered into an agreement with the Distributor providing specifically
for the use of shares of the Fund in particular investment products made
available to their clients. Those clients may be charged a transaction fee by
their dealer, broker, bank or advisor for the purchase or sale of Fund shares.
|_| Investment advisors and financial planners who have entered into
an agreement for this purpose with the Distributor and who charge an
advisory, consulting or other fee for their services and buy shares for their
own accounts or the accounts of their clients.
|_| "Rabbi trusts" that buy shares for their own accounts, if the
purchases are made through a broker or agent or other financial intermediary
that has made special arrangements with the Distributor for those purchases.
|_| Clients of investment advisors or financial planners (that have
entered into an agreement for this purpose with the Distributor) who buy
shares for their own accounts may also purchase shares without sales charge
but only if their accounts are linked to a master account of their investment
advisor or financial planner on the books and records of the broker, agent or
financial intermediary with which the Distributor has made such special
arrangements . Each of these investors may be charged a fee by the broker,
agent or financial intermediary for purchasing shares.
|_| Directors, trustees, officers or full-time employees of OpCap
Advisors or its affiliates, their relatives or any trust, pension, profit
sharing or other benefit plan which beneficially owns shares for those
persons.
|_| Accounts for which Oppenheimer Capital (or its successor) is the
investment advisor (the Distributor must be advised of this arrangement) and
persons who are directors or trustees of the company or trust which is the
beneficial owner of such accounts.
|_| A unit investment trust that has entered into an appropriate
agreement with the Distributor.
o Dealers, brokers, banks, or registered investment advisers that have
entered into an agreement with the Distributor to sell shares to defined
contribution employee retirement plans for which the dealer, broker or
investment adviser provides administration services.
o Retirement plans and deferred compensation plans and trusts used to
fund those plans (including, for example, plans qualified or created under
sections 401(a), 401(k), 403(b) or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code), in each
case if those purchases are made through a broker, agent or other financial
intermediary that has made special arrangements with the Distributor for
those purchases.
o A TRAC-2000 401(k) plan (sponsored by the former Quest for Value
Advisors) whose Class B or Class C shares of a Former Quest for Value Fund
were exchanged for Class A shares of that Fund due to the termination of the
Class B and Class C TRAC-2000 program on November 24, 1995.
o A qualified Retirement Plan that had agreed with the former Quest
for Value Advisors to purchase shares of any of the Former Quest for Value
Funds at net asset value, with such shares to be held through DCXchange, a
sub-transfer agency mutual fund clearinghouse, if that arrangement was
consummated and share purchases commenced by December 31, 1996.
Waivers of Initial and Contingent Deferred Sales Charges in Certain
Transactions.
Class A shares issued or purchased in the following transactions are not
subject to sales charges (and no commissions are paid by the Distributor on
such purchases):
|_| Shares issued in plans of reorganization, such as mergers, asset
acquisitions and exchange offers, to which the Fund is a party.
|_| Shares purchased by the reinvestment of dividends or other
distributions reinvested from the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds (other than
Oppenheimer Cash Reserves) or unit investment trusts for which reinvestment
arrangements have been made with the Distributor.
|_| Shares purchased and paid for with the proceeds of shares redeemed
in the prior 30 days from a mutual fund (other than a fund managed by the
Manager or any of its subsidiaries) on which an initial sales charge or
contingent deferred sales charge was paid. This waiver also applies to shares
purchased by exchange of shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. that
were purchased and paid for in this manner. This waiver must be requested
when the purchase order is placed for shares of the Fund, and the Distributor
may require evidence of qualification for this waiver.
|_| Shares purchased with the proceeds of maturing principal units of
any Qualified Unit Investment Liquid Trust Series.
o Shares purchased by the reinvestment of loan repayments by a
participant in a Retirement Plan for which the Manager or an affiliate acts
as sponsor.
Waivers of the Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge for Certain
Redemptions.
The Class A contingent deferred sales charge is also waived if shares that
would otherwise be subject to the contingent deferred sales charge are
redeemed in the following cases:
|_| To make Automatic Withdrawal Plan payments that are limited
annually to no more than 12% of the original account value.
|_| Involuntary redemptions of shares by operation of law or
involuntary redemptions of small accounts (see "Shareholder Account Rules and
Policies," in the Prospectus).
o For distributions from Retirement Plans, deferred compensation plans
or other employee benefit plans for any of the following purposes:
(19) Following the death or disability (as defined in the Internal Revenue
Code) of the participant or beneficiary. The death or disability
must occur after the participant's account was established.
(20) To return excess contributions.
(21) To return contributions made due to a mistake of fact.
(22) Hardship withdrawals, as defined in the plan.
(23) Under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code.
(24) To meet the minimum distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue
Code.
(25) To establish "substantially equal periodic payments" as described in
Section 72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(26) For retirement distributions or loans to participants or beneficiaries.
(27) Separation from service.
(10) Participant-directed redemptions to purchase shares of a mutual
fund other than a fund managed by the Manager or a subsidiary. The
fund must be one that is offered as an investment option in a
Retirement Plan in which Oppenheimer funds are also offered as
investment options under a special arrangement with the Distributor.
(11) Plan termination or "in-service distributions," if the
redemption proceeds are rolled over directly to an
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored IRA.
o For distributions from Retirement Plans having 500 or more eligible
participants, except distributions due to termination of all of the
Oppenheimer funds as an investment option under the Plan.
o For distributions from 401(k) plans sponsored by broker-dealers that
have entered into a special agreement with the Distributor allowing
this waiver.
<PAGE>
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Waivers of Class B and Class C Sales Charges of Oppenheimer Funds
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Class B and Class C contingent deferred sales charges will not be
applied to shares purchased in certain types of transactions or redeemed in
certain circumstances described below.
Waivers for Redemptions in Certain Cases.
The Class B and Class C contingent deferred sales charges will be waived for
redemptions of shares in the following cases:
oShares redeemed involuntarily, as described in "Shareholder Account
Rules and Policies,"
in the applicable Prospectus.
o Distributions to participants or beneficiaries from Retirement Plans,
if the distributions are made:
(e) under an Automatic Withdrawal Plan after the participant reaches age
59-1/2, as long as the payments are no more than 10% of the
account value annually (measured from the date the Transfer Agent
receives the request), or
(f) following the death or disability (as defined in the Internal Revenue
Code) of the participant or beneficiary (the death or disability
must have occurred after the account was established).
o Redemptions from accounts other than Retirement Plans following the
death or disability of the last surviving shareholder, including a trustee of
a grantor trust or revocable living trust for which the trustee is also the
sole beneficiary. The death or disability must have occurred after the
account was established, and for disability you must provide evidence of a
determination of disability by the Social Security Administration.
o Returns of excess contributions to Retirement Plans.
o Distributions from Retirement Plans to make "substantially equal
periodic payments" as permitted in Section 72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code
that do not exceed 10% of the account value annually, measured from the date
the Transfer Agent receives the request.
oDistributions from OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k) plans and from
certain Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company prototype 401(k) plans:
(13) for hardship withdrawals;
(14) under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code;
(15) to meet minimum distribution requirements as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code;
(16) to make "substantially equal periodic payments" as described in Section
72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code;
(17) for separation from service; or
(18) for loans to participants or beneficiaries.
o Distributions from 401(k) plans sponsored by broker-dealers that have
entered into a special agreement with the Distributor allowing this waiver.
o Redemptions of Class B shares held by Retirement Plans whose records
are maintained on a daily valuation basis by Merrill Lynch or an independent
record keeper under a contract with Merrill Lynch.
o Redemptions of Class C shares of Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust
from accounts of clients of financial institutions that have entered into a
special arrangement with the Distributor for this purpose.
Waivers for Shares Sold or Issued in Certain Transactions.
The contingent deferred sales charge is also waived on Class B and
Class C shares sold or issued in the following cases:
|_| Shares sold to the Manager or its affiliates.
|_| Shares sold to registered management investment companies or
separate accounts of insurance companies having an agreement with the Manager
or the Distributor for that purpose.
|_| Shares issued in plans of reorganization to which the Fund is
a party.
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Special Sales Charge Arrangements for Shareholders of Certain Oppenheimer
Funds Who Were Shareholders of the Former Quest for Value Funds
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The initial and contingent deferred sales charge rates and waivers for
Class A, Class B and Class C shares described in the Prospectus or Statement
of Additional Information of the Oppenheimer funds are modified as described
below for certain persons who were shareholders of the former Quest for Value
Funds. To be eligible, those persons must have been shareholders on November
24, 1995, when OppenheimerFunds, Inc. became the investment advisor to those
former Quest for Value Funds. Those funds include:
Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc.,
Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund,
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund,
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund and
Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund, Inc.
These arrangements also apply to shareholders of the following funds
when they merged into various Oppenheimer funds on November 24, 1995:
Quest for Value U.S. Government Income Fund,
Quest for Value Investment Quality Income Fund,
Quest for Value Global Income Fund,
Quest for Value New York Tax-Exempt Fund,
Quest for Value National Tax-Exempt Fund and
Quest for Value California Tax-Exempt Fund
All of the funds listed above are referred to in this Appendix as the
"Former Quest for Value Funds." The waivers of initial and contingent
deferred sales charges described in this Appendix apply to shares of an
Oppenheimer fund that are either:
|_| acquired by such shareholder pursuant to an exchange of shares
of an Oppenheimer fund that was one of the Former Quest for Value Funds or
|_| purchased by such shareholder by exchange of shares of another
Oppenheimer fund that were acquired pursuant to the merger of any of the
Former Quest for Value Funds into that other Oppenheimer fund on November 24,
1995.
Reductions or Waivers of Class A Sales Charges.
|X| Reduced Class A Initial Sales Charge Rates for Certain Former Quest
for Value Funds Shareholders
Purchases by Groups and Associations. The following table sets forth the
initial sales charge rates for Class A shares purchased by members of
"Associations" formed for any purpose other than the purchase of securities.
The rates in the table apply if that Association purchased shares of any of
the Former Quest for Value Funds or received a proposal to purchase such
shares from OCC Distributors prior to November 24, 1995.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Initial Sales
Eligible Initial Sales Charge as a % of Commission as %
Employees or Charge as a % of Net Amount Invested of Offering Price
Members Offering Price
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 or Fewer 2.50% 2.56% 2.00%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At least 10 but
not more than 49 2.00% 2.04% 1.60%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For purchases by Associations having 50 or more eligible employees or
members, there is no initial sales charge on purchases of Class A shares, but
those shares are subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales charge
described in the applicable fund's Prospectus.
Purchases made under this arrangement qualify for the lower of either
the sales charge rate in the table based on the number of members of an
Association, or the sales charge rate that applies under the Right of
Accumulation described in the applicable fund's Prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information. Individuals who qualify under this arrangement for
reduced sales charge rates as members of Associations also may purchase
shares for their individual or custodial accounts at these reduced sales
charge rates, upon request to the Distributor.
|X| Waiver of Class A Sales Charges for Certain Shareholders. Class A
shares purchased by the following investors are not subject to any Class A
initial or contingent deferred sales charges:
|_| Shareholders who were shareholders of the AMA Family of Funds on
February 28, 1991 and who acquired shares of any of the Former Quest for
Value Funds by merger of a portfolio of the AMA Family of Funds.
|_| Shareholders who acquired shares of any Former Quest for Value Fund
by merger of any of the portfolios of the Unified Funds.
|X| Waiver of Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge in Certain
Transactions. The Class A contingent deferred sales charge will not apply to
redemptions of Class A shares purchased by the following investors who were
shareholders of any Former Quest for Value Fund:
Investors who purchased Class A shares from a dealer that is or was not
permitted to receive a sales load or redemption fee imposed on a shareholder
with whom that dealer has a fiduciary relationship, under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and regulations adopted under that law.
Class A, Class B and Class C Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Waivers
|X| Waivers for Redemptions of Shares Purchased Prior to March 6,
1995. In the following cases, the contingent deferred sales charge will be
waived for redemptions of Class A, Class B or Class C shares of an
Oppenheimer fund. The shares must have been acquired by the merger of a
Former Quest for Value Fund into the fund or by exchange from an Oppenheimer
fund that was a Former Quest for Value Fund or into which such fund merged.
Those shares must have been purchased prior to March 6, 1995 in connection
with:
o withdrawals under an automatic withdrawal plan holding only either
Class B or Class C shares if the annual withdrawal does not exceed 10% of the
initial value of the account, and
o liquidation of a shareholder's account if the aggregate net asset
value of shares held in the account is less than the required minimum value
of such accounts.
|X| Waivers for Redemptions of Shares Purchased on or After March 6,
1995 but Prior to November 24, 1995. In the following cases, the contingent
deferred sales charge will be waived for redemptions of Class A, Class B or
Class C shares of an Oppenheimer fund. The shares must have been acquired by
the merger of a Former Quest for Value Fund into the fund or by exchange from
an Oppenheimer fund that was a Former Quest For Value Fund or into which such
Former Quest for Value Fund merged. Those shares must have been purchased on
or after March 6, 1995, but prior to November 24, 1995:
o redemptions following the death or disability of the shareholder(s)
(as evidenced by a determination of total disability by the U.S. Social
Security Administration);
o withdrawals under an automatic withdrawal plan (but only for Class B
or Class C shares) where the annual withdrawals do not exceed 10% of the
initial value of the account; and
o liquidation of a shareholder's account if the aggregate net asset
value of shares held in the account is less than the required minimum account
value.
A shareholder's account will be credited with the amount of any
contingent deferred sales charge paid on the redemption of any Class A, Class
B or Class C shares of the Oppenheimer fund described in this section if the
proceeds are invested in the same Class of shares in that fund or another
Oppenheimer fund within 90 days after redemption.
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Special Sales Charge Arrangements for Shareholders of Certain Oppenheimer
Funds Who Were Shareholders of Connecticut Mutual Investment Accounts, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The initial and contingent deferred sale charge rates and waivers
for Class A and Class B shares described in the Prospectus or this Appendix
for Oppenheimer U. S. Government Trust, Oppenheimer Bond Fund, Oppenheimer
Disciplined Value Fund and Oppenheimer Disciplined Allocation Fund (each is
included in the reference to "Fund" below) are modified as described below
for those shareholders who were shareholders of Connecticut Mutual Liquid
Account, Connecticut Mutual Government Securities Account, Connecticut Mutual
Income Account, Connecticut Mutual Growth Account, Connecticut Mutual Total
Return Account, CMIA LifeSpan Capital Appreciation Account, CMIA LifeSpan
Balanced Account and CMIA Diversified Income Account (the "Former Connecticut
Mutual Funds") on March 1, 1996, when OppenheimerFunds, Inc. became the
investment adviser to the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds.
Prior Class A CDSC and Class A Sales Charge Waivers
o Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Certain shareholders of a
Fund and the other Former Connecticut Mutual Funds are entitled to continue
to make additional purchases of Class A shares at net asset value without a
Class A initial sales charge, but subject to the Class A contingent deferred
sales charge that was in effect prior to March 18, 1996 (the "prior Class A
CDSC"). Under the prior Class A CDSC, if any of those shares are redeemed
within one year of purchase, they will be assessed a 1% contingent deferred
sales charge on an amount equal to the current market value or the original
purchase price of the shares sold, whichever is smaller (in such redemptions,
any shares not subject to the prior Class A CDSC will be redeemed first).
Those shareholders who are eligible for the prior Class A CDSC are:
(5) persons whose purchases of Class A shares of a Fund and other Former
Connecticut Mutual Funds were $500,000 prior to March 18, 1996, as a
result of direct purchases or purchases pursuant to the Fund's
policies on Combined Purchases or Rights of Accumulation, who still
hold those shares in that Fund or other Former Connecticut Mutual
Funds, and
(6) persons whose intended purchases under a Statement of Intention entered
into prior to March 18, 1996, with the former general distributor of
the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds to purchase shares valued at
$500,000 or more over a 13-month period entitled those persons to
purchase shares at net asset value without being subject to the
Class A initial sales charge.
Any of the Class A shares of a Fund and the other Former Connecticut
Mutual Funds that were purchased at net asset value prior to March 18, 1996,
remain subject to the prior Class A CDSC, or if any additional shares are
purchased by those shareholders at net asset value pursuant to this
arrangement they will be subject to the prior Class A CDSC.
o Class A Sales Charge Waivers. Additional Class A shares of a Fund may
be purchased without a sales charge, by a person who was in one (or more) of
the categories below and acquired Class A shares prior to March 18, 1996, and
still holds Class A shares:
(13) any purchaser, provided the total initial amount invested in the Fund
or any one or more of the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds totaled
$500,000 or more, including investments made pursuant to the
Combined Purchases, Statement of Intention and Rights of
Accumulation features available at the time of the initial purchase
and such investment is still held in one or more of the Former
Connecticut Mutual Funds or a Fund into which such Fund merged;
(14) any participant in a qualified plan, provided that the total initial
amount invested by the plan in the Fund or any one or more of the
Former Connecticut Mutual Funds totaled $500,000 or more;
(15) Trustees of the Fund or any one or more of the Former Connecticut
Mutual Funds and members of their immediate families;
(16) employee benefit plans sponsored by Connecticut Mutual Financial
Services, L.L.C. ("CMFS"), the prior distributor of the Former
Connecticut Mutual Funds, and its affiliated companies;
(17) one or more members of a group of at least 1,000 persons (and persons
who are retirees from such group) engaged in a common business,
profession, civic or charitable endeavor or other activity, and the
spouses and minor dependent children of such persons, pursuant to a
marketing program between CMFS and such group; and
(18) an institution acting as a fiduciary on behalf of an individual or
individuals, if such institution was directly compensated by the
individual(s) for recommending the purchase of the shares of the
Fund or any one or more of the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds,
provided the institution had an agreement with CMFS.
Purchases of Class A shares made pursuant to (1) and (2) above may be
subject to the Class A CDSC of the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds described
above.
Additionally, Class A shares of a Fund may be purchased without a sales
charge by any holder of a variable annuity contract issued in New York State
by Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company through the Panorama Separate
Account which is beyond the applicable surrender charge period and which was
used to fund a qualified plan, if that holder exchanges the variable annuity
contract proceeds to buy Class A shares of the Fund.
<PAGE>
Class A and Class B Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Waivers
In addition to the waivers set forth in the Prospectus and in this Appendix,
above, the contingent deferred sales charge will be waived for redemptions of
Class A and Class B shares of a Fund and exchanges of Class A or Class B
shares of a Fund into Class A or Class B shares of a Former Connecticut
Mutual Fund provided that the Class A or Class B shares of the Fund to be
redeemed or exchanged were (i) acquired prior to March 18, 1996 or (ii) were
acquired by exchange from an Oppenheimer fund that was a Former Connecticut
Mutual Fund. Additionally, the shares of such Former Connecticut Mutual Fund
must have been purchased prior to March 18, 1996:
(19) by the estate of a deceased shareholder;
(20) upon the disability of a shareholder, as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of
the Internal Revenue Code;
(21) for retirement distributions (or loans) to participants or
beneficiaries from retirement plans qualified under Sections 401(a)
or 403(b)(7)of the Code, or from IRAs, deferred compensation plans
created under Section 457 of the Code, or other employee benefit
plans;
(22) as tax-free returns of excess contributions to such retirement or
employee benefit plans;
(23) in whole or in part, in connection with shares sold to any state,
county, or city, or any instrumentality, department, authority, or
agency thereof, that is prohibited by applicable investment laws
from paying a sales charge or commission in connection with the
purchase of shares of any registered investment management company;
(24) in connection with the redemption of shares of the Fund due to a
combination with another investment company by virtue of a merger,
acquisition or similar reorganization transaction;
(25) in connection with the Fund's right to involuntarily redeem or
liquidate the Fund;
(26) in connection with automatic redemptions of Class A shares and Class B
shares in certain retirement plan accounts pursuant to an Automatic
Withdrawal Plan but limited to no more than 12% of the original
value annually; or
(27) as involuntary redemptions of shares by operation of law, or under
procedures set forth in the Fund's Articles of Incorporation, or as
adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
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Special Reduced Sales Charge for Former Shareholders of Advance America
Funds, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders of Oppenheimer Municipal Bond Fund, Oppenheimer U.S.
Government Trust, Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund and Oppenheimer Equity
Income Fund who acquired (and still hold) shares of those funds as a result
of the reorganization of series of Advance America Funds, Inc. into those
Oppenheimer funds on October 18, 1991, and who held shares of Advance America
Funds, Inc. on March 30, 1990, may purchase Class A shares of those four
Oppenheimer funds at a maximum sales charge rate of 4.50%.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
47
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Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
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Internet Web Site:
www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Investment Adviser
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
Sub-Adviser
OpCap Advisors
One World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281
Distributor
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
Transfer Agent
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217
1-800-525-7048
Custodian Bank
Citibank, N.A.
111 Wall Street
New York, New York 10005
Independent Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
950 Seventeenth Street
Denver, Colorado 80202
Legal Counsel
Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen
Shalov & Wein
114 West 47th Street
New York, New York 10036
PX251.0299
<PAGE>
OPPENHEIMER QUEST FOR VALUE FUNDS
FORM N-1A
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 23. Exhibits
(a) (i) Declaration of Trust dated 4/17/87: Previously filed with
Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 33, 6/23/95, and refiled with
Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 36, 2/9/96, pursuant to Item 102 of
Regulation S-T, and incorporated herein by reference.
(ii) Amendment to Declaration of Trust: Previously filed with
Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 37, 10/16/96, and incorporated
herein by reference.
(iii) Amendment to Declaration of Trust: Filed herewith.
(b) (i) By-Laws of the Fund: Previously filed with Registrant's
Post-Effective Amendment No. 33, 6/23/95, and incorporated rated herein by
reference.
(ii) Amendment No. 1 to By-Laws dated 2/4/97: Previously filed with
Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 41, 11/21/97, and incorporated
herein by reference.
(iii) Amendment No. 2 to By-Laws dated 7/22/98: Filed herewith.
(c) (i) Specimen Class A Share Certificate for Oppenheimer Quest
Small Cap Value Fund ("Small Cap Value Fund"): Previously filed with
Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 37, 10/16/96, and
incorporated herein by reference.
(ii) Specimen Class B Share Certificate for Small Cap Value
Fund: Previously filed with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No.
37, 10/16/96, and incorporated herein by reference.
(iii) Specimen Class C Share Certificate for Small Cap Value
Fund: Previously filed with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No.
37, 10/16/96, and incorporated herein by reference.
(iv) Specimen Class A Share Certificate for Oppenheimer Quest
Balanced Value Fund ("Balanced Value Fund"): Previously filed with
Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 37, 10/16/96, and
incorporated herein by reference.
(v) Specimen Class B Share Certificate for Balanced Value
Fund: Previously filed with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No.
37, 10/16/96, and incorporated herein by reference.
(vi) Specimen Class C Share Certificate for Balanced Value Fund:
Previously filed with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 37,
10/16/96, and incorporated herein by reference.
(vii) Specimen Class A Share Certificate for Oppenheimer Quest
Opportunity Value Fund ("Opportunity Value Fund"): Previously filed
with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 37, 10/16/96, and
incorporated herein by reference.
(viii) Specimen Class B Share Certificate for Opportunity Value
Fund: Previously filed with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No.
37, 10/16/96, and incorporated herein by reference.
(vx) Specimen Class C Share Certificate for Opportunity Value Fund:
Previously filed with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 37,
10/16/96, and incorporated herein by reference.
(x) Specimen Class Y Share Certificate for Opportunity Value
Fund: Previously filed with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No.
37, 10/16/96, and incorporated herein by reference.
(d) (i) Investment Advisory Agreement dated 5/27/97: Previously
filed with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 41, 11/21/97, and
incorporated herein by reference.
(ii) Amendment to Investment Advisory Agreement dated 10/22/97:
Previously filed with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 41, 11/21/97,
and incorporated herein by reference.
(iii) Subadvisory Agreement with respect to Small Cap Fund dated
11/5/97: Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 41, 11/21/97, and
incorporated herein by reference.
(iv) Subadvisory Agreement with respect to Balanced
Value Fund dated 11/5/97: Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 41,
11/21/97, and incorporated herein by reference.
(v) Subadvisory Agreement with respect to
Opportunity Value Fund dated 11/5/97: Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No.
41, 11/21/97, and incorporated herein by reference.
(vi) Amendment to Subadvisory Agreement dated 7/1/98: Filed
herewith.
(e) (i) General Distributor's Agreement dated 11/22/95: Previously
filed with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 36, 2/9/96, and
incorporated herein by reference.
(ii) Form of Dealer Agreement of OppenheimerFunds Distributor,
Inc.: Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 of Oppenheimer Main Street
Funds, Inc. (Reg. No. 33-17850), 9/30/94, and incorporated herein by
reference.
(iii) Form of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. Broker Agreement:
Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 of Oppenheimer Main Street
Funds, Inc. (Reg. No. 33-17850), 9/30/94, and incorporated herein by
reference.
(iv) Form of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. Agency Agreement:
Filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 14 of Oppenheimer Main Street
Funds, Inc. (Reg. No. 33-17850), 9/30/94, and incorporated herein by
reference.
(v) Broker Agreement between OppenheimerFunds, Inc. and Newbridge
Securities dated 10/1/86: Previously filed with Post-Effective
Amendment No. 25 of Oppenheimer Special Fund (Reg. No. 2-45272),
11/1/86, refiled with Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 of Oppenheimer
Special Fund, (Reg. No 2-45272), 8/22/94, pursuant to Item 102 of
Regulation S-T, and incorporated herein by reference.
(f) (i) Form of Deferred Compensation Plan for Disinterested
Trustees/Directors: Filed herewith.
(ii) Form of Individual Retirement Account Trust Agreement: Previously
filed as Exhibit 14 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 of Oppenheimer U.S.
Government Trust (Reg. No. 2-76645), 8/25/93, and incorporated herein by
reference.
(iii) Form of prototype
Standardized and Non-Standardized Profit-Sharing Plan and Money Purchase
Pension Plan for self-employed persons and corporations: Previously filed
with Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to the Registration Statement of
Oppenheimer Mortgage Income Fund (Reg. No. 33-6614), 1/20/95, and
incorporated herein by reference.
(iv) Form of Tax-Sheltered Retirement Plan and Custody Agreement for
employees of public schools and tax-exempt organizations: Previously filed
with Post-Effective Amendment No. 47 to the Registration Statement of
Oppenheimer Growth Fund (Reg. No. 2-45272), 10/21/94, and incorporated herein
by reference.
(v) Form of Simplified Employee Pension IRA: Previously filed with
Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 to the Registration Statement of Oppenheimer
Equity Income Fund (Reg. No. 2-33043), 10/28/94, and incorporated herein by
reference.
(vi) Form of SAR-SEP Simplified Employee Pension IRA: Previously filed
with Post-Effective Amendment No. 36 to Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund (Reg.
No. 2-33043), 10/28/94, and incorporated herein by reference.
(vii) Form of Prototype 401(k) plan: Previously filed with
Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registration Statement of Oppenheimer
Strategic Income & Growth Fund (33-47378), 9/28/95, and incorporated herein
by reference.
(viii) Retirement Plan for Non-Interested Trustees or Directors:
Filed herewith.
(g) (i) Custody Agreement dated 10/19/89: Previously filed as Exhibit 8 to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 6, and refiled with Post-Effective Amendment No.
36, 2/9/96, pursuant to Item 102 of Regulation S-T, and incorporated herein by
reference.
(ii) Foreign Custody Agreement between Citibank, N.A. and OppenheimerFunds,
Inc. dated 9/14/98: Filed herewith.
(h) Not applicable.
(i) Opinion and Consent of Counsel dated 7/12/91: Previously filed with
Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 to Registrant's Registration
Statement, 6/23/95, and incorporated herein by reference.
(j) Independent Auditors Consent: To be filed by Post-Effective Amendment.
(k) Not applicable.
(l) Investment Letter from OppenheimerFunds, Inc. to Registrant: Previously
filed with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 33, 6/23/95, and
incorporated herein by reference.
(m) (i) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and
Agreement dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class A shares of Balanced Value
Fund: Filed herewith.
(ii) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement
dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class A shares of Opportunity Value Fund: Filed
herewith.
(iii) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan Agreement
dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class A shares of Small Cap Value Fund: Filed
herewith.
(iv) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement
dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class B shares of Balanced Value Fund: Filed
herewith.
(v) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement
dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class B shares of Opportunity Value Fund: Filed
herewith.
(vi) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement
dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class B shares of Small Cap Value Fund: Filed
herewith.
(vii) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and
Agreement dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class C shares of Balanced Value Fund:
Filed herewith.
(viii) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and
Agreement dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class C shares of Opportunity Value
Fund: Filed herewith.
(ix) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan
and Agreement dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class C shares of Small Cap Value
Fund: Filed herewith.
(n) (i) Financial Data Schedule for Class A Shares of Balanced Value
Fund: To be filed by Post-Effective Amendment
(ii) Financial Data Schedule for Class A Shares of Opportunity Value
Fund: To be filed by Post-Effective Amendment.
(iii) Financial Data Schedule for Class A Shares of Small Cap Value: To
be filed by Post-Effective Amendment.
(iv) Financial Data Schedule for Class B Shares of Balanced Value
Fund: To be filed by Post-Effective Amendment.
(v) Financial Data Schedule for Class B Shares of Opportunity Value
Fund: To be filed by Post-Effective Amendment.
(vi) Financial Data Schedule for Class B Shares of Small Cap Value
Fund: To be filed by Post-Effective Amendment.
(vii) Financial Data Schedule for Class C Shares of Balanced Value
Fund: To be filed by Post-Effective Amendment.
(viii) Financial Data Schedule for Class C Shares of Opportunity
Value Fund: To be filed by Post-Effective Amendment.
(ix) Financial Data Schedule for Class C Shares of Small Cap Value
Fund: To be filed by Post-Effective Amendment.
(x) Financial Data Schedule for Class Y Shares: of Opportunity Value
Fund: To be filed by Post-Effective Amendment.
(o) Oppenheimer Funds Multiple Class Plan under Rule 18f-3 updated through
8/25/98: Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to the
Registration Statement of Oppenheimer Global Fund (Reg. No. 2-31661),
9/14/98, and incorporated herein by reference.
- -- Powers of Attorney (including Certified Board resolutions): Previously
filed with Registrant's Post-Effective Amendment No. 35, 11/24/95, and
incorporated herein by reference.
- -- Power of Attorney (including Certified Board resolution) for Robert G.
Galli: Filed herewith.
Item 24. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Fund
None.
Item 25. Indemnification
Reference is made to the provisions of Article Seven of Registrant's
Articles of Amendment and Restatement filed as Exhibit 23(a) to this
Registration Statement, and incorporated herein by reference.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, Registrant has
been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling
person of Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person,
Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 26. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser
(a) OppenheimerFunds, Inc. is the investment adviser of the Registrant; it
and certain subsidiaries and affiliates act in the same capacity to other
registered investment companies as described in Parts A and B hereof and
listed in Item 26(b) below.
(a)(i) The directors and executive officers of OpCap Advisors, their
positions and their other business affiliations and business experience for
the past two years are listed in Item 26(b) below.
(b) There is set forth below information as to any other business,
profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each
officer and director of OppenheimerFunds, Inc. is, or at any time during the
past two fiscal years has been, engaged for his/her own account or in the
capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.
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Name and Current Position Other Business and Connections
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with OppenheimerFunds, Inc. During the Past Two Years
Charles E. Albers,
Senior Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of certain
Oppenheimer funds (since April 1998);
a Chartered Financial Analyst;
formerly, a Vice President and
portfolio manager for Guardian
Investor Services, the investment
management subsidiary of The Guardian
Life Insurance Company (since 1972).
Edward Amberger,
Assistant Vice President Formerly Assistant Vice President,
Securities Analyst for Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter (May 1997 - April 1998); and
Research Analyst (July 1996 - May 1997),
Portfolio Manager (February 1992 - July
1996) and Department Manager (June 1988
to February 1992) for The Bank of New
York.
Mark J.P. Anson,
Vice President Vice President of Oppenheimer Real Asset
Management, Inc. ("ORAMI"); formerly,
Vice President of Equity Derivatives at
Salomon Brothers, Inc.
Peter M. Antos,
Senior Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds; a Chartered
Financial Analyst; Senior Vice President
of HarbourView Asset Management
Corporation ("HarbourView"); prior to
March, 1996 he was the senior equity
portfolio manager for the Panorama Series
Fund, Inc. (the "Company") and other
mutual funds and pension funds managed by
G.R. Phelps & Co. Inc. ("G.R. Phelps"),
the Company's former investment adviser,
which was a subsidiary of Connecticut
Mutual Life Insurance Company; he was
also responsible for managing the common
stock department and common stock
investments of Connecticut Mutual Life
Insurance Co.
Lawrence Apolito,
Vice President None.
Victor Babin,
Senior Vice President None.
Bruce Bartlett,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds. Formerly, a
Vice President and Senior Portfolio
Manager at First of America Investment
Corp.
George Batejan,
Executive Vice President,
Chief Information Officer Formerly Senior Vice President, Group
Executive, and Senior Systems Officer for
American International Group (October
1994 - May, 1998).
John R. Blomfield,
Vice President Formerly Senior Product Manager
(November, 1995 - August, 1997) of
International Home Foods and American
Home Products (March, 1994 - October,
1996).
Kathleen Beichert,
Vice President None.
Rajeev Bhaman,
Vice President Formerly, Vice President (January 1992 -
February, 1996) of Asian Equities for
Barclays de Zoete Wedd, Inc.
Robert J. Bishop,
Vice President Vice President of Mutual Fund Accounting
(since May 1996); an officer of other
Oppenheimer funds; formerly, an
Assistant Vice President of OFI/Mutual
Fund Accounting (April 1994-May 1996),
and a Fund Controller for OFI.
George C. Bowen,
Senior Vice President, Treasurer
and Director Vice President (since June 1983) and
Treasurer (since March 1985) of
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. (the
"Distributor"); Vice President (since
October 1989) and Treasurer (since April
1986) of HarbourView; Senior Vice
President (since February 1992),
Treasurer (since July 1991)and a director
(since December 1991) of Centennial;
President, Treasurer and a director of
Centennial Capital Corporation (since
June 1989); Vice President and Treasurer
(since August 1978) and Secretary (since
April 1981) of Shareholder Services, Inc.
("SSI"); Vice President, Treasurer and
Secretary of Shareholder Financial
Services, Inc. ("SFSI") (since November
1989); Assistant Treasurer of Oppenheimer
Acquisition Corp. ("OAC") (since March,
1998); Treasurer of Oppenheimer
Partnership Holdings, Inc. (since
November 1989); Vice President and
Treasurer of ORAMI (since July 1996);
an officer of other Oppenheimer funds.
Scott Brooks,
Vice President None.
Susan Burton,
Vice President None.
Adele Campbell,
Assistant Vice President & Assistant
Treasurer: Rochester Division Formerly, Assistant Vice President of
Rochester Fund Services, Inc.
Michael Carbuto,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds; Vice President
of Centennial.
John Cardillo,
Assistant Vice President None.
Erin Cawley,
Assistant Vice President None.
H.C. Digby Clements,
Assistant Vice President:
Rochester Division None.
O. Leonard Darling,
Executive Vice President Trustee (1993 - present) of Awhtolia
College - Greece.
William DeJianne, None.
Assistant Vice President
Robert A. Densen,
Senior Vice President None.
Sheri Devereux,
Assistant Vice President None.
Craig P. Dinsell
Executive Vice President Formerly, Senior Vice President of Human
Resources for Fidelity Investments-Retail
Division (January, 1995 - January, 1996),
Fidelity Investments FMR Co. (January,
1996 - June, 1997) and Fidelity
Investments FTPG (June, 1997 - January,
1998).
Robert Doll, Jr.,
Executive Vice President & Director An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds.
John Doney,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds.
Andrew J. Donohue,
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Director Executive Vice President (since September
1993), and a director (since January
1992) of the Distributor; Executive Vice
President, General Counsel and a director
of HarbourView, SSI, SFSI and
Oppenheimer Partnership Holdings, Inc.
since (September 1995); President and a
director of Centennial (since September
1995); President and a director of ORAMI
(since July 1996); General Counsel
(since May 1996) and Secretary (since
April 1997) of OAC; Vice President and
Director of OppenheimerFunds
International, Ltd. ("OFIL") and
Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc (since
October 1997); an officer of other
Oppenheimer funds.
Patrick Dougherty, None.
Assistant Vice President
Bruce Dunbar, None.
Vice President
Eric Edstrom,
Vice President Formerly an Assistant Vice President and
National Account Executive (February 1996
- August 1998) for MBNA America.
George Evans,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds.
Edward Everett,
Assistant Vice President None.
Scott Farrar,
Vice President Assistant Treasurer of Oppenheimer
Millennium Funds plc (since October
1997); an officer of other Oppenheimer
funds; formerly, an Assistant Vice
President of OFI/Mutual Fund Accounting
(April 1994-May 1996), and a Fund
Controller for OFI.
Leslie A. Falconio,
Assistant Vice President None.
Katherine P. Feld,
Vice President and Secretary Vice President and Secretary of the
Distributor; Secretary of HarbourView,
and Centennial; Secretary, Vice President
and Director of Centennial Capital
Corporation; Vice President and Secretary
of ORAMI.
Ronald H. Fielding,
Senior Vice President; Chairman:
Rochester Division An officer, Director and/or portfolio
manager of certain Oppenheimer funds;
Presently he holds the following other
positions: Director (since 1995) of ICI
Mutual Insurance Company; Governor (since
1994) of St. John's College; Director
(since 1994 - present) of International
Museum of Photography at George Eastman
House. Formerly, he held the following
positions: formerly, Chairman of the
Board and Director of Rochester Fund
Distributors, Inc. ("RFD"); President and
Director of Fielding Management Company,
Inc. ("FMC"); President and Director of
Rochester Capital Advisors, Inc.
("RCAI"); Managing Partner of Rochester
Capital Advisors, L.P., President and
Director of Rochester Fund Services, Inc.
("RFS"); President and Director of
Rochester Tax Managed Fund, Inc.;
Director (1993 - 1997) of VehiCare Corp.;
Director (1993 - 1996) of VoiceMode.
John Fortuna,
Vice President None.
Patricia Foster,
Vice President Formerly, she held the following
positions: An officer of certain former
Rochester funds (May, 1993 - January,
1996); Secretary of Rochester Capital
Advisors, Inc. and General Counsel (June,
1993 - January 1996) of Rochester Capital
Advisors, L.P.
Jennifer Foxson,
Vice President None.
Erin Gardiner,
Assistant Vice President None.
Linda Gardner,
Vice President None.
Alan Gilston,
Vice President Formerly, Vice President (1987-1997) for
Schroder Capital Management International.
Jill Glazerman,
Assistant Vice President None.
Robyn Goldstein-Liebler
Assistant Vice President None.
Mikhail Goldverg
Assistant Vice President None.
Jeremy Griffiths,
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(since March, 1998) of Oppenheimer
Acquisition Corp.; a Member and Fellow of
the Institute of Chartered Accountants;
formerly, an accountant for Arthur Young
(London, U.K.).
Robert Grill,
Senior Vice President Formerly, Marketing Vice President for
Bankers Trust Company (1993-1996);
Steering Committee Member, Subcommittee
Chairman for American Savings Education
Council (1995-1996).
Caryn Halbrecht,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds.
Elaine T. Hamann,
Vice President Formerly, Vice President (September, 1989
- January, 1997) of Bankers Trust Company.
Robert Haley
Assistant Vice President Formerly, Vice President of Information
Services for Bankers Trust Company
(January, 1991 - November, 1997).
Thomas B. Hayes,
Vice President None.
Barbara Hennigar,
Executive Vice President and
Chief Executive Officer of
OppenheimerFunds Services,
a division of the Manager President and Director of SFSI; President
and Chief executive Officer of SSI.
Dorothy Hirshman, None.
Assistant Vice President
Merryl Hoffman,
Vice President None.
Nicholas Horsley,
Vice President Formerly, a Senior Vice President and
Portfolio Manager for Warburg, Pincus
Counsellors, Inc. (1993-1997), Co-manager
of Warburg, Pincus Emerging Markets Fund
(12/94 - 10/97), Co-manager Warburg,
Pincus Institutional Emerging Markets
Fund - Emerging Markets Portfolio (8/96 -
10/97), Warburg Pincus Japan OTC Fund,
Associate Portfolio Manager of Warburg
Pincus International Equity Fund, Warburg
Pincus Institutional Fund - Intermediate
Equity Portfolio, and Warburg Pincus EAFE
Fund.
Scott T. Huebl,
Assistant Vice President None.
Richard Hymes,
Vice President None.
Jane Ingalls,
Vice President None.
Kathleen T. Ives,
Vice President None.
Frank Jennings,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds.
Thomas W. Keffer,
Senior Vice President None.
Avram Kornberg,
Vice President None.
John Kowalik,
Senior Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager for
certain OppenheimerFunds; formerly,
Managing Director and Senior Portfolio
Manager at Prudential Global Advisors
(1989 - 1998).
Joseph Krist,
Assistant Vice President None.
Michael Levine,
Assistant Vice President None.
Shanquan Li,
Vice President None.
Stephen F. Libera,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager for
certain Oppenheimer funds; a Chartered
Financial Analyst; a Vice President of
HarbourView; prior to March 1996, the
senior bond portfolio manager for
Panorama Series Fund Inc., other mutual
funds and pension accounts managed by
G.R. Phelps; also responsible for
managing the public fixed-income
securities department at Connecticut
Mutual Life Insurance Co.
Mitchell J. Lindauer,
Vice President None.
Dan Loughran,
Assistant Vice President:
Rochester Division None.
David Mabry,
Assistant Vice President None.
Steve Macchia,
Assistant Vice President None.
Bridget Macaskill,
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director Chief Executive Officer (since September
1995); President and director (since June
1991) of HarbourView; Chairman and a
director of SSI (since August 1994), and
SFSI (September 1995); President (since
September 1995) and a director (since
October 1990) of OAC; President (since
September 1995) and a director (since
November 1989) of Oppenheimer
Partnership Holdings, Inc., a holding
company subsidiary of OFI; a director of
ORAMI (since July 1996) ; President and a
director (since October 1997) of OFIL, an
offshore fund manager subsidiary of OFI
and Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc
(since October 1997); President and a
director of other Oppenheimer funds; a
director of Hillsdown Holdings plc (a
U.K. food company); formerly, an
Executive Vice President of OFI.
Wesley Mayer,
Vice President Formerly, Vice President (January, 1995 -
June, 1996) of Manufacturers Life
Insurance Company.
Loretta McCarthy,
Executive Vice President None.
Kelley A. McCarthy-Kane
Assistant Vice President Formerly, Product Manager, Assistant Vice
President (June 1995- October, 1997) of
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith.
Beth Michnowski,
Assistant Vice President Formerly Senior Marketing Manager May,
1996 - June, 1997) and Director of
Product Marketing (August, 1992 - May,
1996) with Fidelity Investments.
Lisa Migan,
Assistant Vice President None.
Denis R. Molleur,
Vice President None.
Nikolaos Monoyios,
Vice President A Vice President and/or portfolio manager
of certain Oppenheimer funds (since April
1998); a Certified Financial Analyst;
formerly, a Vice President and portfolio
manager for Guardian Investor Services,
the management subsidiary of The Guardian
Life Insurance Company (since 1979).
Linda Moore,
Vice President Formerly, Marketing Manager (July
1995-November 1996) for Chase Investment
Services Corp.
Kenneth Nadler,
Vice President None.
David Negri,
Senior Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds.
Barbara Niederbrach,
Assistant Vice President None.
Robert A. Nowaczyk,
Vice President None.
Ray Olson,
Assistant Vice President None.
Richard M. O'Shaugnessy,
Assistant Vice President:
Rochester Division None.
Gina M. Palmieri,
Assistant Vice President None.
Robert E. Patterson,
Senior Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds.
James Phillips
Assistant Vice President None.
Jane Putnam,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds.
Michael Quinn,
Assistant Vice President Formerly, Assistant Vice President
(April, 1995 - January, 1998) of Van
Kampen American Capital.
Russell Read,
Senior Vice President Vice President of Oppenheimer Real Asset
Management, Inc. (since March, 1995).
Thomas Reedy,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds; formerly, a
Securities Analyst for the Manager.
John Reinhardt,
Vice President: Rochester Division None
Ruxandra Risko,
Vice President None.
Michael S. Rosen,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds.
Richard H. Rubinstein,
Senior Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds.
Lawrence Rudnick,
Assistant Vice President None.
James Ruff,
Executive Vice President & Director None.
Valerie Sanders,
Vice President None.
Ellen Schoenfeld,
Assistant Vice President None.
Stephanie Seminara,
Vice President None.
Michelle Simone,
Assistant Vice President None.
Richard Soper,
Vice President None.
Stuart J. Speckman
Vice President Formerly, Vice President and Wholesaler
for Prudential Securities (December, 1990
- July, 1997).
Nancy Sperte,
Executive Vice President None.
Donald W. Spiro,
Chairman Emeritus and Director Vice Chairman and Trustee of the New
York-based Oppenheimer Funds; formerly,
Chairman of the Manager and the
Distributor.
Richard A. Stein,
Vice President: Rochester Division Assistant Vice President (since 1995) of
Rochester Capitol Advisors, L.P.
Arthur Steinmetz,
Senior Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds.
Ralph Stellmacher,
Senior Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds.
John Stoma,
Senior Vice President, Director
of Retirement Plans None.
Michael C. Strathearn,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds; a Chartered
Financial Analyst; a Vice President of
HarbourView.
James C. Swain,
Vice Chairman of the Board Chairman, CEO and Trustee, Director or
Managing Partner of the Denver-based
Oppenheimer Funds; formerly, President
and Director of OAMC, CAMC and Chairman
of the Board of SSI.
Susan Switzer,
Assistant Vice President None.
Anthony A. Tanner,
Vice President: Rochester Division None.
James Tobin,
Vice President None.
Susan Torrisi,
Assistant Vice President None.
Jay Tracey,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds.
James Turner,
Assistant Vice President None.
Maureen VanNorstrand,
Assistant Vice President None.
Ashwin Vasan,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds.
Teresa Ward,
Assistant Vice President None.
Jerry Webman,
Senior Vice President Director of New York-based tax-exempt
fixed income Oppenheimer funds.
Christine Wells,
Vice President None.
Joseph Welsh,
Assistant Vice President None.
Kenneth B. White,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds; a Chartered
Financial Analyst; Vice President of
HarbourView.
William L. Wilby,
Senior Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds; Vice President
of HarbourView.
Carol Wolf,
Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of certain
Oppenheimer funds; Vice President of
Centennial; Vice President, Finance
and Accounting; Point of Contact:
Finance Supporters of Children;
Member of the Oncology Advisory Board
of the Childrens Hospital.
Caleb Wong,
Assistant Vice President None.
Robert G. Zack,
Senior Vice President and
Assistant Secretary, Associate
General Counsel Assistant Secretary of SSI (since May
1985), SFSI (since November 1989), OFIL
(since 1998), Oppenheimer Millennium
Funds plc (since October 1997); an
officer of other Oppenheimer funds.
Jill Zachman,
Assistant Vice President:
Rochester Division None.
Arthur J. Zimmer,
Senior Vice President An officer and/or portfolio manager of
certain Oppenheimer funds; Vice President
of Centennial.
The Oppenheimer Funds include the New York-based Oppenheimer Funds, the
Denver-based Oppenheimer Funds and the Oppenheimer Quest /Rochester Funds, as
set forth below:
New York-based Oppenheimer Funds
Oppenheimer California Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund
Oppenheimer Developing Markets Fund
Oppenheimer Discovery Fund
Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund
Oppenheimer Global Fund
Oppenheimer Global Growth & Income Fund
Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals Fund
Oppenheimer Growth Fund
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund
Oppenheimer International Small Company Fund
Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer Multi-Sector Income Trust
Oppenheimer Multi-State Municipal Trust
Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies Fund
Oppenheimer Municipal Bond Fund
Oppenheimer New York Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Series Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust
Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
Quest/Rochester Funds
Limited Term New York Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund
Oppenheimer MidCap Fund
Oppenheimer Quest Capital Value Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds
Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc.
Rochester Fund Municipals
Denver-based Oppenheimer Funds
Centennial America Fund, L.P.
Centennial California Tax Exempt Trust
Centennial Government Trust
Centennial Money Market Trust
Centennial New York Tax Exempt Trust
Centennial Tax Exempt Trust
Oppenheimer Cash Reserves
Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund
Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund
Oppenheimer High Yield Fund
Oppenheimer Integrity Funds
Oppenheimer International Bond Fund
Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Funds, Inc.
Oppenheimer Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund
Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund
Oppenheimer Total Return Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds
Panorama Series Fund, Inc.
The New York Tax-Exempt Income Fund, Inc.
The address of OppenheimerFunds, Inc., the New York-based Oppenheimer Funds,
the Quest Funds, OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., HarbourView Asset
Management Corp., Oppenheimer Partnership Holdings, Inc., and Oppenheimer
Acquisition Corp. is Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048-0203.
The address of the Denver-based Oppenheimer Funds, Shareholder Financial
Services, Inc., Shareholder Services, Inc., OppenheimerFunds Services,
Centennial Asset Management Corporation, Centennial Capital Corp., and
Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. is 6803 South Tuscon Way, Englewood,
Colorado 80112.
The address of the Rochester-based funds is 350 Linden Oaks, Rochester, New
York 14625-2807.
Name & Current Position Other Business and Connections
with OpCap Advisors During the Past Two Years
Gavin Albert,
Vice President and Portfolio Manager Vice President of Oppenheimer
Capital.
Robert J. Bluestone,
Vice President Managing Director of Oppenheimer Capital;
Director of Oppenheimer Capital Trust
Company.
Thomas E. Duggan,
General Counsel & Secretary Managing Director & General Counsel of
Oppenheimer Capital.
Linda S. Ferrante,
Portfolio Manager Managing Director of Oppenheimer Capital.
Bernard H. Garil,
President Managing Director of Oppenheimer Capital.
John Giusio,
Vice President and
Portfolio Manager Vice President of Oppenheimer Capital.
Richard J. Glasebrook, II,
Vice President and
Portfolio Manager Managing Director of Oppenheimer Capital.
Colin Glinsman,
Vice President and
Portfolio Manager Managing Director of Oppenheimer Capital.
Louis Goldstein,
Vice President and
Portfolio Manager Senior Vice President of Oppenheimer
Capital.
Matthew Greenwald,
Vice President and
Portfolio Manager Senior Vice President of Oppenheimer
Capital.
Alan Gutmann,
Vice President and
Porfolio Manager Senior Vice President of Oppenheimer
Capital.
Benjamin Gutstein,
Vice President and
Portfolio Manager Assistant Vice President of Oppenheimer
Capital.
Vikki Y. Hanges,
Vice President and Portfolio Manager Senior Vice President of
Oppenheimer Capital.
Richard Kent,
Vice President Managing Director of Oppenheimer Capital.
Francis A. LeCates, Jr.,
Director of Research Managing Director of Oppenheimer Capital.
George A. Long,
Chairman Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Investment Officer of Oppenheimer
Capital.
Elisa A. Mazen,
Vice President and
Portfolio Manager Vice President of Oppenheimer Capital.
Timothy McCormack,
Vice President and
Portfolio Manager Senior Vice President of Oppenheimer
Capital; formerly, Assistant Vice
President of Oppenheimer Capital.
Susan Murphy,
President of an affiliate President of OCC Cash Management Services
Division and Oppenheimer Capital Trust
Company; Managing Director of Oppenheimer
Capital.
Eric Retzlaff,
Senior Vice President Senior Vice President of Oppenheimer
Capital.
Eileen Rominger,
Vice President and
Portfolio Manager Managing Director of Oppenheimer Capital.
Sheldon M. Siegel,
Treasurer and Chief Financial
Officer Managing Director/Treasurer/Chief
Financial Officer of Oppenheimer Capital;
Director of Oppenheimer Capital Trust
Company.
Elliot Weiss
Vice President Vice President of Oppenheimer Capital.
Jeffrey Whittington,
Portfolio Manager Senior Vice President of Oppenheimer
Capital.
The address of OpCap Advisors is 200 Liberty Street, New York, New York
10281.
For information as to the business, profession, vocation or employment of a
substantial nature of the officers of Oppenheimer Capital, reference is made
to Form ADV filed by OpCap Advisors, under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 27. Principal Underwriter
(a) OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. is the Distributor of the
Registrant's shares. It is also the Distributor of each of the other
registered open-end investment companies for which OppenheimerFunds, Inc. is
the investment adviser, as described in Part A and B of this Registration
Statement and listed in Item 26(b) above.
(b) The directors and officers of the Registrant's principal underwriter
are:
Name & Principal Positions & Offices Positions & Offices
Business Address with Underwriter with Registrant
Jason Bach Vice President None
31 Racquel Drive
Marietta, GA 30364
Peter Beebe Vice President None
876 Foxdale Avenue
Winnetka, IL 60093
Douglas S. Blankenship Vice President None
17011 Woodbank
Spring, TX 77379
George C. Bowen(1) Vice President and Vice President and
Treasurer Treasurer of the
Oppenheimer funds.
Peter W. Brennan Vice President None
1940 Cotswold Drive
Orlando, FL 32825
Robert Coli Vice President None
12 White Tail Lane
Bedminster, NJ 07921
Ronald T. Collins Vice President None
710-3 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Decatur, GA 30030
William Coughlin Vice President None
542 West Surf - #2N
Chicago, IL 60657
Mary Crooks(1)
Daniel Deckman Vice President None
12252 Rockledge Circle
Boca Raton, FL 33428
Christopher DeSimone Vice President None
5105 Aldrich Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Rhonda Dixon-Gunner(1) Assistant Vice President None
Andrew John Donohue(2) Executive Vice Secretary of the
President & Director Oppenheimer funds.
And General Counsel
John Donovan Vice President None
868 Washington Road
Woodbury, CT 06798
Kenneth Dorris Vice President None
4104 Harlanwood Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76109
Wendy H. Ehrlich Vice President None
4 Craig Street
Jericho, NY 11753
Kent Elwell Vice President None
35 Crown Terrace
Yardley, PA 19067
Todd Ermenio Vice President None
11011 South Darlington
Tulsa, OK 74137
John Ewalt Vice President None
2301 Overview Dr. NE
Tacoma, WA 98422
George Fahey Vice President None
412 Commons Way
Doylestown, PA 18901
Patrice Falagrady(1) Senior Vice President None
Eric Fallon Vice President None
10 Worth Circle
Newton, MA 02158
Katherine P. Feld(2) Vice President None
& Secretary
Mark Ferro Vice President None
43 Market Street
Breezy Point, NY 11697
Ronald H. Fielding(3) Vice President None
Ronald R. Foster Senior Vice President None
11339 Avant Lane
Cincinnati, OH 45249
Patricia Gadecki-Wells Vice President None
950 First St., S.
Suite 204
Winter Haven, FL 33880
Luiggino Galleto Vice President None
10239 Rougemont Lane
Charlotte, NC 28277
Michelle Gans Vice President None
8327 Kimball Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
L. Daniel Garrity Vice President None
2120 Brookhaven View, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30319
Mark Giles Vice President None
5506 Bryn Mawr
Dallas, TX 75209
Ralph Grant(2) Vice President/National None
Sales Manager
Michael Guman Vice President None
3913 Pleasent Avenue
Allentown, PA 18103
Allen Hamilton Vice President None
5 Giovanni
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
C. Webb Heidinger Vice President None
138 Gales Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Byron Ingram(1) Assistant Vice President None
Kathleen T. Ives(1) Vice President None
Eric K. Johnson Vice President None
3665 Clay Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
Mark D. Johnson Vice President None
409 Sundowner Ridge Court
Wildwood, MO 63011
Elyse Jurman Vice President None
1194 Hillsboro Mile, #51
Hillsboro Beach, FL 33062
Michael Keogh(2) Vice President None
Brian Kelly Vice President None
60 Larkspur Road
Fairfield, CT 06430
John Kennedy Vice President None
799 Paine Drive
Westchester, PA 19382
Richard Klein Vice President None
4820 Fremont Avenue So.
Minneapolis, MN 55409
Daniel Krause Vice President None
560 Beacon Hill Drive
Orange Village, OH 44022
Ilene Kutno(2) Vice President/ None
Director of Sales
Oren Lane Vice President None
5286 Timber Bend Drive
Brighton, MI 48116
Todd Lawson Vice President None
3333 E. Bayaud Avenue
Unit 714
Denver, CO 80209
Wayne A. LeBlang Senior Vice President None
54511 Southern Hills
LaQuinta, CA 92253
Dawn Lind Vice President None
7 Maize Court
Melville, NY 11747
James Loehle Vice President None
2714 Orchard Terrace
Linden, NJ 07036
Steve Manns Vice President None
1941 W. Wolfram Street
Chicago, IL 60657
Todd Marion Vice President None
39 Coleman Avenue
Chatham, N.J. 07928
Marie Masters Vice President None
8384 Glen Eagle Drive
Manlius, NY 13104
LuAnn Mascia(2) Assistant Vice President None
Theresa-Marie Maynier Vice President None
2421 Charlotte Drive
Charlotte, NC 28203
Anthony Mazzariello Vice President None
100 Anderson Street, #427
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
John McDonough Vice President None
3812 Leland Street
Chevey Chase, MD 20815
Wayne Meyer Vice President None
2617 Sun Meadow Drive
Chesterfield, MO 63005
Tanya Mrva(2) Assistant Vice President None
Laura Mulhall(2) Senior Vice President None
Charles Murray Vice President None
18 Spring Lake Drive
Far Hills, NJ 07931
Wendy Murray Vice President None
32 Carolin Road
Upper Montclair, NJ 07043
Denise-Marke Nakamura Vice President None
2870 White Ridge Place, #24
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Chad V. Noel Vice President None
2408 Eagleridge Dr.
Henderson, NV 89014
Joseph Norton Vice President None
2518 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
Kevin Parchinski Vice President None
8409 West 116th Terrace
Overland Park, KS 66210
Gayle Pereira Vice President None
2707 Via Arboleda
San Clemente, CA 92672
Charles K. Pettit Vice President None
22 Fall Meadow Dr.
Pittsford, NY 14534
Bill Presutti Vice President None
130 E. 63rd Street, #10E
New York, NY 10021
Steve Puckett Vice President None
5297 Soledad Mountain Road
San Diego, CA 92109
Elaine Puleo(2) Senior Vice President None
Minnie Ra Vice President None
100 Delores Street, #203
Carmel, CA 93923
Dustin Raring Vice President None
378 Elm Street
Denver, CO 80220
Michael Raso Vice President None
16 N. Chatsworth Ave.
Apt. 301
Larchmont, NY 10538
John C. Reinhardt(3) Vice President None
Douglas Rentschler Vice President None
677 Middlesex Road
Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230
Ian Robertson Vice President None
4204 Summit Wa
Marietta, GA 30066
Michael S. Rosen(2) Vice President None
Kenneth Rosenson Vice President None
3505 Malibu Country Drive
Malibu, CA 90265
James Ruff(2) President None
Timothy Schoeffler Vice President None
1717 Fox Hall Road
Washington, DC 77479
Michael Sciortino Vice President None
785 Beau Chene Drive
Mandeville, LA 70471
Eric Sharp Vice President None
862 McNeill Circle
Woodland, CA 95695
Robert Shore Vice President None
26 Baroness Lane
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Timothy Stegner Vice President None
794 Jackson Street
Denver, CO 80206
Peter Sullivan Vice President None
21445 S. E 35th Street
Issaquah, WA 98029
David Sturgis Vice President None
44 Abington Road
Danvers, MA 0923
Brian Summe Vice President None
239 N. Colony Drive
Edgewood, KY 41017
George Sweeney Vice President None
5 Smokehouse Lane
Hummelstown, PA 17036
Andrew Sweeny Vice President None
5967 Bayberry Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45242
Scott McGregor Tatum Vice President None
704 Inwood
Southlake, TX 76092
David G. Thomas Vice President None
7009 Metropolitan Place, #300
Falls Church, VA 22043
Sarah Turpin Vice President None
2201 Wolf Street, #5202
Dallas, TX 75201
Andrea Walsh(1) Vice President None
Suzanne Walters(1) Assistant Vice President None
Mark Stephen Vandehey(1) Vice President None
James Wiaduck Vice President None
29900 Meridian Place
#22303
Farmington Hills, MI 48331
Marjorie Williams Vice President None
6930 East Ranch Road
Cave Creek, AZ 85331
(1) 6803 South Tuscon Way, Englewood, CO 80112
(2) Two World Trade Center, New York, NY 10048
(3) 350 Linden Oaks, Rochester, NY 14623
(c) Not applicable.
Item 28. Location of Accounts and Records
The accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
Registrant pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
and rules promulgated thereunder are in the possession of OppenheimerFunds,
Inc. at its offices at 6803 South Tuscon Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112.
Item 29. Management Services
Not applicable
Item 30. Undertakings
Not applicable.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it has duly
caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York and State of
New York on the 18th day of December , 1998.
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds
By: /s/ _Bridget A. Macaskill_______________*
Bridget A. Macaskill, Chairman of
the Board and President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities on
the dates indicated:
Signatures Title Date
/s/ Bridget A Macaskill* Chairman of the Board, December 18, 1998
- ------------------------------ President (Principal
Executive
Bridget A. Macaskill Officer) and Trustee
/s/ George C. Bowen* Treasurer (Principal December 18, 1998
- --------- Financial and Accounting
George Bowen Officer)
/s/ Paul Y. Clinton* Trustee December 18, 1998
- ---------------------
Paul Y. Clinton
/s/ Thomas W. Courtney* Trustee December 18, 1998
- ----------------------
Thomas W. Courtney
/s/ Robert G. Galli
- ---------------------- Trustee December 18, 1998
Robert G. Galli
/s/ Lacy B. Herrmann* Trustee December 18, 1998
- ---------------------
Lacy B. Herrmann
/s/ George Loft* Trustee December 18, 1998
- ---------------------
George Loft
*By /s/ Robert G. Zack
- ----------------------------
Robert G. Zack, Attorney-in-fact
<PAGE>
OPPENHEIMER QUEST FOR VALUE FUNDS
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
23 (a) (iii) Amendment to Declaration of Trust dated 5/1/98
23 (b) (iii) Amendment No. 2 to By-Laws dated 7/22/98
23 (d) (vi) Amendment to Subadvisory Agreement dated 7/1/98
23 (f) (i) Form of Deferred Compensation Plan for Disinterested
Trustees/Directors
23 (f) (viii) Retirement Plan for Non-Interested Trustees or Directors
23 (g) Foreign Custody Agreement between Citibank, N.A. and
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. dated 9/14/98
23 (m)(i) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and
Agreement dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class A shares
of Balanced Value Fund
23 (m)(ii) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and
Agreement dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class A shares of
Opportunity Value Fund
23 (m)(iii) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan
Agreement dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class A shares of
Small Cap Value Fund Cap Fund
23 (m)(iv) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and
Agreement dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class B shares of
Balanced Value Fund
23 (m)(v) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and
Agreement dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class B shares of
Opportunity Value Fund
23 (m)(vi) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and
Agreement dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class B shares of
Small Cap Value Fund
23 (m)(vii) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and
Agreement dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class C shares of
Balanced Value Fund
23 (m)(viii) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and
Agreement dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class C shares of
Opportunity Value Fund
23 (m)(ix) Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and
Agreement dated 2/3/98 with respect to Class C shares of
Small Cap Value Fund
23 (o) Power of Attorney (including Certified Board resolution)
for Robert G. Galli
- --------
1 No commission will be paid on sales of Class A shares purchased with the
redemption proceeds of shares of another mutual fund offered as an investment
option in a retirement plan in which Oppenheimer funds are also offered as
investment options under a special arrangement with the Distributor, if the
purchase occurs more than 30 days after the Oppenheimer funds are added as an
investment option under that plan.
2. In accordance with Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act, the term
"Independent Trustees" in this Statement of Additional Information refers to
those Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Fund (or its parent
corporation) and who do not have any direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of the distribution plan or any agreement under the plan.
3 No commission will be paid on sales of Class A shares purchased with the
redemption proceeds of shares of another mutual fund offered as an investment
option in a retirement plan in which Oppenheimer funds are also offered as
investment options under a special arrangement with the Distributor, if the
purchase occurs more than 30 days after the Oppenheimer funds are added as an
investment option under that plan.
4. In accordance with Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act, the term
"Independent Trustees" in this Statement of Additional Information refers to
those Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Fund (or its parent
corporation) and who do not have any direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of the distribution plan or any agreement under the plan.
5 No commission will be paid on sales of Class A shares purchased with the
redemption proceeds of shares of another mutual fund offered as an investment
option in a retirement plan in which Oppenheimer funds are also offered as
investment options under a special arrangement with the Distributor, if the
purchase occurs more than 30 days after the Oppenheimer funds are added as an
investment option under that plan.
6. In accordance with Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act, the term
"Independent Trustees" in this Statement of Additional Information refers to
those Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Fund (or its parent
corporation) and who do not have any direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of the distribution plan or any agreement under the plan.
OPPENHEIMER QUEST FOR VALUE FUNDS
OPPENHEIMER QUEST FOR VALUE FUNDS
Amendment to Establishment and Designation of Series
of Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $.01
WHEREAS, Declarations have been filed with the Secretary of State
of Massachusetts and the office of the Clerk, Boston Massachusetts on
behalf of Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (the "Trust") establishing
the first through eleventh series of the Trust; and
WHEREAS, it is advisable for the Trust to change the name of the
tenth series thereof;
NOW THEREFORE, the undersigned, being all the Trustees of the
Trust, acting pursuant to Article VI, Section 6.9 of the Declaration of
Trust of the Trust dated March 13, 1987, as amended, hereby
RESOLVE, that the name of the tenth series of the Trust shall be
changed to the following: "Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund".
Dated: April 30, 1998
amend.430
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this instrument as of
the 30th day of April, 1998.
/s/ Paul Clinton
----------------------------------
Paul Clinton, as Trustee
Address: 39 Blossom Avenue
Osterville, MA 02655
/s/ Thomas Courtney
---------------------------------
Thomas Courtney, as Trustee
Address: 833 Wyndemere Way
Naples, FL 34105
/s/ Lacy Herrmann
-------------------------------
Lacy Herrmann, as Trustee
Address: 6 Whaling Road
Darien, CT 06820
/s/ George Loft
----------------------------------
George Loft, as Trustee
Address: 51 Herrick Road
Sharon, CT 06069
/s/ Bridget Macaskill
--------------------------------
Bridget Macaskill, as Trustee
Address: 160 East 81st Street
New York, NY 10028
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO BY-LAWS OF
OPPENHEIMER QUEST FOR VALUE FUNDS
1. The By-Laws of Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds, a Massachusetts
business trust (the "Fund"), are hereby amended by adding the following new
Section 4.6 to Article IV thereof:
4.6 Removal, Resignation and Retirement of
Trustees. A Trustee at any time may be removed
either with or without cause by resolution duly
adopted by the affirmative votes of the holders of
not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of
the Trust, present in person or by proxy at any
meeting of shareholders at which such vote may be
taken, provided that a quorum is present. Any
Trustee at any time may be removed for cause by
resolution duly adopted at any meeting of the Board
of Trustees provided that notice thereof is contained
in the notice of such meeting and that such
resolution is adopted by the vote of at least two
thirds of the Trustees whose removal is not
proposed. As used herein, "for cause" shall mean any
cause which under Massachusetts law would permit the
removal of a Trustee of a business trust. Any Trustee
may resign or retire as Trustee by written instrument
signed by him and delivered to the other Trustees or
to any officer of the Trust, and such resignation or
retirement shall take effect upon such delivery or
upon such later date as is specified in such
instrument and shall be effective as to the Trust and
each Series of the Trust hereunder. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any and all Trustees shall be subject
to the provisions with respect to mandatory
retirement set forth in the Retirement Plan for
Non-Interested Trustees or Directors adopted by the
Trust, as the same may be amended from time to time.
2. The By-Laws of the Fund, as previously amended and as further amended
by this Amendment No. 2, hereby remain in full force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereby set my hand as of this ___ day of July,
1998
/s/ Andrew J. Donohue
---------------------------
Andrew J. Donohue
Secretary
AMENDMENT TO
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
WHEREAS, OppenheimerFunds, Inc., a Colorado corporation (the
"Adviser") and OpCap Advisors, a Delaware general partnership (the
"Subadvisor") are party to a Subadvisory Agreement dated as of November 5,
1997 with respect to Oppenheimer Quest Growth & Income Value Fund (the
"Fund"), a series of Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (the "Agreement");
WHEREAS, effective May 1, 1998, the Fund's name was changed to
"Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund";
WHEREAS, effective May 8, 1998, the Lipper investment objective
category of the Fund was changed from "Growth & Income" to "Balanced";
WHEREAS, the Advisor and the Subadvisor desire to amend the Agreement
to reflect the foregoing changes;
NOW THEREFORE, the Advisor and the Subadvisor agree as follows:
1. The name of the Fund set forth in the Recital and Schedule XIII.D.1
of the Agreement is changed to "Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund".
2. The Lipper Category set forth next to the Fund on Schedule XIII.D.1
of the Agreement is changed to "B - Balanced".
3. Except for the foregoing, no other provision of the Agreement is
modified or amended and the Agreement, as amended hereby, shall remain in
full force and effect.
Date: July 1, 1998
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
/s/ Robert G. Zack
By: _______________________________________
Robert G. Zack
Senior Vice President & Associate General
Counsel
OpCap Advisors
/s/ Bernard H. Garil
By: _______________________________________
<PAGE>
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made by and between OppenheimerFunds, Inc., a
Colorado corporation (the "Adviser"), and OpCap Advisors, a Delaware general
partnership (the "Subadviser"), as of the date set forth below.
RECITAL
WHEREAS, Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (the "Company") is
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
Act"), as an open-end, management investment company;
WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act"), as an investment adviser and engages
in the business of acting as an investment adviser;
WHEREAS, the Subadviser is registered under the Advisers Act as an
investment adviser and engages in the business of acting as an investment
adviser;
WHEREAS, the Company's Declaration of Trust authorizes the Board of
Trustees of the Company to classify or reclassify authorized but unissued
shares of the Company into series of shares representing interests in various
investment portfolios;
WHEREAS, pursuant to such authority, the Company has established the
Growth & Income Value Fund (the "Fund");
WHEREAS, the Adviser has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement
as of November 22, 1995 with the Company (the "Investment Advisory
Agreement"), pursuant to which the Adviser acts as investment adviser with
respect to the Fund; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Paragraph 2 of the Investment Advisory Agreement,
the Adviser has retained and wishes to continue to retain the Subadviser for
purposes of rendering investment advisory services to the Adviser in
connection with the Fund upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
I. Appointment and Obligations of the Adviser.
The Adviser hereby appoints the Subadviser to render, to the Adviser
with respect to the Fund, investment research and advisory services as set
forth below in Section II, under the supervision of the Adviser and subject
to the approval and direction of the Company's Board of Trustees (the
"Board"), and the Subadviser hereby accepts such appointment, all subject to
the terms and conditions contained herein. The Subadviser shall, for all
purposes herein, be deemed an independent contractor and shall not have,
unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, any authority to act for
or represent the Company or the Fund in any way or otherwise to serve as or
be deemed an agent of the Company or the Fund.
II. Duties of the Subadviser and the Adviser.
A. Duties of the Subadviser.
The Subadviser shall regularly provide investment advice with respect
to the Fund and shall, subject to the terms of this Agreement, continuously
supervise the investment and reinvestment of cash, securities and instruments
or other property comprising the assets of the Fund, and in furtherance
thereof, the Subadviser's duties shall include:
1. Obtaining and evaluating pertinent information about
significant developments and economic, statistical and financial
data, domestic, foreign or otherwise, whether affecting the
economy generally or the Fund, and whether concerning the
individual issuers whose securities are included in the Fund or
the activities in which such issuers engage, or with respect to
securities which the Subadviser considers desirable for inclusion
in the Fund's investment portfolio;
2. Determining which securities shall be purchased, sold or
exchanged by the Fund or otherwise represented in the Fund's
investment portfolio and regularly reporting thereon to the
Adviser and, at the request of the Adviser, to the Board;
3. Formulating and implementing continuing programs for the
purchases and sales of the securities of such issuers and
regularly reporting thereon to the Adviser and, at the request of
the Adviser, to the Board; and
4. Taking, on behalf of the Fund, all actions that appear to
the Subadviser necessary to carry into effect such investment
program, including the placing of purchase and sale orders, and
making appropriate reports thereon to the Adviser and the Board.
B. Duties of the Adviser.
The Adviser shall retain responsibility for, among other things,
providing the following advice and services with respect to the Fund:
1. Without limiting the obligation of the Subadviser to so
comply, the Adviser shall monitor the investment program
maintained by the Subadviser for the Fund to ensure that
the Fund's assets are invested in compliance with this
Agreement and the Fund's Registration Statement, as
currently in effect from time to time; and
2. The Adviser shall oversee matters relating to Fund
promotion, including, but not limited to, marketing
materials and the Subadviser's reports to the Board.
III. Representations, Warranties and Covenants.
A. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Subadviser.
1. Organization. The Subadviser is now, and will continue to
be, a general partnership duly formed and validly existing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of formation, fully authorized to
enter into this Agreement and carry out its duties and
obligations hereunder.
2. Registration. The Subadviser is registered as an
investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") under the Advisers Act, and is registered or licensed
as an investment adviser under the laws of all jurisdictions in
which its activities require it to be so registered or licensed,
except where the failure to be so licensed would not have a
material adverse effect on the Subadviser. The Subadviser shall
maintain such registration or license in effect at all times
during the term of this Agreement.
3. Best Efforts. The Subadviser at all times shall provide
its best judgment and effort to the Adviser and the Fund in
carrying out its obligations hereunder.
4. Other Covenants. The Subadviser further agrees that:
a. it will use the same skill and care in providing such
services as it uses in providing services to other
accounts for which it has investment management
responsibilities;
b. it will not make loans to any person to purchase or
carry units of beneficial interest in the Fund or
make loans to the Fund;
c. it will report regularly to the Fund and to the
Adviser and will make appropriate persons available
for the purpose of reviewing with representatives of
the Adviser on a regular basis the management of the
Fund, including, without limitation, review of the
general investment strategy of the Fund, economic
considerations and general conditions affecting the
marketplace;
d. as required by applicable laws and regulations, it
will maintain books and records with respect to the
Fund's securities transactions and it will furnish to
the Adviser and to the Board such periodic and
special reports as the Adviser or the Board may
reasonably request;
e. it will treat confidentially and as proprietary
information of the Fund all records and other
information relative to the Fund, and will not use
records and information for any purpose other than
performance of its responsibilities and duties
hereunder, except after prior notification to and
approval in writing by the Fund or when so requested
by the Fund or required by law or regulation;
f. it will, on a continuing basis and at its own
expense, (1) provide the distributor of the Fund (the
"Distributor") with assistance in the distribution
and marketing of the Fund in such amount and form as
the Adviser may reasonably request from time to time,
and (2) use its best efforts to cause the portfolio
manager or other person who manages or is responsible
for overseeing the management of the Fund's portfolio
(the "Portfolio Manager") to provide marketing and
distribution assistance to the Distributor,
including, without limitation, conference calls,
meetings and road trips, provided that each Portfolio
Manager shall not be required to devote more than 10%
of his or her time to such marketing and distribution
activities;
g. it will use its reasonable best efforts (i) to retain
the services of the Portfolio Manager who manages the
portfolio of the Fund, from time to time and (ii) to
promptly obtain the services of a Portfolio Manager
acceptable to the Adviser if the services of the
Portfolio Manager are no longer available to the
Subadviser;
h. it will, from time to time, assure that each
Portfolio Manager is acceptable to the Adviser;
i. it will obtain the written approval of the Adviser
prior to designating a new Portfolio Manager;
provided, however, that, if the services of a
Portfolio Manager are no longer available to the
Subadviser due to circumstances beyond the reasonable
control of the Subadviser (e.g., voluntary
resignation, death or disability), the Subadviser may
designate an interim Portfolio Manager who (a) shall
be reasonably acceptable to the Adviser and (b) shall
function for a reasonable period of time until the
Subadviser designates an acceptable permanent
replacement; and
j. it will promptly notify the Adviser of any impending
change in Portfolio Manager, portfolio management or
any other material matter that may require disclosure
to the Board, shareholders of the Fund or dealers.
B. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Adviser.
1. Organization. The Adviser is now, and will continue to be,
duly organized and in good standing under the laws of its state
of incorporation, fully authorized to enter into this Agreement
and carry out its duties and obligations hereunder.
2. Registration. The Adviser is registered as an investment
adviser with the SEC under the Advisers Act, and is registered or
licensed as an investment adviser under the laws of all
jurisdictions in which its activities require it to be so
registered or licensed. The Adviser shall maintain such
registration or license in effect at all times during the term of
this Agreement.
3. Best Efforts. The Adviser at all times shall provide its
best judgment and effort to the Fund in carrying out its
obligations hereunder.
IV. Compliance with Applicable Requirements.
In carrying out its obligations under this Agreement, the Subadviser
shall at all times conform to:
A. all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and any rules and
regulations adopted thereunder;
B. the provisions of the registration statement of the Company, as
the same may be amended from time to time, under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and the 1940 Act;
C. the provisions of the Company's Declaration of Trust or other
governing document, as amended from time to time;
D. the provisions of the By-laws of the Company, as amended from
time to time;
E. any other applicable provisions of state or federal law; and
F. guidelines, investment restrictions, policies, procedures or
instructions adopted or issued by the Company, the Fund or the
Adviser from time to time.
The Adviser shall promptly notify the Subadviser of any changes or
amendments to the provisions of B., C., D. and F. above when such changes or
amendments relate to the obligations of the Subadviser.
V. Control by the Board.
Any investment program undertaken by the Subadviser pursuant to this
Agreement, as well as any other activities undertaken by the Subadviser with
respect to the Fund, shall at all times be subject to any directives of the
Adviser and the Board.
VI. Books and Records.
The Subadviser agrees that all records which it maintains for the Fund
on behalf of the Adviser are the property of the Fund and further agrees to
surrender promptly to the Fund or to the Adviser any of such records upon
request. The Subadviser further agrees to preserve for the periods
prescribed by applicable laws, rules and regulations all records required to
be maintained by the Subadviser on behalf of the Adviser under such
applicable laws, rules and regulations, or such longer period as the Adviser
may reasonably request from time to time.
VII. Broker-Dealer Relationships.
A. Portfolio Trades.
The Subadviser, at its own expense, and to the extent
appropriate, in consultation with the Adviser, shall place all orders for the
purchase and sale of portfolio securities for the Fund with brokers or
dealers selected by the Subadviser, which may include, to the extent
permitted by the Adviser and the Fund, brokers or dealers affiliated with the
Subadviser. The Subadviser shall use its best efforts to seek to execute
portfolio transactions at prices that are advantageous to the Fund and at
commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received.
B. Selection of Broker-Dealers.
With respect to the execution of particular transactions, the
Subadviser may, to the extent permitted by the Adviser and the Fund, select
brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage and research services (as those
terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended) to the Fund and/or the other accounts over which the Subadviser or
its affiliates exercise investment discretion. The Subadviser is authorized
to pay a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a
commission for executing a portfolio transaction for the Fund that is in
excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have
charged for effecting that transaction if the Subadviser determines in good
faith that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value
of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer.
This determination may be viewed in terms of either that particular
transaction or the overall responsibilities that the Subadviser and its
affiliates have with respect to accounts over which they exercise investment
discretion. The Adviser, Subadviser and the Board shall periodically review
the commissions paid by the Fund to determine, among other things, if the
commissions paid over representative periods of time were reasonable in
relation to the benefits received.
C. Soft Dollar Arrangements.
The Subadviser may enter into "soft dollar" arrangements through
the agency of third parties on behalf of the Adviser. Soft dollar
arrangements for services may be entered into in order to facilitate an
improvement in performance in respect of the Subadviser's service to the
Adviser with respect to the Fund. The Subadviser makes no direct payments
but instead undertakes to place business with broker-dealers who in turn pay
third parties who provide these services. Soft dollar transactions will be
conducted on an arm's-length basis, and the Subadviser will secure best
execution for the Adviser. Any arrangements involving soft dollars and/or
brokerage services shall be effected in compliance with Section 28(e) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the policies that the
Adviser and the Board may adopt from time to time. The Subadviser agrees to
provide reports to the Adviser as necessary for purposes of providing
information on these arrangements to the Board.
VIII. Compensation.
A. Amount of Compensation. The Adviser shall pay the Subadviser, as
----------------------
compensation for services rendered hereunder, from its own
assets, an annual fee, payable monthly, equal to 40% of the
investment advisory fee collected by the Adviser from the Fund,
based on the total net assets of the Fund existing as of November
22, 1995 (the "base amount"), plus 30% of the advisory fee
collected by the Adviser, based on the total net assets of the
Fund that exceed the base amount (the "marginal amount"), in each
case calculated after any waivers, voluntary or otherwise.
B. Calculation of Compensation. Except as hereinafter set forth,
-----------------------------
compensation under this Agreement shall be calculated and accrued
on the same basis as the advisory fee paid to the Adviser by the
Fund. If this Agreement becomes effective subsequent to the
first day of a month or shall terminate before the last day of a
month, compensation for that part of the month this Agreement is
in effect shall be prorated in a manner consistent with the
calculation of the fees set forth above.
C. Payment of Compensation: Subject to the provisions of this
paragraph, payment of the Subadviser's compensation for the
preceding month shall be made within 15 days after the end of the
preceding month.
D. Reorganization of the Fund. If the Fund is reorganized with
another investment company for which the Subadviser does not
serve as an investment adviser or subadviser, and the Fund is the
surviving entity, the subadvisory fee payable under this section
shall be adjusted in an appropriate manner as the parties may
agree.
IX. Allocation of Expenses.
The Subadviser shall pay the expenses incurred in providing services in
connection with this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the salaries,
employment benefits and other related costs of those of its personnel engaged
in providing investment advice to the Fund hereunder, including, without
limitation, office space, office equipment, telephone and postage costs and
other expenses. In the event of an "assignment" of this Agreement, other
than an assignment resulting solely by action of the Adviser or an affiliate
thereof, the Subadviser shall be responsible for payment of all costs and
expenses incurred by the Adviser and the Fund relating thereto, including,
but not limited to, reasonable legal, accounting, printing and mailing costs
related to obtaining approval of Fund shareholders.
X. Non-Exclusivity.
The services of the Subadviser with respect to the Company and the Fund
are not to be deemed to be exclusive, and the Subadviser shall be free to
render investment advisory and administrative or other services to others
(including other investment companies) and to engage in other activities,
subject to the provisions of a certain Agreement Not to Compete dated as of
November 22, 1995 among the Adviser, Oppenheimer Capital, the Subadviser and
Quest For Value Distributors (the "Agreement Not to Compete"). It is
understood and agreed that officers or directors of the Subadviser may serve
as officers or directors of the Adviser or of the Fund; that officers or
directors of the Adviser or of the Company may serve as officers or directors
of the Subadviser to the extent permitted by law; and that the officers and
directors of the Subadviser are not prohibited from engaging in any other
business activity or from rendering services to any other person, or from
serving as partners, officers, directors or trustees of any other firm or
trust, including other investment advisory companies (subject to the
provisions of the Agreement Not to Compete) provided it is permitted by
applicable law and does not adversely affect the Company or the Fund.
XI. Term.
This Agreement shall become effective at the close of business on the
date hereof and shall remain in force and effect, subject to Paragraphs XII.A
and XII.B hereof and approval by the Fund's shareholders, for a period of two
years from the date hereof.
XII. Renewal.
Following the expiration of its initial two-year term, the Agreement
shall continue in full force and effect from year to year until November 22,
2005, provided that such continuance is specifically approved:
A. at least annually (1) by the Board or by the vote of a majority
of the Fund's outstanding voting securities (as defined in
Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act), and (2) by the affirmative
vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to this
Agreement or interested persons of a party to this Agreement
(other than as a Trustee of the Fund), by votes cast in person at
a meeting specifically called for such purpose; or
B. by such method required by applicable law, rule or regulation
then in effect.
XIII. Termination.
A. Termination by the Company. This Agreement may be terminated at
any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of the
Board or by vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding voting
securities, on sixty (60) days' written notice. The notice
provided for herein may be waived by the party required to be
notified.
B. Assignment. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the
----------
event of its "assignment," as defined in Section 2 (a) (4) of the
1940 Act. In the event of an assignment that occurs solely due
to the change in control of the Subadviser (provided that no
condition exists that permits, or, upon the consummation of the
assignment, will permit, the termination of this Agreement by the
Adviser pursuant to Section XIII. D. hereof), the Adviser and the
Subadviser, at the sole expense of the Subadviser, shall use
their reasonable best efforts to obtain shareholder approval of a
successor Subadvisory Agreement on substantially the same terms
as contained in this Agreement.
C. Payment of Fees After Termination. Notwithstanding the
-----------------------------------------
termination of this Agreement prior to the tenth anniversary of
November 22, 1995, the Adviser shall continue to pay to the
Subadviser the subadvisory fee for the term of this Agreement and
any renewals thereof through such tenth anniversary, if: (1) the
Adviser or the Company terminates this Agreement for a reason
other than the reasons set forth in Section XIII.D. hereof,
provided the Investment Advisory Agreement remains in effect;
(2) the Fund reorganizes with another investment company advised
by the Adviser (or an affiliate of the Adviser) and for which the
Subadviser does not serve as an investment adviser or subadviser
and such other investment company is the surviving entity; or (3)
the Investment Advisory Agreement terminates (i) by reason of an
"assignment;" (ii) because the Adviser is disqualified from
serving as an investment adviser; or (iii) by reason of a
voluntary termination by the Adviser; provided that the
Subadviser does not serve as the investment adviser or subadviser
of the Fund after such termination of the Investment Advisory
Agreement. The amount of the subadvisory fee paid pursuant to
this section shall be calculated on the basis of the Fund's net
assets measured at the time of such termination or such
reorganization. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if the
Subadviser terminates this Agreement or if this Agreement is
terminated by operation of law, due solely to an act or omission
by the Subadviser, Oppenheimer Capital ("OpCap") or their
respective partners, subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees
or agents (other than by reason of an "assignment"of this
Agreement), then the Adviser shall not be liable for any further
payments under this Agreement, provided, however, that if at any
time prior to the end of the term of the Agreement Not to Compete
any event that would have permitted the termination of this
Agreement by the Adviser pursuant to Section XIII. D. (3) hereof
occurs, the Adviser shall be under no further obligation to pay
any subadvisory fees.
D. Termination by the Adviser. The Adviser may terminate this
Agreement without penalty and without the payment of any fee or
penalty, immediately after giving written notice, upon the
occurrence of any of the following events:
1. The Fund's investment performance of the Fund's Class A
shares compared to the appropriate universe of Class A
shares (or their equivalent), as set forth on Schedule D-1,
as amended from time to time, ranks in the bottom quartile
for two consecutive calendar years (beginning with the
calendar year 1995) and earns a Morningstar three-year
rating of less than three (3) stars at the time of such
termination; or
2. Any of the Subadviser, OpCap, their respective partners,
subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees or
agents engages in an action or omits to take an action that
would cause the Subadviser or OpCap to be disqualified in
any manner under Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act, if the SEC
were not to grant an exemptive order under Section 9(c)
thereof or that would constitute grounds for the SEC to
deny, revoke or suspend the registration of the Subadviser
as an investment adviser with the SEC;
3. Any of OpCap, the Subadviser, their respective partners,
subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees or
agents causes a material violation of the Agreement Not to
Compete which is not cured in accordance with the
provisions of that agreement; or
4. The Subadviser breaches the representations contained in
Paragraph III.A.4.i. of this Agreement or any other
material provision of this Agreement, and any such breach
is not cured within a reasonable period of time after
notice thereof from the Adviser to the Subadviser.
However, consistent with its fiduciary obligations, for a
period of seven months the Adviser will not terminate this
Agreement solely because the Subadviser has failed to
designate an acceptable permanent replacement to a
Portfolio Manager whose services are no longer available to
the Subadviser due to circumstances beyond the reasonable
control of the Subadviser, provided that the Subadviser
uses its reasonable best efforts to promptly obtain the
services of a Portfolio Manager acceptable to the Adviser
and further provided that the Adviser has not unreasonably
withheld approval of such replacement Portfolio Manager.
E. Transactions in Progress upon Termination. The Adviser and
---------------------------------------------
Subadviser will cooperate with each other to ensure that
portfolio or other transactions in progress at the date of
termination of this Agreement shall be completed by the Adviser
in accordance with the terms of such transactions, and to this
end the Subadviser shall provide the Adviser with all necessary
information and documentation to secure the implementation
thereof.
XIV. Non-Solicitation.
During the term of this Agreement, the Adviser (and its affiliates
under its control) shall not solicit or knowingly assist in the solicitation
of any Portfolio Manager of the Fund or any portfolio assistant of the Fund
then employed by the Subadviser or OpCap, provided, however, that the Adviser
(or its affiliates) may solicit or hire any such individual who (A) the
Subadviser or OpCap (or its affiliates) has terminated or (B) has voluntarily
terminated his or her employment with the Subadviser, OpCap (or its
affiliates) without inducement of the Adviser (or its affiliates under its
control) prior to the time of such solicitation. Advertising in general
circulation newspapers or industry newsletters by the Adviser shall not
constitute "inducement" by the Adviser (or its affiliates under its control).
XV. Liability of the Subadviser.
In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or
reckless disregard of obligations or duties hereunder on the part of the
Subadviser or any of its officers, directors or employees, the Subadviser
shall not be subject to liability to the Adviser for any act or omission in
the course of, or connected with, rendering services hereunder or for any
losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any
security; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be construed to
relieve the Subadviser of any liability it may have arising under the
Agreement Not to Compete or the Acquisition Agreement dated August 17, 1995,
among the Subadviser, the Adviser and certain affiliates of the Subadviser.
XVI. Notices.
Any notice or other communication required or that may be given
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, telecopied,
sent by certified, registered or express mail, postage prepaid or sent by
national next-day delivery service and shall be deemed given when so
delivered personally or telecopied, or if mailed, two days after the date of
mailing, or if by next-day delivery service, on the business day following
delivery thereto, as follows or to such other location as any party notifies
any other party:
A. if to the Adviser, to:
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
Attention: Andrew J. Donohue
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Telecopier: 212-321-1159
B. if to the Subadviser, to:
OpCap Advisors
c/o Oppenheimer Capital
225 Liberty Street
New York, New York 10281
Attention: Thomas E. Duggan
Secretary and General Counsel
Telecopier: 212-349-4759
XVII. Questions of Interpretation.
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York
applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within the State
of New York (without regard to any conflicts of law principles thereof). Any
question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having
a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940
Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act
and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States Courts or, in
the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules,
regulations or orders of the SEC issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. In
addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any
provision of this Agreement is revised by rule, regulation or order of the
SEC, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule,
regulation or order.
XVIII. Form ADV - Delivery.
The Adviser hereby acknowledges that it has received from the
Subadviser a copy of the Subadviser's Form ADV, Part II as currently filed,
at least 48 hours prior to entering into this Agreement and that it has read
and understood the disclosures set forth in the Subadviser's Form ADV, Part
II.
XIX. Miscellaneous.
The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delimit any of the provisions hereof
or otherwise affect their construction or effect. If any provision of this
Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or
otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors.
XX. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall
constitute an original and both of which, collectively, shall constitute one
agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed in duplicate by their respective officers as of the 5th day of
November, 1997.
OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC.
By:/s/ Andrew J. Donohue
Andrew J. Donohue
Executive Vice President
OPCAP ADVISORS
By:/s/ Bernard H. Garil
Bernard H. Garil
President
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE XIII.D.1
The universe of funds to which Class A shares of funds subadvised by
OpCap Advisors will be compared to so that it can be determined in which
quartile the performance ranks shall consist of those funds with the same
Lipper investment objective being offered as the only class of shares of such
fund or, in the case where there is more than one class of shares being
offered, with a front-end load (typically referred to as Class A shares).
The present Lipper investment objective categories for the funds are:
Fund Lipper Category
Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc. CA - Capital Appreciation
Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund, Inc. GL - Global
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund FX - Flexible Portfolio
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund SG - Small Company Growth
Oppenheimer Quest Growth & Income Value Fund GI - Growth & Income
Oppenheimer Quest Officers Value Fund CA - Capital Appreciation
Oppenheimer Quest Capital Value Fund, Inc. CA - Capital
Appreciation
OPPENHEIMER FUNDS
DEFERRED COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, made on this __ day of _______________, by and between the
registered management investment companies listed on Schedule A attached
hereto and made a part hereof, each of which has its principal offices at Two
World Trade Center, New York, NY 10048-0203 or 350 Linden Oaks, Rochester, NY
14625, as the case may be, (each a "Fund" and collectively, the "Funds") and
_____________________________ (the "Director") residing at
- --------------------------------.
WHEREAS, (i) the Director is currently serving as a Director of the
Funds and is receiving compensation for his or her services as such, or (ii)
the Funds and the Director have entered into an agreement pursuant to which
the Director will serve as a director of the Funds; and
WHEREAS, the Funds and the Director desire to enter into an agreement
whereby the Funds will provide to the Director a vehicle under which the
Director can defer receipt of all or a portion the fees payable by the Funds.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
obligations set forth in this Agreement, the Funds and the Director hereby
agree as follows:
1. DEFINITION OF TERMS AND CONSTRUCTION
1.1 Definitions. Unless a different meaning is plainly implied by
the context, the following terms as used in this Agreement shall have
the following meanings:
(a) "Beneficiary" shall mean such person or persons designated
pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof to receive benefits after
the death of the Director.
(b) "Board of Directors" shall mean the Board of Directors of
the Funds.
(c) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time, or any successor statute.
(d) "Compensation" shall mean the amount of directors' fees
paid by the Funds to the Director during a Deferral Year
prior to reduction for Compensation Deferrals made under
this Agreement.
(e) "Compensation Deferral" shall mean the amount or amounts of
the Director's Compensation deferred under the provisions
of Section 3 of this Agreement.
(f) "Deferral Account" shall mean the account maintained to
reflect the Director's Compensation Deferrals made pursuant
to Section 3 hereof and any other credits or debits thereto.
(g) "Deferral Year" shall mean each calendar year during which
the Director makes, or is entitled to make, Compensation
Deferrals under Section 3, hereof.
(i) "Valuation Date" shall mean the last business day of each
calendar year and any other day upon which a Fund makes a
valuation of the Deferral Account.
1.2 Plurals and Gender. Where appearing in this Agreement the
singular shall include the plural and the masculine shall include
the feminine, and vice versa, unless the context clearly
indicates a different meaning.
1.3 Directors and Trustees. Where appearing in this Agreement,
"Director" shall also refer the "Trustee" and "General Partner"
and "Board of Directors" shall also refer to "Board of Trustees"
and "General Partners".
1.4 Headings. The headings and sub,,headings in this Agreement are
inserted for the convenience of reference only and are to be
ignored in any construction of the provisions hereof.
2. PERIOD DURING WHICH COMPENSATION DEFERRALS ARE PERMITTED
2.1 Commencement of Compensation Deferrals. The Director may elect,
on a form provided by, and submitted to, the President or Secretary of
the Funds, to commence Compensation Deferrals under Section 3 hereof
for the period beginning on the later of (i) the date this Agreement is
executed or (ii) the date such form is submitted to the President or
Secretary of the Funds.
2.2 Termination of Deferrals. The Director shall not be eligible to
make Compensation Deferrals with respect to a Fund or Funds after the
earliest of the following dates:
(a) The date on which he ceases to serve as a Director of that
Fund or Funds; or
(b) The effective date of the termination of this Agreement.
3. COMPENSATION DEFERRALS
3.1 Compensation Deferral Elections.
(a) On or prior to the first day of any Deferral Year, the
Director may elect, on the form described in Section 2.1
hereof, to defer the receipt of all or a portion of his
Compensation for such Deferral Year. Such writing shall
set forth the amount of such Compensation Deferral (in
whole percentage amounts). Such election shall continue in
effect for all subsequent Deferral Years unless it is
canceled or modified as provided below.
(b) Compensation Deferrals shall be withheld from each payment of
Compensation by the Funds to the Director based upon the
percentage Amount elected by the Director under Section
3.1(a) hereof.
(c) The Director may cancel or modify the amount of his Compensation
Deferrals on a prospective basis by submitting to the
President or Secretary of the Fund a revised Compensation
Deferral election form. Such change will be effective as of
the first day of the Deferral Year following the date such
revision is submitted to the President or Secretary of the
Fund.
3.2 Valuation of Deferral Account.
(a) The Funds shall establish a bookkeeping Deferral Account to
which will be credited an amount equal to the Director's
Compensation Deferrals under this Agreement. Compensation
Deferrals shall be allocated to the Deferral Account on the
first business day following the date such Compensation
Deferrals are withheld from the Director's Compensation.
As of the date of this Agreement, the Deferral Account also
shall be credited with the amount credited to the Director
under each other outstanding elective deferred compensation
agreement entered into by and between the Fund and the
Director which is superseded by the Agreement pursuant to
Section 6.11 hereof. The Deferral Account shall be debited
to reflect any distributions from such Account. Such
debits shall be allocated to the Deferral Account as of the
date such distributions are made.
(b) As of each Valuation Date, income, gain and loss equivalents
(determined as if the Deferral Account is invested in the
manner set forth under Section 3.3, below) attributable to
the period following the next preceding Valuation Date
shall be credited to and/or deducted from the Director's
Deferral Account.
3.3 Investment of Deferral Account Balance.
(a) (1) The Director may select, from various options made
available by the Funds, the investment media in which all
or part of his Deferral Account shall be deemed to be
invested.
(2) The Director shall make an investment designation on a form provided by
the President or Secretary of the Fund which shall remain
effective until another valid direction has been made by
the Director as herein provided. The Director may amend
his investment designation as of the end of each calendar
quarter by giving written direction to the President or
Secretary of the Fund at least [30] days prior to the end
of such calendar quarter. A timely change to a Director's
investment designation shall become effective on the first
day of the calendar quarter following receipt by the
President of the Fund.
(3) The investment media deemed to be made available to the Director, and
any limitation on the maximum or minimum percentages of the
Director's Deferral Account that may be invested any
particular medium, shall be the same as from time,,to,,time
communicated to the Director by the President or Secretary
of the Fund.
(b) Except as provided below, the Director's Deferral Account shall be
deemed to be invested in accordance with his investment
designations, provided such designations conform to the
provisions of the Section. If -
(1) the Director does not furnish the President of the Fund with written
investment instructions,
(2) the written investment instructions from the Director are unclear, or
(3) less than all of the Director's Deferral Account is covered by such
written investment instructions,
then the Director's Deferral Account shall be deemed to be
invested in the
_________________________________ Fund made available for
deemed investment hereunder until such time as the Director
shall provide the President of the Fund with complete
investment instructions. Notwithstanding the above, the
Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may disregard
the Director's election and determine that all Compensation
Deferrals shall be deemed to be invested in the
________________________________ Fund.
The Fund shall provide an annual statement to the Director
showing such information as is appropriate, including the
aggregate amount in the Deferral Account, as of a
reasonably current date.
4. DISTRIBUTIONS FROM DEFERRAL ACCOUNT.
4.1 In General. Distributions from the Director's Deferral Account
shall be paid in cash, in generally equal annual installments
over a period of five (5) years beginning on the earlier to occur
of (a) the Director attaining the age of 72 years; or (b) the
date the Director actually retires or becomes disabled, except
that the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may
accelerate or extend the distribution of such Deferral Account.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of any Fund or the distribution of all
or substantially all of any Fund's assets and property relating
to one or more series of its shares to the shareholders of such
series (for this purpose a sale, conveyance or transfer of the
Fund's assets to a trust, partnership, association or corporation
in exchange for cash, shares or other securities with the
transfer being made subject to, or with the assumption by the
transferee of, the liabilities of the Fund shall not be deemed a
termination of the Fund or such a distribution), all unpaid
amounts in the Deferral Account as of the effective date thereof
shall be paid in a lump sum on such effective date.
4.2 Death Prior to Complete Distribution of Deferral Account. Upon
the death of the
Director prior to the commencement of the distribution of the
amounts credited to his Deferral Account, the balance of such
Account shall be distributed to his Beneficiary in a lump sum as
soon as practicable after the Director's death. In the event of
the death of the Director after the commencement of such
distribution, but prior to the complete distribution of his
Deferral Account, the balance of the amounts credited to his
Deferral Account shall be distributed to his Beneficiary over the
remaining period during which such amounts were distributable to
the Director under Section 4.1 hereof. Notwithstanding the
above, the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may
accelerate or extend the distribution of the Deferral Account.
4.3 Designation of Beneficiary. For purposes of Section 4.2 hereof, the
Director's Beneficiary shall be the person or persons so
designated by the Director in a written instrument submitted to
the President or Secretary of the Fund. In the event the
Director fails to properly designate a Beneficiary, his
Beneficiary shall be the person or persons in the first of the
following classes of successive preference Beneficiaries
surviving at the death of the Director: the Director's (1)
surviving spouse or (2) estate.
4.4 Payments Due Missing Persons. The Funds shall make a reasonable effort
to locate all persons entitled to benefits under this Agreement.
However, notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the
contrary, if, after a period of five (5) years from the date such
benefit shall be due, any such persons entitled to benefits have
not been located, their rights under this Agreement shall stand
suspended. Before this provision becomes operative, the Fund
shall send a certified letter to all such persons to their last
known address advising them that their benefits under this
Agreement shall be suspended. Any such suspended amounts shall
be held by the Fund for a period of three (3) additional years
(or a total of eight (8) years from the time the benefits first
become payable) and thereafter, if unclaimed, such amounts shall
be forfeited.
5. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION
5.1 Amendments
(a) The Funds and the Director may, by a written instrument signed by both
such parties, amend this Agreement at any time and in any
manner provided that no such amendment may accelerate the
distribution from the Director's Deferral Account of
amounts previously deferred.
(b) The Funds reserve the right to amend, in whole or in part, and in any
manner, any or all of the provisions of this Agreement by
action of their respective Boards of Directors for the
purposes of complying with any provision of the Code or any
other technical or legal requirements, provided that:
(1) No such amendment shall make it possible for any part of the Director's
Deferral Account to be used for, or diverted to, purposes
other than for the exclusive benefit of the Director or his
Beneficiaries, except to the extent otherwise provided in
this Agreement; and
(2) No such amendment may reduce the amount of the Director's Deferral
Account as of the effective date of such amendment.
5.2 Termination. The Director and the Funds may, by written instrument
signed by all such parties, terminate this Agreement at any
time. The rights of the Director to his Deferral Account shall
become payable as of the Valuation Date next following the
effective date of the termination of this Agreement.
6. MISCELLANEOUS
6.1 Rights of Creditors.
(a) This Agreement is unfunded and is not creating a Trust.
Neither the Director not any other persons shall have any
interest in any specific asset or assets of any Fund by
reason of any Deferral Account hereunder, nor any rights to
receive distribution of his Deferral Account except, and as
to the extent, expressly provided hereunder. The Funds
shall not be required to purchase, hold or dispose of any
investments pursuant to this Agreement; however, if in
order to cover its obligation hereunder a Fund elects to
purchase any investments the same shall continue for all
purposes to be a part of the general assets and property
that Fund, subject to the claims of its general creditors
and no person other than that Fund shall be virtue of the
provisions of this Agreement have any interest in such
assets other than an interest as a general creditor.
(b) The rights of the Director and the Beneficiaries to the
amounts held in the
Deferral Account are unsecured and shall be subject to the
claims of creditors of the Funds. With respect to the
payment of amounts held under the Deferral Account, the
Director and his Beneficiaries have the status of unsecured
creditors of the Funds. This Agreement is executed on
behalf of the Funds by an officer of the Fund as such and
not individually. Any obligation of the Fund hereunder
shall be an unsecured obligation of the Fund and not of any
other person.
6.2 Agents. The Funds may employ agents and provide for such
clerical, legal, actuarial, accounting, advisory or other
services as they deem necessary to perform their duties under
this Agreement. The Funds shall bear the cost of such services
and all other expenses incurred in connection with the
administration of this Agreement.
6.3 Liability and Indemnification. Except for its own gross
negligence, willful misconduct or willful breach of the terms of
this Agreement, the Funds shall be indemnified and held harmless
by the Director against liability or losses occurring be reason
of any act or omission of the Funds or any other person.
6.4 Incapacity. If the Funds shall receive evidence satisfactory to
them that the Director or any Beneficiary entitled to receive any
benefit under the Agreement is, at the time when such benefit
becomes payable, a minor, or is physically or mentally
incompetent to receive such benefit and to give a valid release
therefor, and that another person or an institution is then
maintaining or has custody of the Director or Beneficiary and
that no guardian, committee or other representative of the estate
of the Director or Beneficiary shall have been duly appointed,
the Funds may make payment of such benefit otherwise payable to
the Director or Beneficiary to such other person or institution,
including a custodian under a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, or
corresponding legislation (who shall be an adult, a guardian of
the minor or a trust company), and the release of such other
person or institution shall be a valid and complete discharge for
the payment of such benefit.
6.5 Cooperation of Parties. All parties to this Agreement and any
person claiming any interest hereunder agree to perform any and
all acts and execute any and all documents and papers which are
necessary or desirable for carrying out this Agreement or any of
its provisions.
6.6 Governing Law. This Agreement is made and entered into in the
State of New York and all matters concerning its validity,
construction and administration shall be governed by the laws of
the State of New York.
6.7 No guarantee of Directorship. Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall be construed as a contract or guarantee of the
right of the Director to be, or remain as, a director of any Fund
or to receive any, or any particular rate of, Compensation from
any Fund.
6.8 Counsel. The Funds may consult with legal counsel with respect
to the meaning or construction of the Agreement, their respective
obligations or duties hereunder or with respect to any action or
proceeding or any question of law, and they shall be fully
protected with respect to any action taken or omitted by it in
good faith pursuant to the advice of legal counsel.
6.9 Spendthrift Provision. The Director's and Beneficiaries' interests in
the Deferral Account may not be anticipated, sold, encumbered,
pledged, mortgaged, charged, transferred, alienated, assigned nor
become subject to execution, garnishment or attachment and any
attempt to do so by any person shall render the Deferral Amount
immediately forfeitable.
6.10 Notices. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered
personally or mailed by United States registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by nationally
recognized overnight delivery service providing for a signed
return receipt, addressed to the Director at the home address set
forth in the Funds' records and to the Funds at the address set
forth on the first page of this Agreement, provided that all
notices to the Fund shall be directed to the attention of the
President or Secretary of the Fund or to such other address as
either party may have furnished to the other in writing in
accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address
shall be effective only upon receipt.
6.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire
understanding between the Funds and the Director with respect to
the payment of non,,qualified elective deferred compensation by
the Funds to the Director. Effective as of the date hereof, this
Agreement replaces, and supersedes, all other non,,qualified
elective deferred compensation agreements by and between the
Director and the Funds.
6.12 Interpretation of Agreement. Interpretations of, and
determinations related to, this Agreement made by the Funds in
good faith, including any determinations of the amounts of the
Deferral Account, shall be conclusive and binding upon all
parties; and the Fund shall not incur any liability to the
Director for any such interpretation or determination so made or
for any other action taken by it in connection with this
Agreement in good faith.
6.13 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon,
and shall inure to the benefit of, the Funds and their respective
successors and assigns and to the Director and his or her heirs,
executors, administrators and personal representatives.
6.14 Severability. In the event any one or more provisions of this
Agreement are held to be invalid or unenforceable, such
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of the other provisions hereof and such other
provisions shall remain in full force and effect unaffected by
such invalidity or unenforceability.
6.15 Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
6.16 Disclaimer of Shareholder and Director Liability. The Director
understands and agrees that the obligation of the Funds under
this Agreement are not binding upon any Director, Trustee,
General Partner or Shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind
only the Fund and the Fund's property. If any of the Funds is a
Massachusetts business trust, the Director represents that he or
she has notice of the provisions of such Fund's or Funds'
Declaration of Trust disclaiming shareholder liability for acts
or obligations of the Trust.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.
Quest/Rochester Oppenheimer Funds
Limited Term New York Municipal Fund (Rochester Portfolio Series)
Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund (Bond Fund Series)
Oppenheimer MidCap Fund
Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund (Oppenheimer Quest for Value Funds)
Oppenheimer Quest Capital Value Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund (Oppenheimer Quest for Value Funds)
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund (Oppenheimer Quest for Value Funds)
Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc.
Rochester Fund Municipals
By: ______________________________________
- --------------------------------------
Andrew J. Donohue, Secretary Director
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
Witness Witness
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
(Print Name) (Print Name)
<PAGE>
OPPENHEIMER FUNDS
DEFERRED COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION FORM
TO: President or Secretary of the management investment companies
listed on Schedule A attached hereto
FROM:
[Name of Director]
DATE: ___________________________
With respect to the Deferred Compensation Agreement (the "Agreement")
dated as of ____________________ by and between the undersigned and the
management investment companies listed on Schedule A attached hereto I hereby
make the following beneficiary designations:
I. Primary Beneficiary
I hereby appoint the following as my Primary Beneficiary(ies) to
receive at my death the amounts held in my Deferral Account under the
Agreement. In the event I am survived by more than one Primary Beneficiary,
such Primary Beneficiaries shall share equally in such amounts unless I
indicate otherwise on an attachment to this form:
Name Relationship
Address
City State Zip
II. Secondary Beneficiary
In the event I am not survived by any Primary Beneficiary, I hereby
appoint the following as Secondary Beneficiary(ies) to receive death benefits
under the Agreement. In the event I am survived by more than one Secondary
Beneficiary, such Secondary Beneficiaries shall share equally unless I
indicate otherwise on an attachment to this form:
Name Relationship
Address
City State Zip
I understand that I may revoke or amend the above designations at any
time. I further understand that if I am not survived by any Primary or
Secondary Beneficiary, my Beneficiary shall be as set forth under the
Agreement.
WITNESS: DIRECTOR:
WITNESS: RECEIVED BY:
Date: _______________
<PAGE>
OPPENHEIMER FUNDS
DEFERRED COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
DEFERRAL ELECTION FORM
TO: President or Secretary of the registered management investment
companies listed on Schedule A attached hereto (collectively, the
"Funds")
FROM:
[Name of Director]
DATE: ___________________________
With respect to the Deferred Compensation Agreement (the "Agreement")
dated as of ____________________ by and between the undersigned and the
Funds, I hereby make the following election:
Deferral of Compensation
Starting with ____________________________________ and for each year
thereafter (unless subsequently amended by way of a new election form), I
hereby elect that _____________________ percent (_____ %) of my Compensation
from the Funds (as defined under the Agreement) be reduced and that the Funds
establish a bookkeeping account credited with amounts equal to the amount so
reduced (the "Deferral Account"). The Deferral Account shall be further
credited with income equivalents as provided under the Agreement.
I understand that the amounts held in the Deferral Account shall remain
the general assets of the Funds and that, with respect to the payment of such
amounts, I am merely a general creditor of the Funds. I may not sell,
encumber, pledge, assign or otherwise alienate the amounts held under the
Deferral Account.
I hereby agree that the terms of the Agreement are incorporated herein
and are made a part hereof. Dated as of the day and year first above written.
WITNESS: DIRECTOR:
WITNESS: RECEIVED BY:
Date: _________________
<PAGE>
DEFERRED COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
INVESTMENT DIRECTION FORM
TO: President or Secretary of the management investment companies
listed on Schedule A attached hereto
FROM:
[Name of Director]
DATE: ___________________________
With respect to the Deferred Compensation Agreement (the "Agreement")
dated as of ____________________ by and between the undersigned and the
management investment companies listed on Schedule A attached hereto I hereby
elect that my Deferral Account under the Agreement be considered to be
invested as follows (in multiples of [25%]):
_______________________________ Fund _______________%
_______________________________ Fund _______________%
_______________________________ Fund _______________%
_______________________________ Fund _______________%
I acknowledge that I may amend this Investment Agreement in the manner,
and at such time, as permitted under the Agreement. Furthermore, I
acknowledge that, pursuant to Section 3.3(b) of the Agreement, the Funds have
reserved the right to disregard the elections made above and to consider my
Deferral Account to be deemed to be invested in the
____________________________ Fund.
WITNESS: DIRECTOR:
WITNESS: RECEIVED BY:
Date: _______________
RETIREMENT PLAN FOR
NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEES
OR DIRECTORS
The investment companies referred to on Schedule A, as such
schedule may be amended from time to time, (the "Adopting Funds") have
adopted this Retirement Plan for Non-Interested Trustees and Directors (the
"Plan"). OppenheimerFunds Inc. acts as manager or adviser ("OFI") and
OppenheimerFunds Distributor Inc. ("OFDI") acts as distributor, for the
Adopting Funds.
The Plan has been established for the benefit of
(i) the Trustees of an Adopting Fund if the Adopting Fund is organized as a
Massachusetts business trust, (ii) the Directors of an Adopting Fund if the
Adopting Fund is organized as a corporation, and (iii) the "directors" (as
such term is defined in Section 2(a)(12) of the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended [the "Act"]) of an Adopting Fund if the Adopting Fund is any
other type of organization, who in any such case are not interested persons
(as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Act) of OFI or OFDI.
Such Trustees, Directors or "directors" are referred to as "Independent Board
Members" regardless of the form of business organization of the Adopting
Funds. "Board" shall mean, with respect to any Adopting Fund, the Board of
Directors or Trustees or "directors," (as such term is defined in Section
2(a)(12) of the Act), of such Adopting Fund.
1. ELIGIBILITY
Each Independent Board Member who serves as a director on the
date hereof or hereafter commences service as a director and who, at the time
of Retirement (as defined in paragraph 6(e)), has served as an Independent
Board Member ("Eligible Service") for at least seven years, or such lesser
period as may be approved by the board, will be an "Eligible Board Member",
and will be eligible to receive a Benefit(as defined in paragraph 6(f)) from
each Adopting Fund commencing on the last day of the calendar month in which
such Eligible Board Member's seventieth birthday occurs (such day is referred
to as such Eligible Board Member's "Eligible Retirement Date"). An
Independent Board Member's period of Eligible Service commences on the date
of election to the board of directors or trustees, as the case may be, as an
Independent Board Member (the "Board") of any Adopting Fund or of any other
registered investment company as to which OFI acts as manager or adviser.
2. RETIREMENT DATE; AMOUNT OF BENEFIT
a. Retirement. Each Independent Board Member other than
an Independent Board member serving on the date (the "Original Adoption
Date") of the original adoption of this Plan by the Board of any Adopting
Fund (an "Adopting Board Member"), will retire not later than the last day of
the calendar month in which such Eligible Board Member's seventy-fifth
birthday occurs; provided, however, that the Board of any Adopting Fund may,
to avoid the simultaneous retirement of more than one of the Independent
Board Members or for any other appropriate reason, waive the obligation of
any Independent Board Member to retire on such date and may establish a later
date as his or her "Eligible Retirement Date." Any establishment of an
Eligible Retirement Date may be further extended by the Board.
The "Base Retirement Date" for each Eligible Board Member
shall be the last day of the calendar month in which such Eligible Board
Member retires. Each retired Independent Board Member is referred to as a
"Retired Board Member".
b. Regular Retirement Benefit. Upon Retirement, each
Eligible Board Member will receive, commencing as of the later of such
Eligible Board Member's Eligible Retirement Date or Base Retirement Date, for
the remainder of the Eligible Board Member's life, a retirement benefit (the
"Regular Benefit") paid at an annual rate equal to 40% of the average total
compensation, inclusive of compensation received for attendance at meetings,
paid to such Eligible Board Member as an Independent Board Member in each of
the five highest years of compensation for Eligible Service ("Average
Compensation"), plus an additional 0.4166666666667% of such Average
Compensation for each full month of Eligible Service in excess of seven
years, up to a maximum of 80% of such Average Compensation for fifteen or
more years of Eligible Service.
c. Election of Alternate Payment of Benefit. Each
Independent Board Member shall have the option, exercisable within ninety
days after the later of the Original Adoption Date or the first date of such
Eligible Board Member's election as an Independent Board Member, to elect to
receive, subject to becoming an Eligible Board Member, a retirement benefit
(the "Alternate Benefit") based upon the combined life expectancy of such
Eligible Board Member and his or her spouse on the date of election by such
Eligible Board Member (rather than solely upon such Eligible Board Member's
own life, as shall be the case unless such Eligible Board Member shall
otherwise elect as provided in this Section 2(c)), commencing on the later of
such Eligible Board Member's Base Retirement Date and payable through the
remainder of the later of the lives of such Eligible Board Member and
spouse. Each Eligible Board Member shall have the option, exercisable
within ninety days before such Eligible Board Member's Base Retirement Date,
to change such Eligible Board Member's previous election, and to choose
either the Regular Benefit or the Alternate Benefit. In the event of the
death of an Eligible Board Member who has chosen the Alternate Benefit prior
to such Eligible Board Member's Retirement, his or her spouse shall be
entitled to a retirement benefit, commencing upon such death, which shall be
the Actuarial Equivalent of the benefit such spouse would have received had
such Eligible Board Member died on his or her Eligible Retirement Date. The
Alternate Benefit shall be the actuarial equivalent of the Regular Benefit
provided under paragraph 2(b). Actuarial equivalence for these purposes
shall be computed by the Board with the advice of an enrolled actuary (as
defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
["ERISA"]).
d. Early Payment of Benefit. At the discretion of the
Board, an Eligible Board Member may receive, commencing on a date earlier
than such Eligible Board Member's Eligible Retirement Date that is fixed by
the Board in its sole discretion upon a showing of good cause by the Eligible
Board Member, a retirement benefit (the "Early Benefit") for the remainder of
such Eligible Board Member's life or based upon the combined life expectancy
of such Eligible Board Member and his or her spouse (rather than solely upon
such Eligible Board Member's own life) which is the actuarial equivalent of
the Regular Benefit or Alternate Benefit elected by such Eligible Board
Member pursuant to Section 2(c). Actuarial equivalence for these purposes
shall be computed by the Board with the advice of an Enrolled Actuary
selected by the Board. Good cause for these purposes may include (but is not
limited to) the permanent disability of the Eligible Board Member, and any
substantial medical or other similar expenses of the Eligible Board Member.
3. TIME OF PAYMENT
The Benefit to each Eligible Board Member will, except as
provided in Section 2(d) hereof, commence on the later of such Eligible Board
Member's Base Retirement Date or Eligible Retirement Date and will be paid
each year in quarterly installments that are as nearly equal as possible, on
the first day of each calendar quarter.
4. PAYMENT OF BENEFIT; ALLOCATION OF COSTS
The Adopting Funds are responsible for the payment of the
Benefits, as well as all expenses of administration of the Plan, including
without limitation all accounting and legal fees and expenses and fees and
expenses of any Enrolled Actuary. The obligations of the Adopting Funds to
pay such benefits and expenses will not be secured or funded in any manner,
and such obligations will not have any preference over the lawful claims of
the Adopting Funds' creditors and stockholders, shareholders beneficiaries or
limited partners, as the case may be. To the extent that the Adopting Funds
consist of one or more separate portfolios, such costs and expenses will be
allocated among such portfolios in the proportion that compensation of
Independent Board Members is allocated among such portfolios.
5. ADMINISTRATION
a. Administration. Any question involving entitlement
to payments under or the administration of the Plan will be referred to the
Independent Board Members of each of the Adopting Funds, who will make all
interpretations and determinations necessary or desirable for the Plan's
administration (such interpretations and determinations will be final and
conclusive), adopt, amend or repeal by-laws or other regulations, relating to
the administration of the Plan and cause such records to be kept as may be
necessary for the administration of the Plan.
6. MISCELLANEOUS AND TRANSITION PROVISIONS
a. Rights Not Assignable. The right to receive any
payment under the Plan is not transferable or assignable. Except as
otherwise provided herein with respect to the Alternate Benefit, the Plan
shall not create any benefit, cause of action, right of sale, transfer,
assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or other such right in any spouse or heirs
or the estate of any Eligible Board Member or Retired Board Member.
b. Amendment, etc. The Board of each of the Adopting
Funds, with the concurrence of the Independent Board Members of such Fund,
may at any time amend or terminate the Plan, or waive any provision of the
Plan, with respect to that Fund; provided that except as otherwise provided
herein, no amendment, termination or waiver will impair the rights of an
Eligible Board Member to receive upon Retirement the payments which would
have been made to such Board Member had there been no such amendment,
termination or waiver (based upon such Board Member's Eligible Service to the
date of such amendment, termination or waiver) or the rights of a Retired
Board Member to receive any Benefit due under the Plan, without the consent
of such Eligible Board Member or Retired Board Member, as the case may be.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the Board of an Adopting Fund,
with the concurrence of the Independent Board Members of such Fund, may at
any time: (i) amend or terminate the Plan with respect to that Fund to comply
with any applicable provision of law or any rule or regulation adopted, or
proposed to be adopted, by any governmental agency or any decision of any
court or administrative agency; (ii) change any assumptions used to determine
what benefit may be an Actuarial Equivalent, or (iii) terminate the Plan of
an Adopting Fund (a "Liquidated Adopting Fund") which adopts a plan of
liquidation (the "Liquidation Plan") or an Adopting Fund (an "Acquired
Adopting Fund") substantially all the assets of which are acquired by an
entity which is itself an Adopting Fund (the "Acquiring Adopting Fund")
pursuant to a plan of reorganization between the Acquired Adopting Fund and
the Acquiring Adopting Fund (the "Reorganization Plan"), such termination to
be deemed approved upon adoption of the Liquidation Plan or Reorganization
Plan, as the case may be, and to be effective upon the effectiveness of the
liquidation or reorganization contemplated thereby without liability or
further obligation for any Benefits accrued or otherwise payable to an
Independent Board Member by the Liquidated Adopting Fund or Acquired Adopting
Fund, as the case may be.
c. Waiver. An Eligible Board Member or Retired Board
Member may elect to waive receipt of his or her Benefit by so advising the
Board.
d. No Right to Reelection. Nothing in the Plan will
create any obligation on the part of the Board to nominate any Independent
Board Member for reelection.
e. "Retirement" Defined. The term "Retirement" includes
any termination of service of an Eligible Board Member except any termination
which the Committee determines to have resulted from the Eligible Board
Member's wilful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Independent
Board Member.
f. "Benefit" Defined. The term "Benefit" shall mean,
with respect to an Eligible Board Member, (i) the Regular Benefit, unless the
Alternate Benefit has been elected or the Early Benefit granted, (ii) the
Alternate Benefit, if elected by such Eligible Board Member within the period
set forth in Section 3(c), unless the Early Benefit has been granted, or
(iii) the Early Benefit, if granted by the Board.
g. Vacancies. Although the Board will retain the right
to increase or decrease its size, it shall be the general policy of the Board
to replace each Retired Board Member by selecting a new Independent Board
Member from candidates recommended by the remaining Independent Board Members.
h. Consulting. Each Retired Board Member may render
such services for the Adopting Funds, for such compensation, as may be agreed
upon from time to time by such Retired Board Member and the Board of the
Adopting Funds.
i. Transition Provisions. The Plan will be effective
for all Eligible Board Members who have dates of Retirement occurring on or
after the Adoption Date. Periods of Eligible Service shall include periods
commencing prior to such date.
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
LIST ALL QUEST FUND & ROCHESTER FUNDS
FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of September __, 1998 between each investment company
identified on Appendix A attached hereto (each hereinafter referred to as the
"Fund") individually and severally, and not jointly and severally, and
Citibank, N.A. ("Citibank").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to appoint Citibank as Foreign Custody
Manager on the terms and conditions contained herein;
WHEREAS, Citibank desires to serve as a Foreign Custody Manager and
perform the duties set forth herein on the terms and conditions contained
herein;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter
contained in this Agreement, the Fund and Citibank hereby agrees as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases,
unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings:
1. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise
defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the
Rule.
2. "Board" shall mean the board of directors or board of trustees,
as the case may be, of the Fund.
3. "Eligible Foreign Custodian" shall have the meaning provided in
the Rule.
4. "Monitoring System" shall mean a system established by Citibank
to fulfill the Responsibilities specified in clauses (d) and (e) of Article
III of this Agreement.
5. "Qualified Foreign Bank" shall have the meaning provided in the
Rule.
6. "Responsibilities" shall mean the responsibilities delegated to
Citibank as a Foreign Custody Manager with respect to each Specified Country
and each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by Citibank, as such
responsibilities are more fully described in Article III of this Agreement.
7. "Rule" shall mean Rule 17f-5 under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, as such Rule became effective on June 16, 1997.
8. "Securities Depository" shall mean any securities depository or
clearing agency within the meaning of Section (a)(1)(ii) or (a)(1)(iii) of
the Rule.
9. "Specified Country" shall mean each country listed on Schedule I
attached hereto (as amended from time to time) and each country, other than
the United States, constituting the primary market for a security with
respect to which the Fund has given settlement instructions to Citibank, N.A.
as custodian (the "Custodian") under its Custody Agreement with the Fund.
ARTICLE II
CITIBANK AS A FOREIGN CUSTODY MANAGER
1. The Fund on behalf of its Board hereby delegates to Citibank with
respect to each Specified Country the Responsibilities (the "Delegation").
2. Citibank accepts the Delegation and agrees in performing the
Responsibilities as a Foreign Custody Manager to exercise reasonable care,
prudence and diligence such as a bailee for hire having responsibility for
the safekeeping of the Fund's assets would exercise.
3. Citibank shall provide to the Fund (i) notice promptly after the
placement of assets of the Fund with a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian
selected by Citibank within a Specified Country, (ii) at such times as the
Board deems reasonable and appropriate based on the circumstances of the
Fund's foreign custody arrangements (but not less often than quarterly)
written reports notifying the Board of any material change in the
arrangements (including, in the case of Qualified Foreign Banks, any material
change in any contract governing such arrangements and in the case of
Securities Depositories, any material change in the established practices or
procedures of such Securities Depositories) with respect to assets of the
Fund with any such Eligible Foreign Custodian, and (iii) not less often than
annually a report summarizing the material custodial risks known to Citibank
which accompany such arrangements.
ARTICLE III
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, Citibank shall with
respect to each Specified Country select an Eligible Foreign Custodian. In
connection therewith, Citibank shall: (a) determine that assets of the Fund
held by such Eligible Foreign Custodian will be subject to reasonable care,
based on the standards applicable to custodians in the relevant market in
which such Eligible Foreign Custodian operates, after considering all factors
relevant to the safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation,
those contained in Section (c)(1) of the Rule; (b) determine that the Fund's
foreign custody arrangements with each Qualified Foreign Bank are governed by
a written contract, with the Custodian (or, in the case of a Securities
Depository, by such a contract, by the rules or established practices or
procedures of the Securities Depository, or by any combination of the
foregoing) which will provide reasonable care for the Fund's assets based on
the standards specified in paragraph (c)(1) of the Rule; (c) determine that
each contract with a Qualified Foreign Bank shall include the provisions
specified in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A) through (F) of the Rule or,
alternatively, in lieu of any or all of such (c)(2)(i)(A) through (F)
provisions, such other provisions as Citibank determines will provide, in
their entirety, the same or a greater level of care and protection for the
assets of the Fund as such specified provisions; (d) monitor pursuant to the
Monitoring System the appropriateness of maintaining the assets of the Fund
with a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of
the Rule including in the case of a Qualified Foreign Bank, any material
change in the contract governing such arrangement and in the case of a
Securities Depository, any material change in the established practices or
procedures of such Securities Depository; and (3) promptly advise the Fund
whenever an arrangement (including, in the case of a Qualified Foreign Bank,
any material change in the contract governing such arrangement and in the
case of a Securities Depository, any material change in the established
practices or procedures of such Securities Depository) described in preceding
clause (d) no longer meets the requirements of the Rule. Citibank, as
Foreign Custody Manger, will make the determination that it is appropriate to
maintain assets in each Eligible Foreign Custodian and will exercise
reasonable care in the process.
2. (a) For purposes of Clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 1, with
respect to Securities Depositories, it is understood that to the extent
permitted to a Foreign Custody Manager under the Rule, such determination may
be made on the basis of, and the obligation of Citibank hereunder to
investigate any such Securities Depository shall be limited to, obtaining
publicly available information with respect to each such Securities
Depository, absent actual knowledge by Citibank to the contrary.
(b) For purposes of clause (d) of preceding Section 1 of this
Article, Citibank's determination of appropriateness shall not include, nor
be deemed to include, any evaluation of Country Risks associated with
investment in a particular country. For purposes hereof, "Country Risks"
shall mean systemic risks of holding assets in a particular country
including, but no limited to, (a) the necessity to use any Securities
Depository the use of which is mandatory by law or regulation or because
securities cannot be withdrawn from such Securities Depository, or because
maintaining securities outside the Securities Depository is not consistent
with universal custodial practices in the relevant market, (b) such country's
financial infrastructure, (c) such country's prevailing custody and
settlement practices, (d) nationalization, expropriation or other
governmental actions, (e) regulation of the banking or securities industry,
(f) currency controls, restrictions, devaluations or fluctuations, and (g)
market conditions which affect the orderly execution of securities
transactions or affect the value of securities.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS
1. The Fund hereby represents that: (a) this Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Fund, constitutes a valid and
legally binding obligation of the Fund enforceable in accordance with its
terms, and no statute, regulation, rule, order, judgment or contract binding
on the Fund prohibits the Fund's execution or performance of this Agreement;
(b) this Agreement has been approved and ratified by the Board at a meeting
duly called and at which a quorum was at all times present; and (c) the Board
or its investment advisor has considered the Country Risks associated with
investment in each Specified Country and will have considered such risks
prior to any settlement instructions being given to the Custodian with
respect to any other Specified Country.
2. Citibank hereby represents that (a) Citibank is duly organized
and existing under the laws of the State of New York, with full power to
carry on its businesses as now conducted, and to enter into this Agreement
and to perform its obligations hereunder; (b) this Agreement been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by Citibank, constitutes a valid and
legally binding obligation of Citibank enforceable in accordance with its
terms, and no statue, regulation, rule, order, judgment or contract binding
on Citibank prohibits Citibank's execution or performance of this Agreement;
and (c) Citibank has established and will maintain the Monitoring System.
ARTICLE V
CONCERNING CITIBANK
1. Citibank shall not be liable for any costs, expenses, damages,
liabilities or claims, including attorneys' and accountants' fees, sustained
or incurred by, or asserted against, the Fund except to the extent the same
arises out of the failure of Citibank to exercise the care, prudence and
diligence required by Section 2 of Article II hereof. In no event shall
Citibank be liable to the Fund, the Board, or any third party for special,
indirect or consequential damages, or for lost profits or loss of business,
arising in connection with this Agreement. Anything contained herein to the
contrary notwithstanding, nothing contained herein shall affect or alter the
duties and responsibilities of Citibank or the Fund under any other agreement
between Citibank and the Fund, including without limitation, the Custody
Agreement or any Securities Lending Agreement.
2. The Fund agrees to indemnify Citibank and holds it harmless from
and against any and all costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims,
including attorneys' and accountants' fees, sustained or incurred by, or
asserted against, Citibank by reason or as a result of any action or
inaction, or arising out of Citibank's performance hereunder, provided that
the Fund shall not indemnify Citibank to the extent any such costs, expenses,
damages, liabilities or claims arises out of Citibank's failure to exercise
the reasonable care, prudence and diligence required by Section 2 of Article
II hereof.
3. Citibank shall only such duties as are expressly set forth
herein. In no event shall Citibank be liable for any Country Risks
associated with investments in a particular country.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
1. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required
by this Agreement to be given to Citibank, shall be sufficiently given if
received by it at its offices at 111 Wall Street, New York, New York 10043,
or at such place as Citibank may from time to time designate in writing.
2. Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required
by this Agreement to be given to the Fund shall be sufficiently given if
received by it at its offices at c/o OppenheimerFunds, Inc. Two World Trade
Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048-0203, Attention: General
Counsel, or at such other place as the Fund may from time to time designate
in writing.
3. In case any provisions in or obligation under this Agreement
shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way
be affected thereby. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any
manner except by a written agreement executed by both parties. This
Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties hereto, and
their respective successors and assigns; provided however, that this
Agreement shall not be assignable by either party without the written consent
of the other.
4. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the
substantive laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of
laws principles thereof. The Fund and Citibank hereby consent to the
jurisdiction of a state or federal court situated in New York City, New York
in connection with any dispute arising hereunder. The Fund hereby
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any
objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any
such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that such proceeding
brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Fund
and Citibank each hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights to trial by
jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement.
5. The parties hereto agree that in performing hereunder, Citibank
is acting solely on behalf of the Fund and no contractual or service
relationship shall be deemed to be established hereby between Citibank and
any other person.
6. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall,
together, constitute only one instrument.
7. This Agreement shall terminate simultaneously with the
termination of the Custody Agreement between the Fund and the Custodian, and
may otherwise be terminated by either party giving to the other party a
notice in writing specifying the date of such termination, which shall be not
less than ninety (90) days after the date of such notice.
8. In consideration of the services provided by Citibank hereunder,
the Fund shall pay to Citibank such compensation and out-of-pocket expenses
as may be agreed upon from time to time.
9. For each Fund organized as a Massachusetts trust, a copy of its
Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. Notice is hereby given that each such instrument is executed
on behalf of the trustees of each such Fund and not individually, and that
the obligations of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the trustees or
shareholders individually but are binding only upon the respective Fund. The
parties expressly agree that Citibank and its assignees and affiliates shall
look solely to the respective Fund's assets and property with respect to
enforcement of any claim.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund and Citibank have caused this Agreement to
be executed by their respective officers, thereunto duly authorized, as of
this date first above written.
/s/ Andrew J. Donohue
By:________________________________
Andrew J. Donohue, Secretary
on behalf of each Fund identified on
Appendix A attached hereto
individually and
severally, and not jointly and severally
CITIBANK, N.A.
/s/ Gene Fauquier
By:__________________
Name & Title: Gene Fauquier Vice President
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
With
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
For Class A Shares of
Oppenheimer Quest Growth & Income Value Fund
This Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement (the
"Plan") is dated as of the 3rd day of February, 1998, by and between
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (the "Trust") on behalf of Oppenheimer
Quest Growth & Income Value Fund (the "Fund") and OppenheimerFunds
Distributor, Inc. (the "Distributor").
1. The Plan. This Plan is the Fund's written distribution and service
plan for Class A shares of the Fund (the "Shares"), contemplated by Rule
12b-1 as it may be amended from time to time (the "Rule") under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), pursuant to which the Fund
will compensate the Distributor for its services in connection with the
distribution of Shares, and the personal service and maintenance of
shareholder accounts that hold Shares ("Accounts"). The Fund may act as
distributor of securities of which it is the issuer, pursuant to the Rule,
according to the terms of this Plan. The terms and provisions of this Plan
shall be interpreted and defined in a manner consistent with the provisions
and definitions contained in (i) the 1940 Act, (ii) the Rule, (iii) Rule 2830
of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
or any amendment or successor to such rule (the "NASD Conduct Rules") and
(iv) any conditions pertaining either to distribution-related expenses or to
a plan of distribution to which the Fund is subject under any order on which
the Fund relies, issued at any time by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC").
2. Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(a) "Recipient" shall mean any broker, dealer, bank or other person
or entity which: (i) has rendered assistance (whether direct, administrative
or both) in the distribution of Shares or has provided administrative support
services with respect to Shares held by Customers (defined below) of the
Recipient; (ii) shall furnish the Distributor (on behalf of the Fund) with
such information as the Distributor shall reasonably request to answer such
questions as may arise concerning the sale of Shares; and (iii) has been
selected by the Distributor to receive payments under the Plan.
(b) "Independent Trustees" shall mean the members of the Trust's
Board of Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating to this Plan.
(c) "Customers" shall mean such brokerage or other customers or
investment advisory or other clients of a Recipient, and/or accounts as to
which such Recipient provides administrative support services or is a
custodian or other fiduciary.
<PAGE>
55
(d) "Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Recipient, all Shares
owned beneficially or of record by: (i) such Recipient, or (ii) such
Recipient's Customers, but in no event shall any such Shares be deemed owned
by more than one Recipient for purposes of this Plan. In the event that more
than one person or entity would otherwise qualify as Recipients as to the
same Shares, the Recipient which is the dealer of record on the Fund's books
as determined by the Distributor shall be deemed the Recipient as to such
Shares for purposes of this Plan.
3. Payments for Distribution Assistance and Administrative Support
Services.
(a) Payments to the Distributor. In consideration of the payments
made by the Fund to the Distributor under this Plan, the Distributor shall
provide administrative support services and distribution assistance services
to the Fund. Such services include distribution assistance and
administrative support services rendered in connection with Shares (1) sold
in purchase transactions, (2) issued in exchange for shares of another
investment company for which the Distributor serves as distributor or
sub-distributor, or (3) issued pursuant to a plan of reorganization to which
the Fund is a party. If the Board believes that the Distributor may not be
rendering appropriate distribution assistance or administrative support
services in connection with the sale of Shares, then the Distributor, at the
request of the Board, shall provide the Board with a written report or other
information to verify that the Distributor is providing appropriate services
in this regard. For such services, the Fund will make the following payments
to the Distributor:
(i) Administrative Support Services Fees. Within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average
during that calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of the Shares
computed as of the close of each business day (the "Service Fee"). Such
Service Fee payments received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor
for providing administrative support services with respect to Accounts. The
administrative support services in connection with Accounts may include, but
shall not be limited to, the administrative support services that a Recipient
may render as described in Section 3(b)(i) below.
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge).
Within ten (10) days of the end of each month, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.0125% (0.15% on an annual basis) of the average
during the month of the aggregate net asset value of Shares computed as of
the close of each business day (the "Asset-Based Sales Charge"). Such
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments received from the Fund will compensate the
Distributor for providing distribution assistance in connection with the sale
of Shares.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Distributor in
connection with the Shares may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: (i) paying sales commissions to any broker, dealer, bank or other
person or entity that sells Shares, and\or paying such persons "Advance
Service Fee Payments" (as defined below) in advance of, and\or in amounts
greater than, the amount provided for in Section 3(b) of this Agreement; (ii)
paying compensation to and expenses of personnel of the Distributor who
support distribution of Shares by Recipients; (iii) obtaining financing or
providing such financing from its own resources, or from an affiliate, for
the interest and other borrowing costs of the Distributor's unreimbursed
expenses incurred in rendering distribution assistance and administrative
support services to the Fund; and (iv) paying other direct distribution
costs, including without limitation the costs of sales literature,
advertising and prospectuses (other than those prospectuses furnished to
current holders of the Fund's shares ("Shareholders")) and state "blue sky"
registration expenses.
<PAGE>
(b) Payments to Recipients. The Distributor is authorized under the
Plan to pay Recipients (1) distribution assistance fees for rendering
distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares and/or (2)
service fees for rendering administrative support services with respect to
Accounts. However, no such payments shall be made to any Recipient for any
such quarter in which its Qualified Holdings do not equal or exceed, at the
end of such quarter, the minimum amount ("Minimum Qualified Holdings"), if
any, that may be set from time to time by a majority of the Independent
Trustees. All fee payments made by the Distributor hereunder are subject to
reduction or chargeback so that the aggregate service fee payments and
Advance Service Fee Payments do not exceed the limits on payments to
Recipients that are, or may be, imposed by the NASD Conduct Rules. The
Distributor may make Plan payments to any "affiliated person" (as defined in
the 1940 Act) of the Distributor if such affiliated person qualifies as a
Recipient or retain such payments if the Distributor qualifies as a
Recipient.
(i) Service Fee. In consideration of the administrative support
services provided by a Recipient during a calendar quarter, the Distributor
shall make service fee payments to that Recipient quarterly, within
forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to
exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or
of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period of more than the
minimum period (the "Minimum Holding Period"), if any, that may be set from
time to time by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
Alternatively, the Distributor may, at its sole option, make the
following service fee payments to any Recipient quarterly, within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter: (i) "Advance Service Fee
Payments" at a rate not to exceed 0.25% of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of business on the day such Shares are sold, constituting Qualified Holdings,
sold by the Recipient during that quarter and owned beneficially or of record
by the Recipient or by its Customers, plus (ii) service fee payments at a
rate not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during
the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as
of the close of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned
beneficially or of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period
of more than one (1) year. At the Distributor's sole option, the Advance
Service Fee Payments may be made more often than quarterly, and sooner than
the end of the calendar quarter. In the event Shares are redeemed less than
one year after the date such Shares were sold, the Recipient is obligated to
and will repay the Distributor on demand a pro rata portion of such Advance
Service Fee Payments, based on the ratio of the time such Shares were held to
one (1) year.
The administrative support services to be rendered by Recipients
in connection with the Accounts may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund, assisting in the
establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and
processing Share redemption transactions, making the Fund's investment plans
and dividend payment options available, and providing such other information
and services in connection with the rendering of personal services and/or the
maintenance of Accounts, as the Distributor or the Fund may reasonably
request.
<PAGE>
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge)
Payments. In its sole discretion and irrespective of whichever alternative
method of making service fee payments to Recipients is selected by the
Distributor, in addition the Distributor may make distribution assistance fee
payments to a Recipient quarterly, within forty-five (45) days after the end
of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to exceed 0.0375% (0.15% on an annual
basis) of the average during the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset
value of Shares computed as of the close of each business day constituting
Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or of record by the Recipient or its
Customers. Distribution assistance fee payments shall be made only to
Recipients that are registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer or are exempt
from registration.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Recipients in
connection with the sale of Shares may include, but shall not be limited to,
the following: distributing sales literature and prospectuses other than
those furnished to current Shareholders, providing compensation to and paying
expenses of personnel of the Recipient who support the distribution of Shares
by the Recipient, and providing such other information and services in
connection with the distribution of Shares as the Distributor or the Fund may
reasonably request.
(c) A majority of the Independent Trustees may at any time or from
time to time increase or decrease the rate of fees to be paid to the
Distributor or to any Recipient, but not to exceed the rates set forth above,
and/or direct the Distributor to increase or decrease any Minimum Holding
Period or any Minimum Qualified Holdings. The Distributor shall notify all
Recipients of any Minimum Qualified Holdings and Minimum Holding Period that
are established and the rate of payments hereunder applicable to Recipients,
and shall provide each Recipient with written notice within thirty (30) days
after any change in these provisions. Inclusion of such provisions or a
change in such provisions in a revised current prospectus shall constitute
sufficient notice.
(d) The Service Fee and the Asset-Based Sales Charge on Shares are
subject to reduction or elimination under the limits to which the Distributor
is, or may become, subject under the NASD Conduct Rules.
(e) Under the Plan, payments may also be made to Recipients: (i) by
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. ("OFI") from its own resources (which may include
profits derived from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund), or (ii) by
the Distributor (a subsidiary of OFI), from its own resources, from
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments or from the proceeds of its borrowings, in
either case, in the discretion of OFI or the Distributor, respectively.
<PAGE>
(f) Recipients are intended to have certain rights as third-party
beneficiaries under this Plan, subject to the limitations set forth below.
It may be presumed that a Recipient has provided distribution assistance or
administrative support services qualifying for payment under the Plan if it
has Qualified Holdings of Shares that entitle it to payments under the Plan.
In the event that either the Distributor or the Board should have reason to
believe that, notwithstanding the level of Qualified Holdings, a Recipient
may not be rendering appropriate distribution assistance in connection with
the sale of Shares or administrative support services for Accounts, then the
Distributor, at the request of the Board, shall require the Recipient to
provide a written report or other information to verify that said Recipient
is providing appropriate distribution assistance and/or services in this
regard. If the Distributor or the Board of Trustees still is not satisfied
after the receipt of such report, either may take appropriate steps to
terminate the Recipient's status as such under the Plan, whereupon such
Recipient's rights as a third-party beneficiary hereunder shall terminate.
Additionally, in their discretion, a majority of the Trust's Independent
Trustees at any time may remove any broker, dealer, bank or other person or
entity as a Recipient, where upon such person's or entity's rights as a
third-party beneficiary hereof shall terminate. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Plan, this Plan does not obligate or in any way make the
Fund liable to make any payment whatsoever to any person or entity other than
directly to the Distributor. The Distributor has no obligation to pay any
Service Fees or Distribution Assistance Fees to any Recipient if the
Distributor has not received payment of Service Fees or Distribution Fees
from the Fund.
4. Selection and Nomination of Trustees. While this Plan is in effect,
the selection and nomination of persons to be Trustees of the Trust who are
not "interested persons" of the Trust ("Disinterested Trustees") shall be
committed to the discretion of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees. Nothing
herein shall prevent the incumbent Disinterested Trustees from soliciting the
views or the involvement of others in such selection or nominations as long
as the final decision on any such selection and nomination is approved by a
majority of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees.
5. Reports. While this Plan is in effect, the Treasurer of the Trust
shall provide written reports to the Trust's Board for its review, detailing
the amount of all payments made under this Plan and the purpose for which the
payments were made. The reports shall be provided quarterly, and shall state
whether all provisions of Section 3 of this Plan have been complied with.
6. Related Agreements. Any agreement related to this Plan shall be in
writing and shall provide that: (i) such agreement may be terminated at any
time, without payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a "majority" (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class A voting shares; (ii) such
termination shall be on not more than sixty days' written notice to any
other party to the agreement; (iii) such agreement shall automatically
terminate in the event of its "assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act); (iv)
such agreement shall go into effect when approved by a vote of the Board and
its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting on such agreement; and (v) such agreement shall, unless terminated
as herein provided, continue in effect from year to year only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board
and its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such continuance.
7. Effectiveness, Continuation, Termination and Amendment. This Amended
and Restated Plan has been approved by a vote of the Board and of the
Independent Trustees and replaces the Fund's prior Amended and Restated
Distribution and Service Plan for Class A Shares. Unless terminated as
hereinafter provided, it shall continue in effect until renewed by the Board
in accordance with the Rule and thereafter from year to year or as the Board
may otherwise determine but only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by a vote of the Board and its Independent
Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
continuance.
This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of
payments to be made under this Plan, without approval of the Class A
Shareholders at a meeting called for that purpose, and all material
amendments must be approved by a vote of the Board and of the Independent
Trustees.
This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a "majority" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class A voting shares. In
the event of such termination, the Board and its Independent Trustees shall
determine whether the Distributor shall be entitled to payment from the Fund
of all or a portion of the Service Fee and/or the Asset-Based Sales Charge in
respect of Shares sold prior to the effective date of such termination.
<PAGE>
8. Disclaimer of Shareholder and Trustee Liability. The Distributor
understands that the obligations of the Fund under this Plan are not binding
upon any Trustee or shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the
Fund and the Fund's property. The Distributor represents that it has notice
of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust disclaiming
shareholder and Trustee liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds on
behalf of
Oppenheimer Quest Growth & Income Value
Fund
Andrew J. Donohue
By: ____________________________________
Secretary
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
/s/ Katherine P. Feld
By: ____________________________________
Vice President
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
With
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
For Class A Shares of
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund
This Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement (the
"Plan") is dated as of the 3rd day of February, 1998, by and between
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (the "Trust") on behalf of Oppenheimer
Quest Opportunity Value Fund (the "Fund") and OppenheimerFunds Distributor,
Inc. (the "Distributor").
1. The Plan. This Plan is the Fund's written distribution and service
plan for Class A shares of the Fund (the "Shares"), contemplated by Rule
12b-1 as it may be amended from time to time (the "Rule") under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), pursuant to which the Fund
will compensate the Distributor for its services in connection with the
distribution of Shares, and the personal service and maintenance of
shareholder accounts that hold Shares ("Accounts"). The Fund may act as
distributor of securities of which it is the issuer, pursuant to the Rule,
according to the terms of this Plan. The terms and provisions of this Plan
shall be interpreted and defined in a manner consistent with the provisions
and definitions contained in (i) the 1940 Act, (ii) the Rule, (iii) Rule 2830
of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
or any amendment or successor to such rule (the "NASD Conduct Rules") and
(iv) any conditions pertaining either to distribution-related expenses or to
a plan of distribution to which the Fund is subject under any order on which
the Fund relies, issued at any time by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC").
2. Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(a) "Recipient" shall mean any broker, dealer, bank or other person
or entity which: (i) has rendered assistance (whether direct, administrative
or both) in the distribution of Shares or has provided administrative support
services with respect to Shares held by Customers (defined below) of the
Recipient; (ii) shall furnish the Distributor (on behalf of the Fund) with
such information as the Distributor shall reasonably request to answer such
questions as may arise concerning the sale of Shares; and (iii) has been
selected by the Distributor to receive payments under the Plan.
(b) "Independent Trustees" shall mean the members of the Trust's
Board of Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating to this Plan.
(c) "Customers" shall mean such brokerage or other customers or
investment advisory or other clients of a Recipient, and/or accounts as to
which such Recipient provides administrative support services or is a
custodian or other fiduciary.
<PAGE>
61
(d) "Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Recipient, all Shares
owned beneficially or of record by: (i) such Recipient, or (ii) such
Recipient's Customers, but in no event shall any such Shares be deemed owned
by more than one Recipient for purposes of this Plan. In the event that more
than one person or entity would otherwise qualify as Recipients as to the
same Shares, the Recipient which is the dealer of record on the Fund's books
as determined by the Distributor shall be deemed the Recipient as to such
Shares for purposes of this Plan.
3. Payments for Distribution Assistance and Administrative Support
Services.
(a) Payments to the Distributor. In consideration of the payments
made by the Fund to the Distributor under this Plan, the Distributor shall
provide administrative support services and distribution assistance services
to the Fund. Such services include distribution assistance and
administrative support services rendered in connection with Shares (1) sold
in purchase transactions, (2) issued in exchange for shares of another
investment company for which the Distributor serves as distributor or
sub-distributor, or (3) issued pursuant to a plan of reorganization to which
the Fund is a party. If the Board believes that the Distributor may not be
rendering appropriate distribution assistance or administrative support
services in connection with the sale of Shares, then the Distributor, at the
request of the Board, shall provide the Board with a written report or other
information to verify that the Distributor is providing appropriate services
in this regard. For such services, the Fund will make the following payments
to the Distributor:
(i) Administrative Support Services Fees. Within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average
during that calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of the Shares
computed as of the close of each business day (the "Service Fee"). Such
Service Fee payments received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor
for providing administrative support services with respect to Accounts. The
administrative support services in connection with Accounts may include, but
shall not be limited to, the administrative support services that a Recipient
may render as described in Section 3(b)(i) below.
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge).
Within ten (10) days of the end of each month, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.020833% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average
during the month of the aggregate net asset value of Shares computed as of
the close of each business day (the "Asset-Based Sales Charge"). Such
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments received from the Fund will compensate the
Distributor for providing distribution assistance in connection with the sale
of Shares.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Distributor in
connection with the Shares may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: (i) paying sales commissions to any broker, dealer, bank or other
person or entity that sells Shares, and\or paying such persons "Advance
Service Fee Payments" (as defined below) in advance of, and\or in amounts
greater than, the amount provided for in Section 3(b) of this Agreement; (ii)
paying compensation to and expenses of personnel of the Distributor who
support distribution of Shares by Recipients; (iii) obtaining financing or
providing such financing from its own resources, or from an affiliate, for
the interest and other borrowing costs of the Distributor's unreimbursed
expenses incurred in rendering distribution assistance and administrative
support services to the Fund; and (iv) paying other direct distribution
costs, including without limitation the costs of sales literature,
advertising and prospectuses (other than those prospectuses furnished to
current holders of the Fund's shares ("Shareholders")) and state "blue sky"
registration expenses.
<PAGE>
(b) Payments to Recipients. The Distributor is authorized under the
Plan to pay Recipients (1) distribution assistance fees for rendering
distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares and/or (2)
service fees for rendering administrative support services with respect to
Accounts. However, no such payments shall be made to any Recipient for any
such quarter in which its Qualified Holdings do not equal or exceed, at the
end of such quarter, the minimum amount ("Minimum Qualified Holdings"), if
any, that may be set from time to time by a majority of the Independent
Trustees. All fee payments made by the Distributor hereunder are subject to
reduction or chargeback so that the aggregate service fee payments and
Advance Service Fee Payments do not exceed the limits on payments to
Recipients that are, or may be, imposed by the NASD Conduct Rules. The
Distributor may make Plan payments to any "affiliated person" (as defined in
the 1940 Act) of the Distributor if such affiliated person qualifies as a
Recipient or retain such payments if the Distributor qualifies as a
Recipient.
(i) Service Fee. In consideration of the administrative support
services provided by a Recipient during a calendar quarter, the Distributor
shall make service fee payments to that Recipient quarterly, within
forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to
exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or
of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period of more than the
minimum period (the "Minimum Holding Period"), if any, that may be set from
time to time by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
Alternatively, the Distributor may, at its sole option, make the
following service fee payments to any Recipient quarterly, within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter: (i) "Advance Service Fee
Payments" at a rate not to exceed 0.25% of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of business on the day such Shares are sold, constituting Qualified Holdings,
sold by the Recipient during that quarter and owned beneficially or of record
by the Recipient or by its Customers, plus (ii) service fee payments at a
rate not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during
the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as
of the close of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned
beneficially or of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period
of more than one (1) year. At the Distributor's sole option, the Advance
Service Fee Payments may be made more often than quarterly, and sooner than
the end of the calendar quarter. In the event Shares are redeemed less than
one year after the date such Shares were sold, the Recipient is obligated to
and will repay the Distributor on demand a pro rata portion of such Advance
Service Fee Payments, based on the ratio of the time such Shares were held to
one (1) year.
The administrative support services to be rendered by Recipients
in connection with the Accounts may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund, assisting in the
establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and
processing Share redemption transactions, making the Fund's investment plans
and dividend payment options available, and providing such other information
and services in connection with the rendering of personal services and/or the
maintenance of Accounts, as the Distributor or the Fund may reasonably
request.
<PAGE>
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge)
Payments. In its sole discretion and irrespective of whichever alternative
method of making service fee payments to Recipients is selected by the
Distributor, in addition the Distributor may make distribution assistance fee
payments to a Recipient quarterly, within forty-five (45) days after the end
of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual
basis) of the average during the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset
value of Shares computed as of the close of each business day constituting
Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or of record by the Recipient or its
Customers. Distribution assistance fee payments shall be made only to
Recipients that are registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer or are exempt
from registration.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Recipients in
connection with the sale of Shares may include, but shall not be limited to,
the following: distributing sales literature and prospectuses other than
those furnished to current Shareholders, providing compensation to and paying
expenses of personnel of the Recipient who support the distribution of Shares
by the Recipient, and providing such other information and services in
connection with the distribution of Shares as the Distributor or the Fund may
reasonably request.
(c) A majority of the Independent Trustees may at any time or from
time to time increase or decrease the rate of fees to be paid to the
Distributor or to any Recipient, but not to exceed the rates set forth above,
and/or direct the Distributor to increase or decrease any Minimum Holding
Period or any Minimum Qualified Holdings. The Distributor shall notify all
Recipients of any Minimum Qualified Holdings and Minimum Holding Period that
are established and the rate of payments hereunder applicable to Recipients,
and shall provide each Recipient with written notice within thirty (30) days
after any change in these provisions. Inclusion of such provisions or a
change in such provisions in a revised current prospectus shall constitute
sufficient notice.
(d) The Service Fee and the Asset-Based Sales Charge on Shares are
subject to reduction or elimination under the limits to which the Distributor
is, or may become, subject under the NASD Conduct Rules.
(e) Under the Plan, payments may also be made to Recipients: (i) by
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. ("OFI") from its own resources (which may include
profits derived from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund), or (ii) by
the Distributor (a subsidiary of OFI), from its own resources, from
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments or from the proceeds of its borrowings, in
either case, in the discretion of OFI or the Distributor, respectively.
<PAGE>
(f) Recipients are intended to have certain rights as third-party
beneficiaries under this Plan, subject to the limitations set forth below.
It may be presumed that a Recipient has provided distribution assistance or
administrative support services qualifying for payment under the Plan if it
has Qualified Holdings of Shares that entitle it to payments under the Plan.
In the event that either the Distributor or the Board should have reason to
believe that, notwithstanding the level of Qualified Holdings, a Recipient
may not be rendering appropriate distribution assistance in connection with
the sale of Shares or administrative support services for Accounts, then the
Distributor, at the request of the Board, shall require the Recipient to
provide a written report or other information to verify that said Recipient
is providing appropriate distribution assistance and/or services in this
regard. If the Distributor or the Board of Trustees still is not satisfied
after the receipt of such report, either may take appropriate steps to
terminate the Recipient's status as such under the Plan, whereupon such
Recipient's rights as a third-party beneficiary hereunder shall terminate.
Additionally, in their discretion, a majority of the Trust's Independent
Trustees at any time may remove any broker, dealer, bank or other person or
entity as a Recipient, where upon such person's or entity's rights as a
third-party beneficiary hereof shall terminate. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Plan, this Plan does not obligate or in any way make the
Fund liable to make any payment whatsoever to any person or entity other than
directly to the Distributor. The Distributor has no obligation to pay any
Service Fees or Distribution Assistance Fees to any Recipient if the
Distributor has not received payment of Service Fees or Distribution Fees
from the Fund.
4. Selection and Nomination of Trustees. While this Plan is in effect,
the selection and nomination of persons to be Trustees of the Trust who are
not "interested persons" of the Trust ("Disinterested Trustees") shall be
committed to the discretion of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees. Nothing
herein shall prevent the incumbent Disinterested Trustees from soliciting the
views or the involvement of others in such selection or nominations as long
as the final decision on any such selection and nomination is approved by a
majority of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees.
5. Reports. While this Plan is in effect, the Treasurer of the Trust
shall provide written reports to the Trust's Board for its review, detailing
the amount of all payments made under this Plan and the purpose for which the
payments were made. The reports shall be provided quarterly, and shall state
whether all provisions of Section 3 of this Plan have been complied with.
6. Related Agreements. Any agreement related to this Plan shall be in
writing and shall provide that: (i) such agreement may be terminated at any
time, without payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a "majority" (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class A voting shares; (ii) such
termination shall be on not more than sixty days' written notice to any
other party to the agreement; (iii) such agreement shall automatically
terminate in the event of its "assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act); (iv)
such agreement shall go into effect when approved by a vote of the Board and
its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting on such agreement; and (v) such agreement shall, unless terminated
as herein provided, continue in effect from year to year only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board
and its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such continuance.
7. Effectiveness, Continuation, Termination and Amendment. This Amended
and Restated Plan has been approved by a vote of the Board and of the
Independent Trustees and replaces the Fund's prior Amended and Restated
Distribution and Service Plan for Class A Shares. Unless terminated as
hereinafter provided, it shall continue in effect until renewed by the Board
in accordance with the Rule and thereafter from year to year or as the Board
may otherwise determine but only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by a vote of the Board and its Independent
Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
continuance.
This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of
payments to be made under this Plan, without approval of the Class A
Shareholders at a meeting called for that purpose, and all material
amendments must be approved by a vote of the Board and of the Independent
Trustees.
This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a "majority" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class A voting shares. In
the event of such termination, the Board and its Independent Trustees shall
determine whether the Distributor shall be entitled to payment from the Fund
of all or a portion of the Service Fee and/or the Asset-Based Sales Charge in
respect of Shares sold prior to the effective date of such termination.
<PAGE>
8. Disclaimer of Shareholder and Trustee Liability. The Distributor
understands that the obligations of the Fund under this Plan are not binding
upon any Trustee or shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the
Fund and the Fund's property. The Distributor represents that it has notice
of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust disclaiming
shareholder and Trustee liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds on
behalf of
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund
/s/ Andrew J. Donohue
By: ____________________________________
Secretary
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
/s/ Katherine P. Feld
By: ____________________________________
Vice President
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
With
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
For Class A Shares of
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
This Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement (the
"Plan") is dated as of the 3rd day of February, 1998, by and between
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (the "Trust") on behalf of Oppenheimer
Quest Small Cap Value Fund (the "Fund") and OppenheimerFunds Distributor,
Inc. (the "Distributor").
1. The Plan. This Plan is the Fund's written distribution and service
plan for Class A shares of the Fund (the "Shares"), contemplated by Rule
12b-1 as it may be amended from time to time (the "Rule") under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), pursuant to which the Fund
will compensate the Distributor for its services in connection with the
distribution of Shares, and the personal service and maintenance of
shareholder accounts that hold Shares ("Accounts"). The Fund may act as
distributor of securities of which it is the issuer, pursuant to the Rule,
according to the terms of this Plan. The terms and provisions of this Plan
shall be interpreted and defined in a manner consistent with the provisions
and definitions contained in (i) the 1940 Act, (ii) the Rule, (iii) Rule 2830
of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
or any amendment or successor to such rule (the "NASD Conduct Rules") and
(iv) any conditions pertaining either to distribution-related expenses or to
a plan of distribution to which the Fund is subject under any order on which
the Fund relies, issued at any time by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC").
2. Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(a) "Recipient" shall mean any broker, dealer, bank or other person
or entity which: (i) has rendered assistance (whether direct, administrative
or both) in the distribution of Shares or has provided administrative support
services with respect to Shares held by Customers (defined below) of the
Recipient; (ii) shall furnish the Distributor (on behalf of the Fund) with
such information as the Distributor shall reasonably request to answer such
questions as may arise concerning the sale of Shares; and (iii) has been
selected by the Distributor to receive payments under the Plan.
(b) "Independent Trustees" shall mean the members of the Trust's
Board of Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating to this Plan.
(c) "Customers" shall mean such brokerage or other customers or
investment advisory or other clients of a Recipient, and/or accounts as to
which such Recipient provides administrative support services or is a
custodian or other fiduciary.
<PAGE>
67
(d) "Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Recipient, all Shares
owned beneficially or of record by: (i) such Recipient, or (ii) such
Recipient's Customers, but in no event shall any such Shares be deemed owned
by more than one Recipient for purposes of this Plan. In the event that more
than one person or entity would otherwise qualify as Recipients as to the
same Shares, the Recipient which is the dealer of record on the Fund's books
as determined by the Distributor shall be deemed the Recipient as to such
Shares for purposes of this Plan.
3. Payments for Distribution Assistance and Administrative Support
Services.
(a) Payments to the Distributor. In consideration of the payments
made by the Fund to the Distributor under this Plan, the Distributor shall
provide administrative support services and distribution assistance services
to the Fund. Such services include distribution assistance and
administrative support services rendered in connection with Shares (1) sold
in purchase transactions, (2) issued in exchange for shares of another
investment company for which the Distributor serves as distributor or
sub-distributor, or (3) issued pursuant to a plan of reorganization to which
the Fund is a party. If the Board believes that the Distributor may not be
rendering appropriate distribution assistance or administrative support
services in connection with the sale of Shares, then the Distributor, at the
request of the Board, shall provide the Board with a written report or other
information to verify that the Distributor is providing appropriate services
in this regard. For such services, the Fund will make the following payments
to the Distributor:
(i) Administrative Support Services Fees. Within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average
during that calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of the Shares
computed as of the close of each business day (the "Service Fee"). Such
Service Fee payments received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor
for providing administrative support services with respect to Accounts. The
administrative support services in connection with Accounts may include, but
shall not be limited to, the administrative support services that a Recipient
may render as described in Section 3(b)(i) below.
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge).
Within ten (10) days of the end of each month, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.020833% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average
during the month of the aggregate net asset value of Shares computed as of
the close of each business day (the "Asset-Based Sales Charge"). Such
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments received from the Fund will compensate the
Distributor for providing distribution assistance in connection with the sale
of Shares.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Distributor in
connection with the Shares may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: (i) paying sales commissions to any broker, dealer, bank or other
person or entity that sells Shares, and\or paying such persons "Advance
Service Fee Payments" (as defined below) in advance of, and\or in amounts
greater than, the amount provided for in Section 3(b) of this Agreement; (ii)
paying compensation to and expenses of personnel of the Distributor who
support distribution of Shares by Recipients; (iii) obtaining financing or
providing such financing from its own resources, or from an affiliate, for
the interest and other borrowing costs of the Distributor's unreimbursed
expenses incurred in rendering distribution assistance and administrative
support services to the Fund; and (iv) paying other direct distribution
costs, including without limitation the costs of sales literature,
advertising and prospectuses (other than those prospectuses furnished to
current holders of the Fund's shares ("Shareholders")) and state "blue sky"
registration expenses.
<PAGE>
(b) Payments to Recipients. The Distributor is authorized under the
Plan to pay Recipients (1) distribution assistance fees for rendering
distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares and/or (2)
service fees for rendering administrative support services with respect to
Accounts. However, no such payments shall be made to any Recipient for any
such quarter in which its Qualified Holdings do not equal or exceed, at the
end of such quarter, the minimum amount ("Minimum Qualified Holdings"), if
any, that may be set from time to time by a majority of the Independent
Trustees. All fee payments made by the Distributor hereunder are subject to
reduction or chargeback so that the aggregate service fee payments and
Advance Service Fee Payments do not exceed the limits on payments to
Recipients that are, or may be, imposed by the NASD Conduct Rules. The
Distributor may make Plan payments to any "affiliated person" (as defined in
the 1940 Act) of the Distributor if such affiliated person qualifies as a
Recipient or retain such payments if the Distributor qualifies as a
Recipient.
(i) Service Fee. In consideration of the administrative support
services provided by a Recipient during a calendar quarter, the Distributor
shall make service fee payments to that Recipient quarterly, within
forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to
exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or
of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period of more than the
minimum period (the "Minimum Holding Period"), if any, that may be set from
time to time by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
Alternatively, the Distributor may, at its sole option, make the
following service fee payments to any Recipient quarterly, within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter: (i) "Advance Service Fee
Payments" at a rate not to exceed 0.25% of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of business on the day such Shares are sold, constituting Qualified Holdings,
sold by the Recipient during that quarter and owned beneficially or of record
by the Recipient or by its Customers, plus (ii) service fee payments at a
rate not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during
the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as
of the close of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned
beneficially or of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period
of more than one (1) year. At the Distributor's sole option, the Advance
Service Fee Payments may be made more often than quarterly, and sooner than
the end of the calendar quarter. In the event Shares are redeemed less than
one year after the date such Shares were sold, the Recipient is obligated to
and will repay the Distributor on demand a pro rata portion of such Advance
Service Fee Payments, based on the ratio of the time such Shares were held to
one (1) year.
The administrative support services to be rendered by Recipients
in connection with the Accounts may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund, assisting in the
establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and
processing Share redemption transactions, making the Fund's investment plans
and dividend payment options available, and providing such other information
and services in connection with the rendering of personal services and/or the
maintenance of Accounts, as the Distributor or the Fund may reasonably
request.
<PAGE>
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge)
Payments. In its sole discretion and irrespective of whichever alternative
method of making service fee payments to Recipients is selected by the
Distributor, in addition the Distributor may make distribution assistance fee
payments to a Recipient quarterly, within forty-five (45) days after the end
of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual
basis) of the average during the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset
value of Shares computed as of the close of each business day constituting
Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or of record by the Recipient or its
Customers. Distribution assistance fee payments shall be made only to
Recipients that are registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer or are exempt
from registration.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Recipients in
connection with the sale of Shares may include, but shall not be limited to,
the following: distributing sales literature and prospectuses other than
those furnished to current Shareholders, providing compensation to and paying
expenses of personnel of the Recipient who support the distribution of Shares
by the Recipient, and providing such other information and services in
connection with the distribution of Shares as the Distributor or the Fund may
reasonably request.
(c) A majority of the Independent Trustees may at any time or from
time to time increase or decrease the rate of fees to be paid to the
Distributor or to any Recipient, but not to exceed the rates set forth above,
and/or direct the Distributor to increase or decrease any Minimum Holding
Period or any Minimum Qualified Holdings. The Distributor shall notify all
Recipients of any Minimum Qualified Holdings and Minimum Holding Period that
are established and the rate of payments hereunder applicable to Recipients,
and shall provide each Recipient with written notice within thirty (30) days
after any change in these provisions. Inclusion of such provisions or a
change in such provisions in a revised current prospectus shall constitute
sufficient notice.
(d) The Service Fee and the Asset-Based Sales Charge on Shares are
subject to reduction or elimination under the limits to which the Distributor
is, or may become, subject under the NASD Conduct Rules.
(e) Under the Plan, payments may also be made to Recipients: (i) by
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. ("OFI") from its own resources (which may include
profits derived from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund), or (ii) by
the Distributor (a subsidiary of OFI), from its own resources, from
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments or from the proceeds of its borrowings, in
either case, in the discretion of OFI or the Distributor, respectively.
<PAGE>
(f) Recipients are intended to have certain rights as third-party
beneficiaries under this Plan, subject to the limitations set forth below.
It may be presumed that a Recipient has provided distribution assistance or
administrative support services qualifying for payment under the Plan if it
has Qualified Holdings of Shares that entitle it to payments under the Plan.
In the event that either the Distributor or the Board should have reason to
believe that, notwithstanding the level of Qualified Holdings, a Recipient
may not be rendering appropriate distribution assistance in connection with
the sale of Shares or administrative support services for Accounts, then the
Distributor, at the request of the Board, shall require the Recipient to
provide a written report or other information to verify that said Recipient
is providing appropriate distribution assistance and/or services in this
regard. If the Distributor or the Board of Trustees still is not satisfied
after the receipt of such report, either may take appropriate steps to
terminate the Recipient's status as such under the Plan, whereupon such
Recipient's rights as a third-party beneficiary hereunder shall terminate.
Additionally, in their discretion, a majority of the Trust's Independent
Trustees at any time may remove any broker, dealer, bank or other person or
entity as a Recipient, where upon such person's or entity's rights as a
third-party beneficiary hereof shall terminate. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Plan, this Plan does not obligate or in any way make the
Fund liable to make any payment whatsoever to any person or entity other than
directly to the Distributor. The Distributor has no obligation to pay any
Service Fees or Distribution Assistance Fees to any Recipient if the
Distributor has not received payment of Service Fees or Distribution Fees
from the Fund.
4. Selection and Nomination of Trustees. While this Plan is in effect,
the selection and nomination of persons to be Trustees of the Trust who are
not "interested persons" of the Trust ("Disinterested Trustees") shall be
committed to the discretion of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees. Nothing
herein shall prevent the incumbent Disinterested Trustees from soliciting the
views or the involvement of others in such selection or nominations as long
as the final decision on any such selection and nomination is approved by a
majority of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees.
5. Reports. While this Plan is in effect, the Treasurer of the Trust
shall provide written reports to the Trust's Board for its review, detailing
the amount of all payments made under this Plan and the purpose for which the
payments were made. The reports shall be provided quarterly, and shall state
whether all provisions of Section 3 of this Plan have been complied with.
6. Related Agreements. Any agreement related to this Plan shall be in
writing and shall provide that: (i) such agreement may be terminated at any
time, without payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a "majority" (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class A voting shares; (ii) such
termination shall be on not more than sixty days' written notice to any
other party to the agreement; (iii) such agreement shall automatically
terminate in the event of its "assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act); (iv)
such agreement shall go into effect when approved by a vote of the Board and
its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting on such agreement; and (v) such agreement shall, unless terminated
as herein provided, continue in effect from year to year only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board
and its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such continuance.
7. Effectiveness, Continuation, Termination and Amendment. This Amended
and Restated Plan has been approved by a vote of the Board and of the
Independent Trustees and replaces the Fund's prior Amended and Restated
Distribution and Service Plan for Class A Shares. Unless terminated as
hereinafter provided, it shall continue in effect until renewed by the Board
in accordance with the Rule and thereafter from year to year or as the Board
may otherwise determine but only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by a vote of the Board and its Independent
Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
continuance.
This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of
payments to be made under this Plan, without approval of the Class A
Shareholders at a meeting called for that purpose, and all material
amendments must be approved by a vote of the Board and of the Independent
Trustees.
This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a "majority" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class A voting shares. In
the event of such termination, the Board and its Independent Trustees shall
determine whether the Distributor shall be entitled to payment from the Fund
of all or a portion of the Service Fee and/or the Asset-Based Sales Charge in
respect of Shares sold prior to the effective date of such termination.
<PAGE>
8. Disclaimer of Shareholder and Trustee Liability. The Distributor
understands that the obligations of the Fund under this Plan are not binding
upon any Trustee or shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the
Fund and the Fund's property. The Distributor represents that it has notice
of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust disclaiming
shareholder and Trustee liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds on
behalf of
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
/s/ Andrew J. Donohue
By: ____________________________________
Secretary
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
Katherine P. Feld
By: ____________________________________
Vice President
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
With
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
For Class B Shares of
Oppenheimer Quest Growth & Income Value Fund
This Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement (the
"Plan") is dated as of the 3rd day of February, 1998, by and between
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (the "Trust") on behalf of Oppenheimer
Quest Growth & Income Value Fund (the "Fund") and OppenheimerFunds
Distributor, Inc. (the "Distributor").
1. The Plan. This Plan is the Fund's written distribution and service
plan for Class B shares of the Fund (the "Shares"), contemplated by Rule
12b-1 as it may be amended from time to time (the "Rule") under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), pursuant to which the Fund
will compensate the Distributor for its services in connection with the
distribution of Shares, and the personal service and maintenance of
shareholder accounts that hold Shares ("Accounts"). The Fund may act as
distributor of securities of which it is the issuer, pursuant to the Rule,
according to the terms of this Plan. The terms and provisions of this Plan
shall be interpreted and defined in a manner consistent with the provisions
and definitions contained in (i) the 1940 Act, (ii) the Rule, (iii) Rule 2830
of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
or any amendment or successor to such rule (the "NASD Conduct Rules") and
(iv) any conditions pertaining either to distribution-related expenses or to
a plan of distribution to which the Fund is subject under any order on which
the Fund relies, issued at any time by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC").
2. Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(a) "Recipient" shall mean any broker, dealer, bank or other person
or entity which: (i) has rendered assistance (whether direct, administrative
or both) in the distribution of Shares or has provided administrative support
services with respect to Shares held by Customers (defined below) of the
Recipient; (ii) shall furnish the Distributor (on behalf of the Fund) with
such information as the Distributor shall reasonably request to answer such
questions as may arise concerning the sale of Shares; and (iii) has been
selected by the Distributor to receive payments under the Plan.
(b) "Independent Trustees" shall mean the members of the Trust's
Board of Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating to this Plan.
(c) "Customers" shall mean such brokerage or other customers or
investment advisory or other clients of a Recipient, and/or accounts as to
which such Recipient provides administrative support services or is a
custodian or other fiduciary.
<PAGE>
71
(d) "Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Recipient, all Shares
owned beneficially or of record by: (i) such Recipient, or (ii) such
Recipient's Customers, but in no event shall any such Shares be deemed owned
by more than one Recipient for purposes of this Plan. In the event that more
than one person or entity would otherwise qualify as Recipients as to the
same Shares, the Recipient which is the dealer of record on the Fund's books
as determined by the Distributor shall be deemed the Recipient as to such
Shares for purposes of this Plan.
3. Payments for Distribution Assistance and Administrative Support
Services.
(a) Payments to the Distributor. In consideration of the payments
made by the Fund to the Distributor under this Plan, the Distributor shall
provide administrative support services and distribution assistance services
to the Fund. Such services include distribution assistance and
administrative support services rendered in connection with Shares (1) sold
in purchase transactions, (2) issued in exchange for shares of another
investment company for which the Distributor serves as distributor or
sub-distributor, or (3) issued pursuant to a plan of reorganization to which
the Fund is a party. If the Board believes that the Distributor may not be
rendering appropriate distribution assistance or administrative support
services in connection with the sale of Shares, then the Distributor, at the
request of the Board, shall provide the Board with a written report or other
information to verify that the Distributor is providing appropriate services
in this regard. For such services, the Fund will make the following payments
to the Distributor:
(i) Administrative Support Services Fees. Within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average
during that calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of the Shares
computed as of the close of each business day (the "Service Fee"). Such
Service Fee payments received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor
for providing administrative support services with respect to Accounts. The
administrative support services in connection with Accounts may include, but
shall not be limited to, the administrative support services that a Recipient
may render as described in Section 3(b)(i) below.
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge).
Within ten (10) days of the end of each month, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.75% on an annual basis) of the average
during the month of the aggregate net asset value of Shares computed as of
the close of each business day (the "Asset-Based Sales Charge") outstanding
for no more than six years (the "Maximum Holding Period"). Such Asset-Based
Sales Charge payments received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor
for providing distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Distributor in
connection with the Shares may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: (i) paying sales commissions to any broker, dealer, bank or other
person or entity that sells Shares, and\or paying such persons "Advance
Service Fee Payments" (as defined below) in advance of, and\or in amounts
greater than, the amount provided for in Section 3(b) of this Agreement; (ii)
paying compensation to and expenses of personnel of the Distributor who
support distribution of Shares by Recipients; (iii) obtaining financing or
providing such financing from its own resources, or from an affiliate, for
the interest and other borrowing costs of the Distributor's unreimbursed
expenses incurred in rendering distribution assistance and administrative
support services to the Fund; and (iv) paying other direct distribution
costs, including without limitation the costs of sales literature,
advertising and prospectuses (other than those prospectuses furnished to
current holders of the Fund's shares ("Shareholders")) and state "blue sky"
registration expenses.
<PAGE>
(b) Payments to Recipients. The Distributor is authorized under the
Plan to pay Recipients (1) distribution assistance fees for rendering
distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares and/or (2)
service fees for rendering administrative support services with respect to
Accounts. However, no such payments shall be made to any Recipient for any
such quarter in which its Qualified Holdings do not equal or exceed, at the
end of such quarter, the minimum amount ("Minimum Qualified Holdings"), if
any, that may be set from time to time by a majority of the Independent
Trustees. All fee payments made by the Distributor hereunder are subject to
reduction or chargeback so that the aggregate service fee payments and
Advance Service Fee Payments do not exceed the limits on payments to
Recipients that are, or may be, imposed by the NASD Conduct Rules. The
Distributor may make Plan payments to any "affiliated person" (as defined in
the 1940 Act) of the Distributor if such affiliated person qualifies as a
Recipient or retain such payments if the Distributor qualifies as a
Recipient.
(i) Service Fee. In consideration of the administrative support
services provided by a Recipient during a calendar quarter, the Distributor
shall make service fee payments to that Recipient quarterly, within
forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to
exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or
of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period of more than the
minimum period (the "Minimum Holding Period"), if any, that may be set from
time to time by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
Alternatively, the Distributor may, at its sole option, make the
following service fee payments to any Recipient quarterly, within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter: (i) "Advance Service Fee
Payments" at a rate not to exceed 0.25% of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of business on the day such Shares are sold, constituting Qualified Holdings,
sold by the Recipient during that quarter and owned beneficially or of record
by the Recipient or by its Customers, plus (ii) service fee payments at a
rate not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during
the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as
of the close of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned
beneficially or of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period
of more than one (1) year. At the Distributor's sole option, the Advance
Service Fee Payments may be made more often than quarterly, and sooner than
the end of the calendar quarter. In the event Shares are redeemed less than
one year after the date such Shares were sold, the Recipient is obligated to
and will repay the Distributor on demand a pro rata portion of such Advance
Service Fee Payments, based on the ratio of the time such Shares were held to
one (1) year.
The administrative support services to be rendered by Recipients
in connection with the Accounts may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund, assisting in the
establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and
processing Share redemption transactions, making the Fund's investment plans
and dividend payment options available, and providing such other information
and services in connection with the rendering of personal services and/or the
maintenance of Accounts, as the Distributor or the Fund may reasonably
request.
<PAGE>
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge)
Payments. In its sole discretion and irrespective of whichever alternative
method of making service fee payments to Recipients is selected by the
Distributor, in addition the Distributor may make distribution assistance fee
payments to a Recipient quarterly, within forty-five (45) days after the end
of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to exceed 0.1875% (0.75% on an annual
basis) of the average during the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset
value of Shares computed as of the close of each business day constituting
Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or of record by the Recipient or its
Customers for no more than six years and for any minimum period that the
Distributor may establish. Distribution assistance fee payments shall be
made only to Recipients that are registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer
or are exempt from registration.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Recipients in
connection with the sale of Shares may include, but shall not be limited to,
the following: distributing sales literature and prospectuses other than
those furnished to current Shareholders, providing compensation to and paying
expenses of personnel of the Recipient who support the distribution of Shares
by the Recipient, and providing such other information and services in
connection with the distribution of Shares as the Distributor or the Fund may
reasonably request.
(c) A majority of the Independent Trustees may at any time or from
time to time increase or decrease the rate of fees to be paid to the
Distributor or to any Recipient, but not to exceed the rates set forth above,
and/or direct the Distributor to increase or decrease the Maximum Holding
Period, any Minimum Holding Period or any Minimum Qualified Holdings. The
Distributor shall notify all Recipients of any Minimum Qualified Holdings,
Maximum Holding Period and Minimum Holding Period that are established and
the rate of payments hereunder applicable to Recipients, and shall provide
each Recipient with written notice within thirty (30) days after any change
in these provisions. Inclusion of such provisions or a change in such
provisions in a revised current prospectus shall constitute sufficient
notice.
(d) The Service Fee and the Asset-Based Sales Charge on Shares are
subject to reduction or elimination under the limits to which the Distributor
is, or may become, subject under the NASD Conduct Rules.
(e) Under the Plan, payments may also be made to Recipients: (i) by
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. ("OFI") from its own resources (which may include
profits derived from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund), or (ii) by
the Distributor (a subsidiary of OFI), from its own resources, from
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments or from the proceeds of its borrowings, in
either case, in the discretion of OFI or the Distributor, respectively.
<PAGE>
(f) Recipients are intended to have certain rights as third-party
beneficiaries under this Plan, subject to the limitations set forth below.
It may be presumed that a Recipient has provided distribution assistance or
administrative support services qualifying for payment under the Plan if it
has Qualified Holdings of Shares that entitle it to payments under the Plan.
In the event that either the Distributor or the Board should have reason to
believe that, notwithstanding the level of Qualified Holdings, a Recipient
may not be rendering appropriate distribution assistance in connection with
the sale of Shares or administrative support services for Accounts, then the
Distributor, at the request of the Board, shall require the Recipient to
provide a written report or other information to verify that said Recipient
is providing appropriate distribution assistance and/or services in this
regard. If the Distributor or the Board of Trustees still is not satisfied
after the receipt of such report, either may take appropriate steps to
terminate the Recipient's status as such under the Plan, whereupon such
Recipient's rights as a third-party beneficiary hereunder shall terminate.
Additionally, in their discretion, a majority of the Trust's Independent
Trustees at any time may remove any broker, dealer, bank or other person or
entity as a Recipient, where upon such person's or entity's rights as a
third-party beneficiary hereof shall terminate. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Plan, this Plan does not obligate or in any way make the
Fund liable to make any payment whatsoever to any person or entity other than
directly to the Distributor. The Distributor has no obligation to pay any
Service Fees or Distribution Assistance Fees to any Recipient if the
Distributor has not received payment of Service Fees or Distribution Fees
from the Fund.
4. Selection and Nomination of Trustees. While this Plan is in effect,
the selection and nomination of persons to be Trustees of the Trust who are
not "interested persons" of the Trust ("Disinterested Trustees") shall be
committed to the discretion of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees. Nothing
herein shall prevent the incumbent Disinterested Trustees from soliciting the
views or the involvement of others in such selection or nominations as long
as the final decision on any such selection and nomination is approved by a
majority of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees.
5. Reports. While this Plan is in effect, the Treasurer of the Trust
shall provide written reports to the Trust's Board for its review, detailing
the amount of all payments made under this Plan and the purpose for which the
payments were made. The reports shall be provided quarterly, and shall state
whether all provisions of Section 3 of this Plan have been complied with.
6. Related Agreements. Any agreement related to this Plan shall be in
writing and shall provide that: (i) such agreement may be terminated at any
time, without payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a "majority" (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class B voting shares; (ii) such
termination shall be on not more than sixty days' written notice to any
other party to the agreement; (iii) such agreement shall automatically
terminate in the event of its "assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act); (iv)
such agreement shall go into effect when approved by a vote of the Board and
its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting on such agreement; and (v) such agreement shall, unless terminated
as herein provided, continue in effect from year to year only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board
and its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such continuance.
7. Effectiveness, Continuation, Termination and Amendment. This Amended
and Restated Plan has been approved by a vote of the Board and of the
Independent Trustees and replaces the Fund's prior Amended and Restated
Distribution and Service Plan for Class B Shares. Unless terminated as
hereinafter provided, it shall continue in effect until renewed by the Board
in accordance with the Rule and thereafter from year to year or as the Board
may otherwise determine but only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by a vote of the Board and its Independent
Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
continuance.
This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of
payments to be made under this Plan, without approval of the Class B
Shareholders at a meeting called for that purpose, and all material
amendments must be approved by a vote of the Board and of the Independent
Trustees.
This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a "majority" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class B voting shares. In
the event of such termination, the Board and its Independent Trustees shall
determine whether the Distributor shall be entitled to payment from the Fund
of all or a portion of the Service Fee and/or the Asset-Based Sales Charge in
respect of Shares sold prior to the effective date of such termination.
<PAGE>
73
8. Disclaimer of Shareholder and Trustee Liability. The Distributor
understands that the obligations of the Fund under this Plan are not binding
upon any Trustee or shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the
Fund and the Fund's property. The Distributor represents that it has notice
of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust disclaiming
shareholder and Trustee liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds on
behalf of
Oppenheimer Quest Growth & Income Value
Fund
/s/ Andrew J. Donohue
By: ____________________________________
Secretary
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
/s/ Katherine P. Feld
By: ______________________________
Vice President
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
With
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
For Class B Shares of
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund
This Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement (the
"Plan") is dated as of the 3rd day of February, 1998, by and between
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (the "Trust") on behalf of Oppenheimer
Quest Opportunity Value Fund (the "Fund") and OppenheimerFunds Distributor,
Inc. (the "Distributor").
1. The Plan. This Plan is the Fund's written distribution and service
plan for Class B shares of the Fund (the "Shares"), contemplated by Rule
12b-1 as it may be amended from time to time (the "Rule") under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), pursuant to which the Fund
will compensate the Distributor for its services in connection with the
distribution of Shares, and the personal service and maintenance of
shareholder accounts that hold Shares ("Accounts"). The Fund may act as
distributor of securities of which it is the issuer, pursuant to the Rule,
according to the terms of this Plan. The terms and provisions of this Plan
shall be interpreted and defined in a manner consistent with the provisions
and definitions contained in (i) the 1940 Act, (ii) the Rule, (iii) Rule 2830
of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
or any amendment or successor to such rule (the "NASD Conduct Rules") and
(iv) any conditions pertaining either to distribution-related expenses or to
a plan of distribution to which the Fund is subject under any order on which
the Fund relies, issued at any time by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC").
2. Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(a) "Recipient" shall mean any broker, dealer, bank or other person
or entity which: (i) has rendered assistance (whether direct, administrative
or both) in the distribution of Shares or has provided administrative support
services with respect to Shares held by Customers (defined below) of the
Recipient; (ii) shall furnish the Distributor (on behalf of the Fund) with
such information as the Distributor shall reasonably request to answer such
questions as may arise concerning the sale of Shares; and (iii) has been
selected by the Distributor to receive payments under the Plan.
(b) "Independent Trustees" shall mean the members of the Trust's
Board of Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating to this Plan.
(c) "Customers" shall mean such brokerage or other customers or
investment advisory or other clients of a Recipient, and/or accounts as to
which such Recipient provides administrative support services or is a
custodian or other fiduciary.
<PAGE>
77
(d) "Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Recipient, all Shares
owned beneficially or of record by: (i) such Recipient, or (ii) such
Recipient's Customers, but in no event shall any such Shares be deemed owned
by more than one Recipient for purposes of this Plan. In the event that more
than one person or entity would otherwise qualify as Recipients as to the
same Shares, the Recipient which is the dealer of record on the Fund's books
as determined by the Distributor shall be deemed the Recipient as to such
Shares for purposes of this Plan.
3. Payments for Distribution Assistance and Administrative Support
Services.
(a) Payments to the Distributor. In consideration of the payments
made by the Fund to the Distributor under this Plan, the Distributor shall
provide administrative support services and distribution assistance services
to the Fund. Such services include distribution assistance and
administrative support services rendered in connection with Shares (1) sold
in purchase transactions, (2) issued in exchange for shares of another
investment company for which the Distributor serves as distributor or
sub-distributor, or (3) issued pursuant to a plan of reorganization to which
the Fund is a party. If the Board believes that the Distributor may not be
rendering appropriate distribution assistance or administrative support
services in connection with the sale of Shares, then the Distributor, at the
request of the Board, shall provide the Board with a written report or other
information to verify that the Distributor is providing appropriate services
in this regard. For such services, the Fund will make the following payments
to the Distributor:
(i) Administrative Support Services Fees. Within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average
during that calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of the Shares
computed as of the close of each business day (the "Service Fee"). Such
Service Fee payments received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor
for providing administrative support services with respect to Accounts. The
administrative support services in connection with Accounts may include, but
shall not be limited to, the administrative support services that a Recipient
may render as described in Section 3(b)(i) below.
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge).
Within ten (10) days of the end of each month, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.75% on an annual basis) of the average
during the month of the aggregate net asset value of Shares computed as of
the close of each business day (the "Asset-Based Sales Charge") outstanding
for no more than six years (the "Maximum Holding Period"). Such Asset-Based
Sales Charge payments received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor
for providing distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Distributor in
connection with the Shares may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: (i) paying sales commissions to any broker, dealer, bank or other
person or entity that sells Shares, and\or paying such persons "Advance
Service Fee Payments" (as defined below) in advance of, and\or in amounts
greater than, the amount provided for in Section 3(b) of this Agreement; (ii)
paying compensation to and expenses of personnel of the Distributor who
support distribution of Shares by Recipients; (iii) obtaining financing or
providing such financing from its own resources, or from an affiliate, for
the interest and other borrowing costs of the Distributor's unreimbursed
expenses incurred in rendering distribution assistance and administrative
support services to the Fund; and (iv) paying other direct distribution
costs, including without limitation the costs of sales literature,
advertising and prospectuses (other than those prospectuses furnished to
current holders of the Fund's shares ("Shareholders")) and state "blue sky"
registration expenses.
<PAGE>
(b) Payments to Recipients. The Distributor is authorized under the
Plan to pay Recipients (1) distribution assistance fees for rendering
distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares and/or (2)
service fees for rendering administrative support services with respect to
Accounts. However, no such payments shall be made to any Recipient for any
such quarter in which its Qualified Holdings do not equal or exceed, at the
end of such quarter, the minimum amount ("Minimum Qualified Holdings"), if
any, that may be set from time to time by a majority of the Independent
Trustees. All fee payments made by the Distributor hereunder are subject to
reduction or chargeback so that the aggregate service fee payments and
Advance Service Fee Payments do not exceed the limits on payments to
Recipients that are, or may be, imposed by the NASD Conduct Rules. The
Distributor may make Plan payments to any "affiliated person" (as defined in
the 1940 Act) of the Distributor if such affiliated person qualifies as a
Recipient or retain such payments if the Distributor qualifies as a
Recipient.
(i) Service Fee. In consideration of the administrative support
services provided by a Recipient during a calendar quarter, the Distributor
shall make service fee payments to that Recipient quarterly, within
forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to
exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or
of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period of more than the
minimum period (the "Minimum Holding Period"), if any, that may be set from
time to time by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
Alternatively, the Distributor may, at its sole option, make the
following service fee payments to any Recipient quarterly, within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter: (i) "Advance Service Fee
Payments" at a rate not to exceed 0.25% of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of business on the day such Shares are sold, constituting Qualified Holdings,
sold by the Recipient during that quarter and owned beneficially or of record
by the Recipient or by its Customers, plus (ii) service fee payments at a
rate not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during
the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as
of the close of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned
beneficially or of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period
of more than one (1) year. At the Distributor's sole option, the Advance
Service Fee Payments may be made more often than quarterly, and sooner than
the end of the calendar quarter. In the event Shares are redeemed less than
one year after the date such Shares were sold, the Recipient is obligated to
and will repay the Distributor on demand a pro rata portion of such Advance
Service Fee Payments, based on the ratio of the time such Shares were held to
one (1) year.
The administrative support services to be rendered by Recipients
in connection with the Accounts may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund, assisting in the
establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and
processing Share redemption transactions, making the Fund's investment plans
and dividend payment options available, and providing such other information
and services in connection with the rendering of personal services and/or the
maintenance of Accounts, as the Distributor or the Fund may reasonably
request.
<PAGE>
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge)
Payments. In its sole discretion and irrespective of whichever alternative
method of making service fee payments to Recipients is selected by the
Distributor, in addition the Distributor may make distribution assistance fee
payments to a Recipient quarterly, within forty-five (45) days after the end
of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to exceed 0.1875% (0.75% on an annual
basis) of the average during the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset
value of Shares computed as of the close of each business day constituting
Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or of record by the Recipient or its
Customers for no more than six years and for any minimum period that the
Distributor may establish. Distribution assistance fee payments shall be
made only to Recipients that are registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer
or are exempt from registration.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Recipients in
connection with the sale of Shares may include, but shall not be limited to,
the following: distributing sales literature and prospectuses other than
those furnished to current Shareholders, providing compensation to and paying
expenses of personnel of the Recipient who support the distribution of Shares
by the Recipient, and providing such other information and services in
connection with the distribution of Shares as the Distributor or the Fund may
reasonably request.
(c) A majority of the Independent Trustees may at any time or from
time to time increase or decrease the rate of fees to be paid to the
Distributor or to any Recipient, but not to exceed the rates set forth above,
and/or direct the Distributor to increase or decrease the Maximum Holding
Period, any Minimum Holding Period or any Minimum Qualified Holdings. The
Distributor shall notify all Recipients of any Minimum Qualified Holdings,
Maximum Holding Period and Minimum Holding Period that are established and
the rate of payments hereunder applicable to Recipients, and shall provide
each Recipient with written notice within thirty (30) days after any change
in these provisions. Inclusion of such provisions or a change in such
provisions in a revised current prospectus shall constitute sufficient
notice.
(d) The Service Fee and the Asset-Based Sales Charge on Shares are
subject to reduction or elimination under the limits to which the Distributor
is, or may become, subject under the NASD Conduct Rules.
(e) Under the Plan, payments may also be made to Recipients: (i) by
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. ("OFI") from its own resources (which may include
profits derived from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund), or (ii) by
the Distributor (a subsidiary of OFI), from its own resources, from
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments or from the proceeds of its borrowings, in
either case, in the discretion of OFI or the Distributor, respectively.
<PAGE>
(f) Recipients are intended to have certain rights as third-party
beneficiaries under this Plan, subject to the limitations set forth below.
It may be presumed that a Recipient has provided distribution assistance or
administrative support services qualifying for payment under the Plan if it
has Qualified Holdings of Shares that entitle it to payments under the Plan.
In the event that either the Distributor or the Board should have reason to
believe that, notwithstanding the level of Qualified Holdings, a Recipient
may not be rendering appropriate distribution assistance in connection with
the sale of Shares or administrative support services for Accounts, then the
Distributor, at the request of the Board, shall require the Recipient to
provide a written report or other information to verify that said Recipient
is providing appropriate distribution assistance and/or services in this
regard. If the Distributor or the Board of Trustees still is not satisfied
after the receipt of such report, either may take appropriate steps to
terminate the Recipient's status as such under the Plan, whereupon such
Recipient's rights as a third-party beneficiary hereunder shall terminate.
Additionally, in their discretion, a majority of the Trust's Independent
Trustees at any time may remove any broker, dealer, bank or other person or
entity as a Recipient, where upon such person's or entity's rights as a
third-party beneficiary hereof shall terminate. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Plan, this Plan does not obligate or in any way make the
Fund liable to make any payment whatsoever to any person or entity other than
directly to the Distributor. The Distributor has no obligation to pay any
Service Fees or Distribution Assistance Fees to any Recipient if the
Distributor has not received payment of Service Fees or Distribution Fees
from the Fund.
4. Selection and Nomination of Trustees. While this Plan is in effect,
the selection and nomination of persons to be Trustees of the Trust who are
not "interested persons" of the Trust ("Disinterested Trustees") shall be
committed to the discretion of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees. Nothing
herein shall prevent the incumbent Disinterested Trustees from soliciting the
views or the involvement of others in such selection or nominations as long
as the final decision on any such selection and nomination is approved by a
majority of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees.
5. Reports. While this Plan is in effect, the Treasurer of the Trust
shall provide written reports to the Trust's Board for its review, detailing
the amount of all payments made under this Plan and the purpose for which the
payments were made. The reports shall be provided quarterly, and shall state
whether all provisions of Section 3 of this Plan have been complied with.
6. Related Agreements. Any agreement related to this Plan shall be in
writing and shall provide that: (i) such agreement may be terminated at any
time, without payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a "majority" (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class B voting shares; (ii) such
termination shall be on not more than sixty days' written notice to any
other party to the agreement; (iii) such agreement shall automatically
terminate in the event of its "assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act); (iv)
such agreement shall go into effect when approved by a vote of the Board and
its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting on such agreement; and (v) such agreement shall, unless terminated
as herein provided, continue in effect from year to year only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board
and its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such continuance.
7. Effectiveness, Continuation, Termination and Amendment. This Amended
and Restated Plan has been approved by a vote of the Board and of the
Independent Trustees and replaces the Fund's prior Amended and Restated
Distribution and Service Plan for Class B Shares. Unless terminated as
hereinafter provided, it shall continue in effect until renewed by the Board
in accordance with the Rule and thereafter from year to year or as the Board
may otherwise determine but only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by a vote of the Board and its Independent
Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
continuance.
This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of
payments to be made under this Plan, without approval of the Class B
Shareholders at a meeting called for that purpose, and all material
amendments must be approved by a vote of the Board and of the Independent
Trustees.
This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a "majority" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class B voting shares. In
the event of such termination, the Board and its Independent Trustees shall
determine whether the Distributor shall be entitled to payment from the Fund
of all or a portion of the Service Fee and/or the Asset-Based Sales Charge in
respect of Shares sold prior to the effective date of such termination.
<PAGE>
79
8. Disclaimer of Shareholder and Trustee Liability. The Distributor
understands that the obligations of the Fund under this Plan are not binding
upon any Trustee or shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the
Fund and the Fund's property. The Distributor represents that it has notice
of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust disclaiming
shareholder and Trustee liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds on
behalf of
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund
/s/ Andrew J. Donohue
By: ____________________________________
Secretary
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
/s/ Katherine P. Feld
By: ____________________________________
Vice President
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
With
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
For Class B Shares of
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
This Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement (the
"Plan") is dated as of the 3rd day of February, 1998, by and between
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (the "Trust") on behalf of Oppenheimer
Quest Small Cap Value Fund (the "Fund") and OppenheimerFunds Distributor,
Inc. (the "Distributor").
1. The Plan. This Plan is the Fund's written distribution and service
plan for Class B shares of the Fund (the "Shares"), contemplated by Rule
12b-1 as it may be amended from time to time (the "Rule") under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), pursuant to which the Fund
will compensate the Distributor for its services in connection with the
distribution of Shares, and the personal service and maintenance of
shareholder accounts that hold Shares ("Accounts"). The Fund may act as
distributor of securities of which it is the issuer, pursuant to the Rule,
according to the terms of this Plan. The terms and provisions of this Plan
shall be interpreted and defined in a manner consistent with the provisions
and definitions contained in (i) the 1940 Act, (ii) the Rule, (iii) Rule 2830
of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
or any amendment or successor to such rule (the "NASD Conduct Rules") and
(iv) any conditions pertaining either to distribution-related expenses or to
a plan of distribution to which the Fund is subject under any order on which
the Fund relies, issued at any time by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC").
2. Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(a) "Recipient" shall mean any broker, dealer, bank or other person
or entity which: (i) has rendered assistance (whether direct, administrative
or both) in the distribution of Shares or has provided administrative support
services with respect to Shares held by Customers (defined below) of the
Recipient; (ii) shall furnish the Distributor (on behalf of the Fund) with
such information as the Distributor shall reasonably request to answer such
questions as may arise concerning the sale of Shares; and (iii) has been
selected by the Distributor to receive payments under the Plan.
(b) "Independent Trustees" shall mean the members of the Trust's
Board of Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating to this Plan.
(c) "Customers" shall mean such brokerage or other customers or
investment advisory or other clients of a Recipient, and/or accounts as to
which such Recipient provides administrative support services or is a
custodian or other fiduciary.
<PAGE>
86
(d) "Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Recipient, all Shares
owned beneficially or of record by: (i) such Recipient, or (ii) such
Recipient's Customers, but in no event shall any such Shares be deemed owned
by more than one Recipient for purposes of this Plan. In the event that more
than one person or entity would otherwise qualify as Recipients as to the
same Shares, the Recipient which is the dealer of record on the Fund's books
as determined by the Distributor shall be deemed the Recipient as to such
Shares for purposes of this Plan.
3. Payments for Distribution Assistance and Administrative Support
Services.
(a) Payments to the Distributor. In consideration of the payments
made by the Fund to the Distributor under this Plan, the Distributor shall
provide administrative support services and distribution assistance services
to the Fund. Such services include distribution assistance and
administrative support services rendered in connection with Shares (1) sold
in purchase transactions, (2) issued in exchange for shares of another
investment company for which the Distributor serves as distributor or
sub-distributor, or (3) issued pursuant to a plan of reorganization to which
the Fund is a party. If the Board believes that the Distributor may not be
rendering appropriate distribution assistance or administrative support
services in connection with the sale of Shares, then the Distributor, at the
request of the Board, shall provide the Board with a written report or other
information to verify that the Distributor is providing appropriate services
in this regard. For such services, the Fund will make the following payments
to the Distributor:
(i) Administrative Support Services Fees. Within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average
during that calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of the Shares
computed as of the close of each business day (the "Service Fee"). Such
Service Fee payments received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor
for providing administrative support services with respect to Accounts. The
administrative support services in connection with Accounts may include, but
shall not be limited to, the administrative support services that a Recipient
may render as described in Section 3(b)(i) below.
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge).
Within ten (10) days of the end of each month, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.75% on an annual basis) of the average
during the month of the aggregate net asset value of Shares computed as of
the close of each business day (the "Asset-Based Sales Charge") outstanding
for no more than six years (the "Maximum Holding Period"). Such Asset-Based
Sales Charge payments received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor
for providing distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Distributor in
connection with the Shares may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: (i) paying sales commissions to any broker, dealer, bank or other
person or entity that sells Shares, and\or paying such persons "Advance
Service Fee Payments" (as defined below) in advance of, and\or in amounts
greater than, the amount provided for in Section 3(b) of this Agreement; (ii)
paying compensation to and expenses of personnel of the Distributor who
support distribution of Shares by Recipients; (iii) obtaining financing or
providing such financing from its own resources, or from an affiliate, for
the interest and other borrowing costs of the Distributor's unreimbursed
expenses incurred in rendering distribution assistance and administrative
support services to the Fund; and (iv) paying other direct distribution
costs, including without limitation the costs of sales literature,
advertising and prospectuses (other than those prospectuses furnished to
current holders of the Fund's shares ("Shareholders")) and state "blue sky"
registration expenses.
<PAGE>
(b) Payments to Recipients. The Distributor is authorized under the
Plan to pay Recipients (1) distribution assistance fees for rendering
distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares and/or (2)
service fees for rendering administrative support services with respect to
Accounts. However, no such payments shall be made to any Recipient for any
such quarter in which its Qualified Holdings do not equal or exceed, at the
end of such quarter, the minimum amount ("Minimum Qualified Holdings"), if
any, that may be set from time to time by a majority of the Independent
Trustees. All fee payments made by the Distributor hereunder are subject to
reduction or chargeback so that the aggregate service fee payments and
Advance Service Fee Payments do not exceed the limits on payments to
Recipients that are, or may be, imposed by the NASD Conduct Rules. The
Distributor may make Plan payments to any "affiliated person" (as defined in
the 1940 Act) of the Distributor if such affiliated person qualifies as a
Recipient or retain such payments if the Distributor qualifies as a
Recipient.
(i) Service Fee. In consideration of the administrative support
services provided by a Recipient during a calendar quarter, the Distributor
shall make service fee payments to that Recipient quarterly, within
forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to
exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or
of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period of more than the
minimum period (the "Minimum Holding Period"), if any, that may be set from
time to time by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
Alternatively, the Distributor may, at its sole option, make the
following service fee payments to any Recipient quarterly, within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter: (i) "Advance Service Fee
Payments" at a rate not to exceed 0.25% of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of business on the day such Shares are sold, constituting Qualified Holdings,
sold by the Recipient during that quarter and owned beneficially or of record
by the Recipient or by its Customers, plus (ii) service fee payments at a
rate not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during
the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as
of the close of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned
beneficially or of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period
of more than one (1) year. At the Distributor's sole option, the Advance
Service Fee Payments may be made more often than quarterly, and sooner than
the end of the calendar quarter. In the event Shares are redeemed less than
one year after the date such Shares were sold, the Recipient is obligated to
and will repay the Distributor on demand a pro rata portion of such Advance
Service Fee Payments, based on the ratio of the time such Shares were held to
one (1) year.
The administrative support services to be rendered by Recipients
in connection with the Accounts may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund, assisting in the
establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and
processing Share redemption transactions, making the Fund's investment plans
and dividend payment options available, and providing such other information
and services in connection with the rendering of personal services and/or the
maintenance of Accounts, as the Distributor or the Fund may reasonably
request.
<PAGE>
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge)
Payments. In its sole discretion and irrespective of whichever alternative
method of making service fee payments to Recipients is selected by the
Distributor, in addition the Distributor may make distribution assistance fee
payments to a Recipient quarterly, within forty-five (45) days after the end
of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to exceed 0.1875% (0.75% on an annual
basis) of the average during the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset
value of Shares computed as of the close of each business day constituting
Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or of record by the Recipient or its
Customers for no more than six years and for any minimum period that the
Distributor may establish. Distribution assistance fee payments shall be
made only to Recipients that are registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer
or are exempt from registration.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Recipients in
connection with the sale of Shares may include, but shall not be limited to,
the following: distributing sales literature and prospectuses other than
those furnished to current Shareholders, providing compensation to and paying
expenses of personnel of the Recipient who support the distribution of Shares
by the Recipient, and providing such other information and services in
connection with the distribution of Shares as the Distributor or the Fund may
reasonably request.
(c) A majority of the Independent Trustees may at any time or from
time to time increase or decrease the rate of fees to be paid to the
Distributor or to any Recipient, but not to exceed the rates set forth above,
and/or direct the Distributor to increase or decrease the Maximum Holding
Period, any Minimum Holding Period or any Minimum Qualified Holdings. The
Distributor shall notify all Recipients of any Minimum Qualified Holdings,
Maximum Holding Period and Minimum Holding Period that are established and
the rate of payments hereunder applicable to Recipients, and shall provide
each Recipient with written notice within thirty (30) days after any change
in these provisions. Inclusion of such provisions or a change in such
provisions in a revised current prospectus shall constitute sufficient
notice.
(d) The Service Fee and the Asset-Based Sales Charge on Shares are
subject to reduction or elimination under the limits to which the Distributor
is, or may become, subject under the NASD Conduct Rules.
(e) Under the Plan, payments may also be made to Recipients: (i) by
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. ("OFI") from its own resources (which may include
profits derived from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund), or (ii) by
the Distributor (a subsidiary of OFI), from its own resources, from
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments or from the proceeds of its borrowings, in
either case, in the discretion of OFI or the Distributor, respectively.
<PAGE>
(f) Recipients are intended to have certain rights as third-party
beneficiaries under this Plan, subject to the limitations set forth below.
It may be presumed that a Recipient has provided distribution assistance or
administrative support services qualifying for payment under the Plan if it
has Qualified Holdings of Shares that entitle it to payments under the Plan.
In the event that either the Distributor or the Board should have reason to
believe that, notwithstanding the level of Qualified Holdings, a Recipient
may not be rendering appropriate distribution assistance in connection with
the sale of Shares or administrative support services for Accounts, then the
Distributor, at the request of the Board, shall require the Recipient to
provide a written report or other information to verify that said Recipient
is providing appropriate distribution assistance and/or services in this
regard. If the Distributor or the Board of Trustees still is not satisfied
after the receipt of such report, either may take appropriate steps to
terminate the Recipient's status as such under the Plan, whereupon such
Recipient's rights as a third-party beneficiary hereunder shall terminate.
Additionally, in their discretion, a majority of the Trust's Independent
Trustees at any time may remove any broker, dealer, bank or other person or
entity as a Recipient, where upon such person's or entity's rights as a
third-party beneficiary hereof shall terminate. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Plan, this Plan does not obligate or in any way make the
Fund liable to make any payment whatsoever to any person or entity other than
directly to the Distributor. The Distributor has no obligation to pay any
Service Fees or Distribution Assistance Fees to any Recipient if the
Distributor has not received payment of Service Fees or Distribution Fees
from the Fund.
4. Selection and Nomination of Trustees. While this Plan is in effect,
the selection and nomination of persons to be Trustees of the Trust who are
not "interested persons" of the Trust ("Disinterested Trustees") shall be
committed to the discretion of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees. Nothing
herein shall prevent the incumbent Disinterested Trustees from soliciting the
views or the involvement of others in such selection or nominations as long
as the final decision on any such selection and nomination is approved by a
majority of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees.
5. Reports. While this Plan is in effect, the Treasurer of the Trust
shall provide written reports to the Trust's Board for its review, detailing
the amount of all payments made under this Plan and the purpose for which the
payments were made. The reports shall be provided quarterly, and shall state
whether all provisions of Section 3 of this Plan have been complied with.
6. Related Agreements. Any agreement related to this Plan shall be in
writing and shall provide that: (i) such agreement may be terminated at any
time, without payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a "majority" (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class B voting shares; (ii) such
termination shall be on not more than sixty days' written notice to any
other party to the agreement; (iii) such agreement shall automatically
terminate in the event of its "assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act); (iv)
such agreement shall go into effect when approved by a vote of the Board and
its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting on such agreement; and (v) such agreement shall, unless terminated
as herein provided, continue in effect from year to year only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board
and its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such continuance.
7. Effectiveness, Continuation, Termination and Amendment. This Amended
and Restated Plan has been approved by a vote of the Board and of the
Independent Trustees and replaces the Fund's prior Amended and Restated
Distribution and Service Plan for Class B Shares. Unless terminated as
hereinafter provided, it shall continue in effect until renewed by the Board
in accordance with the Rule and thereafter from year to year or as the Board
may otherwise determine but only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by a vote of the Board and its Independent
Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
continuance.
This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of
payments to be made under this Plan, without approval of the Class B
Shareholders at a meeting called for that purpose, and all material
amendments must be approved by a vote of the Board and of the Independent
Trustees.
This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a "majority" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class B voting shares. In
the event of such termination, the Board and its Independent Trustees shall
determine whether the Distributor shall be entitled to payment from the Fund
of all or a portion of the Service Fee and/or the Asset-Based Sales Charge in
respect of Shares sold prior to the effective date of such termination.
<PAGE>
8. Disclaimer of Shareholder and Trustee Liability. The Distributor
understands that the obligations of the Fund under this Plan are not binding
upon any Trustee or shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the
Fund and the Fund's property. The Distributor represents that it has notice
of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust disclaiming
shareholder and Trustee liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds on
behalf of
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
/s/ Andrew J. Donohue
By: ____________________________________
Secretary
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
/s/ Katherine P. Feld
By: ____________________________________
Vice President
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
with
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
For Class C Shares of
Oppenheimer Quest Growth & Income Value Fund
This Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement (the
"Plan") is dated as of the 3rd day of February, 1998, by and between
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (the "Trust") on behalf of Oppenheimer
Quest Growth & Income Value Fund (the "Fund") and OppenheimerFunds
Distributor, Inc. (the "Distributor").
1. The Plan. This Plan is the Fund's written distribution and service
plan for Class C shares of the Fund (the "Shares"), contemplated by Rule
12b-1 as it may be amended from time to time (the "Rule") under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), pursuant to which the Fund
will compensate the Distributor for its services in connection with the
distribution of Shares, and the personal service and maintenance of
shareholder accounts that hold Shares ("Accounts"). The Fund may act as
distributor of securities of which it is the issuer, pursuant to the Rule,
according to the terms of this Plan. The terms and provisions of this Plan
shall be interpreted and defined in a manner consistent with the provisions
and definitions contained in (i) the 1940 Act, (ii) the Rule, (iii) Rule 2830
of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
or any applicable amendment or successor to such rule (the "NASD Conduct
Rules") and (iv) any conditions pertaining either to distribution-related
expenses or to a plan of distribution to which the Fund is subject under any
order on which the Fund relies, issued at any time by the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC").
2. Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(a) "Recipient" shall mean any broker, dealer, bank or other person
or entity which: (i) has rendered assistance (whether direct, administrative
or both) in the distribution of Shares or has provided administrative support
services with respect to Shares held by Customers (defined below) of the
Recipient; (ii) shall furnish the Distributor (on behalf of the Fund) with
such information as the Distributor shall reasonably request to answer such
questions as may arise concerning the sale of Shares; and (iii) has been
selected by the Distributor to receive payments under the Plan.
(b) "Independent Trustees" shall mean the members of the Trust's
Board of Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating to this Plan.
(c) "Customers" shall mean such brokerage or other customers or
investment advisory or other clients of a Recipient, and/or accounts as to
which such Recipient provides administrative support services or is a
custodian or other fiduciary.
<PAGE>
89
(d) "Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Recipient, all Shares
owned beneficially or of record by: (i) such Recipient, or (ii) such
Recipient's Customers, but in no event shall any such Shares be deemed owned
by more than one Recipient for purposes of this Plan. In the event that more
than one person or entity would otherwise qualify as Recipients as to the
same Shares, the Recipient which is the dealer of record on the Fund's books
as determined by the Distributor shall be deemed the Recipient as to such
Shares for purposes of this Plan.
3. Payments for Distribution Assistance and Administrative Support
Services.
(a) Payments to the Distributor. In consideration of the payments
made by the Fund to the Distributor under this Plan, the Distributor shall
provide administrative support services and distribution services to the
Fund. Such services include distribution assistance and administrative
support services rendered in connection with Shares (1) sold in purchase
transactions, (2) issued in exchange for shares of another investment company
for which the Distributor serves as distributor or sub-distributor, or (3)
issued pursuant to a plan of reorganization to which the Fund is a party. If
the Board believes that the Distributor may not be rendering appropriate
distribution assistance or administrative support services in connection with
the sale of Shares, then the Distributor, at the request of the Board, shall
provide the Board with a written report or other information to verify that
the Distributor is providing appropriate services in this regard. For such
services, the Fund will make the following payments to the Distributor:
(i) Administrative Support Services Fees. Within forty-five (45)
days of the end of each calendar quarter, the Fund will make payments in the
aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during
that calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of the Shares computed
as of the close of each business day (the "Service Fee"). Such Service Fee
payments received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor for providing
administrative support services with respect to Accounts. The administrative
support services in connection with Accounts may include, but shall not be
limited to, the administrative support services that a Recipient may render
as described in Section 3(b)(i) below.
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge).
Within ten (10) days of the end of each month, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.75% on an annual basis) of the average
during the month of the aggregate net asset value of Shares computed as of
the close of each business day (the "Asset-Based Sales Charge"). Such
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments received from the Fund will compensate the
Distributor for providing distribution assistance in connection with the sale
of Shares.
<PAGE>
The distribution assistance services to be rendered by the Distributor
in connection with the Shares may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: (i) paying sales commissions to any broker, dealer, bank or other
person or entity that sells Shares, and/or paying such persons "Advance
Service Fee Payments" (as defined below) in advance of, and/or in amounts
greater than, the amount provided for in Section 3(b) of this Agreement; (ii)
paying compensation to and expenses of personnel of the Distributor who
support distribution of Shares by Recipients; (iii) obtaining financing or
providing such financing from its own resources, or from an affiliate, for
the interest and other borrowing costs of the Distributor's unreimbursed
expenses incurred in rendering distribution assistance and administrative
support services to the Fund; and (iv) paying other direct distribution
costs, including without limitation the costs of sales literature,
advertising and prospectuses (other than those prospectuses furnished to
current holders of the Fund's shares ("Shareholders")) and state "blue sky"
registration expenses.
(b) Payments to Recipients. The Distributor is authorized under the
Plan to pay Recipients (1) distribution assistance fees for rendering
distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares and/or (2)
service fees for rendering administrative support services with respect to
Accounts. However, no such payments shall be made to any Recipient for any
quarter in which its Qualified Holdings do not equal or exceed, at the end
of such quarter, the minimum amount ("Minimum Qualified Holdings"), if any,
that may be set from time to time by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
All fee payments made by the Distributor hereunder are subject to reduction
or chargeback so that the aggregate service fee payments and Advance Service
Fee Payments do not exceed the limits on payments to Recipients that are, or
may be, imposed by the NASD Conduct Rules. The Distributor may make Plan
payments to any "affiliated person" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
Distributor if such affiliated person qualifies as a Recipient or retain such
payments if the Distributor qualifies as a Recipient.
In consideration of the services provided by Recipients, the
Distributor shall make the following payments to Recipients:
(i) Service Fee. In consideration of administrative support
services provided by a Recipient during a calendar quarter, the Distributor
shall make service fee payments to that Recipient quarterly, within
forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to
exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or
of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period of more than the
minimum period (the "Minimum Holding Period"), if any, that may be set from
time to time by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
Alternatively, the Distributor may, at its sole option, make the
following service fee payments to any Recipient quarterly, within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter: (A) "Advance Service Fee
Payments" at a rate not to exceed 0.25% of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of business on the day such Shares are sold, constituting Qualified Holdings,
sold by the Recipient during that quarter and owned beneficially or of record
by the Recipient or by its Customers, plus (B) service fee payments at a rate
not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the
calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of
the close of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned
beneficially or of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period
of more than one (1) year. At the Distributor's sole option, Advance Service
Fee Payments may be made more often than quarterly, and sooner than the end
of the calendar quarter. In the event Shares are redeemed less than one year
after the date such Shares were sold, the Recipient is obligated to and will
repay the Distributor on demand a pro rata portion of such Advance Service
Fee Payments, based on the ratio of the time such Shares were held to one (1)
year.
<PAGE>
The administrative support services to be rendered by Recipients in
connection with the Accounts may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund, assisting in the
establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and
processing Share redemption transactions, making the Fund's investment plans
and dividend payment options available, and providing such other information
and services in connection with the rendering of personal services and/or the
maintenance of Accounts, as the Distributor or the Fund may reasonably
request.
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fee (Asset-Based Sales Charge)
Payments. Irrespective of whichever alternative method of making service fee
payments to Recipients is selected by the Distributor, in addition the
Distributor shall make distribution assistance fee payments to each Recipient
quarterly, within forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar
quarter, at a rate not to exceed 0.1875% (0.75% on an annual basis) of the
average during the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of
Shares computed as of the close of each business day constituting Qualified
Holdings owned beneficially or of record by the Recipient or its Customers
for a period of more than one (1) year. Alternatively, at its sole option,
the Distributor may make distribution assistance fee payments to a Recipient
quarterly, at the rate described above, on Shares constituting Qualified
Holdings owned beneficially or of record by the Recipient or its Customers
without regard to the 1-year holding period described above. Distribution
assistance fee payments shall be made only to Recipients that are registered
with the SEC as a broker-dealer or are exempt from registration.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Recipients in
connection with the sale of Shares may include, but shall not be limited to,
the following: distributing sales literature and prospectuses other than
those furnished to current Shareholders, providing compensation to and paying
expenses of personnel of the Recipient who support the distribution of Shares
by the Recipient, and providing such other information and services in
connection with the distribution of Shares as the Distributor or the Fund may
reasonably request.
(c) A majority of the Independent Trustees may at any time or from
time to time (i) increase or decrease the rate of fees to be paid to the
Distributor or to any Recipient, but not to exceed the rates set forth above,
and/or (ii) direct the Distributor to increase or decrease any Minimum
Holding Period, any maximum period set by a majority of the Independent
Trustees during which fees will be paid on Shares constituting Qualified
Holdings owned beneficially or of record by a Recipient or by its Customers
(the "Maximum Holding Period"), or Minimum Qualified Holdings. The
Distributor shall notify all Recipients of any Minimum Qualified Holdings,
Maximum Holding Period and Minimum Holding Period that are established and
the rate of payments hereunder applicable to Recipients, and shall provide
each Recipient with written notice within thirty (30) days after any change
in these provisions. Inclusion of such provisions or a change in such
provisions in a supplement or amendment to or revision of the prospectus of
the Fund shall constitute sufficient notice.
(d) The Service Fee and the Asset-Based Sales Charge on Shares are
subject to reduction or elimination under the limits to which the Distributor
is, or may become, subject under the NASD Conduct Rules.
(e) Under the Plan, payments may also be made to Recipients: (i) by
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. ("OFI") from its own resources (which may include
profits derived from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund), or (ii) by
the Distributor (a subsidiary of OFI), from its own resources, from
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments or from the proceeds of its borrowings, in
either case, in the discretion of OFI or the Distributor, respectively.
<PAGE>
(f) Recipients are intended to have certain rights as third-party
beneficiaries under this Plan, subject to the limitations set forth below.
It may be presumed that a Recipient has provided distribution assistance or
administrative support services qualifying for payment under the Plan if it
has Qualified Holdings of Shares that entitle it to payments under the Plan.
If either the Distributor or the Board believe that, notwithstanding the
level of Qualified Holdings, a Recipient may not be rendering appropriate
distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares or
administrative support services for Accounts, then the Distributor, at the
request of the Board, shall require the Recipient to provide a written report
or other information to verify that said Recipient is providing appropriate
distribution assistance and/or services in this regard. If the Distributor
or the Board of Trustees still is not satisfied after the receipt of such
report, either may take appropriate steps to terminate the Recipient's status
as a Recipient under the Plan, whereupon such Recipient's rights as a
third-party beneficiary hereunder shall terminate. Additionally, in their
discretion a majority of the Trust's Independent Trustees at any time may
remove any broker, dealer, bank or other person or entity as a Recipient,
whereupon such person's or entity's rights as a third-party beneficiary
hereof shall terminate. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan,
this Plan does not obligate or in any way make the Fund liable to make any
payment whatsoever to any person or entity other than directly to the
Distributor. The Distributor has no obligation to pay any Service Fees or
Distribution Assistance Fees to any Recipient if the Distributor has not
received payment of Service Fees or Distribution Assistance Fees from the
Fund.
4. Selection and Nomination of Trustees. While this Plan is in effect,
the selection and nomination of persons to be Trustees of the Trust who are
not "interested persons" of the Trust ("Disinterested Trustees") shall be
committed to the discretion of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees. Nothing
herein shall prevent the incumbent Disinterested Trustees from soliciting the
views or the involvement of others in such selection or nomination as long as
the final decision on any such selection and nomination is approved by a
majority of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees.
5. Reports. While this Plan is in effect, the Treasurer of the Trust
shall provide written reports to the Trust's Board for its review, detailing
the amount of all payments made under this Plan and the purpose for which the
payments were made. The reports shall be provided quarterly, and shall state
whether all provisions of Section 3 of this Plan have been complied with.
6. Related Agreements. Any agreement related to this Plan shall be in
writing and shall provide that: (i) such agreement may be terminated at any
time, without payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a "majority" (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding voting Class C shares; (ii) such
termination shall be on not more than sixty days' written notice to any other
party to the agreement; (iii) such agreement shall automatically terminate in
the event of its "assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act); (iv) such
agreement shall go into effect when approved by a vote of the Board and its
Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such agreement; and (v) such agreement shall, unless terminated as
herein provided, continue in effect from year to year only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board
and its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such continuance.
<PAGE>
92
7. Effectiveness, Continuation, Termination and Amendment. This Amended
and Restated Plan has been approved by a vote of the Board and of the
Independent Trustees and replaces the Fund's prior Amended and Restated
Distribution and Service Plan for Class C Shares. Unless terminated as
hereinafter provided, it shall continue in effect until renewed by the Board
in accordance with the Rule and thereafter from year to year or as the Board
may otherwise determine but only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by a vote of the Board and its Independent
Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
continuance.
This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of
payments to be made under this Plan, without approval of the Class C
Shareholders at a meeting called for that purpose and all material amendments
must be approved by a vote of the Board and of the Independent Trustees.
This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a "majority" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class C voting shares. In
the event of such termination, the Board and its Independent Trustees shall
determine whether the Distributor shall be entitled to payment from the Fund
of all or a portion of the Service Fee and/or the Asset-Based Sales Charge in
respect of Shares sold prior to the effective date of such termination.
8. Disclaimer of Shareholder and Trustee Liability. The Distributor
understands that the obligations of the Fund under this Plan are not binding
upon any Trustee or shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the
Fund and the Fund's property. The Distributor represents that it has notice
of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust disclaiming
shareholder and Trustee liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds on behalf of
Oppenheimer Quest Growth & Income Value Fund
Andrew J. Donohue
By: ________________________________________
Secretary
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
/s/ Katherine P. Feld
By: ________________________________________
Vice President
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
with
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
For Class C Shares of
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund
This Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement (the
"Plan") is dated as of the 3rd day of February, 1998, by and between
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (the "Trust") on behalf of Oppenheimer
Quest Opportunity Value Fund (the "Fund") and OppenheimerFunds Distributor,
Inc. (the "Distributor").
1. The Plan. This Plan is the Fund's written distribution and service
plan for Class C shares of the Fund (the "Shares"), contemplated by Rule
12b-1 as it may be amended from time to time (the "Rule") under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), pursuant to which the Fund
will compensate the Distributor for its services in connection with the
distribution of Shares, and the personal service and maintenance of
shareholder accounts that hold Shares ("Accounts"). The Fund may act as
distributor of securities of which it is the issuer, pursuant to the Rule,
according to the terms of this Plan. The terms and provisions of this Plan
shall be interpreted and defined in a manner consistent with the provisions
and definitions contained in (i) the 1940 Act, (ii) the Rule, (iii) Rule 2830
of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
or any applicable amendment or successor to such rule (the "NASD Conduct
Rules") and (iv) any conditions pertaining either to distribution-related
expenses or to a plan of distribution to which the Fund is subject under any
order on which the Fund relies, issued at any time by the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC").
2. Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(a) "Recipient" shall mean any broker, dealer, bank or other person
or entity which: (i) has rendered assistance (whether direct, administrative
or both) in the distribution of Shares or has provided administrative support
services with respect to Shares held by Customers (defined below) of the
Recipient; (ii) shall furnish the Distributor (on behalf of the Fund) with
such information as the Distributor shall reasonably request to answer such
questions as may arise concerning the sale of Shares; and (iii) has been
selected by the Distributor to receive payments under the Plan.
(b) "Independent Trustees" shall mean the members of the Trust's
Board of Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating to this Plan.
(c) "Customers" shall mean such brokerage or other customers or
investment advisory or other clients of a Recipient, and/or accounts as to
which such Recipient provides administrative support services or is a
custodian or other fiduciary.
<PAGE>
95
(d) "Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Recipient, all Shares
owned beneficially or of record by: (i) such Recipient, or (ii) such
Recipient's Customers, but in no event shall any such Shares be deemed owned
by more than one Recipient for purposes of this Plan. In the event that more
than one person or entity would otherwise qualify as Recipients as to the
same Shares, the Recipient which is the dealer of record on the Fund's books
as determined by the Distributor shall be deemed the Recipient as to such
Shares for purposes of this Plan.
3. Payments for Distribution Assistance and Administrative Support
Services.
(a) Payments to the Distributor. In consideration of the payments
made by the Fund to the Distributor under this Plan, the Distributor shall
provide administrative support services and distribution services to the
Fund. Such services include distribution assistance and administrative
support services rendered in connection with Shares (1) sold in purchase
transactions, (2) issued in exchange for shares of another investment company
for which the Distributor serves as distributor or sub-distributor, or (3)
issued pursuant to a plan of reorganization to which the Fund is a party. If
the Board believes that the Distributor may not be rendering appropriate
distribution assistance or administrative support services in connection with
the sale of Shares, then the Distributor, at the request of the Board, shall
provide the Board with a written report or other information to verify that
the Distributor is providing appropriate services in this regard. For such
services, the Fund will make the following payments to the Distributor:
(i) Administrative Support Services Fees. Within forty-five (45)
days of the end of each calendar quarter, the Fund will make payments in the
aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during
that calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of the Shares computed
as of the close of each business day (the "Service Fee"). Such Service Fee
payments received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor for providing
administrative support services with respect to Accounts. The administrative
support services in connection with Accounts may include, but shall not be
limited to, the administrative support services that a Recipient may render
as described in Section 3(b)(i) below.
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge).
Within ten (10) days of the end of each month, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.75% on an annual basis) of the average
during the month of the aggregate net asset value of Shares computed as of
the close of each business day (the "Asset-Based Sales Charge"). Such
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments received from the Fund will compensate the
Distributor for providing distribution assistance in connection with the sale
of Shares.
<PAGE>
The distribution assistance services to be rendered by the Distributor
in connection with the Shares may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: (i) paying sales commissions to any broker, dealer, bank or other
person or entity that sells Shares, and/or paying such persons "Advance
Service Fee Payments" (as defined below) in advance of, and/or in amounts
greater than, the amount provided for in Section 3(b) of this Agreement; (ii)
paying compensation to and expenses of personnel of the Distributor who
support distribution of Shares by Recipients; (iii) obtaining financing or
providing such financing from its own resources, or from an affiliate, for
the interest and other borrowing costs of the Distributor's unreimbursed
expenses incurred in rendering distribution assistance and administrative
support services to the Fund; and (iv) paying other direct distribution
costs, including without limitation the costs of sales literature,
advertising and prospectuses (other than those prospectuses furnished to
current holders of the Fund's shares ("Shareholders")) and state "blue sky"
registration expenses.
(b) Payments to Recipients. The Distributor is authorized under the
Plan to pay Recipients (1) distribution assistance fees for rendering
distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares and/or (2)
service fees for rendering administrative support services with respect to
Accounts. However, no such payments shall be made to any Recipient for any
quarter in which its Qualified Holdings do not equal or exceed, at the end
of such quarter, the minimum amount ("Minimum Qualified Holdings"), if any,
that may be set from time to time by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
All fee payments made by the Distributor hereunder are subject to reduction
or chargeback so that the aggregate service fee payments and Advance Service
Fee Payments do not exceed the limits on payments to Recipients that are, or
may be, imposed by the NASD Conduct Rules. The Distributor may make Plan
payments to any "affiliated person" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
Distributor if such affiliated person qualifies as a Recipient or retain such
payments if the Distributor qualifies as a Recipient.
In consideration of the services provided by Recipients, the
Distributor shall make the following payments to Recipients:
(i) Service Fee. In consideration of administrative support
services provided by a Recipient during a calendar quarter, the Distributor
shall make service fee payments to that Recipient quarterly, within
forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to
exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or
of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period of more than the
minimum period (the "Minimum Holding Period"), if any, that may be set from
time to time by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
Alternatively, the Distributor may, at its sole option, make the
following service fee payments to any Recipient quarterly, within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter: (A) "Advance Service Fee
Payments" at a rate not to exceed 0.25% of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of business on the day such Shares are sold, constituting Qualified Holdings,
sold by the Recipient during that quarter and owned beneficially or of record
by the Recipient or by its Customers, plus (B) service fee payments at a rate
not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the
calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of
the close of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned
beneficially or of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period
of more than one (1) year. At the Distributor's sole option, Advance Service
Fee Payments may be made more often than quarterly, and sooner than the end
of the calendar quarter. In the event Shares are redeemed less than one year
after the date such Shares were sold, the Recipient is obligated to and will
repay the Distributor on demand a pro rata portion of such Advance Service
Fee Payments, based on the ratio of the time such Shares were held to one (1)
year.
<PAGE>
The administrative support services to be rendered by Recipients in
connection with the Accounts may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund, assisting in the
establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and
processing Share redemption transactions, making the Fund's investment plans
and dividend payment options available, and providing such other information
and services in connection with the rendering of personal services and/or the
maintenance of Accounts, as the Distributor or the Fund may reasonably
request.
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fee (Asset-Based Sales Charge)
Payments. Irrespective of whichever alternative method of making service fee
payments to Recipients is selected by the Distributor, in addition the
Distributor shall make distribution assistance fee payments to each Recipient
quarterly, within forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar
quarter, at a rate not to exceed 0.1875% (0.75% on an annual basis) of the
average during the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of
Shares computed as of the close of each business day constituting Qualified
Holdings owned beneficially or of record by the Recipient or its Customers
for a period of more than one (1) year. Alternatively, at its sole option,
the Distributor may make distribution assistance fee payments to a Recipient
quarterly, at the rate described above, on Shares constituting Qualified
Holdings owned beneficially or of record by the Recipient or its Customers
without regard to the 1-year holding period described above. Distribution
assistance fee payments shall be made only to Recipients that are registered
with the SEC as a broker-dealer or are exempt from registration.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Recipients in
connection with the sale of Shares may include, but shall not be limited to,
the following: distributing sales literature and prospectuses other than
those furnished to current Shareholders, providing compensation to and paying
expenses of personnel of the Recipient who support the distribution of Shares
by the Recipient, and providing such other information and services in
connection with the distribution of Shares as the Distributor or the Fund may
reasonably request.
(c) A majority of the Independent Trustees may at any time or from
time to time (i) increase or decrease the rate of fees to be paid to the
Distributor or to any Recipient, but not to exceed the rates set forth above,
and/or (ii) direct the Distributor to increase or decrease any Minimum
Holding Period, any maximum period set by a majority of the Independent
Trustees during which fees will be paid on Shares constituting Qualified
Holdings owned beneficially or of record by a Recipient or by its Customers
(the "Maximum Holding Period"), or Minimum Qualified Holdings. The
Distributor shall notify all Recipients of any Minimum Qualified Holdings,
Maximum Holding Period and Minimum Holding Period that are established and
the rate of payments hereunder applicable to Recipients, and shall provide
each Recipient with written notice within thirty (30) days after any change
in these provisions. Inclusion of such provisions or a change in such
provisions in a supplement or amendment to or revision of the prospectus of
the Fund shall constitute sufficient notice.
(d) The Service Fee and the Asset-Based Sales Charge on Shares are
subject to reduction or elimination under the limits to which the Distributor
is, or may become, subject under the NASD Conduct Rules.
(e) Under the Plan, payments may also be made to Recipients: (i) by
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. ("OFI") from its own resources (which may include
profits derived from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund), or (ii) by
the Distributor (a subsidiary of OFI), from its own resources, from
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments or from the proceeds of its borrowings, in
either case, in the discretion of OFI or the Distributor, respectively.
<PAGE>
(f) Recipients are intended to have certain rights as third-party
beneficiaries under this Plan, subject to the limitations set forth below.
It may be presumed that a Recipient has provided distribution assistance or
administrative support services qualifying for payment under the Plan if it
has Qualified Holdings of Shares that entitle it to payments under the Plan.
If either the Distributor or the Board believe that, notwithstanding the
level of Qualified Holdings, a Recipient may not be rendering appropriate
distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares or
administrative support services for Accounts, then the Distributor, at the
request of the Board, shall require the Recipient to provide a written report
or other information to verify that said Recipient is providing appropriate
distribution assistance and/or services in this regard. If the Distributor
or the Board of Trustees still is not satisfied after the receipt of such
report, either may take appropriate steps to terminate the Recipient's status
as a Recipient under the Plan, whereupon such Recipient's rights as a
third-party beneficiary hereunder shall terminate. Additionally, in their
discretion a majority of the Trust's Independent Trustees at any time may
remove any broker, dealer, bank or other person or entity as a Recipient,
whereupon such person's or entity's rights as a third-party beneficiary
hereof shall terminate. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan,
this Plan does not obligate or in any way make the Fund liable to make any
payment whatsoever to any person or entity other than directly to the
Distributor. The Distributor has no obligation to pay any Service Fees or
Distribution Assistance Fees to any Recipient if the Distributor has not
received payment of Service Fees or Distribution Assistance Fees from the
Fund.
4. Selection and Nomination of Trustees. While this Plan is in effect,
the selection and nomination of persons to be Trustees of the Trust who are
not "interested persons" of the Trust ("Disinterested Trustees") shall be
committed to the discretion of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees. Nothing
herein shall prevent the incumbent Disinterested Trustees from soliciting the
views or the involvement of others in such selection or nomination as long as
the final decision on any such selection and nomination is approved by a
majority of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees.
5. Reports. While this Plan is in effect, the Treasurer of the Trust
shall provide written reports to the Trust's Board for its review, detailing
the amount of all payments made under this Plan and the purpose for which the
payments were made. The reports shall be provided quarterly, and shall state
whether all provisions of Section 3 of this Plan have been complied with.
6. Related Agreements. Any agreement related to this Plan shall be in
writing and shall provide that: (i) such agreement may be terminated at any
time, without payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a "majority" (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding voting Class C shares; (ii) such
termination shall be on not more than sixty days' written notice to any other
party to the agreement; (iii) such agreement shall automatically terminate in
the event of its "assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act); (iv) such
agreement shall go into effect when approved by a vote of the Board and its
Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such agreement; and (v) such agreement shall, unless terminated as
herein provided, continue in effect from year to year only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board
and its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such continuance.
<PAGE>
98
7. Effectiveness, Continuation, Termination and Amendment. This Amended
and Restated Plan has been approved by a vote of the Board and of the
Independent Trustees and replaces the Fund's prior Amended and Restated
Distribution and Service Plan for Class C Shares. Unless terminated as
hereinafter provided, it shall continue in effect until renewed by the Board
in accordance with the Rule and thereafter from year to year or as the Board
may otherwise determine but only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by a vote of the Board and its Independent
Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
continuance.
This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of
payments to be made under this Plan, without approval of the Class C
Shareholders at a meeting called for that purpose and all material amendments
must be approved by a vote of the Board and of the Independent Trustees.
This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a "majority" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class C voting shares. In
the event of such termination, the Board and its Independent Trustees shall
determine whether the Distributor shall be entitled to payment from the Fund
of all or a portion of the Service Fee and/or the Asset-Based Sales Charge in
respect of Shares sold prior to the effective date of such termination.
8. Disclaimer of Shareholder and Trustee Liability. The Distributor
understands that the obligations of the Fund under this Plan are not binding
upon any Trustee or shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the
Fund and the Fund's property. The Distributor represents that it has notice
of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust disclaiming
shareholder and Trustee liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds on behalf of
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund
/s/ Andrew J. Donohue
By: ________________________________________
Secretary
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
/s/ Katherine P. Feld
By: ________________________________________
Vice President
AMENDED AND RESTATED
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN AND AGREEMENT
with
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
For Class C Shares of
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
This Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan and Agreement (the
"Plan") is dated as of the 3rd day of February, 1998, by and between
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds (the "Trust") on behalf of Oppenheimer
Quest Small Cap Value Fund (the "Fund") and OppenheimerFunds Distributor,
Inc. (the "Distributor").
1. The Plan. This Plan is the Fund's written distribution and service
plan for Class C shares of the Fund (the "Shares"), contemplated by Rule
12b-1 as it may be amended from time to time (the "Rule") under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), pursuant to which the Fund
will compensate the Distributor for its services in connection with the
distribution of Shares, and the personal service and maintenance of
shareholder accounts that hold Shares ("Accounts"). The Fund may act as
distributor of securities of which it is the issuer, pursuant to the Rule,
according to the terms of this Plan. The terms and provisions of this Plan
shall be interpreted and defined in a manner consistent with the provisions
and definitions contained in (i) the 1940 Act, (ii) the Rule, (iii) Rule 2830
of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
or any applicable amendment or successor to such rule (the "NASD Conduct
Rules") and (iv) any conditions pertaining either to distribution-related
expenses or to a plan of distribution to which the Fund is subject under any
order on which the Fund relies, issued at any time by the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC").
2. Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(a) "Recipient" shall mean any broker, dealer, bank or other person
or entity which: (i) has rendered assistance (whether direct, administrative
or both) in the distribution of Shares or has provided administrative support
services with respect to Shares held by Customers (defined below) of the
Recipient; (ii) shall furnish the Distributor (on behalf of the Fund) with
such information as the Distributor shall reasonably request to answer such
questions as may arise concerning the sale of Shares; and (iii) has been
selected by the Distributor to receive payments under the Plan.
(b) "Independent Trustees" shall mean the members of the Trust's
Board of Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the 1940
Act) of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in
the operation of this Plan or in any agreement relating to this Plan.
(c) "Customers" shall mean such brokerage or other customers or
investment advisory or other clients of a Recipient, and/or accounts as to
which such Recipient provides administrative support services or is a
custodian or other fiduciary.
<PAGE>
101
(d) "Qualified Holdings" shall mean, as to any Recipient, all Shares
owned beneficially or of record by: (i) such Recipient, or (ii) such
Recipient's Customers, but in no event shall any such Shares be deemed owned
by more than one Recipient for purposes of this Plan. In the event that more
than one person or entity would otherwise qualify as Recipients as to the
same Shares, the Recipient which is the dealer of record on the Fund's books
as determined by the Distributor shall be deemed the Recipient as to such
Shares for purposes of this Plan.
3. Payments for Distribution Assistance and Administrative Support
Services.
(a) Payments to the Distributor. In consideration of the payments
made by the Fund to the Distributor under this Plan, the Distributor shall
provide administrative support services and distribution services to the
Fund. Such services include distribution assistance and administrative
support services rendered in connection with Shares (1) sold in purchase
transactions, (2) issued in exchange for shares of another investment company
for which the Distributor serves as distributor or sub-distributor, or (3)
issued pursuant to a plan of reorganization to which the Fund is a party. If
the Board believes that the Distributor may not be rendering appropriate
distribution assistance or administrative support services in connection with
the sale of Shares, then the Distributor, at the request of the Board, shall
provide the Board with a written report or other information to verify that
the Distributor is providing appropriate services in this regard. For such
services, the Fund will make the following payments to the Distributor:
(i) Administrative Support Services Fees. Within forty-five (45)
days of the end of each calendar quarter, the Fund will make payments in the
aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during
that calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of the Shares computed
as of the close of each business day (the "Service Fee"). Such Service Fee
payments received from the Fund will compensate the Distributor for providing
administrative support services with respect to Accounts. The administrative
support services in connection with Accounts may include, but shall not be
limited to, the administrative support services that a Recipient may render
as described in Section 3(b)(i) below.
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fees (Asset-Based Sales Charge).
Within ten (10) days of the end of each month, the Fund will make payments in
the aggregate amount of 0.0625% (0.75% on an annual basis) of the average
during the month of the aggregate net asset value of Shares computed as of
the close of each business day (the "Asset-Based Sales Charge"). Such
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments received from the Fund will compensate the
Distributor for providing distribution assistance in connection with the sale
of Shares.
<PAGE>
The distribution assistance services to be rendered by the Distributor
in connection with the Shares may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: (i) paying sales commissions to any broker, dealer, bank or other
person or entity that sells Shares, and/or paying such persons "Advance
Service Fee Payments" (as defined below) in advance of, and/or in amounts
greater than, the amount provided for in Section 3(b) of this Agreement; (ii)
paying compensation to and expenses of personnel of the Distributor who
support distribution of Shares by Recipients; (iii) obtaining financing or
providing such financing from its own resources, or from an affiliate, for
the interest and other borrowing costs of the Distributor's unreimbursed
expenses incurred in rendering distribution assistance and administrative
support services to the Fund; and (iv) paying other direct distribution
costs, including without limitation the costs of sales literature,
advertising and prospectuses (other than those prospectuses furnished to
current holders of the Fund's shares ("Shareholders")) and state "blue sky"
registration expenses.
(b) Payments to Recipients. The Distributor is authorized under the
Plan to pay Recipients (1) distribution assistance fees for rendering
distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares and/or (2)
service fees for rendering administrative support services with respect to
Accounts. However, no such payments shall be made to any Recipient for any
quarter in which its Qualified Holdings do not equal or exceed, at the end
of such quarter, the minimum amount ("Minimum Qualified Holdings"), if any,
that may be set from time to time by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
All fee payments made by the Distributor hereunder are subject to reduction
or chargeback so that the aggregate service fee payments and Advance Service
Fee Payments do not exceed the limits on payments to Recipients that are, or
may be, imposed by the NASD Conduct Rules. The Distributor may make Plan
payments to any "affiliated person" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
Distributor if such affiliated person qualifies as a Recipient or retain such
payments if the Distributor qualifies as a Recipient.
In consideration of the services provided by Recipients, the
Distributor shall make the following payments to Recipients:
(i) Service Fee. In consideration of administrative support
services provided by a Recipient during a calendar quarter, the Distributor
shall make service fee payments to that Recipient quarterly, within
forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, at a rate not to
exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned beneficially or
of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period of more than the
minimum period (the "Minimum Holding Period"), if any, that may be set from
time to time by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
Alternatively, the Distributor may, at its sole option, make the
following service fee payments to any Recipient quarterly, within forty-five
(45) days of the end of each calendar quarter: (A) "Advance Service Fee
Payments" at a rate not to exceed 0.25% of the average during the calendar
quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of the close
of business on the day such Shares are sold, constituting Qualified Holdings,
sold by the Recipient during that quarter and owned beneficially or of record
by the Recipient or by its Customers, plus (B) service fee payments at a rate
not to exceed 0.0625% (0.25% on an annual basis) of the average during the
calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of Shares, computed as of
the close of each business day, constituting Qualified Holdings owned
beneficially or of record by the Recipient or by its Customers for a period
of more than one (1) year. At the Distributor's sole option, Advance Service
Fee Payments may be made more often than quarterly, and sooner than the end
of the calendar quarter. In the event Shares are redeemed less than one year
after the date such Shares were sold, the Recipient is obligated to and will
repay the Distributor on demand a pro rata portion of such Advance Service
Fee Payments, based on the ratio of the time such Shares were held to one (1)
year.
<PAGE>
The administrative support services to be rendered by Recipients in
connection with the Accounts may include, but shall not be limited to, the
following: answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund, assisting in the
establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and
processing Share redemption transactions, making the Fund's investment plans
and dividend payment options available, and providing such other information
and services in connection with the rendering of personal services and/or the
maintenance of Accounts, as the Distributor or the Fund may reasonably
request.
(ii) Distribution Assistance Fee (Asset-Based Sales Charge)
Payments. Irrespective of whichever alternative method of making service fee
payments to Recipients is selected by the Distributor, in addition the
Distributor shall make distribution assistance fee payments to each Recipient
quarterly, within forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar
quarter, at a rate not to exceed 0.1875% (0.75% on an annual basis) of the
average during the calendar quarter of the aggregate net asset value of
Shares computed as of the close of each business day constituting Qualified
Holdings owned beneficially or of record by the Recipient or its Customers
for a period of more than one (1) year. Alternatively, at its sole option,
the Distributor may make distribution assistance fee payments to a Recipient
quarterly, at the rate described above, on Shares constituting Qualified
Holdings owned beneficially or of record by the Recipient or its Customers
without regard to the 1-year holding period described above. Distribution
assistance fee payments shall be made only to Recipients that are registered
with the SEC as a broker-dealer or are exempt from registration.
The distribution assistance to be rendered by the Recipients in
connection with the sale of Shares may include, but shall not be limited to,
the following: distributing sales literature and prospectuses other than
those furnished to current Shareholders, providing compensation to and paying
expenses of personnel of the Recipient who support the distribution of Shares
by the Recipient, and providing such other information and services in
connection with the distribution of Shares as the Distributor or the Fund may
reasonably request.
(c) A majority of the Independent Trustees may at any time or from
time to time (i) increase or decrease the rate of fees to be paid to the
Distributor or to any Recipient, but not to exceed the rates set forth above,
and/or (ii) direct the Distributor to increase or decrease any Minimum
Holding Period, any maximum period set by a majority of the Independent
Trustees during which fees will be paid on Shares constituting Qualified
Holdings owned beneficially or of record by a Recipient or by its Customers
(the "Maximum Holding Period"), or Minimum Qualified Holdings. The
Distributor shall notify all Recipients of any Minimum Qualified Holdings,
Maximum Holding Period and Minimum Holding Period that are established and
the rate of payments hereunder applicable to Recipients, and shall provide
each Recipient with written notice within thirty (30) days after any change
in these provisions. Inclusion of such provisions or a change in such
provisions in a supplement or amendment to or revision of the prospectus of
the Fund shall constitute sufficient notice.
(d) The Service Fee and the Asset-Based Sales Charge on Shares are
subject to reduction or elimination under the limits to which the Distributor
is, or may become, subject under the NASD Conduct Rules.
(e) Under the Plan, payments may also be made to Recipients: (i) by
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. ("OFI") from its own resources (which may include
profits derived from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund), or (ii) by
the Distributor (a subsidiary of OFI), from its own resources, from
Asset-Based Sales Charge payments or from the proceeds of its borrowings, in
either case, in the discretion of OFI or the Distributor, respectively.
<PAGE>
(f) Recipients are intended to have certain rights as third-party
beneficiaries under this Plan, subject to the limitations set forth below.
It may be presumed that a Recipient has provided distribution assistance or
administrative support services qualifying for payment under the Plan if it
has Qualified Holdings of Shares that entitle it to payments under the Plan.
If either the Distributor or the Board believe that, notwithstanding the
level of Qualified Holdings, a Recipient may not be rendering appropriate
distribution assistance in connection with the sale of Shares or
administrative support services for Accounts, then the Distributor, at the
request of the Board, shall require the Recipient to provide a written report
or other information to verify that said Recipient is providing appropriate
distribution assistance and/or services in this regard. If the Distributor
or the Board of Trustees still is not satisfied after the receipt of such
report, either may take appropriate steps to terminate the Recipient's status
as a Recipient under the Plan, whereupon such Recipient's rights as a
third-party beneficiary hereunder shall terminate. Additionally, in their
discretion a majority of the Trust's Independent Trustees at any time may
remove any broker, dealer, bank or other person or entity as a Recipient,
whereupon such person's or entity's rights as a third-party beneficiary
hereof shall terminate. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan,
this Plan does not obligate or in any way make the Fund liable to make any
payment whatsoever to any person or entity other than directly to the
Distributor. The Distributor has no obligation to pay any Service Fees or
Distribution Assistance Fees to any Recipient if the Distributor has not
received payment of Service Fees or Distribution Assistance Fees from the
Fund.
4. Selection and Nomination of Trustees. While this Plan is in effect,
the selection and nomination of persons to be Trustees of the Trust who are
not "interested persons" of the Trust ("Disinterested Trustees") shall be
committed to the discretion of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees. Nothing
herein shall prevent the incumbent Disinterested Trustees from soliciting the
views or the involvement of others in such selection or nomination as long as
the final decision on any such selection and nomination is approved by a
majority of the incumbent Disinterested Trustees.
5. Reports. While this Plan is in effect, the Treasurer of the Trust
shall provide written reports to the Trust's Board for its review, detailing
the amount of all payments made under this Plan and the purpose for which the
payments were made. The reports shall be provided quarterly, and shall state
whether all provisions of Section 3 of this Plan have been complied with.
6. Related Agreements. Any agreement related to this Plan shall be in
writing and shall provide that: (i) such agreement may be terminated at any
time, without payment of any penalty, by a vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by a vote of the holders of a "majority" (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding voting Class C shares; (ii) such
termination shall be on not more than sixty days' written notice to any other
party to the agreement; (iii) such agreement shall automatically terminate in
the event of its "assignment" (as defined in the 1940 Act); (iv) such
agreement shall go into effect when approved by a vote of the Board and its
Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such agreement; and (v) such agreement shall, unless terminated as
herein provided, continue in effect from year to year only so long as such
continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the Board
and its Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the
purpose of voting on such continuance.
<PAGE>
7/29/98;4:10 pm
107
37780/1010/FS/38740.7
7. Effectiveness, Continuation, Termination and Amendment. This Amended
and Restated Plan has been approved by a vote of the Board and of the
Independent Trustees and replaces the Fund's prior Amended and Restated
Distribution and Service Plan for Class C Shares. Unless terminated as
hereinafter provided, it shall continue in effect until renewed by the Board
in accordance with the Rule and thereafter from year to year or as the Board
may otherwise determine but only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by a vote of the Board and its Independent
Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
continuance.
This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of
payments to be made under this Plan, without approval of the Class C
Shareholders at a meeting called for that purpose and all material amendments
must be approved by a vote of the Board and of the Independent Trustees.
This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the
Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a "majority" (as
defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund's outstanding Class C voting shares. In
the event of such termination, the Board and its Independent Trustees shall
determine whether the Distributor shall be entitled to payment from the Fund
of all or a portion of the Service Fee and/or the Asset-Based Sales Charge in
respect of Shares sold prior to the effective date of such termination.
8. Disclaimer of Shareholder and Trustee Liability. The Distributor
understands that the obligations of the Fund under this Plan are not binding
upon any Trustee or shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the
Fund and the Fund's property. The Distributor represents that it has notice
of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust disclaiming
shareholder and Trustee liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
Oppenheimer Quest For Value Funds on behalf of
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
/s/ Andrew J. Donohue
By: ________________________________________
Secretary
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
/s/ Katherine P. Feld
By: ________________________________________
Vice President
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes
and appoints Andrew J. Donohue or Robert G. Zack, and each of them, his true
and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his capacity as Trustee, and Trustee of
OPPENHEIMER QUEST FOR VALUE FUNDS, on behalf of Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity
Value Fund, Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund, and Oppenheimer Quest
Small Cap Value Fund; OPPENHEIMER QUEST GLOBAL VALUE FUND, INC., OPPENHEIMER
QUEST CAPITAL VALUE FUND, INC., AND OPPENHEIMER QUEST VALUE FUND, INC. (the
"Funds"), to sign on his behalf any and all Registration Statements
(including any post-effective amendments to Registration Statements) under
the Securities Act of 1933, the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any
amendments and supplements thereto, and other documents in connection
thereunder, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully as to
all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Dated this 21st day of December, 1998.
/s/ Robert G. Galli
Robert G. Galli
<PAGE>
OPPENHEIMER QUEST FOR VALUE FUNDS
(on behalf of OPPENHEIMER QUEST OPPORTUNITY VALUE FUND,
OPPENHEIMER QUEST BALANCED VALUE FUND,
OPPENHEIMER QUEST SMALL CAP VALUE FUND )
OPPENHEIMER QUEST GLOBAL VALUE FUND, INC.
OPPENHEIMER QUEST CAPITAL VALUE FUND, INC.
OPPENHEIMER QUEST VALUE FUND, INC.
UNANIMOUS WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE BOARDS
The undersigned, constituting the entire Board of Trustees or
Directors, as applicable, of the above referenced funds (the "Funds"), do
hereby consent in writing to the adoption and approval of the following
resolutions:
"RESOLVED, that Andrew J. Donohue and Robert G. Zack be, and each
of them hereby is, appointed the attorney-in-fact and agent of
Robert G. Galli, Trustee of the Funds, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, to sign on the behalf of such
officers of each of the Funds any and all Registration Statements
(including any post-effective amendments to such Registration
Statements) under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940 and any amendments and supplements thereto,
and other documents in connection thereunder, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission; and be it further
RESOLVED, that Andrew J. Donohue and Robert G. Zack be, and each
of them hereby is, authorized, empowered and directed, in the
name and on behalf of the Funds, to take such additional action
and to execute and deliver such additional documents and
instruments as any of them may deem necessary or appropriate to
implement the provisions of the foregoing resolution, the
authority for the taking of such action and the execution and
delivery of such documents and instruments to be conclusively
evidenced thereby."
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has hereunto set his hand
as of this 21st day of December, 1998.
/s/ Robert G. Galli
Robert G. Galli
