Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund
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Prospectus dated December 22, 1998
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund is a mutual fund that seeks a
high total return, which includes capital appreciation in the value of its
shares as well as current income. It invests in 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.
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4
Contents
About the Fund
3 The Fund's Objective and Investment Strategies
4 Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
6 The Fund's Past Performance
7 Fees and Expenses of the Fund
8 About the Fund's Investments
13 How the Fund is Managed
About Your Account
14 How to Buy Shares
Class A Shares
Class B Shares
Class C Shares
Class Y Shares
23 Special Investor Services
AccountLink
PhoneLink
OppenheimerFunds Web Site
Retirement Plans
25 How to Sell Shares
By Mail
By Telephone
27 How to Exchange Shares
28 Shareholder Account Rules and Policies
30 Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
31 Financial Highlights
<PAGE>
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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 high
total return, which includes current income and capital appreciation in the
value of its shares, from equity and debt securities.
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What Does the Fund Invest In? The Fund invests mainly in equity securities, such
as common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of U.S. companies
of different capitalization ranges. It also can buy debt securities, such as
bonds and debentures. The Fund can 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.
n How Does the Manager Decide What Securities to Buy or Sell? In selecting
securities for purchase or sale by the Fund, the Fund's portfolio managers use
an investment process that combines quantitative models, fundamental research
about particular securities and individual judgment. 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
involves the use of: o Multi-factor quantitative models: These include a group
of "top-down"
models that analyze data such as relative valuations, relative
price trends, interest rates and the shape of the yield curve.
These help direct portfolio emphasis by market capitalization
(small, mid, or large), industries, and value or growth styles. A
group of "bottom up" models helps to rank stocks in a universe
typically including 2000 stocks, selecting stocks for relative
attractiveness by analyzing fundamental stock and company
characteristics.
o Fundamental research: The portfolio managers use internal
research and analysis by other market analysts, with emphasis on
current company news and industry-related events.
o Judgment: The portfolio is then continuously rebalanced by the
portfolio managers, using all of the tools described above.
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 current income. Those investors should be willing to assume
the risks of short-term share price fluctuations that are typical for a
moderately aggressive fund focusing on stock investments. Since the Fund's
income level will fluctuate and will likely be small, it is not designed for
investors needing an assured level of current income. Because of its focus on
long-term growth, the Fund may be appropriate for retirement plans.
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 increase the emphasis of its investments in a
particular industry compared to the weighting of that industry in the S&P 500
Index, which the Fund uses as a performance benchmark. 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 that particular industry (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").
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., tries to reduce
risks by carefully researching securities before they are purchased. The Fund
attempts to reduce its 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.
Risks of Investing in Stocks. Stocks fluctuate in price, and their
short-term volatility at times may be great. Because the Fund currently 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. In particular, because the Fund currently intends to focus its
investments in stocks of U.S. issuers, it will be primarily affected by changes
in U.S. stock markets.
Additionally, 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 that industry.
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 but it can also buy stocks of small and
medium-size companies, which may have more volatile stock prices than stocks of
large companies.
How Risky is the Fund Overall? The Fund focuses its investments on equity
securities for long-term growth. In the short term, the stock markets can be
volatile, and the price of the Fund's shares will 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 the primary focus of the Fund. In the OppenheimerFunds spectrum, the
Fund is generally 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]
For the period from 1/1/98 through 9/30/98, the cumulative return (not
annualized) for Class A shares was 2.56%. 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 27.05%
(4Q'92) and the lowest return (not annualized) for a calendar quarter was -9.95%
(3Q'90).
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Average Annual
Total Returns for Past 5 Years Past 10 Years
the periods Past 1 Year (or life of class, (or life of
ending December if less) class, if less)
31, 1997
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Oppenheimer Main
Street Growth &
Income Fund 19.31% 19.20% 21.09%*
(Class A Shares)
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Oppenheimer Main
Street Growth &
Income Fund 20.61% 20.09%* N/A
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(Class B Shares)
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Oppenheimer Main
Street Growth &
Income Fund 24.67% 17.25%* N/A
(Class C Shares)
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Oppenheimer Main
Street Growth &
Income Fund 26.99% 27.20%* N/A
(Class Y Shares)
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S&P 500 Index 31.01% 17.36% 14.33%*
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* Inception dates of classes: Class A: 2/3/88. Class B: 10/3/94. Class C:
12/1/93. Class Y: 11/1/96. The index performance is shown from 1/31/88.
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 3% (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 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.
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
August 31, 1998.
Shareholder Fees (charges paid directly from your investment):
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Class A Class C Class Y
Shares Class B Shares Shares Shares
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Maximum Sales Charge
(Load) on purchases
(as % of offering 5.75% None None None
price)
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Maximum Deferred
Sales Charge (Load)
(as % of the lower of
the original offering None1 5%2 1%3 None
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 Class Y
Shares Shares Shares Shares
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Management Fees 0.46% 0.46% 0.46% 0.46%
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Distribution and/or 0.24% 1.00% 1.00% None
Service (12b-1) Fees
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Other Expenses 0.20% 0.20% 0.19% 0.21%
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Total Annual Operating 0.90% 1.66% 1.65% 0.67%
Expenses
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Numbers in the chart are based on the Fund's expenses in its last fiscal
year, ended 8/31/98. Expenses may vary in future years. "Other expenses"
include transfer agent fees, custodial expenses, and accounting and legal
expenses the Fund pays.
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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 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years1
redeemed:
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Class A Shares $662 $845 $1,045 $1,619
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Class B Shares $669 $823 $1,102 $1,577
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Class C Shares $268 $520 $897 $1,955
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Class Y Shares $68 $214 $373 $835
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If shares are not 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years1
redeemed:
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Class A Shares $662 $845 $1,045 $1,619
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Class B Shares $169 $523 $902 $1,577
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Class C Shares $168 $520 $897 $1,955
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Class Y Shares $68 $214 $373 $835
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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 Manager. 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
and securities convertible into common stock. They can include securities issued
by domestic or foreign companies. However, the Manager currently intends to
focus the Fund's investments primarily on stocks of U.S. issuers.
At times, the Fund may emphasize the securities of issuers in a particular
industry or of a particular capitalization or a range of capitalizations,
depending on the Manager's judgment about market and economic conditions. 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 debt securities.
n Debt Securities. The Fund can also invest in debt securities, such as
U.S. government securities, foreign government securities, and foreign and
domestic corporate bonds and debentures, primarily for their income
possibilities. The debt securities the Fund buys may be rated by nationally
recognized rating organizations or they may be unrated securities assigned an
equivalent rating by the Manager. The Fund's investments may be above or below
investment grade in credit quality.
o 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.
n Can the Fund's Investment Objective and Policies Change? The Fund's
Board of Directors 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 investment objective is a fundamental policy. 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 that it is.
n Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may engage 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.
nRisks of Foreign Investing. The Fund can buy securities of companies or
governments in any country, developed or underdeveloped. While there is no limit
on the amount of the Fund's assets that may be invested in foreign securities,
the Manager does not currently plan to invest significant amounts of the Fund's
assets in foreign securities. While foreign securities offer special investment
opportunities, there are also special risks, such as the effects of a change in
value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar, which will result in a
change in the U.S. dollar value of securities denominated in that foreign
currency.
|X| Special Credit Risks of Lower-Grade Securities. All corporate debt
securities (whether foreign or domestic) are subject to some degree of credit
risk. Credit risk relates to the ability of the issuer to meet interest or
principal payments on a security as they become due. The Fund can invest up to
25% of its total assets in "lower-grade" securities, commonly known as "junk
bonds." However, the Fund currently does not intend to invest more than 10% of
its assets in lower-grade securities. The Fund cannot invest more than 10% of
its total assets in lower-grade securities that are not convertible.
While investment grade securities are subject to risks of non-payment of
interest and principal, generally, higher yielding lower-grade bonds, whether
rated or unrated, have greater risks than investment grade securities. They may
be subject to greater market fluctuations and risk of loss of income and
principal than 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 and principal due on the bonds. 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 could be affected by declines in
value of these securities.
n Borrowing for Leverage. The Fund can borrow money from banks on an
unsecured basis and invest the borrowed funds to increase (that is, to
"leverage") its securities holdings. The Fund will pay interest on those
borrowings, so that it may have less net investment income during periods of
substantial borrowings. The Fund may borrow only if it maintains a 300% ratio of
assets to borrowings at all times, and that requirement is a fundamental policy.
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 Illiquid and Restricted Securities. Under the policies and procedures
established by the Fund's Board of Directors, 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 will
not invest more than 10% of its net assets in illiquid or restricted securities
(the Board can increase that limit to 15%). Certain restricted securities that
are eligible for resale to qualified institutional purchasers are not subject to
that limit. The Manager monitors holdings of illiquid securities on an ongoing
basis to determine whether to sell any holdings to maintain adequate liquidity.
n Derivative Investments. The Fund can invest in a number of different
kinds of "derivative" investments. In the broadest sense, exchange-traded
options, futures contracts, and other hedging instruments the Fund might use may
be considered "derivative investments." In addition to using hedging
instruments, the Fund may use other derivative investments because they offer
the potential for increased income and principal value.
Markets underlying securities and indices may move in a direction not
anticipated by the Manager. Interest rate and stock market changes in the U.S.
and abroad may also influence the performance of derivatives. As a result of
these risks the Fund could realize less principal or income from the investment
than expected. Certain derivative investments held by the Fund may be illiquid.
|_| Risks in Using Derivative Investments. The Fund may use derivatives to
seek increased returns or to try to hedge investment risks. In general terms, a
derivative investment is an investment contract whose value depends on (or is
derived from) the value of an underlying asset, interest rate or index. Options,
futures, and forward contracts are examples of derivatives. Currently the Fund
does not use those types of investments to a significant degree.
If the issuer of the derivative does not pay the amount due, the Fund can
lose money on the investment. Also, the underlying security or investment on
which the derivative is based, and the derivative itself, may not perform the
way the Manager expected it to perform. If that happens, the Fund's share price
could decline or the Fund could get less income than expected. The Fund has
limits on the amount of particular types of derivatives it can hold. However,
using derivatives can cause the Fund to lose money on its investments and/or
increase the volatility of its share prices.
n Hedging. The Fund can buy and sell certain kinds of futures contracts,
put and call options, forward contracts and options on futures and broadly-based
securities indices. These are all referred to as "hedging instruments." The Fund
does not use hedging instruments for speculative purposes, and limits its use of
them. The Fund is not required to use hedging instruments in seeking its goal
and currently does not use them to a significant degree.
The Fund could buy and sell options, futures and forward contracts for a
number of purposes. It might do so to try to manage its exposure to the
possibility that the prices of its portfolio securities may decline, or to
establish a position in the securities market as a temporary substitute for
purchasing individual securities. It might do so to try to manage its exposure
to changing interest rates.
Some of these strategies would hedge the Fund's portfolio against price
fluctuations. Other hedging strategies, such as buying futures and call options,
would tend to increase the Fund's exposure to the securities market. Forward
contracts are used to try to manage foreign currency risks on the Fund's foreign
investments. Foreign currency options could be used to try to protect against
declines in the dollar value of foreign securities the Fund owns, or to protect
against an increase in the dollar cost of buying foreign securities. Writing
covered call options might also provide income to the Fund for liquidity
purposes or to raise cash to distribute to shareholders.
Options trading involves the payment of premiums and has special tax
effects on the Fund. There are also special risks in particular hedging
strategies. For example, 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 and will not be able to realize any profit if the
investment has increased in value above the call price. In writing a put, there
is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying security at a
disadvantageous price.
If the Manager used a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judged
market conditions incorrectly, the strategy could 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 or if it could not
close out a position because of an illiquid market.
Temporary Defensive Investments. In times of unstable 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, highly-rated
commercial paper, bank deposits or repurchase agreements. The Fund may also hold
these types of securities pending the investment of proceeds from the sale of
Fund shares or portfolio securities or to meet anticipated redemptions of Fund
shares. To the extent the Fund invests defensively in these securities, it may
not achieve its investment objective of high total return.
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 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., chooses the
Fund's investments and handles its day-to-day business. The Manager carries out
its duties, subject to the policies established by the Board of Directors, 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 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 $85 billion as of September 30,
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.
? Portfolio Managers. The portfolio managers of the Fund are Charles
Albers and Nikolaos Monoyios, who are also Vice Presidents of the Fund. Mr.
Albers is a Senior Vice President of the Manager and Mr. Monoyios is a Vice
President of the Manager. Prior to joining the Manager and assuming
responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio on April
20, 1998, they were portfolio managers at Guardian Investor Services (from
1972 and 1979, respectively), the investment management subsidiary of The
Guardian Life Insurance Company.
? Advisory 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: 0.65% of the first $200 million of average annual net assets
of the Fund, 0.60% of the next $150 million, 0.55% of the next $150 million and
0.45% of average annual net assets in excess of $500 million. The Fund's
management fee for its last fiscal year ended August 31, 1998 was 0.46% of
average annual net assets for each class of shares.
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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
Directors 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.
|_| 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.
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- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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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 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.
|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.
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 Percentage of
Amount of Purchase Offering Price Net Offering Price
Amount Invested
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 $250,000 3.75% 3.90% 3.00%
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$250,000 or more but
less than $500,000 2.50% 2.56% 2.00%
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$500,000 or more but
less than $1 million 2.00% 2.04% 1.60%
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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 "Waivers of Class A Sales Charges" 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 "Reduced Sales Charges" 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 to 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 (As % of Amount Subject to Charge)
Purchase Order was Accepted
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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:
|_| the amount of your account value represented by the 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 12 months, and
3. 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.
|X| Service Plan for Class A Shares. The Fund has adopted a Service Plan
for Class A shares. It reimburses the Distributor for a portion of its costs
incurred for services provided to accounts that hold Class A shares.
Reimbursement is made quarterly at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average
annual net assets of Class A shares of the Fund. The Distributor currently uses
all of those fees 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.
|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 reimburse 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.
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.
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 sale 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 that 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 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
More information about the Fund's policies and procedures for buying, selling,
and exchanging shares is contained in the Statement of Additional Information.
|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 Directors 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, Capital Gains
and Taxes
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 Directors. 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.
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 Deloitte & Touche 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.*
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS CLASS A
------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
1998 1997 1996(3) 1996 1995 1994
==================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING DATA
Net asset value, beginning of period $33.87 $27.95 $28.89 $24.07 $20.40 $19.88
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income .29 .39 .07 .40 .47 .37
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) .99 7.91 (1.01) 4.93 3.66 2.50
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total income (loss) from investment
operations 1.28 8.30 (.94) 5.33 4.13 2.87
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and distributions to shareholders:
Dividends from net investment income (.33) (.40) -- (.43) (.46) (.36)
Distributions from net realized gain (2.50) (1.98) -- (.08) -- --
Distributions in excess of gains -- -- -- -- -- (1.99)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total dividends and distributions
to shareholders (2.83) (2.38) -- (.51) (.46) (2.35)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $32.32 $33.87 $27.95 $28.89 $24.07 $20.40
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
==================================================================================================================
TOTAL RETURN, AT NET ASSET VALUE(5) 3.68% 31.09% (3.25)% 22.26% 20.52% 14.34%
==================================================================================================================
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net assets, end of period (in millions) $4,933 $4,457 $3,143 $3,147 $1,924 $740
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average net assets (in millions) $5,184 $3,857 $3,090 $2,516 $1,319 $270
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income 0.83% 1.29% 1.57%(6) 1.55% 2.31% 2.46%
Expenses 0.90% 0.94% 0.98%(6) 0.99% 1.07% 1.28%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate(7) 80.9% 61.7% 17.5% 92.6% 101.3% 199.4%
</TABLE>
1. For the period from November 1, 1996 (inception of offering) to August 31,
1997.
2. For the period from December 1, 1993 (inception of offering) to June 30,
1994.
3. For the two months ended August 31, 1996. The Fund changed its fiscal year
end from June 30 to August 31.
4. For the period from October 3, 1994 (inception of offering) to June 30,
1995.
5. Assumes a hypothetical initial investment on the business day before the
first day of the fiscal period (or inception of offering), with all dividends
and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and
redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the
fiscal period. Sales charges are not reflected in the total returns. Total
returns are not annualized for periods of less than one full year.
6. Annualized.
7. The lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for a period,
divided by the monthly average of the market value of portfolio securities
owned during the period. Securities with a maturity or expiration date at the
time of acquisition of one year or less are excluded from the calculation.
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities)
for the period ended August 31, 1998 were $9,184,157,377 and $7,816,215,033,
respectively.
1
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued) CLASS B
-----------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
1998 1997 1996(3) 1996 1995(4)
=================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING DATA
Net asset value, beginning of period $33.66 $27.79 $28.77 $24.00 $21.49
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income .04 .17 .04 .23 .25
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) .96 7.86 (1.02) 4.87 2.54
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total income (loss) from investment
operations 1.00 8.03 (.98) 5.10 2.79
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and distributions to shareholders:
Dividends from net investment income (.09) (.18) -- (.25) (.28)
Distributions from net realized gain (2.50) (1.98) -- (.08) --
Distributions in excess of gains -- -- -- -- --
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total dividends and distributions
to shareholders (2.59) (2.16) -- (.33) (.28)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $32.07 $33.66 $27.79 $28.77 $24.00
======= ======= ======= ======= =======
=================================================================================================================
TOTAL RETURN, AT NET ASSET VALUE(5) 2.86% 30.12% (3.41)% 21.34% 13.41%
=================================================================================================================
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net assets, end of period (in millions) $4,168 $3,308 $1,909 $1,800 $628
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average net assets (in millions) $4,123 $2,642 $1,818 $1,155 $249
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income 0.06% 0.53% 0.82%(6) 0.74% 1.25%(6)
Expenses 1.66% 1.69% 1.74%(6) 1.76% 1.89%(6)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate(7) 80.9% 61.7% 17.5% 92.6% 101.3%
</TABLE>
1. For the period from November 1, 1996 (inception of offering) to August 31,
1997.
2. For the period from December 1, 1993 (inception of offering) to June 30,
1994.
3. For the two months ended August 31, 1996. The Fund changed its fiscal year
end from June 30 to August 31.
4. For the period from October 3, 1994 (inception of offering) to June 30,
1995.
5. Assumes a hypothetical initial investment on the business day before the
first day of the fiscal period (or inception of offering), with all dividends
and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and
redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the
fiscal period. Sales charges are not reflected in the total returns. Total
returns are not annualized for periods of less than one full year.
6. Annualized.
7. The lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for a period,
divided by the monthly average of the market value of portfolio securities
owned during the period. Securities with a maturity or expiration date at the
time of acquisition of one year or less are excluded from the calculation.
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities)
for the period ended August 31, 1998 were $9,184,157,377 and $7,816,215,033,
respectively.
2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued) CLASS C
-----------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
1998 1997 1996(3) 1996 1995 1994(2)
=================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING DATA
Net asset value, beginning of period $33.64 $27.78 $28.75 $23.97 $20.33 $20.76
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income .03 .16 .04 .21 .33 .13
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) .98 7.85 (1.01) 4.88 3.62 (.42)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total income (loss) from investment
operations 1.01 8.01 (.97) 5.09 3.95 (.29)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and distributions to shareholders:
Dividends from net investment income (.08) (.17) -- (.23) (.31) (.14)
Distributions from net realized gain (2.50) (1.98) -- (.08) -- --
Distributions in excess of gains -- -- -- -- -- --
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total dividends and distributions
to shareholders (2.58) (2.15) -- (.31) (.31) (.14)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $32.07 $33.64 $27.78 $28.75 $23.97 $20.33
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
=================================================================================================================
TOTAL RETURN, AT NET ASSET VALUE(5) 2.91% 30.07% (3.37)% 21.35% 19.63% (1.44)%
=================================================================================================================
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net assets, end of period (in millions) $1,145 $1,030 $744 $741 $462 $170
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average net assets (in millions) $1,184 $904 $730 $588 $325 $ 72
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income 0.07% 0.54% 0.82%(6) 0.80% 1.57% 1.86%(6)
Expenses 1.65% 1.69% 1.73%(6) 1.74% 1.82% 2.11%(6)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate(7) 80.9% 61.7% 17.5% 92.6% 101.3% 199.4%
</TABLE>
1. For the period from November 1, 1996 (inception of offering) to August 31,
1997.
2. For the period from December 1, 1993 (inception of offering) to June 30,
1994.
3. For the two months ended August 31, 1996. The Fund changed its fiscal year
end from June 30 to August 31.
4. For the period from October 3, 1994 (inception of offering) to June 30,
1995.
5. Assumes a hypothetical initial investment on the business day before the
first day of the fiscal period (or inception of offering), with all dividends
and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and
redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the
fiscal period. Sales charges are not reflected in the total returns. Total
returns are not annualized for periods of less than one full year.
6. Annualized.
7. The lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for a period,
divided by the monthly average of the market value of portfolio securities
owned during the period. Securities with a maturity or expiration date at the
time of acquisition of one year or less are excluded from the calculation.
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities)
for the period ended August 31, 1998 were $9,184,157,377 and $7,816,215,033,
respectively.
3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued) CLASS Y
---------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31,
1998 1997(1)
=================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING DATA
Net asset value, beginning of period $33.94 $29.55
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income .38 .41
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) .97 6.30
------- -------
Total income (loss) from investment
operations 1.35 6.71
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and distributions to shareholders:
Dividends from net investment income (.41) (.34)
Distributions from net realized gain (2.50) (1.98)
Distributions in excess of gains -- --
------- -------
Total dividends and distributions
to shareholders (2.91) (2.32)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $32.38 $33.94
======= =======
=================================================================================================================
TOTAL RETURN, AT NET ASSET VALUE(5) 3.88% 23.98%
=================================================================================================================
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net assets, end of period (in millions) $53 $16
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average net assets (in millions) $37 $ 5
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income 1.02% 1.58%(6)
Expenses 0.67% 0.65%(6)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate(7) 80.9% 61.7%
</TABLE>
1. For the period from November 1, 1996 (inception of offering) to August 31,
1997.
2. For the period from December 1, 1993 (inception of offering) to June 30,
1994.
3. For the two months ended August 31, 1996. The Fund changed its fiscal year
end from June 30 to August 31.
4. For the period from October 3, 1994 (inception of offering) to June 30,
1995.
5. Assumes a hypothetical initial investment on the business day before the
first day of the fiscal period (or inception of offering), with all dividends
and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and
redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the
fiscal period. Sales charges are not reflected in the total returns. Total
returns are not annualized for periods of less than one full year.
6. Annualized.
7. The lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for a period,
divided by the monthly average of the market value of portfolio securities
owned during the period. Securities with a maturity or expiration date at the
time of acquisition of one year or less are excluded from the calculation.
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities)
for the period ended August 31, 1998 were $9,184,157,377 and $7,816,215,033,
respectively.
4
* On December 22, 1998 the Fund changed its name from Oppenheimer Main Street
Income & Growth Fund to Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund.
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income 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:
SEC File No. 811-5360
PR0700.001.1298 Printed on recycled paper.
<PAGE>
Appendix to Prospectus of
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund
Graphic material included in the Prospectus of Oppenheimer Main Street
Growth & Income Fund: "Annual Total Returns (Class A)(% as of 12/31 each
year)":
A bar chart will be included in the Prospectus of Oppenheimer Main Street
Growth & Income Fund (the "Fund") depicting the annual total returns of a
hypothetical investment in Class A shares of the Fund for each of the nine most
recent calendar years, without deducting sales charges. Set forth below are the
relevant data points that will appear in the bar chart:
Calendar Oppenheimer
Year Main Street Growth & Income Fund
Ended Class A
Shares
12/31/89 25.18%
12/31/90 -6.15%
12/31/91 66.37%
12/31/92 31.08%
12/31/93 35.39%
12/31/94 -1.53%
12/31/95 30.77%
12/31/96 15.70%
12/31/97 26.59%
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prospectus dated December 22, 1998
Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund is a mutual fund. It
seeks current income exempt from Federal and California income taxes by
investing in municipal securities, while attempting to preserve capital.
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>
47
Contents
About The Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 The Fund's Objective and Investment Strategies
3 Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
6 The Fund's Past Performance
7 Fees and Expenses of the Fund
8 About the Fund's Investments
12 How the Fund is Managed
About Your Account
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14 How to Buy Shares
Class A Shares
Class B Shares
21 Special Investor Services
AccountLink
PhoneLink
OppenheimerFunds Web Site
22 How to Sell Shares
By Mail
By Telephone
By Wire
By Checkwriting
25 How to Exchange Shares
26 Shareholder Account Rules and Policies
28 Dividends and Tax Information
29 Financial Highlights
<PAGE>
About the Fund
The Fund's Objective and Investment Strategies
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What Is the Fund's Investment Objective? The Fund's investment objective is
to seek as high a level of current income exempt from federal and California
personal income taxes as is available from investing in municipal securities
while attempting to preserve capital.
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What Does the Fund Invest In? The Fund invests mainly in California municipal
securities that pay interest exempt from federal and California individual
income taxes. These primarily include municipal bonds (which are long-term
obligations), municipal notes (short-term obligations), interests in municipal
leases, and tax-exempt commercial paper. Most of the securities the Fund buys
must be "investment grade" (the four highest rating categories of national
rating organizations, such as Moody's Investors Services, Inc.).
The Fund does not limit its investments to securities of a particular maturity
range and may hold short-, medium- and long-term securities. However, it
currently focuses on long-term securities to seek higher yields. The Fund can
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.
|X| How Does the Manager Decide What Securities to Buy or Sell? In
selecting securities for the Fund, the Manager currently looks primarily
throughout California for municipal securities using a variety of factors that
may change over time and may vary in particular cases. Some of these factors
are: o Securities that provide high income o The goal of spreading risk among a
wide range of securities of
different issuers within the state, including different
agencies and municipalities
|_| Issues with favorable credit characteristics |_| Special
situations among issuers that provide opportunities for value
Who Is the Fund Designed For? The Fund is designed for investors who are seeking
income exempt from federal and California income taxes. It does not seek capital
gains or growth. Because it invests in tax-exempt securities, the Fund is not
appropriate for retirement plan accounts or for investors who want to pursue
capital growth.
Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
All investments carry risks to some degree. For bond funds one risk is
that the market prices of the fund's investments will fluctuate when general
interest rates change (this is known as "interest rate risk"). Another risk is
that the issuer of a bond will experience financial difficulties and may default
on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal (this is referred to as
"credit risk"). These general investment risks and the special risks of certain
types of investments that the Fund may hold are described below.
These risks collectively form the risk profile of the Fund and can affect
the value of the Fund's investments, its investment performance, and the prices
of its shares. 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., tries to reduce
risks by selecting a wide variety of municipal investments and by carefully
researching securities before they are purchased. However, changes in the
overall market prices of municipal securities and the income they pay can occur
at any time. The share price of the Fund will change daily based on changes in
interest rates and market conditions, and in response to other economic events.
There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
|X| Credit Risk. Municipal securities are subject to credit risk. Credit
risk relates to the ability of the issuer of a municipal 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. Because the Fund can invest as much as 25% of its total assets in
municipal 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.
|X| Interest Rate Risks. In addition to credit risks, municipal securities
are subject to changes in value when prevailing interest rates change. When
interest rates fall, the values of outstanding municipal securities generally
rise, and the bonds may sell for more than their face amount. When interest
rates rise, the values of outstanding municipal 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. The
Fund currently focuses on longer term securities to seek higher income. When the
average maturity of the Fund's portfolio is longer, its share price may
fluctuate more when interest rates change.
|X| Risks of Non-Diversification. The Fund is "non-diversified." That
means that compared to funds that are diversified, it can invest a greater
portion of its assets in the securities of one issuer, such as bonds issued by
the State of California. Having a higher percentage of its assets invested in
the securities of fewer issuers, particularly obligations of government issuers
of a single state, could result in greater fluctuations of the Fund's share
prices due to economic, regulatory or political problems in California.
|X| There are Special Risks in Using Derivative Investments. The Fund can
use derivatives to seek increased returns or to try to hedge investment risks.
In general terms, a derivative investment is an investment contract whose value
depends on (or is derived from) the value of an underlying assets, interest rate
or index. Options, futures, "inverse floaters" and variable rate obligations are
examples of derivatives.
If the issuer of the derivative investment does not pay the amount due,
the Fund can lose money on its investment. Also, the underlying security or
investment on which the derivative is based, and the derivative itself, might
not perform the way the Manager expected it to perform. If that happens, the
Fund will get less income than expected or its share price could decline. To try
to preserve capital, the Fund has limits on the amount of particular types of
derivatives it can hold. However, using derivatives can cause the Fund to lose
money on its investments and/or increase the volatility of its share prices.
How Risky Is the Fund Overall? The value of the Fund's investments in municipal
securities will change over time due to a number of factors. They include
changes in general bond market movements, the change in value of particular
bonds because of an event affecting the issuer, or changes in interest rates
that can affect bond prices overall. The Fund focuses its investments in
California municipal securities and is non-diversified. It will therefore be
vulnerable to the effects of economic changes that affect California
governmental issuers. These changes can affect the value of the Fund's
investments and its price per share. The Fund can invest in derivative
investments. These have additional risks and can cause fluctuations in the
Fund's share prices. In the OppenheimerFunds spectrum, the Fund is more
conservative than some types of taxable bond funds, such as high yield bond
funds, but more aggressive than money market 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 the Prospectus for data in bar chart showing annual total
return]
For the period from 1/1/98 through 9/30/98, the cumulative return (not
annualized) for Class A shares was 6.22%. 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 8.78%
(1Q'95) and the lowest return for a calendar quarter was -5.56% (1Q'94).
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Average Annual
Total Returns for Past 5 Years Past 10 Years
the periods ending (or life of class, (or life of
December 31, 1997 Past 1 Year if less) class, if less)
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Oppenheimer Main
Street California
Municipal Fund
(Class A Shares) 5.14% 6.72% 7.76%*
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Oppenheimer Main
Street California
Municipal Fund
(Class B Shares) 4.28% 4.87%* N/A
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Lehman Brothers
Municipal Bond Index 9.18% 7.35% 8.30%*
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* Inception dates of classes: Class A: 5/18/90; Class B 10/29/93. The index
performance is shown from 5/31/90. The Fund's average annual total returns in
the table include the applicable sales charge: for Class A, the current maximum
initial sales charge of 4.75%; for Class B, the applicable contingent deferred
sales charges of 5% (1-year) and 2% (life of class).
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 invests in municipal securities, the Fund's performance
is compared to the Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index, an unmanaged index of a
broad range of investment grade municipal bonds that is a measure of the
performance of the general municipal bond market. However, it must be remembered
that the index includes municipal securities from many states while the Fund
focuses on California municipal securities, and the index performance 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 the fiscal year ended
August 31, 1998.
Shareholder Fees (charges paid directly from your investment):
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Class A Shares Class B Shares
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) on
purchases (as a % of offering 4.75% None
price)
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Maximum Deferred Sales Charge
(Load) (as % of the lower of the
original offering price or None1 5%2
redemption proceeds)
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1. A 1% contingent deferred sales charge may apply to redemptions of
investments of $1 million or more 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.
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (deducted from Fund assets):
(% of average daily net assets)
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Class A Shares Class B Shares
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Management Fees 0.55% 0.55%
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Distribution and/or Service None 1.00%
(12b-1 Fees
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Other Expenses 0.14% 0.15%
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Total Annual Operating 0.69% 1.70%
Expenses
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Numbers in the table are based on the Fund's expenses in its last fiscal year,
ended 8/31/98. Expenses may vary in future years. "Other expenses" include
transfer agent fees, custodial fees, and accounting and legal expenses the Fund
pays. The Management Fees shown above are shown at the maximum rate under the
investment advisory agreement and do not reflect a voluntary waiver undertaken
by the Manager to limit its management fees to a maximum annual rate of 0.40% if
the net assets of the Fund exceed $100 million. With that waiver, the actual
management fee rate for both classes during the fiscal year was 0.40% and actual
total operating expenses were 0.53% of average annual net assets for Class A and
1.53% for Class B. The Manager can withdraw that waiver at any time.
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 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
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Class A Shares $542 $685 $841 $1,293
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Class B Shares $673 $836 $1,123 $1,492
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If shares are not 1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years1
redeemed:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Shares $542 $685 $841 $1,293
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Class B Shares $173 $536 $923 $1,492
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In the first example, expenses include the initial sales charge for Class A and
the applicable Class B contingent deferred sales charges. In the second example,
the Class A expenses include the sales charge, but Class B expenses do not
include contingent deferred sales charges. 1. Class B expense 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. Under normal market conditions, the
Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in California municipal
securities. That is a fundamental policy. The Fund's portfolio might not always
include all of the different types of investments described below. The
composition of the Fund's portfolio and allocation among the different types of
permitted investments will vary over time based on the Manager's evaluation of
issuer, economic and market factors. The Statement of Additional Information
contains more detailed information about the Fund's investment policies and
risks.
|X| What Municipal Securities Does the Fund Invest In? The Fund buys
municipal bonds and notes, tax-exempt commercial paper, certificates of
participation in municipal leases and other debt obligations.
California municipal securities, on which the Fund focuses its
investments, are municipal securities that are not subject (at the time they are
issued) to California individual income tax, in the opinion of bond counsel to
the issuer. The debt obligations are issued by the State of California and its
political subdivisions (such as cities, towns counties, agencies and
authorities). The term "California municipal securities" may also include debt
securities of the governments of certain possessions, territories and
commonwealths of the United States if the interest is not subject to California
individual income tax.
The Fund can also buy other municipal securities, issued by the
governments of the District of Columbia and of other states as well as their
political subdivisions, authorities and agencies, and securities issued by any
commonwealths, territories or possessions of the United States, or their
respective agencies, instrumentalities or authorities, if the interest paid on
the security is not subject to federal individual income tax (in the opinion of
bond counsel to the issuer at the time the security is issued).
The Fund can buy both long-term and short-term municipal securities.
Long-term securities have a maturity of more than one year. The Fund generally
focuses on longer-term securities, to seek higher income. The values of
longer-term bonds are more affected by changes in interest rates than the values
of short-term bonds. Therefore, the longer the average maturity of the Fund's
portfolio, the more its share prices generally will be affected by changes in
interest rates.
Municipal securities are issued to raise money for a variety of public or
private purposes, including financing state or local governments, financing
specific projects or public facilities. The Fund can invest in municipal
securities that are "general obligations," secured by the issuer's pledge of its
full faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest.
The Fund can also buy "revenue obligations," payable only from the
revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities, or a
specific excise tax or other revenue source. Some of those revenue obligations
are private activity bonds that pay interest that may be a tax preference item
for investors subject to alternative minimum tax.
|X| Ratings of Municipal Securities the Fund Buys. The Fund limits its
investments in municipal securities that at the time of purchase are not
"investment-grade" to not more than 25% of its total assets. "Investment grade"
securities are those rated within the four highest rating categories of Moody's,
Standard & Poor's, Fitch or Duff & Phelps or other nationally recognized rating
organizations, or (if unrated) judged by the Manager to be comparable to
investment grade securities. Rating definitions are in Appendix A to the
Statement of Additional Information.
If the securities are not rated, the Manager will use its judgment to
assign a rating category equivalent to that of a rating agency. The Fund limits
its investments in unrated securities to not more than 20% of total assets. A
reduction in the rating of a security after its purchase by the Fund will not
automatically require the Fund to dispose of that security. However, the Manager
will evaluate those securities to determine whether to keep them in the Fund's
portfolio.
The Manager 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.
|_| Special Risks of Lower-Grade Securities. Lower-grade municipal
securities may be subject to greater market fluctuations and greater risks of
loss of income and principal than higher-rated municipal securities. Securities
that are (or that 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 municipal securities to not
more than 25% of its total assets, the Fund may reduce the effect of some of
these risks on its share price and income.
|X| Municipal Lease Obligations. Municipal leases are used by state and
local government authorities to obtain funds to acquire land, equipment or
facilities. The Fund may invest in certificates of participation that represent
a proportionate interest in payments made under municipal lease obligations. If
the government stops making payments or transfers its payment obligations to a
private entity, the obligation could lose value or become taxable.
|X| Can the Fund's Investment Objective and Policies Change? The Fund's
Board of Directors may change non-fundamental 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
investment objective is a fundamental policy. Other investment restrictions that
are fundamental policies are listed in the Statement of Additional Information.
An investment policy or technique is not fundamental unless this Prospectus or
the Statement of Additional Information says it is.
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.
|X| Floating Rate/Variable Rate Obligations. Some of the municipal
securities the Fund can purchase have variable or floating interest rates.
Variable rates are adjustable at stated periodic intervals. Floating rates are
automatically adjusted according to a specified market rate for such
investments, such as the percentage of the prime rate of a bank, or the 91-day
U.S. Treasury Bill rate. These obligations may be secured by bank letters of
credit or other credit support arrangements.
Certain types of variable rate bonds known as "inverse floaters" pay
interest at rates that vary as the yields generally available on short-term
tax-exempt bonds change. However, the yields on inverse floaters move in the
opposite direction of yields on short-term bonds in response to market changes.
As interest rates rise, inverse floaters produce less current income, and their
market value can become volatile.
Inverse floaters are a type of "derivative security." Some have a "cap,"
so that if interest rates rise above the "cap," the security pays additional
interest income. If rates do not rise above the "cap," the Fund will have paid
an additional amount for a feature that proves worthless. The Fund anticipates
that it will invest not more than 10% of its total assets in inverse floaters.
|X| Other Derivatives. The Fund may also invest in municipal derivative
securities that pay interest that depends on an external pricing mechanism.
Examples of securities having external pricing mechanisms are interest rate
swaps, municipal bond indices or swap indices.
|X|When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions. The Fund may purchase
municipal securities on a "when-issued" basis and may purchase or sell such
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. During the period between the purchase and settlement, no
payment is made for the security and no interest accrues to the buyer from the
investment. There is a risk of loss to the Fund if the value of the security
declines prior to the settlement date.
|X| Puts and Stand-By Commitments. The Fund may acquire "stand-by
commitments" or "puts" with respect to municipal securities. The Fund would have
the right to sell specified securities at a set price on demand to the issuing
broker-dealer or bank. However, this feature may result in a lower interest rate
on the security. The Fund will acquire stand-by commitments or puts solely to
enhance portfolio liquidity.
|X| Illiquid and Restricted Securities. 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 will
not invest more than 10% of its net assets in illiquid or restricted securities
(the Board can increase that limit to 15%). The Manager monitors holdings of
illiquid securities on an ongoing basis to determine whether to sell any
holdings to maintain adequate liquidity
|X| Hedging. The Fund can purchase and sell certain kinds of futures
contracts, put and call options, and options on futures and broadly-based
municipal bond indices, or enter into interest rate swap agreements. These are
all referred to as "hedging instruments." The Fund does not use hedging
instruments for speculative purposes, and has limits on the use of them. The
Fund does not currently use hedging instruments to a substantial degree and is
not required to use them in seeking its goal.
The Fund could buy and sell options and futures for a number of purposes.
It might do so to try to manage its exposure to the possibility that the prices
of its portfolio securities may decline, or to establish a position in the
securities market as a temporary substitute for purchasing individual
securities. It might do so to try to manage its exposure to changing interest
rates. Some of these strategies hedge the Fund's portfolio against price
fluctuations. Other hedging strategies, such as buying futures and call options,
tend to increase the Fund's exposure to the securities market.
If the Manager used a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judged
market conditions incorrectly, the strategy could 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 or if it could not
close out a position because of an illiquid market.
Options trading involves the payment of premiums and has special tax
effects on the Fund. There are also special risks in particular hedging
strategies. For example, interest rate swaps are subject to credit risks (if the
other party fails to meet its obligations) and also to interest rate risks. The
Fund could be obligated to pay more under its swap agreements than it receives
under them, as a result of interest rate changes. The Fund may not enter into
swaps with respect to more than 25% of its total assets.
Temporary Defensive Investments. The Fund can invest up to 100% of its total
assets in temporary defensive investments from time to time. This may happen
during periods of unusual market conditions. Generally, they would be short-term
municipal securities but could be U.S. government securities or highly-rated
corporate debt securities. The income from some of those temporary defensive
investments may not be tax-exempt, and therefore when making those investments
the Fund may not achieve its objective. The Fund may also hold these types of
temporary investments pending the investment of proceeds from the sale of Fund
shares or portfolio securities, or to meet anticipated redemptions of Fund
shares.
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 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., is
responsible for selecting the Fund's investments and handles its day-to-day
business. The Manager carries out its duties, subject to the policies
established by the Board of Directors, 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 has operated as an investment advisor since 1959. The Manager
(including subsidiaries) currently manages investment companies, including other
Oppenheimer funds, with assets of more than $85 billion as of September 30,
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.
|X| Portfolio Manager. The Portfolio manager of the Fund is Caryn
Halbrecht, a Vice President of the Manager. She is the person principally
responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio, and became
the Fund's portfolio manager on December 22, 1998. Ms. Halbrecht also serves
as an officer and portfolio manager for other Oppenheimer funds. Prior to
joining OppenheimerFunds in 1994 she was a Vice President of Fixed Income
Portfolio Management for Bankers Trust Company.
|X| Advisory Fees. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays
the Manager an advisory fee at a maximum annual rate of 0.55% of average annual
net assets if the Fund's net assets are $100 million or more (it is reduced if
assets are less). The Manager has voluntarily undertaken to limit its fees to
0.40% of average annual net assets if the Fund's assets are $100 million or
more. The Manager can terminate that waiver at any time. The Fund's management
fee for its last fiscal year ended August 31, 1998, was 0.40% of average annual
net assets for Class A and Class B shares, after giving affect to the waiver.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, 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.
|_| 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
Directors 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.
|_| 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 two
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). The amount of that 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.
|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.
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.
|_| 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 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
And for investors who invest $500,000 or more, in most cases Class A
shares will be the more 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 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 (such as checkwriting) may not be available to Class B
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 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 shareholders will be reduced by
the additional expenses borne by that class that are not borne by Class A
shares, such as the Class B asset-based sales charge described below and in the
Statement of Additional Information. Share certificates are not available for
Class B 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 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 Commission As a
Charge As a Charge As a Percentage of
Percentage of: Percentage of Net Offering Price
Amount of Purchase Offering Price Amount Invested Price
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than $50,000 4.75% 4.98% 4.00%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$50,000 or more
but less than 4.50% 4.71% 4.00%
$100,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$100,000 or more
but less than 3.50% 3.63% 3.00%
$250,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$250,000 or more
but less than 2.50% 2.56% 2.25%
$500,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$500,000 or more
but less than $1 2.00% 2.04% 1.80%
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. The Distributor pays dealers of record
commissions in an amount equal to 1.0% of purchases of $1 million or more other
than by retirement accounts. That commission will be paid only on purchases that
were not previously subject to a front-end sales charge and dealer commission.
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 at the
time of redemption. 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 "Reduced Sales Charges" 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 to 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:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
Years Since Beginning of Month in on
Which Redemptions in That Year
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 will
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.
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Plan for Class B Shares. The Fund has adopted a
Distribution and Service Plan for Class B shares to reimburse the Distributor
for its services and costs in distributing Class B shares and servicing
accounts. Under the plan, the Fund pays the Distributor an annual "asset-based
sales charge" of 0.75% per year on Class B shares. The Distributor also receives
a service fee of 0.25% per year under the plan.
The asset-based sales charge and service fees increase Class B expenses by
up to 1.00% of the net assets per year. 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.
The Distributor uses the service fees to compensate dealers for providing
personal services for accounts that hold Class B 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.
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:
o transmit funds electronically to purchase shares by telephone (through
a service representative or by PhoneLink) or automatically
under Asset Builder Plans, or
o 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. You must be sure to ask the Distributor for this privilege when you send
your payment.
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 that 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, by using the Fund's checkwriting
privilege 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, 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| 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.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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.
Checkwriting Against Your Account. To write checks against your Fund account,
request that privilege on your account Application, or contact the Transfer
Agent for signature cards. They must be signed (with a signature guarantee) by
all owners of the account and returned to the Transfer Agent so that checks can
be sent to you to use. Shareholders with joint accounts can elect in writing to
have checks paid over the signature of one owner. If you previously signed a
signature card to establish checkwriting in another Oppenheimer fund, simply
call 1-800-525-7048 to request checkwriting for an account in this Fund with the
same registration as the other account.
|_| Checks can be written to the order of whomever you wish, but may not
be cashed at the Fund's bank or Custodian.
|_| Checkwriting privileges are not available for accounts holding Class B
or Class A shares that are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
|_| Checks must be written for at least $100.
|_| Checks cannot be paid if they are written for more than your
account value. Remember: your shares fluctuate in value and you should not
write a check close to the total account value.
|_| You may not write a check that would require the Fund to redeem shares
that were purchased by check or Asset Builder Plan payments within the prior 10
days.
|_| Don't use your checks if you changed your Fund account number, until
you receive new checks.
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 exchanges requests from a "market
timer" might require the Fund to sell securities at a disadvantage 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
More information about the Fund's policies and procedures for buying, selling,
and exchanging shares is contained in the Statement of Additional Information.
|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 Directors 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 Class A
and Class B 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 Class A and
Class B shares from net tax-exempt income and/or net investment income each
regular business day and to pay those dividends to shareholders monthly on a
date selected by the Board of Directors. Daily dividends will not be declared or
paid on newly purchased shares until Federal Funds are available to the Fund
from the purchase payment for such shares.
The Fund attempts to pay dividends on Class A shares at a constant level.
There is no assurance that it will be able to do so. The Board of Directors may
change the targeted dividend level at any time, without prior notice to
shareholders. Additionally, the amount of those dividends and the distributions
paid on Class B shares may vary over time, depending on market conditions, the
composition of the Fund's portfolio, and expenses borne by the particular class
of shares. Dividends and distributions paid on Class A shares will generally be
higher than for Class B shares, which normally have higher expenses than Class
A. The Fund cannot guarantee that it will pay any dividends or distributions.
Capital Gains. Although the Fund does not seek capital gains, it 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. Long-term capital gains will
be separately identified in the tax information the Fund sends you after the end
of the calendar 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. Dividends paid from net investment income earned by the Fund on municipal
securities will be excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes.
A portion of a dividend that is derived from interest paid on certain "private
activity bonds" may be an item of tax preference if you are subject to the
alternative minimum tax. If the Fund earns interest on taxable investments, any
dividends derived from those earnings will be taxable as ordinary income to
shareholders.
Dividends paid by the Fund from interest on California municipal
securities will be exempt from California individual income taxes, if at the
close of each quarter at least 50% of the value of the Fund's assets are
invested in debt obligations that pay interest exempt from California individual
income taxes. Dividends paid from income from municipal securities of issuers
outside California will normally be subject to California individual income
taxes.
Dividends and capital gains distributions may be subject to state or local
taxes. 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. Dividends paid from short-term capital gains are taxable as ordinary
income. 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 as well as the amount of your tax-exempt income.
|X| Remember There May be Taxes on Transactions. Even though the Fund
seeks to distribute tax-exempt income to shareholders, 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 Deloitte & Touche 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.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS CLASS A
------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
1998 1997 1996(2) 1996 1995 1994
====================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING DATA
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.64 $12.16 $12.15 $12.09 $11.82 $12.66
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income .65 .73 .12 .73 .73 .75
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) .51 .49 .01 .07 .27 (.80)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Total income (loss) from investment
operations 1.16 1.22 .13 .80 1.00 (.05)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and distributions to shareholders:
Dividends from net investment income (.67) (.74) (.12) (.73) (.69) (.73)
Dividends in excess of net
investment income -- -- -- -- (.04) (.03)
Distributions from net realized gain (.11) -- -- -- -- --
Distributions in excess of net realized gain -- -- -- (.01) -- (.03)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Total dividends and distributions
to shareholders (.78) (.74) (.12) (.74) (.73) (.79)
- --------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------- ------------- ---------- ---------- ------
Net asset value, end of period $13.02 $12.64 $12.16 $12.15 $12.09 $11.82
====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ======
====================================================================================================================
TOTAL RETURN, AT NET ASSET VALUE(3) 9.33% 10.24% 1.12% 6.73% 8.93% (0.60)%
====================================================================================================================
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $109,811 $89,991 $76,817 $76,913 $78,134 $79,555
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average net assets (in thousands) $ 99,678 $80,311 $77,584 $78,676 $76,148 $81,741
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income 5.04% 5.91% 6.00%(4) 5.99% 6.27% 6.09%
Expenses, before voluntary assumption
by the Manager(5) 0.69% 0.59% 0.57%(4) 0.58% 0.57% 0.53%
Expenses, net of voluntary assumption
by the Manager 0.53% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate(6) 29.7% 46.4% 1.4% 33.1% 14.2% 20.2%
</TABLE>
1. For the period from October 29, 1993 (inception of offering) to June 30,
1994.
2. For the two months ended August 31, 1996. The Fund changed its fiscal year
end from June 30 to August 31.
3. Assumes a hypothetical initial investment on the business day before the
first day of the fiscal period (or inception of offering), with all dividends
and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and
redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the
fiscal period. Sales charges are not reflected in the total returns. Total
returns are not annualized for periods of less than one full year.
4. Annualized.
5. Beginning in fiscal 1995, the expense ratios reflect the effect of gross
expenses paid indirectly by the Fund. Prior year expense ratios have not been
adjusted.
6. The lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for a period,
divided by the monthly average of the market value of portfolio securities
owned during the period. Securities with a maturity or expiration date at the
time of acquisition of one year or less are excluded from the calculation.
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities)
for the period ended August 31, 1998 were $65,210,846 and $34,982,825,
respectively.
30
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued) CLASS B
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
1998 1997 1996(2) 1996 1995 1994(1)
==============================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING DATA
Net asset value, beginning of period $12.63 $12.14 $12.14 $12.08 $11.80 $12.90
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income .54 .60 .10 .61 .62 .38
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) .49 .50 -- .07 .27 (1.07)
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total income (loss) from investment
operations 1.03 1.10 .10 .68 .89 (.69)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and distributions to shareholders:
Dividends from net investment income (.54) (.61) (.10) (.61) (.57) (.37)
Dividends in excess of net
investment income -- -- -- -- (.04) (.01)
Distributions from net realized gain (.11) -- -- -- -- --
Distributions in excess of net realized gain -- -- -- (.01) -- (.03)
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total dividends and distributions
to shareholders (.65) (.61) (.10) (.62) (.61) (.41)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $13.01 $12.63 $12.14 $12.14 $12.08 $11.80
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
==============================================================================================================================
TOTAL RETURN, AT NET ASSET VALUE(3) 8.24% 9.24% 0.85% 5.66% 7.90% (5.42)%
==============================================================================================================================
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $23,175 $11,919 $5,928 $5,442 $2,648 $1,203
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average net assets (in thousands) $18,087 $ 8,129 $5,767 $3,848 $1,904 $ 649
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income 4.19% 4.85% 4.92%(4) 4.94% 5.17% 4.91%(4)
Expenses, before voluntary assumption
by the Manager(5) 1.70% 1.60% 1.62%(4) 1.60% 1.55% 1.62%(4)
Expenses, net of voluntary assumption
by the Manager 1.53% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate(6) 29.7% 46.4% 1.4% 33.1% 14.2% 20.2%
</TABLE>
1. For the period from October 29, 1993 (inception of offering) to June 30,
1994.
2. For the two months ended August 31, 1996. The Fund changed its fiscal year
end from June 30 to August 31.
3. Assumes a hypothetical initial investment on the business day before the
first day of the fiscal period (or inception of offering), with all dividends
and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and
redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the
fiscal period. Sales charges are not reflected in the total returns. Total
returns are not annualized for periods of less than one full year.
4. Annualized.
5. Beginning in fiscal 1995, the expense ratios reflect the effect of gross
expenses paid indirectly by the Fund. Prior year expense ratios have not been
adjusted.
6. The lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for a period,
divided by the monthly average of the market value of portfolio securities
owned during the period. Securities with a maturity or expiration date at the
time of acquisition of one year or less are excluded from the calculation.
Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities)
for the period ended August 31, 1998 were $65,210,846 and $34,982,825,
respectively.
31
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal 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. 811-5360
PR0725.001.1298 Printed on recycled paper.
<PAGE>
Appendix to Prospectus of
Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
Graphic material included in the Prospectus of Oppenheimer Main Street
California Municipal Fund "Annual Total Returns (Class A)(% as of 12/31 each
year)":
A bar chart will be included in the Prospectus of Oppenheimer Main Street
California Municipal Fund (the "Fund") depicting the annual total returns of a
hypothetical investment in Class A shares of the Fund for each of the nine most
recent calendar years, without deducting sales charges. Set forth below are the
relevant data points that will appear in the bar chart:
Calendar Oppenheimer
Year Main Street California Municipal Fund
Ended Class A
Shares
12/31/91 11.35%
12/31/92 8.35%
12/31/93 13.13%
12/31/94 -7.64%
12/31/95 19.72%
12/31/96 5.28%
12/31/97 10.38%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund(R)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112
1-800-525-7048
Statement of Additional Information dated December 22, 1998
This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus. This
document contains additional information about the Fund and supplements
information in the Prospectus dated December 22, 1998. 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.. 2
The Fund's Investment Policies..................................... 2
Other Investment Techniques and Strategies......................... 6
Investment Restrictions............................................ 20
How the Fund is Managed ............................................... 22
Organization and History........................................... 22
Directors and Officers............................................. 23
The Manager........................................................ 28
Brokerage Policies of the Fund......................................... 29
Distribution and Service Plans......................................... 31
Performance of the Fund................................................ 35
About Your Account
How To Buy Shares...................................................... 39
How To Sell Shares..................................................... 47
How To Exchange Shares................................................. 52
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes..................................... 54
Additional Information About the Fund.................................. 56
Financial Information About the Fund
Independent Auditors' Report........................................... 57
Financial Statements................................................... 58
Appendix A: Ratings Definitions........................................ A-1
Appendix B: Corporate Industry Classifications......................... B-1
Appendix C: Special Sales Charge Arrangements and Waivers.............. C-1
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<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's investment Manager, OppenheimerFunds,
Inc., can select for the Fund. Additional information is also provided about 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 Manger may use in selecting portfolio
securities will vary over time. The Fund is not required to use any 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.
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
Manager's judgment of where the best market opportunities are to seek the Fund's
objective. At times, the market may favor or disfavor securities of issuers of a
particular capitalization range. Securities of small capitalization issuers may
be subject to greater price volatility in general than securities of larger
companies. Therefore, if the Fund is focusing on or 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 Rights and Warrants. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total
assets in warrants or rights, although the Fund does not currently intend to
invest more than 5% of its total assets in warrants or 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. 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 Manager'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 Manager examines 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
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 Bonds and Other Debt Securities. The Fund can invest in
bonds, debentures and other debt securities to seek current income as part of
its investment objective. Because the Fund currently emphasizes investments in
equity securities, such as stocks, it is not anticipated that significant
amounts of the Fund's assets will be invested in debt securities.
However, if market conditions suggest that debt securities may offer better
total return opportunities than stocks, or if the Manager determines to seek a
higher amount of current income to distribute to shareholders, the Manager may
shift more of the Fund's investments into debt securities.
The Fund's debt investments can include investment-grade 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., or at least "BBB" by Standard & Poor's Corporation or Duff &
Phelps, Inc., or that have comparable ratings by another nationally-recognized
rating organization. In making investments in debt securities, the Manager 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 that
the Fund buys are unrated, to be considered part of the Fund's holdings of
investment-grade securities, they must be judged by the Manager to be of
comparable quality to bonds rated as investment grade by a rating organization.
o U.S. Government Securities. The Fund can buy securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities.
Securities issued by the U.S. Treasury are backed by the full faith and credit
of the U.S. government and are subject to very little credit risk. Obligations
of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities (including mortgage-backed
securities) may or may not be guaranteed or supported by the "full faith and
credit" of the United States. Some are backed by the right of the issuer to
borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others, by discretionary authority of the U.S.
government to purchase the agencies' obligations; while others are supported
only by the credit of the instrumentality. 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 and may not be
able to assert a claim against the United States in the event that the agency or
instrumentality does not meet its commitment. The Fund will invest in securities
of U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities only when the Manager is
satisfied that the credit risk with respect to the agency or instrumentality is
minimal.
o Special Risks of Lower-Grade Securities. While it is not
anticipated that the Fund will invest a substantial portion of its assets in
debt securities, the Fund can do so to seek current income. Because lower-rated
securities tend to offer higher yields than investment grade securities, the
Fund may invest in lower grade securities if the Manager 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).
The Fund can invest up to 25% of its total assets in "lower grade" debt
securities. However, the Fund does not currently intend to invest more that 10%
of its total assets in lower grade debt securities. "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 Manager 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 can invest in securities rated as low as "C" or "D" or which may be in
default at the time the Fund buys them.
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 buying these investments may reduce the
effect of those 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-non-convertible high yield bonds, since stock may be more liquid and less
affected by some of these risk factors. The Fund may not invest more than 10% of
its total assets in lower-grade debt securities that are not convertible.
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. Definitions 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.
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.
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.
G 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.
[--] 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%. The Fund's portfolio turnover rate will fluctuate
from year to year, and the Fund may 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 use 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. The Fund currently intends to invest no more than 5% of its net
assets in securities of small, unseasoned issuers.
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 Manager 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 will engage in when-issued transactions to secure what the
Manager 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. Its
failure to do so may cause the Fund to lose the opportunity to obtain the
security at a price and yield the Manager 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 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 on its books, 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.
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 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 Directors 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. The Fund will not enter into a
repurchase agreement that causes more than 10% of its net assets to be subject
to repurchase agreements having a maturity beyond seven days. 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 Manager 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.
Illiquid securities include repurchase agreements maturing in more than
seven days and participation interests that do not have puts exercisable within
seven days.
n Loans of Portfolio Securities. The Fund can lend its portfolio
securities to certain types of eligible borrowers approved by the Board of
Directors. It may do so to try to provide income or to raise cash for liquidity
purposes. These loans are limited to not more than 25% 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.
n Derivatives. The Fund can invest in a variety of derivative investments
to seek income or for hedging purposes. Some derivative investments the Fund can
use are the hedging instruments described below in this Statement of Additional
Information.
Other derivative investments the Fund can invest in include "index-linked"
notes. Principal and/or interest payments on these notes depend on the
performance of an underlying index. Currency-indexed securities are another
derivative the Fund may use. Typically these are short-term or intermediate-term
debt securities. Their value at maturity or the rates at which they pay income
are determined by the change in value of the U.S. dollar against one or more
foreign currencies or an index. In some cases, these securities may pay an
amount at maturity based on a multiple of the amount of the relative currency
movements. This type of index security offers the potential for increased income
or principal payments but at a greater risk of loss than a typical debt security
of the same maturity and credit quality.
Other derivative investments the Fund can use include debt exchangeable
for common stock of an issuer or "equity-linked debt securities" of an issuer.
At maturity, the debt security is exchanged for common stock of the issuer or it
is payable in an amount based on the price of the issuer's common stock at the
time of maturity. Both alternatives present a risk that the amount payable at
maturity will be less than the principal amount of the debt because the price of
the issuer's common stock might not be as high as the Manager expected.
n Hedging. The Fund can 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
could:
o sell futures contracts, o buy puts on such futures or on securities, or
o write covered calls on securities or futures. Covered calls may also be
used to increase the Fund's income, but the Manager does not expect to
engage extensively in that practice. The Fund can use hedging to establish
a position in the securities
market as a temporary substitute for purchasing particular securities. In that
case, the Fund would 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 could:
o buy futures, or
o buy calls on such futures or on securities.
The Fund is not obligated to use hedging instruments, even though it is
permitted to use them in the Manager's discretion, as described below. 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 can buy and sell futures contracts that relate to (1)
broadly-based stock indices ("stock index futures") (2) debt securities (these
are referred to as "interest rate futures"), (3) other broadly-based securities
indices (these are referred to as "financial futures"), (4) foreign currencies
(these are referred to as "forward contracts"), or (5) commodities (these are
referred to as "commodity futures").
A broadly-based stock index is used as the basis for trading stock index
futures. They 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. Financial futures are similar contracts based on the future value
of the basket of securities that comprise the index. 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.
An interest rate future obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser
to take) cash or a specified type of debt security to settle the futures
transaction. Either party could also enter into an offsetting contract to close
out the position.
The Fund can invest 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, except forward contracts,
are effected through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange on which the
contracts are traded.
o Put and Call Options. The Fund can buy and sell certain kinds of put
options ("puts") and call options ("calls"). The Fund can buy and sell
exchange-traded and over-the-counter put and call options, including index
options, securities options, currency options, commodities options, and options
on the other types of futures described above.
o Writing Covered Call Options. The Fund can write (that is, sell)
covered calls. If the Fund sells a call option, it must be covered. That means
the Fund must own the security subject to the call while the call is
outstanding, or, for certain types of calls, the call may be covered by
segregating liquid assets to enable the Fund to satisfy its obligations if the
call is exercised. Up to 25% of the Fund's total assets may be subject to calls
the Fund writes.
When the Fund writes a call on a security, it receives cash (a premium).
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.
When the Fund writes a call on an index, it receives cash (a premium). If
the buyer of the call 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.
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 underlying security and 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 callable securities 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 can sell put options. A put option
on securities gives the purchaser the right to sell, and the writer the
obligation to buy, the underlying investment at the exercise price during the
option period. The Fund will not write puts if, as a result, more than 25% of
the Fund's total assets would be required to be segregated to cover such put
options.
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 buy the underlying investment from the buyer of the put at
the exercise price, even if the value of the 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 purchase the
underlying investment at the exercise price. That price will usually exceed the
market value of the investment at that time. In that case, the Fund may incur a
loss if it sells the underlying investment. That loss will be equal to the sum
of the sale price of the underlying investment and the premium received minus
the sum of the exercise price and any transaction costs the Fund incurred.
When writing a put option on a security, to secure its obligation to pay
for the underlying security the Fund will deposit in escrow liquid assets with a
value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the underlying securities.
The Fund therefore forgoes the opportunity of investing the segregated assets or
writing calls against those assets.
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 take delivery of the underlying security
and pay the exercise price. The Fund has no control over when it may be required
to purchase the underlying security, 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 or to prevent the underlying
security from being put. Effecting a closing purchase transaction will also
permit the Fund to write another put option on the security, or to sell the
security and use the proceeds from the sale for other investments. 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 can 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. The Fund then has 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.
The Fund can buy puts whether or not it holds the underlying investment in
its portfolio. When the Fund purchases a put, it pays a premium and, except as
to puts on indices, has the right to sell the underlying investment to a seller
of a put on a corresponding 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.
When the Fund purchases a call or put on an index or future, it pays a
premium, but settlement is in cash rather than by delivery of the underlying
investment to the Fund. Gain or loss depends on changes in the index in question
(and thus on price movements in the securities market generally) rather than on
price movements in individual securities or futures contracts.
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 could 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 Manager 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 Manager anticipates a decline in the dollar
value of a foreign currency, the decline in the dollar value of portfolio
securities denominated in that currency might 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.
The Fund could write a call on a foreign currency to provide a hedge
against a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a security which the Fund owns or
has the right to acquire and which is denominated in the currency underlying the
option. That decline might be one that occurs due to an expected adverse change
in the exchange rate. This is known as a "cross-hedging" strategy. In those
circumstances, the Fund covers the option by maintaining cash, U.S. government
securities or other liquid, high grade debt securities in an amount equal to the
exercise price of the option, in a segregated account with the Fund's Custodian
bank.
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
Manager 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 could affect its portfolio turnover rate and
brokerage commissions. The exercise of calls written by the Fund might 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 could 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 could 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 might
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 might
advance and the value of the securities held in the Fund's portfolio might
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 might 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 might decline. If the Fund then concludes not to invest in
securities because of concerns that the market might 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- "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 might 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 might 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 could 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 might suffer a substantial decline against the
U.S. dollar, it could 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
could enter into a forward contract to buy that foreign currency for a fixed
dollar amount. Alternatively, the Fund could 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 Manager might 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 might 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 might 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 might 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 Interest Rate Swap Transactions. The Fund can enter into interest rate
swap agreements. In an interest rate swap, the Fund and another party exchange
their right to receive or their obligation to pay interest on a security. For
example, they might swap the right to receive floating rate payments for fixed
rate payments. The Fund can enter into swaps only on securities that it owns.
The Fund will not enter into swaps with respect to more than 25% of its total
assets. Also, the Fund will segregate liquid assets (such as cash or U.S.
government securities) to cover any amounts it could owe under swaps that exceed
the amounts it is entitled to receive, and it will adjust that amount daily, as
needed.
Swap agreements entail both interest rate risk and credit risk. There is a
risk that, based on movements of interest rates in the future, the payments made
by the Fund under a swap agreement will be greater than the payments it
received. Credit risk arises from the possibility that the counterparty will
default. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund's loss will consist of the net
amount of contractual interest payments that the Fund has not yet received. The
Manager will monitor the creditworthiness of counterparties to the Fund's
interest rate swap transactions on an ongoing basis.
The Fund can enter into swap transactions with certain counterparties
pursuant to master netting agreements. A master netting agreement provides that
all swaps done between the Fund and that counterparty shall be regarded as parts
of an integral agreement. If amounts are payable on a particular date in the
same currency in respect of one or more swap transactions, the amount payable on
that date in that currency shall be the net amount. In addition, the master
netting agreement may provide that if one party defaults generally or on one
swap, the counterparty can terminate all of the swaps with that party. Under
these agreements, if a default results in a loss to one party, the measure of
that party's damages is calculated by reference to the average cost of a
replacement swap for each swap. It is measured by the mark-to-market value at
the time of the termination of each swap. The gains and losses on all swaps are
then netted, and the result is the counterparty's gain or loss on termination.
The termination of all swaps and the netting of gains and losses on termination
is generally referred to as "aggregation."
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). 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.
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.
n Temporary Defensive Investments. The Fund's temporary defensive
investments can include (i) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
government, its agencies or instrumentalities; (ii) commercial paper rated in
the highest category by an established rating organization; (iii) certificates
of deposit or bankers' acceptances of domestic banks with assets of $1 billion
or more; (iv) any of the foregoing securities that mature in one year or less
(generally known as "cash equivalents"); (v) other short-term corporate debt
obligations; and (vi) repurchase agreements.
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 Directors
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
or if it would then own more than 10% of that issuer's voting securities. This
limitation applies to 75% of the Fund's total assets. The limit does not apply
to securities issued by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities.
o The Fund cannot lend money except in connection with the acquisition of
debt securities which the Fund's investment policies and restrictions permit it
to purchase. The Fund may also make loans of portfolio securities, subject to
the restrictions stated under "Loans of Portfolio Securities."
o The Fund cannot 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.
o The Fund cannot invest in interests in oil or gas exploration or
development programs or in commodities. However, the Fund can buy and sell any
of the hedging instruments permitted by any of its other policies. It does not
matter if the hedging instrument is considered to be a commodity or commodity
contract.
o The Fund cannot invest in real estate or in interests in real estate.
However, the Fund can purchase securities of issuers holding real estate or
interests in real estate (including securities of real estate investment
trusts).
o The Fund cannot purchase securities on margin. However, the Fund can
make margin deposits when using hedging instruments permitted by any of its
other policies.
o The Fund cannot invest in companies for the purpose of acquiring control
or management of those companies.
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 in or hold securities of any issuer if officers
and directors of the Fund or the Manager 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 other open-end investment companies or invest
more than 5% of its net assets through open market purchases in closed-end
investment companies, including small business investment companies. The Fund
cannot make any such investment at commission rates in excess of normal
brokerage commissions.
o The Fund cannot issue "senior securities." This restriction does not
prohibit the Fund from borrowing money as described in the Prospectus. It does
not prohibit the Fund from entering into margin, collateral, segregation or
escrow arrangements, or options, futures, hedging transactions or other
investments permitted by its other investment policies.
o The Fund cannot pledge, mortgage or otherwise encumber, transfer or
assign any of its assets to secure a debt. Collateral arrangements for premium
and margin payments in connection with hedging instruments are not deemed to be
a pledge of assets.
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 one of two investment portfolios, or
"series" of Oppenheimer Main Street Funds, Inc. That corporation is an open-end,
management investment company organized as a Maryland corporation in 1987. The
Fund is a diversified mutual fund and commenced operations on February 3, 1988.
The Fund's parent corporation is governed by a Board of Directors, which
is responsible for protecting the interests of shareholders under Maryland law.
The Directors meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Fund's
activities, review its performance, and review the actions of the Manager.
o Classes of Shares. The Board of Directors has the power, without
shareholder approval, to divide unissued shares of the Fund 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 Directors are authorized to create new series and classes of shares.
The Directors may reclassify unissued shares of the Fund's parent corporation or
its series or classes into additional series or classes of shares. The Directors
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.
|_| Meetings of Shareholders. Although the Fund is not required by Maryland
law to hold annual meetings, it may hold shareholder meetings from time to time
on important matters. The shareholders of the Fund's parent corporation have the
right to call a meeting to remove a Director or to take certain other action
described in the Articles of Incorporation or under Maryland law.
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
Directors call a meeting or upon proper request of shareholders. If the Fund's
parent corporation 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 Director),
the Directors will call a meeting of shareholders for that specified purpose.
The Fund's parent corporation has undertaken that it will then either give the
applicants access to the Fund's shareholder list or mail the applicants'
communication to all other shareholders at the applicants' expense.
Shareholders of the Fund and of its parent corporation's other series vote
together in the aggregate on certain matters at shareholders' meetings. Those
matters include the election of Directors 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.
Directors and Officers of the Fund. The Directors of the Fund's parent
corporation and the Fund's officers and their principal occupations and business
affiliations during the past five years are listed below. Directors denoted with
an asterisk (*) below are deemed to be "interested persons" of the Fund under
the Investment Company Act. All of the Directors are also trustees, directors or
managing general partners of the following Denver-based Oppenheimer funds2:
Oppenheimer Cash Reserves Oppenheimer Total Return Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds
Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund Panorama Series Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer High Yield Fund Centennial America Fund, L. P.
Oppenheimer International Bond Fund Centennial California Tax Exempt Trust
Oppenheimer Integrity Funds Centennial Government Trust
Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government Centennial Money Market Trust
Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Funds, Inc. Centennial New York Tax Exempt Trust
Oppenheimer Municipal Fund Centennial Tax Exempt Trust
Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund The New York Tax-Exempt Income Fund, Inc.
7
Funds
.
Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund
Ms. Macaskill and Messrs. Swain, Bishop, Bowen, Donohue, Farrar and Zack,
who are officers of the Fund, respectively hold the same offices with the other
Denver-based Oppenheimer funds. As of December 1, 1998, the Directors and
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.
Robert G. Avis,* Director; Age 67
One North Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, Missouri 63103
Vice Chairman of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. (a broker-dealer) and A.G.
Edwards, Inc. (its parent holding company); Chairman of A.G.E. Asset
Management and A.G. Edwards Trust Company (its affiliated investment adviser
and trust company, respectively).
William A. Baker, Director; Age 83
197 Desert Lakes Drive, Palm Springs, California 92264
Management Consultant.
George C. Bowen,* Vice President, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and
Director; 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. Charles Conrad, Jr., Director; Age
68 1501 Quail Street, Newport Beach, CA 92660 Chairman and CEO of Universal
Space Lines, Inc. (a space services management company); formerly Vice President
of McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co., prior to which he was associated with
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Jon S. Fossel, Director; Age 56
P.O. Box 44, Mead Street, Waccabuc, New York 10597
Formerly Chairman and a director of the Manager, President and a director of
Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., Shareholder Services, Inc. and Shareholder
Financial Services, Inc.
Sam Freedman, Director; Age: 58
4975 Lakeshore Drive, Littleton, Colorado 80123
Formerly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OppenheimerFunds Services,
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Shareholder Services,
Inc. and Shareholder Financial Services, Inc., Vice President and a director
of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. and a director of the Manager.
Raymond J. Kalinowski, Director; Age 69
44 Portland Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63131
Director of Wave Technologies International, Inc. (a computer products
training company).
C. Howard Kast, Director; Age 76
2552 East Alameda, Denver, Colorado 80209
Formerly Managing Partner of Deloitte, Haskins & Sells (an accounting firm).
Robert M. Kirchner, Director; Age 77
7500 E. Arapahoe Road, Englewood, Colorado 80112
President of The Kirchner Company (management consultants).
Bridget A. Macaskill*, President and Director; 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).
Ned M. Steel, Director; Age 83
3416 South Race Street, Englewood, Colorado 80110
Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter; a director of Visiting Nurse
Corporation of Colorado.
James C. Swain*, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director; Age 65 6803
South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112 Vice Chairman of the Manager (since
September 1988); formerly President and a director of Centennial Asset
Management Corporation, and Chairman of the Board of Shareholder Services, Inc.
Charles Albers, Vice President and Portfolio Manager; Age 57 Two World Trade
Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048 Senior Vice President of the
Manager (since April 17, 1998); a Certified Financial Analyst; previously a Vice
President and portfolio manager for Guardian Investor Services, the investment
management subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company (from 1972 to April
1998).
Nikolaos D. Monoyios, Vice President and Portfolio Manager; Age 48 Two World
Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048 Vice President of the Manager
(since April 17, 1998); a Certified Financial Analyst; previously a Vice
President and portfolio manager for Guardian Investor Services (from 1979 to
April 1998).
Andrew J. Donohue, Vice President and 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.
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 Directors. The officers of the Fund and three Directors of
the Fund (Ms. Macaskill and Messrs. Bowen and Swain) are affiliated with the
Manager and receive no salary or fee from the Fund. The remaining Directors of
the Fund received the compensation shown below. The compensation from the Fund
was paid during its fiscal year ended August 31, 1998. The compensation from all
of the Denver-based Oppenheimer funds includes the compensation from the Fund
and represents compensation received as a director, trustee, managing general
partner or member of a committee of the Board during the calendar year 1997.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Compensation
Aggregate from all Denver-Based
Director's Name and Position Compensation Oppenheimer Funds1
from Fund
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert G. Avis $____________ $63,501
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert G. Avis $8,435 $63,501
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
William A. Baker $9,970 $77,502
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles Conrad, Jr.3 $9,367 $72,000
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jon. S. Fossel $8,400 $63,277
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam Freedman
Audit and Review Committee
Member2 $8,894 $66,501
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raymond J. Kalinowski
Audit and Review
Committee Member2 $9,449 $71,561
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Howard Kast
Audit and Review
Committee Chairman2 $10,054 $76,503
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert M. Kirchner3 $9,367 $72,000
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ned M. Steel $8,435 $63,501
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. For the 1997 calendar year. Compensation is only from funds on whose Board a
Director served, as described above.
2. Committee positions effective July 1, 1997.
3. Prior to July 1, 1997, Messrs. Baker, Conrad and Kirchner were members of the
Audit and Review Committee.
n Deferred Compensation Plan. The Board of Directors has adopted a Deferred
Compensation Plan for disinterested directors 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 Director
is periodically adjusted as though an equivalent amount had been invested in
shares of one or more Oppenheimer funds selected by the Director. The amount
paid to the Director under the plan will be determined based upon the
performance of the selected funds.
Deferral of Director's 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 Director or to pay any particular level
of compensation to any Director. Pursuant to an Order issued by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, the Fund may invest in the funds selected by the
Director under the plan without shareholder approval for the limited purpose of
determining the value of the Director's deferred fee account.
n Major Shareholders. As of December 1, 1998 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 10,741,503.521Class A shares (6.89% of
the outstanding Class A shares), 12,151,927.021 Class B shares (9.00% of
the outstanding Class B shares) and 7,533,519.285 Class C shares (20.64%
of the outstanding Class C shares) and advised the Fund that such
ownership was for the sole benefit of its clients.
Mass Mutual Life Insurance Co., 1295 State Street, Springfield, MA 01111, which
owned 1,989,341.559 Class Y shares (representing 99.75% of the Fund's then
outstanding Class Y shares) and advised the Fund that such ownership was
for the sole benefit of its clients.
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 Fund. The Manager selects securities for
the Fund's portfolio and handles its day-to-day business. The portfolio managers
of the Fund are employed by the Manager and are the persons who are principally
responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio. Other members
of the Manager's Equity Portfolio Department provide the portfolio managers with
counsel and support in managing the Fund's portfolio.
The agreement 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. The advisory agreement lists examples of expenses paid by
the Fund. The major categories relate to interest, taxes, brokerage commissions,
fees to certain Directors, 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.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year ended 8/31: Management Fees Paid to OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 (2 months)1 $4,428,137
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $34,036,569
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $48,131,633
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Fiscal period from 7/1/96 to 8/31/96. The management fees for the 12 month
fiscal year ended 6/30/96 were $19,932,096.
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 "Main Street"
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's parent
corporation to use the names "Oppenheimer" and "Main Street" as part of its name
and the name of the Fund.
Brokerage Policies of the Fund
Brokerage Provisions of the Investment Advisory Agreement. One of the duties of
the Manager under the investment advisory agreement is to arrange the portfolio
transactions for the Fund. The advisory agreement contains provisions relating
to the employment of broker-dealers to effect the Fund's portfolio transactions.
The Manager is authorized by the advisory agreement to employ broker-dealers,
including "affiliated" brokers, as that term is defined in the Investment
Company Act. The Manager 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 need not seek competitive
commission bidding. However, it is 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
Directors.
Under the investment advisory agreement, the Manager 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 or its affiliates have
investment discretion. The commissions paid to such brokers may be higher than
another qualified broker would charge, if the Manager 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 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 Followed by the Manager. The Manager allocates brokerage for
the Fund subject to the provisions of the investment advisory agreement and the
procedures and rules described above. Generally, the Manager's portfolio traders
allocate brokerage based upon recommendations from the Manager's portfolio
managers. In certain instances, portfolio managers may directly place trades and
allocate brokerage. In either case, the Manager'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 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. In an option transaction, the Fund ordinarily uses the same broker for
the purchase or sale of the option and any transaction in the securities to
which the option relates. toOther funds advised by the Manager have investment
policies similar to those of the Fund. Those other funds may purchase or sell
the same thesecurities as the Fund at the same time as the Fund, Thewhich could
affect the supply and price of the securities. If two or more funds advised by
the Manager purchase the same security on the same day from the same dealer, the
transactions under those combined orders are averaged as to price and allocated
in accordance with the purchase or sale orders actually placed for each account.
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
Manager 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 permits the Manager 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 Manager 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 Manager's other
accounts. Investment research may be supplied to the Manager 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 Manager in a non-research capacity (such as bookkeeping or other
administrative functions), then only the percentage or component that provides
assistance to the Manager in the investment decision-making process may be paid
in commission dollars.
The Board of Directors permits the Manager to use stated commissions on
secondary fixed-income agency trades to obtain research if the broker represents
to the Manager that: (i) the trade is not from or for the broker's own
inventory, (ii) the trade was executed by the broker on an agency basis at the
stated commission, and (iii) the trade is not a riskless principal transaction.
The Board of Directors permits the Manager to use concessions on fixed-price
offerings to obtain research, in the same manner as is permitted for agency
transactions.
The research services provided by brokers broadens the scope and supplements
the research activities of the Manager. That research provides additional views
and comparisons for consideration, and helps the Manager 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 Manager provides information
to the Board about the commissions paid to brokers furnishing such services,
together with the Manager's representation that the amount of such commissions
was reasonably related to the value or benefit of such services.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year Ended 8/31: Total Brokerage Commissions Paid by the Fund1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 (2 months) 2 $1,913,573
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $10,046,510
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $15,543,8453
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Amounts do not include spreads or concessions on principal transactions on a
net trade basis.
2. For the fiscal period from 7/1/96 to 8/31/96. The total brokerage commissions
paid by the Fund for the 12 month fiscal year ended 6/30/96 were $9,515,620.
3. In the fiscal year ended 8/31/98, the amount of transactions directed to
brokers for research services was $6,823,082,713 and the amount of the
commissions paid to broker-dealers for those services was $8,216,220.
Distribution and Service Plans
The Distributor. Under its General Distributor's Agreement with the Fund's
parent corporation, the Distributor acts as the Fund's principal underwriter in
the continuous public offering of the different classes of shares of the Fund.
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.
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
8/31: Class A Retained by Distributor1 Distributor1 Distributor1
Shares Distributor
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19962 $5,372,166 $1,443,507 N/A $7,698,420 $468,253
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $25,549,129 $6,671,014 N/A $38,556,921 $2,094,866
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $28,733,281 $7,556,176 $971,654 $46,216,219 $2,725,789
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
Fiscal period from 7/1/86 to 8/31/96. For the 12 month fiscal year ended 6/30/96
the aggregate sales charges on Class A shares were $34,680,166 of which
$8,833,275 was retained by the Distributor. For the same period, Class B
contingent deferred sales charges in the amount of $2,198,614 and Class C
contingent deferred sales charges in the amount of $204,629 were retained by
the Distributor.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal
Year Class A Contingent Class B Contingent Class C Contingent
Ended 8/31 Deferred Sales Deferred Sales Deferred Sales Charges
Charges Retained by Charges Retained by Retained by Distributor
Distributor Distributor
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $10,427 $6,598,210 $185,210
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 a Service Plan for Class A
shares and Distribution and Service Plans for Class B and Class C shares under
Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act. Under those plans the Fund reimburses
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 Directors, including a
majority of the Independent Directors3, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on that plan. Each plan has also been approved by the
holders of a "majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the shares
of the applicable class. The shareholder vote for the Distribution and Service
Plans for Class B and Class C shares was cast by the Manager as the sole initial
holder of Class B and Class C 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 Directors and its Independent
Directors 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 Directors 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 Directors and the Independent Directors 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 Directors 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 Directors.
Each Plan states that while it is in effect, the selection and nomination of
those Directors of the Fund's parent corporation who are not "interested
persons" of the corporation (or the Fund) is committed to the discretion of the
Independent Directors. 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 Directors.
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 Directors. The Board of Directors has set no minimum amount of
assets to qualify for payments under the plans.
o Class A Service Plan Fees. Under the Class A service plan, 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 Class A shares. 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 Class A service plan
permits reimbursements to the Distributor at a rate of up to 0.25% of average
annual net assets of Class A shares. The Board has set the rate at that level.
While the plan permits 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 Class A shares held
in the accounts of the recipients or their customers.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 1998 payments under the Class A Plan
totaled $12,600,768, all of which was paid by the Distributor to recipients.
That included $635,016 paid to an affiliate of the Distributor's parent company.
Any unreimbursed expenses the Distributor incurs with respect to Class A shares
in any fiscal year cannot be recovered in subsequent years. The Distributor may
not use payments received under the Class A Plan to pay any of its interest
expenses, carrying charges, or other financial costs, or allocation of overhead.
o Class B and Class C 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 Class B and Class C plans allow the
Distributor to be reimbursed for its services and costs in distributing Class B
and Class C shares and servicing accounts. The types of services that recipients
provide are similar to the services provided under the Class A service plan,
described above.
The Class B and the Class C 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 service fee 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 advance service fee payment.
If Class B or Class C 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.
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 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 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 Class B and Class C
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 August 31, 1998, payments under the Class B plan
totaled $___________$41,203,918 (including $___________$176,564 paid to an
affiliate of the Distributor's parent). The Distributor retained $33,656,266 of
the total amount. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 1998, payments under the
Class C plan totaled $_______________,$11,840,338, (including
$___________$200,516 paid to an affiliate of the Distributor's parent). The
Distributor retained $3,657,622 of the total amount.
The Distributor's actual expenses in selling Class B and Class C 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 August 31,
1998, the Distributor had incurred unreimbursed expenses under the Class B plan
in the amount of $112,213,838 (equal to 2.69% of the Fund's net assets
represented by Class B shares on that date) and unreimbursed expenses under the
Class C plan of $10,871,517 (equal to 0.95% of the Fund's net assets represented
by Class C shares on that date). If either the Class B or the Class C plan is
terminated by the Fund, the Board of Directors may allow the Fund to continue
payments of the asset-based sales charge to the Distributor for distributing
shares before the plan was terminated. The plans allow for the carry-forward of
distribution expenses, to be recovered from asset-based sales charges in
subsequent fiscal periods.
All payments under the Class B and the Class C 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.
|_| An investment in the Fund is not insured by the FDIC or any other
government agency.
|_| The Fund's performance returns do not reflect the effect of taxes on
dividends and capital gains distributions.
|_| 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:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[OBJECT OMITTED]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|_| 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:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[OBJECT OMITTED]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|_| 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 8/31/98
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cumulative Total Average Annual Total Returns
Returns (10
years or Life of
Class)
Class of
Shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 546.96% 586.43% -2.28% 3.68% 13.34% 14.69% 20.11%1 20.82%1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B 74.92% 77.92% -1.90% 2.86% 15.37%2 15.87%2 N/A N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C 85.05% 85.05% 1.92% 2.91% 13.83%3 13.83%3 N/A N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class Y N/A 28.79% N/A 3.88% N/A 19.80%4 N/A N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Inception of Class A: 2/3/88
2. Inception of Class B: 10/3/94
3. Inception of Class C: 12/1/93
4. Inception of Class Y: 11/1/96
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 growth and income 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.
Oppenheimer Bond Fund
Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government Fund
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer California Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund
Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund
Oppenheimer MidCap Fund
Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund
Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies Fund
Oppenheimer Developing Markets Fund
Oppenheimer Municipal Bond Fund
Oppenheimer Disciplined Allocation Fund
Oppenheimer New York Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Disciplined Value Fund
Oppenheimer New Jersey Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Discovery Fund
Oppenheimer Pennsylvania Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund
Oppenheimer Quest
Balanced Value Fund
Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund
Oppenheimer Quest Capital Value Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer Florida Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer Global Fund
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund
Oppenheimer Global Growth & Income Fund
Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals
Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc. Fund
Oppenheimer Growth Fund
Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund
Oppenheimer High Yield Fund
Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund
Oppenheimer Insured Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Total Return Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer Intermediate Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust
Oppenheimer International Bond Fund
Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund
Limited-Term New York Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer International Small Company Fund
Rochester Fund Municipals Company Fund
Oppenheimer Large Cap Growth Fund
and the following money market funds:
Centennial America Fund, L. P. Centennial New York Tax Exempt Trust
Centennial California Tax Exempt Trust Centennial Tax Exempt Trust
Centennial Government Trust Oppenheimer Cash Reserves
Centennial Money Market Trust Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc.
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.
[--] 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.
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 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 Class B or
Class C shares and the dividends payable on Class B or Class C shares will be
reduced by incremental expenses borne solely by that class. Those expenses
include the asset-based sales charges to which 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 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.
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.
G
[--] Allocation of Expenses. The Fund pays expenses related to its daily
operations, such as custodian fees, Directors' 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
Directors, 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 these 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
Manager 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 Directors 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 Directors, 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
Directors 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
Directors 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 Directors. 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 Directors 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:
Class A shares purchased subject to an initial sales charge or Class A
shares on which a contingent deferred sales charge was paid, or 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 Directors 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 Directors 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.
Sending Redemption Proceeds 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 Appendix C 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.
|X| 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.
|X| 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.
[--] 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 with to exchange.
[--] 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.
[--] 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.
[--] 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 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 the different classes 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 Directors 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.
The Custodian. The Bank of New York 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. Deloitte & Touche, 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 the Manager and certain other funds
advised by the Manager and its affiliates.
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
================================================================================
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including
the statement of investments, of Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund as
of August 31, 1998, the related statement of operations for the year then ended,
the statements of changes in net assets for the two years then ended, and the
financial highlights for the period July 1, 1993, to August 31, 1998. These
financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the
Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and
financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities
owned at August 31, 1998, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; and
where replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing
procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such financial statements and financial highlights
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Oppenheimer
Main Street Income & Growth Fund at August 31, 1998, the results of its
operations, the changes in its net assets, and the financial highlights for the
respective stated periods, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Denver, Colorado
September 22, 1998
37 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
FINANCIALS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS August 31, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MARKET VALUE
SHARES SEE NOTE 1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
COMMON STOCKS--91.1%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BASIC MATERIALS--2.2%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHEMICALS--2.2%
Du Pont (E.I.) De Nemours & Co. 600,000 $ 34,612,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monsanto Co. 2,506,800 137,090,625
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PPG Industries, Inc. 240,000 12,195,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rohm & Haas Co. 224,000 19,334,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sigma-Aldrich Corp. 750,000 20,812,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solutia, Inc. 300,000 6,731,250
-------------
230,775,875
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSUMER CYCLICALS--17.7%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUTOS & HOUSING--1.8%
Ford Motor Co. 2,230,000 98,120,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Motors Corp. 1,150,000 66,412,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hertz Corp., Cl. A 150,000 5,662,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stanley Works (The) 308,100 12,131,437
-------------
182,326,437
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT--5.3%
Alaska Air Group, Inc.(1) 450,000 17,521,875
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
America West Holdings Corp., Cl. B(1) 300,000 5,831,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMR Corp.(1) 472,000 25,724,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASA Holdings, Inc. 100,000 3,425,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carnival Corp. 670,000 19,346,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comair Holdings, Inc. 150,000 3,815,625
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continental Airlines, Inc., Cl. B(1) 100,000 4,125,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delta Air Lines, Inc. 180,000 18,360,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hilton Hotels Corp. 699,000 14,504,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
King World Productions, Inc.(1) 110,000 2,310,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marriott International, Inc., Cl. A 3,340,600 93,745,587
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mattel, Inc. 540,000 17,482,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McDonald's Corp. 2,401,100 134,611,669
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time Warner, Inc. 2,255,180 181,260,092
-------------
542,063,098
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEDIA--2.6%
American Greetings Corp., Cl. A 102,000 3,735,750
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cox Communications, Inc., Cl. A(1) 1,317,100 55,318,200
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gannett Co., Inc. 600,000 35,400,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New York Times Co., Cl. A 800,000 23,200,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Omnicom Group, Inc. 2,155,800 102,669,975
</TABLE>
13 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MARKET VALUE
SHARES SEE NOTE 1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
MEDIA (CONTINUED)
Tele-Communications, Inc. (New),
Liberty Media Group, Series A(1) 660,000 $ 21,573,750
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tribune Co. 450,000 28,996,875
-------------
270,894,550
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RETAIL: GENERAL--4.4%
CVS Corp. 1,796,000 65,329,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dollar General Corp. 290,000 7,793,750
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federated Department Stores, Inc.(1) 580,000 25,266,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jones Apparel Group, Inc.(1) 815,700 15,804,187
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kohl's Corp.(1) 100,000 4,543,750
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liz Claiborne, Inc. 110,000 3,135,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May Department Stores Cos. 450,000 25,312,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohawk Industries, Inc.(1) 180,000 4,781,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Penney (J.C.) Co., Inc. 300,000 14,868,750
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shaw Industries, Inc. 450,000 6,806,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VF Corp. 160,100 6,063,787
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 4,675,000 274,656,250
-------------
454,361,224
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RETAIL: SPECIALTY--3.6%
Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Cl. A(1) 350,000 15,050,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best Buy Co., Inc.(1) 200,000 7,875,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Costco Cos., Inc.(1) 320,000 15,060,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footstar, Inc.(1) 100,000 2,912,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gap, Inc. 2,675,000 136,592,187
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home Depot, Inc. 2,900,000 111,650,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lowe's Cos., Inc. 520,000 18,232,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.(1) 300,000 6,581,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proffitt's, Inc.(1) 200,000 5,100,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Staples, Inc.(1) 250,000 6,781,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tandy Corp. 250,000 13,640,625
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tiffany & Co. 867,000 32,241,562
-------------
371,716,874
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSUMER NON-CYCLICALS--16.6%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEVERAGES--1.1%
Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc. 2,433,500 112,245,187
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOD--2.6%
Agribrands International, Inc.(1) 171,960 5,008,335
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albertson's, Inc. 580,000 29,326,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bestfoods 530,800 26,639,525
</TABLE>
14 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MARKET VALUE
SHARES SEE NOTE 1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
FOOD (CONTINUED)
H.J. Heinz Co. 1,625,000 $ 86,632,813
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Safeway, Inc.(1) 860,100 33,866,438
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unilever NV, NY Shares 1,300,000 82,387,500
--------------
263,860,861
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEALTHCARE/DRUGS--10.1%
Abbott Laboratories 3,100,000 119,350,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Home Products Corp. 3,100,000 155,387,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amgen, Inc.(1) 350,000 21,306,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. 2,000,000 195,750,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Johnson & Johnson 945,000 65,205,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Merck & Co., Inc. 2,280,000 264,337,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mylan Laboratories, Inc. 300,000 6,862,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schering-Plough Corp. 1,960,800 168,628,800
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warner Lambert Co. 600,000 39,150,000
--------------
1,035,977,550
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEALTHCARE/SUPPLIES & SERVICES--1.1%
Allegiance Corp. 582,000 16,441,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arterial Vascular Engineering, Inc.(1) 450,000 15,750,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Becton, Dickinson & Co. 832,400 27,729,325
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Biomet, Inc. 300,000 8,062,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cardinal Health, Inc. 365,300 31,963,750
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lincare Holdings, Inc.(1) 300,000 10,181,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tenet Healthcare Corp.(1) 52,200 1,347,413
--------------
111,475,738
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSEHOLD GOODS--0.3%
Kimberly-Clark Corp. 680,000 25,925,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOBACCO--1.4%
Fortune Brands, Inc. 320,000 8,820,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philip Morris Cos., Inc. 3,375,000 140,273,438
--------------
149,093,438
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ENERGY--3.7%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ENERGY SERVICES & PRODUCERS--3.3%
Apache Corp. 1,300,000 29,737,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baker Hughes, Inc. 2,182,140 39,824,055
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chieftain International, Inc.(1) 190,200 2,662,800
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dresser Industries, Inc. 750,000 19,171,875
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halliburton Co. 1,671,900 44,409,844
</TABLE>
15 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
MARKET VALUE
SHARES SEE NOTE 1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
ENERGY SERVICES & PRODUCERS (CONTINUED)
Nabors Industries, Inc.(1) 800,000 $ 9,450,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oryx Energy Co. 300,000 3,731,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paramount Resources Ltd. 144,400 1,061,651
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Santa Fe International Corp. 251,400 3,393,900
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schlumberger Ltd. 3,930,000 172,183,125
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smith International, Inc.(1) 225,000 3,965,625
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tesoro Petroleum Corp.(1) 450,000 5,793,750
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transocean Offshore, Inc. 200,000 4,912,500
-------------
340,297,875
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OIL-INTEGRATED--0.4%
Berkley Petroleum Corp.(1) 1,573,800 8,300,803
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canadian 88 Energy Corp.(1) 2,421,900 7,354,725
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.(1) 270,000 3,193,391
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frontier Oil Corp.(1) 850,900 4,573,588
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newport Petroleum Corp.(1) 1,934,000 5,007,582
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vastar Resources, Inc. 307,200 11,673,600
-------------
40,103,689
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL--20.2%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BANKS--9.3%
AmSouth Bancorp 320,000 11,000,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bank of New York Co., Inc. (The) 800,000 19,350,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BankAmerica Corp. 1,200,000 76,875,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BB&T Corp. 690,000 19,449,375
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chase Manhattan Corp. (New) 1,700,000 90,100,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Citicorp 700,000 75,687,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comerica, Inc. 220,000 11,495,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commercial Federal Corp. 767,750 16,890,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit Suisse Group 270,000 47,322,832
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dime Bancorp, Inc. 430,000 8,170,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Chicago NBD Corp. 917,100 58,121,213
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Union Corp. 1,200,000 58,200,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fleet Financial Group, Inc. 1,000,000 65,562,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mellon Bank Corp. 844,200 43,898,400
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National City Corp. 450,000 26,437,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern Trust Corp. 540,000 30,105,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Old Kent Financial Corp. 230,000 7,417,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regions Financial Corp. 370,000 12,811,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summit Bancorp 1,167,500 39,840,938
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UBS AG(1) 85,000 27,445,099
</TABLE>
16 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MARKET VALUE
SHARES SEE NOTE 1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
BANKS (CONTINUED)
Unibanco-Uniao de Bancos Brasileiros SA, Sponsored GDR 800,000 $ 12,000,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wachovia Corp. 300,000 21,993,750
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wells Fargo & Co. 618,333 174,292,614
-------------
954,465,971
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL--8.2%
AMBAC Financial Group, Inc. 320,000 15,100,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Express Co. 3,158,400 246,355,200
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associates First Capital Corp., Cl. A 577,200 34,126,950
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fannie Mae 1,606,000 91,240,875
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. 1,020,000 67,320,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. 2,071,200 120,259,050
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PaineWebber Group, Inc. 430,000 14,942,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price (T. Rowe) Associates, Inc. 200,000 6,087,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Travelers Group, Inc. 5,654,401 250,914,044
-------------
846,346,119
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INSURANCE--2.7%
Allmerica Financial Corp. 200,000 11,925,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allstate Corp. 3,155,200 118,320,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chubb Corp. 226,000 14,125,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cigna Corp. 494,000 28,744,625
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Re Corp. 156,000 32,370,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. 308,000 13,783,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hartford Life, Inc., Cl. A 430,000 22,037,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jefferson-Pilot Corp. 97,800 5,550,150
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lincoln National Corp. 260,000 22,360,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Old Republic International Corp. 500,000 11,156,250
-------------
280,371,525
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INDUSTRIAL--6.4%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT--2.1%
Berg Electronics Corp.(1) 127,200 4,134,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Electric Co. 1,834,500 146,760,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grainger (W.W.), Inc. 1,135,000 44,477,813
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Honeywell, Inc. 360,000 22,500,000
-------------
217,871,813
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS--0.2%
Lafarge Corp. 200,000 5,712,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vulcan Materials Co. 100,000 11,150,000
-------------
16,862,500
</TABLE>
17 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
MARKET VALUE
SHARES SEE NOTE 1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
INDUSTRIAL SERVICES--1.9%
Donnelley (R.R.) & Sons Co. 1,325,000 $ 48,031,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H&R Block, Inc. 260,000 10,172,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMS Health, Inc. 200,000 11,000,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. 1,676,850 95,580,450
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NCR Corp.(1) 400,000 10,575,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nielsen Media Research 66,666 599,994
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Republic Services, Inc.(1) 428,200 6,904,725
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waste Management, Inc. (New)(1) 400,000 17,650,000
-------------
200,513,919
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MANUFACTURING--1.9%
AlliedSignal, Inc. 800,000 27,450,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avery-Dennison Corp. 1,569,900 84,284,006
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Herman Miller, Inc. 300,000 6,150,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. 500,000 34,250,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Technologies Corp. 560,900 40,700,306
-------------
192,834,312
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSPORTATION--0.3%
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. 230,000 21,404,375
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CNF Transportation, Inc. 250,000 7,812,500
-------------
29,216,875
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TECHNOLOGY--13.4%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AEROSPACE/DEFENSE--0.2%
Lockheed Martin Corp. 250,000 21,859,375
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPUTER HARDWARE--3.4%
International Business Machines Corp. 2,210,000 248,901,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Komag, Inc.(1) 1,243,000 3,418,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lexmark International Group, Inc., Cl. A(1) 300,000 18,168,750
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Storage Technology Corp. (New)(1) 1,700,000 36,975,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sun Microsystems, Inc.(1) 980,000 38,832,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Symbol Technologies, Inc. 88,000 3,608,000
-------------
349,903,750
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPUTER SOFTWARE/SERVICES--6.0%
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. 1,377,900 87,841,125
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BMC Software, Inc.(1) 2,120,000 89,702,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cadence Design Systems, Inc.(1) 1,800,000 38,025,000
</TABLE>
18 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MARKET VALUE
SHARES SEE NOTE 1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
COMPUTER SOFTWARE/SERVICES (CONTINUED)
Compuware Corp.(1) 440,000 $ 19,992,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Corp.(1) 3,200,000 307,000,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sabre Group Holdings, Inc.(1) 300,000 9,600,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sapient Corp.(1) 300,000 11,718,750
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sungard Data Systems, Inc.(1) 1,612,000 51,080,250
-------------
614,960,125
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TELECOMMUNICATIONS-TECHNOLOGY--3.8%
CIENA Corp.(1) 1,433,800 40,325,625
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cisco Systems, Inc.(1) 3,075,000 251,765,625
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lucent Technologies, Inc. 1,002,800 71,073,450
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tellabs, Inc.(1) 780,000 32,955,000
-------------
396,119,700
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UTILITIES--10.9%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ELECTRIC UTILITIES--1.5%
BEC Energy 150,000 5,943,750
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DTE Energy Co. 180,000 7,582,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Duke Energy Corp. 500,000 31,187,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy East Corp. 200,000 9,000,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida Progress Corp. 400,000 16,875,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FPL Group, Inc. 418,000 27,823,125
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PG&E Corp. 1,100,000 35,337,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pinnacle West Capital Corp. 120,000 5,182,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. 400,000 14,650,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCANA Corp. 200,000 6,137,500
-------------
159,719,375
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TELEPHONE UTILITIES--9.4%
Ameritech Corp. 2,480,000 116,870,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AT&T Corp. 4,969,582 249,100,298
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bell Atlantic Corp. 3,040,000 134,140,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BellSouth Corp. 2,470,000 169,349,375
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc. 200,000 9,075,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GTE Corp. 1,000,000 50,000,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MCI Communications Corp. 1,000,000 50,000,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sprint Corp. 1,100,000 73,768,750
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U S West, Inc. 1,260,000 65,520,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WorldCom, Inc. 1,170,500 47,917,344
--------------
965,740,767
--------------
Total Common Stocks (Cost $8,283,490,286) 9,377,903,522
</TABLE>
19 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (Continued)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MARKET VALUE
SHARES SEE NOTE 1
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
PREFERRED STOCKS--0.1%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tesoro Petroleum Corp., 7.25% Cv. Preferred (Cost $17,531,250)(1) 1,100,000 $ 15,675,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER SECURITIES--0.8%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continental Airlines Finance Trust, 8.50% Cv.
Trust Originated Preferred Securities(2) 125,000 11,468,750
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Houston Industries, Inc., 7% Automatic Common
Exchange Securities, Exchangeable for Time Warner, Inc.
Common Stock, 7/1/00 703,000 50,264,500
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Union Pacific Capital Trust, 6.25% Cum. Term Income
Deferrable Equity Securities, Non-Vtg.(1) 350,300 15,632,138
------------
Total Other Securities (Cost $56,059,009) 77,365,388
<CAPTION>
UNITS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
RIGHTS, WARRANTS AND CERTIFICATES--0.0%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Satellite Network, Inc. Wts., Exp. 6/99 18,750 --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iwerks Entertainment, Inc. Wts., Exp. 7/99 16,400 --
------------
Total Rights, Warrants and Certificates (Cost $0) --
<CAPTION>
FACE
AMOUNT
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS--2.7%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 6.50%, 11/15/26 $ 57,950,000 66,787,433
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 6.625%, 2/15/27 64,300,000 75,391,814
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Treasury Bonds, STRIPS, 6.929%, 5/15/21(3) 462,000,000 132,428,604
------------
Total U.S. Government Obligations (Cost $216,836,931) 274,607,851
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONVERTIBLE CORPORATE BONDS AND NOTES--0.1%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saks Holdings, Inc., 5.50% Cv. Sub. Nts., 9/15/06
(Cost $9,279,396) 10,000,000 9,562,500
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHORT-TERM NOTES--3.1%(4)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baxter International, Inc., 5.55%, 9/2/98 20,000,000 19,996,917
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Countrywide Home Loans, 5.53%, 9/22/98 50,000,000 49,838,708
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Electric Capital Corp., 5.36%, 9/1/98 25,300,000 25,300,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Electric Capital Corp., 5.54%, 9/4/98 50,000,000 49,976,917
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Household Finance Corp., 5.53%, 9/11/98 50,000,000 49,923,195
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salomon Smith Barney Holdings, Inc., 5.52%, 10/6/98 25,000,000 24,865,833
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salomon Smith Barney Holdings, Inc., 5.52%, 9/14/98 50,000,000 49,900,333
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salomon Smith Barney Holdings, Inc., 5.525%, 9/16/98 50,000,000 49,884,896
------------
Total Short-Term Notes (Cost $319,686,799) 319,686,799
</TABLE>
20 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FACE MARKET VALUE
AMOUNT SEE NOTE 1
================================================================================================================
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS--2.6%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Repurchase agreement with Salomon Smith Barney Holdings, Inc., 5.75%, dated
8/31/98, to be repurchased at $273,043,604 on 9/1/98, collateralized by U.S.
Treasury Nts., 5.375%-8%, 10/31/98-2/15/05, with
a value of $280,238,094 (Cost $273,000,000) $273,000,000 $ 273,000,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL INVESTMENTS, AT VALUE (COST $9,175,883,671) 100.5% 10,347,801,060
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS (0.5) (48,731,149)
------------ ----------------
NET ASSETS 100.0% $ 10,299,069,911
============ ================
</TABLE>
1. Non-income producing security.
2. Represents securities sold under Rule 144A, which are exempt from
registration under the Securities act of 1933, as amended. These securities have
been determined to be liquid under guidelines established by the Board of
Directors. These securities amount to $11,468,750 or 0.11% of the Fund's net
assets as of August 31, 1998.
3. For zero coupon bonds, the interest rate shown is the effective yield on the
date of purchase.
4. Short-term notes are generally traded on a discount basis; the interest rate
is the discount rate received by the Fund at the time of purchase.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
21 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES August 31, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
================================================================================================================
<S> <C>
ASSETS
Investments, at value (cost $9,175,883,671)--see accompanying statement $10,347,801,060
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency
exchange contracts--Note 5 1,562
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Receivables:
Investments sold 128,960,019
Shares of capital stock sold 29,513,487
Interest and dividends 12,465,884
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other 151,807
---------------
Total assets 10,518,893,819
================================================================================================================
LIABILITIES
Bank overdraft 9,208,146
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payables and other liabilities:
Investments purchased 163,687,601
Shares of capital stock redeemed 38,139,374
Distribution and service plan fees 4,951,592
Transfer and shareholder servicing agent fees 1,935,922
Shareholder reports 1,068,027
Custodian fees 109,873
Other 723,373
---------------
Total liabilities 219,823,908
================================================================================================================
NET ASSETS $10,299,069,911
===============
================================================================================================================
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS
Par value of shares of capital stock $ 3,199,462
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional paid-in capital 8,629,761,057
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Undistributed net investment income 7,487,787
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated net realized gain on investments
and foreign currency transactions 486,700,405
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net unrealized appreciation on investments and translation of
assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies 1,171,921,200
---------------
Net assets $10,299,069,911
===============
</TABLE>
22 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
================================================================================================================
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
Class A Shares:
Net asset value and redemption price per share (based on net assets of
$4,932,816,908 and 152,645,006 shares of capital stock outstanding) $32.32
Maximum offering price per share (net asset value plus sales charge of
5.75% of offering price) $34.29
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B Shares:
Net asset value, redemption price (excludes applicable contingent deferred sales
charge) and offering price per share (based on net assets of $4,168,497,546 and
129,966,667 shares of capital stock outstanding) $32.07
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C Shares:
Net asset value, redemption price (excludes applicable contingent deferred sales
charge) and offering price per share (based on net assets of $1,144,692,103 and
35,695,727 shares of capital stock outstanding) $32.07
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class Y Shares:
Net asset value, redemption price and offering price per share (based on net
assets of $53,063,354 and 1,638,791 shares of capital stock outstanding) $32.38
</TABLE>
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
23 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS For The Year Ended August 31, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
================================================================================================================
<S> <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $253,942) $ 110,298,808
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest 71,098,024
-------------
Total income 181,396,832
================================================================================================================
EXPENSES
Distribution and service plan fees--Note 4:
Class A 12,600,768
Class B 41,203,918
Class C 11,840,338
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fees--Note 4 48,131,633
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transfer and shareholder servicing agent fees--Note 4:
Class A 7,854,040
Class B 6,220,384
Class C 1,789,236
Class Y 50,984
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder reports 2,885,039
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Registration and filing fees:
Class A 365,003
Class B 449,061
Class C 87,496
Class Y 13,467
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Custodian fees and expenses 415,564
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Legal, auditing and other professional fees 126,566
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Directors' fees and expenses 82,371
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Insurance expenses 33,336
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other 323,606
-------------
Total expenses 134,472,810
================================================================================================================
NET INVESTMENT INCOME 46,924,022
================================================================================================================
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)
Net realized gain (loss) on:
Investments 754,933,055
Closing of futures contracts 13,019,737
Foreign currency transactions (3,896,784)
-------------
Net realized gain 764,056,008
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on:
Investments (654,291,621)
Translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies 3,036,100
-------------
Net change (651,255,521)
-------------
Net realized and unrealized gain 112,800,487
================================================================================================================
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS $ 159,724,509
=============
</TABLE>
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
24 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31,
1998 1997
===============================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C>
OPERATIONS
Net investment income $ 46,924,022 $ 69,037,133
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain 764,056,008 436,466,588
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation (651,255,521) 1,410,723,467
--------------- --------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations 159,724,509 1,916,227,188
===============================================================================================================
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
Dividends from net investment income:
Class A (45,226,904) (48,672,471)
Class B (8,782,796) (14,534,654)
Class C (2,469,141) (4,918,987)
Class Y (333,013) (39,313)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions from net realized gain:
Class A (337,281,891) (230,404,395)
Class B (260,785,205) (151,242,446)
Class C (77,385,259) (54,897,836)
Class Y (1,708,194) (67)
===============================================================================================================
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS
Net increase in net assets resulting from
capital stock transactions--Note 2:
Class A 728,868,147 576,537,290
Class B 1,112,912,778 898,948,324
Class C 178,104,386 114,188,051
Class Y 41,849,349 15,023,989
===============================================================================================================
NET ASSETS
Total increase 1,487,486,766 3,016,214,673
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning of period 8,811,583,145 5,795,368,472
---------------- --------------
End of period (including undistributed net investment
income of $7,487,787 and $17,874,940, respectively) $10,299,069,911 $8,811,583,145
=============== ==============
</TABLE>
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
25 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A
-----------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR
ENDED
YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, JUNE 30,
1998 1997 1996(3) 1996
===============================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING DATA
Net asset value, beginning of period $33.87 $27.95 $28.89 $24.07
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income .29 .39 .07 .40
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) .99 7.91 (1.01) 4.93
------ ------ ------ ------
Total income (loss) from
investment operations 1.28 8.30 (.94) 5.33
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and distributions to shareholders:
Dividends from net investment income (.33) (.40) -- (.43)
Distributions from net realized gain (2.50) (1.98) -- (.08)
Distributions in excess of gains -- -- -- --
------ ------ ------ ------
Total dividends and distributions
to shareholders (2.83) (2.38) -- (.51)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $32.32 $33.87 $27.95 $28.89
====== ====== ====== ======
===============================================================================================================
TOTAL RETURN, AT NET ASSET VALUE(5) 3.68% 31.09% (3.25)% 22.26%
===============================================================================================================
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net assets, end of period
(in millions) $4,933 $4,457 $3,143 $3,147
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average net assets (in millions) $5,184 $3,857 $3,090 $2,516
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income 0.83% 1.29% 1.57%(6) 1.55%
Expenses 0.90% 0.94% 0.98%(6) 0.99%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate(7) 80.9% 61.7% 17.5% 92.6%
</TABLE>
1. For the period from November 1, 1996 (inception of offering) to August 31,
1997.
2. For the period from December 1, 1993 (inception of offering) to June
30, 1994.
3. For the two months ended August 31, 1996. The Fund changed its fiscal year
end from June 30 to August 31.
4. For the period from October 3, 1994 (inception of offering) to June 30, 1995.
5. Assumes a hypothetical initial investment on the business day before the
first day of the fiscal period (or inception of offering), with all dividends
and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and
redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the
fiscal period. Sales charges are not reflected in the total returns. Total
returns are not annualized for periods of less than one full year.
26 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS B
- ---------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
1995 1994 1998 1997 1996(3) 1998 1995(4)
=============================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$20.40 $19.88 $33.66 $27.79 $28.77 $24.00 $21.49
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.47 .37 .04 .17 .04 .23 .25
3.66 2.50 .96 7.86 (1.02) 4.87 2.54
- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
4.13 2.87 1.00 8.03 (.98) 5.10 2.79
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(.46) (.36) (.09) (.18) -- (.25) (.28)
-- -- (2.50) (1.98) -- (.08) --
-- (1.99) -- -- -- -- --
- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
(.46) (2.35) (2.59) (2.16) -- (.33) (.28)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$24.07 $20.40 $32.07 $33.66 $27.79 $28.77 $24.00
====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ======
=============================================================================================================
20.52% 14.34% 2.86% 30.12% (3.41)% 21.34% 13.41%
=============================================================================================================
$1,924 $740 $4,168 $3,308 $1,909 $1,800 $628
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1,319 $270 $4,123 $2,642 $1,818 $1,155 $249
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.31% 2.46% 0.06% 0.53% 0.82%(6) 0.74% 1.25%(6)
1.07% 1.28% 1.66% 1.69% 1.74%(6) 1.76% 1.89%(6)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
101.3% 199.4% 80.9% 61.7% 17.5% 92.6% 101.3%
</TABLE>
6. Annualized.
7. The lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for a period,
divided by the monthly average of the market value of portfolio securities owned
during the period. Securities with a maturity or expiration date at the time of
acquisition of one year or less are excluded from the calculation. Purchases and
sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities) for the period
ended August 31, 1998 were $9,184,157,377 and $7,816,215,033, respectively.
27 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (Continued)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS C
------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31,
1998 1997 1996(3)
=================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C>
PER SHARE OPERATING DATA
Net asset value, beginning of period $33.64 $27.78 $28.75
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income .03 .16 .04
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) .98 7.85 (1.01)
------- ------ ------
Total income (loss) from investment operations 1.01 8.01 (.97)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and distributions to shareholders:
Dividends from net investment income (.08) (.17) --
Distributions from net realized gain (2.50) (1.98) --
Distributions in excess of gains -- -- --
------- ------ ------
Total dividends and distributions
to shareholders (2.58) (2.15) --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $32.07 $33.64 $27.78
======= ====== ======
================================================================================================
TOTAL RETURN, AT NET ASSET VALUE(5) 2.91% 30.07% (3.37)%
================================================================================================
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net assets, end of period
(in millions) $1,145 $1,030 $744
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average net assets (in millions) $1,184 $ 904 $730
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income 0.07% 0.54% 0.82%(6)
Expenses 1.65% 1.69% 1.73%(6)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate(7) 80.9% 61.7% 17.5%
</TABLE>
1. For the period from November 1, 1996 (inception of offering) to August 31,
1997.
2. For the period from December 1, 1993 (inception of offering) to June 30,
1994.
3. For the two months ended August 31, 1996. The Fund changed its fiscal year
end from June 30 to August 31.
4. For the period from October 3, 1994 (inception of offering) to June 30, 1995.
5. Assumes a hypothetical initial investment on the business day before the
first day of the fiscal period (or inception of offering), with all dividends
and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and
redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the
fiscal period. Sales charges are not reflected in the total returns. Total
returns are not annualized for periods of less than one full year.
28 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS Y
- --------------------------------------- -----------------------
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31,
1996 1995 1994(2) 1998 1997(1)
=========================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$23.97 $20.33 $20.76 $33.94 $29.55
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
.21 .33 .13 .38 .41
4.88 3.62 (.42) .97 6.30
- ------ ----- ------ ------ ------
5.09 3.95 (.29) 1.35 6.71
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
(.23) (.31) (.14) (.41) (.34)
(.08) -- -- (2.50) (1.98)
-- -- -- -- --
- ------ ----- ------ ------ ------
(.31) (.31) (.14) (2.91) (2.32)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
$28.75 $23.97 $20.33 $32.38 $33.94
====== ====== ====== ====== ======
=========================================================================
21.35% 19.63% (1.44)% 3.88% 23.98%
=========================================================================
$741 $462 $170 $53 $16
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
$588 $325 $ 72 $37 $ 5
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.80% 1.57% 1.86%(6) 1.02% 1.58%(6)
1.74% 1.82% 2.11%(6) 0.67% 0.65%(6)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
92.6% 101.3% 199.4% 80.9% 61.7%
</TABLE>
6. Annualized.
7. The lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for a period,
divided by the monthly average of the market value of portfolio securities owned
during the period. Securities with a maturity or expiration date at the time of
acquisition of one year or less are excluded from the calculation. Purchases and
sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities) for the period
ended August 31, 1998 were $9,184,157,377 and $7,816,215,033, respectively.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
29 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund (the Fund) is a separate series of
Oppenheimer Main Street Funds, Inc., an open-end management investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Fund's
investment objective is to seek high total return (which includes current income
and capital appreciation in the value of its shares) from equity and debt
securities. The Fund's investment advisor is OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the
Manager). The Fund offers Class A, Class B, Class C and Class Y shares. Class A
shares are sold with a front-end sales charge. Class B and Class C shares may be
subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. All classes of shares have
identical rights to earnings, assets and voting privileges, except that each
class has its own expenses directly attributable to that class and exclusive
voting rights with respect to matters affecting that class. Classes A, B and C
have separate distribution and/or service plans. No such plan has been adopted
for Class Y shares. Class B shares will automatically convert to Class A shares
six years after the date of purchase. The following is a summary of significant
accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT VALUATION. Portfolio securities are valued at the close of the New
York Stock Exchange on each trading day. Listed and unlisted securities for
which such information is regularly reported are valued at the last sale price
of the day or, in the absence of sales, at values based on the closing bid or
the last sale price on the prior trading day. Long-term and short-term
"non-money market" debt securities are valued by a portfolio pricing service
approved by the Board of Directors. Such securities which cannot be valued by an
approved portfolio pricing service are valued using dealer-supplied valuations
provided the Manager is satisfied that the firm rendering the quotes is reliable
and that the quotes reflect current market value, or are valued under
consistently applied procedures established by the Board of Directors to
determine fair value in good faith. Short-term "money market type" debt
securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at cost (or
last determined market value) adjusted for amortization to maturity of any
premium or discount. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued
based on the closing prices of the forward currency contract rates in the London
foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or
dealer.
30 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION. The accounting records of the Fund are maintained
in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currencies are
translated into U.S. dollars at the closing rates of exchange. Amounts related
to the purchase and sale of foreign securities and investment income are
translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such
transactions.
The effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on
investments is separately identified from the fluctuations arising from changes
in market values of securities held and reported with all other foreign currency
gains and losses in the Fund's Statement of Operations.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. The Fund requires the custodian to take possession, to
have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System or to have
segregated within the custodian's vault, all securities held as collateral for
repurchase agreements. The market value of the underlying securities is required
to be at least 102% of the resale price at the time of purchase. If the seller
of the agreement defaults and the value of the collateral declines, or if the
seller enters an insolvency proceeding, realization of the value of the
collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALLOCATION OF INCOME, EXPENSES, GAINS AND LOSSES. Income, expenses (other than
those attributable to a specific class), gains and losses are allocated daily to
each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets
represented by such class. Operating expenses directly attributable to a
specific class are charged against the operations of that class.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL TAXES. The Fund intends to continue to comply with provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to
distribute all of its taxable income, including any net realized gain on
investments not offset by loss carryovers, to shareholders. Therefore, no
federal income or excise tax provision is required.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are
recorded on the ex-dividend date.
31 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
================================================================================
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
CLASSIFICATION OF DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS. Net investment income (loss)
and net realized gain (loss) may differ for financial statement and tax purposes
primarily because of the recognition of certain foreign currency gains (losses)
as ordinary income (loss) for tax purposes. The character of the distributions
made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ
from its ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Also, due to
timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal year in which amounts are
distributed may differ from the fiscal year in which the income or realized gain
was recorded by the Fund.
The Fund adjusts the classification of distributions to shareholders
to reflect the differences between financial statement amounts and distributions
determined in accordance with income tax regulations. Accordingly, during the
year ended August 31, 1998, amounts have been reclassified to reflect a decrease
in undistributed net investment income of $499,321, a decrease in paid-in
capital of $2,822, and an increase in accumulated net realized gain of $502,143.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER. Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the investments are
purchased or sold (trade date) and dividend income is recorded on the
ex-dividend date. Discount on securities purchased is amortized over the life of
the respective securities, in accordance with federal income tax requirements.
Realized gains and losses on investments and unrealized appreciation and
depreciation are determined on an identified cost basis, which is the same basis
used for federal income tax purposes.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
32 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
2. CAPITAL STOCK
The Fund has authorized 420 million shares of $.01 par value capital stock (200
million for Class A, 150 million for Class B, 50 million for Class C and 20
million for Class Y). Transactions in shares of capital stock were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 1998 YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 1997(1)
------------------------------ -------------------------------
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A:
Sold 36,063,568 $1,301,502,710 33,556,681 $1,034,114,167
Dividends and
distributions reinvested 11,155,518 367,256,659 9,085,326 266,799,418
Redeemed (26,184,202) (939,891,222) (23,475,410) (724,376,295)
---------- -------------- ------------ --------------
Net increase 21,034,884 $ 728,868,147 19,166,597 $ 576,537,290
========== ============== ============ ==============
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B:
Sold 37,520,500 $1,345,971,561 34,495,825 $1,058,128,830
Dividends and
distributions reinvested 7,843,422 255,472,251 5,396,671 157,340,936
Redeemed (13,683,243) (488,531,034) (10,274,858) (316,521,442)
---------- -------------- ------------ --------------
Net increase 31,680,679 $1,112,912,778 29,617,638 $ 898,948,324
========== ============== ============ ==============
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C:
Sold 8,806,101 $ 317,722,662 7,368,632 $ 225,510,151
Dividends and
distributions reinvested 2,313,726 75,333,277 1,933,297 56,297,865
Redeemed (6,042,849) (214,951,553) (5,469,271) (167,619,965)
---------- -------------- ------------ --------------
Net increase 5,076,978 $ 178,104,386 3,832,658 $ 114,188,051
========== ============== ============ ==============
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class Y:
Sold 1,573,594 $ 56,981,398 530,156 $ 16,705,572
Dividends and
distributions reinvested 61,592 2,041,207 1,199 39,301
Redeemed (475,241) (17,173,256) (52,509) (1,720,884)
---------- -------------- ------------ --------------
Net increase 1,159,945 $ 41,849,349 478,846 $ 15,023,989
========== ============== =========== ==============
</TABLE>
1. For the year ended August 31, 1997, for Class A, Class B and Class C shares
and for the period from November 1, 1996, (inception of offering) to August 31,
1997, for Class Y shares.
33 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
================================================================================
3. UNREALIZED GAINS AND LOSSES ON INVESTMENTS
As of August 31, 1998, net unrealized appreciation on investments of
$1,171,917,389 was composed of gross appreciation of $1,864,273,965, and gross
depreciation of $692,356,576.
================================================================================
4. MANAGEMENT FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
Management fees paid to the Manager were in accordance with the investment
advisory agreement with the Fund which provides for a fee of 0.65% of the first
$200 million of net assets of the Fund, 0.60% of the next $150 million, 0.55% of
the next $150 million and 0.45% of average annual net assets in excess of $500
million.
For the year ended August 31, 1998, commissions (sales charges paid
by investors) on sales of Class A shares totaled $28,733,281, of which
$7,556,176 was retained by OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. (OFDI), a
subsidiary of the Manager as general distributor, and by an affiliated
broker/dealer. Sales charges advanced to broker/dealers by OFDI on sales of the
Fund's Class B and Class C shares totaled $46,216,219 and $2,725,789,
respectively, of which $1,938,908 and $72,599, respectively, was paid to an
affiliated broker/dealer. During the year ended August 31, 1998, OFDI received
contingent deferred sales charges of $6,598,236 and $185,210, respectively, upon
redemption of Class B and Class C shares, as reimbursement for sales commissions
advanced by OFDI at the time of sale of such shares.
OppenheimerFunds Services (OFS), a division of the Manager, is the
transfer and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund and other Oppenheimer
funds. OFS's total costs of providing such services are allocated ratably to
these funds.
The Fund has adopted a Service Plan for Class A shares to reimburse
OFDI for a portion of its costs incurred in connection with the personal service
and maintenance of shareholder accounts that hold Class A shares. Reimbursement
is made quarterly at an annual rate that may not exceed 0.25% of the average
annual net assets of Class A shares of the Fund. OFDI uses the service fee to
reimburse brokers, dealers, banks and other financial institutions quarterly for
providing personal service and maintenance of accounts of their customers that
hold Class A shares. During the year ended August 31, 1998, OFDI paid $635,016
to an affiliated broker/dealer as reimbursement for Class A personal service and
maintenance expenses.
The Fund has adopted Distribution and Service Plans for Class B and
Class C shares to reimburse OFDI for its costs in distributing Class B and Class
C shares and servicing accounts. Under the Plans, the Fund pays OFDI an annual
asset-based sales charge of 0.75% per year on Class B and Class C shares for its
services rendered in distributing Class B and Class C shares. OFDI also receives
a service fee of 0.25% per year to reimburse dealers for providing personal
services for accounts that hold Class B and Class C shares. Each fee is computed
on the average annual net assets of Class B or Class C shares, determined as of
the close of each regular business day.
34 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
During the year ended August 31, 1998, OFDI paid $176,564 and $200,516,
respectively, to an affiliated broker/dealer as reimbursement for Class B and
Class C personal service and maintenance expenses and retained $33,656,266 and
$3,657,022, respectively, as reimbursement for Class B and Class C sales
commissions and service fee advances, as well as financing costs. If either Plan
is terminated by the Fund, the Board of Directors may allow the Fund to continue
payments of the asset-based sales charge to OFDI for distributing shares before
the Plan was terminated. As of August 31, 1998, OFDI had incurred excess
distribution and servicing costs of $112,213,838 for Class B and $10,871,517 for
Class C.
================================================================================
5. FORWARD CONTRACTS
A forward foreign currency exchange contract (forward contract) is a commitment
to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date, at a negotiated rate.
The Fund uses forward contracts to seek to manage foreign currency risks. They
may also be used to tactically shift portfolio currency risk.
The Fund generally enters into forward contracts as a hedge upon the
purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency. In addition,
the Fund may enter into such contracts as a hedge against changes in foreign
currency exchange rates on portfolio positions.
Forward contracts are valued based on the closing prices of the
forward currency contract rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a
daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. The Fund will realize a
gain or loss upon the closing or settlement of the forward transaction.
Securities held in segregated accounts to cover net exposure on
outstanding forward contracts are noted in the Statement of Investments where
applicable. Unrealized appreciation or depreciation on forward contracts is
reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Realized gains and losses
are reported with all other foreign currency gains and losses in the Fund's
Statement of Operations.
Risks include the potential inability of the counter party to meet
the terms of the contract and unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign
currency relative to the U.S. dollar.
As of August 31, 1998, the Fund had outstanding forward contracts as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONTRACT VALUATION AS OF UNREALIZED
EXPIRATION DATE AMOUNT (000S) AUGUST 31, 1998 APPRECIATION
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CONTRACTS TO PURCHASE
- ---------------------
Canadian Dollar (CAD) 9/1/98 477,347 CAD $303,614 $1,562
</TABLE>
35 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
================================================================================
6. FUTURES CONTRACTS
The Fund may buy and sell interest rate futures contracts in order to gain
exposure to or protect against changes in interest rates. The Fund may buy and
sell futures contracts, primarily to hedge the various commodities exposures
inherent in its holdings of structured notes that are linked to commodities
indices. The Fund may also buy or write put or call options on these futures
contracts.
The Fund generally sells futures contracts to hedge against increases
in interest rates or decreases in commodity prices and the resulting negative
effect on the value of fixed rate portfolio securities. The Fund may also
purchase futures contracts without owning the underlying fixed-income security
as an efficient or cost effective means to gain exposure to changes in interest
rates or commodity prices. The Fund will then either purchase the underlying
fixed-income security or close out the futures contract.
Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to
deposit either cash or securities (initial margin) in an amount equal to a
certain percentage of the contract value. Subsequent payments (variation margin)
are made or received by the Fund each day. The variation margin payments are
equal to the daily changes in the contract value and are recorded as unrealized
gains and losses. The Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract
is closed or expires.
Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options)
include the possibility that there may be an illiquid market and that a change
in the value of the contract or option may not correlate with changes in the
value of the underlying securities.
================================================================================
7. BANK BORROWINGS
The Fund may borrow from a bank for temporary or emergency purposes including,
without limitation, funding of shareholder redemptions provided asset coverage
for borrowings exceeds 300%. The Fund has entered into an agreement which
enables it to participate with other Oppenheimer funds in an unsecured line of
credit with a bank, which permits borrowings up to $400 million, collectively.
Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate equal to
the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.35%. Borrowings are payable 30 days after such
loan is executed. The Fund also pays a commitment fee equal to its pro rata
share of the average unutilized amount of the credit facility at a rate of
0.0575% per annum.
The Fund had no borrowings outstanding during the year ended August
31, 1998.
36 Oppenheimer Main Street Income & Growth Fund
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
Appendix A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
<PAGE>
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.
A-2
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
- ------------------------------------
Industry Classifications
- ------------------------------------
Aerospace/Defense Food and Drug Retailers
Air Transportation Gas Utilities
Asset-Backed Health Care/Drugs
Auto Parts and Equipment Health Care/Supplies & Services
Automotive Homebuilders/Real Estate
Bank Holding Companies Hotel/Gaming
Banks Industrial Services
Beverages Information Technology
Broadcasting Insurance
Broker-Dealers Leasing & Factoring
Building Materials Leisure
Cable Television Manufacturing
Chemicals Metals/Mining
Commercial Finance Nondurable Household Goods
Communication Equipment Office Equipment
Computer Hardware Oil - Domestic
Computer Software Oil - International
Conglomerates Paper
Consumer Finance Photography
Consumer Services Publishing
Containers Railroads
Convenience Stores Restaurants
Department Stores Savings & Loans
Diversified Financial Shipping
Diversified Media Special Purpose Financial
Drug Wholesalers Specialty Printing
Durable Household Goods Specialty Retailing
Education Steel
Electric Utilities Telecommunications - Technology
Electrical Equipment Telephone - Utility
Electronics Textile/Apparel
Energy Services & Producers Tobacco
Entertainment/Film Trucks and Parts
Environmental Wireless Services
B-1
Food
<PAGE>
C-41
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: (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>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: (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).
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
|_| 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.
|_| 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.
|_| 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.
|_| 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.
|_| 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).
|_| 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.
|_| 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.
|_| 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:
|_| Shares redeemed involuntarily, as described in "Shareholder Account
Rules and Policies," in the applicable Prospectus.
|_| 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).
|_| 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.
|_| Returns of excess contributions to Retirement Plans.
|_| 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.
|_| 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.
|_| Distributions from 401(k) plans sponsored by broker-dealers that have
entered into a special agreement with the Distributor allowing this waiver.
|_| 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.
|_| 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 Eligible Initial Sales
Employees or Initial Sales Charge as a % of Commission as % of
Members Charge as a % of Net Amount Invested Offering Price
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:
|_| 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
|_| 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:
|_| 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);
|_| 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
|_| 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.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
|_| 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.
|_| 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>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Web Site:
www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Investment Adviser
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
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
The Bank of New York
One Wall Street
New York, New York 10015
Independent Auditors
Deloitte & Touche LLP
555 Seventeenth Street, Suite 3600
Denver, Colorado 80202-3942
Legal Counsel
Myer, Swanson, Adams & Wolf, P.C.
1600 Broadway
Denver, Colorado 80202
67890
PX700.1298
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund(R)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112
1-800-525-7048
Statement of Additional Information dated December 22, 1998
This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus. This
document contains additional information about the Fund and supplements
information in the Prospectus dated December 22, 1998. 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....2
The Fund's Investment Policies.......................................2
Other Investment Techniques and Strategies..........................11
Investment Restrictions.............................................24
How the Fund is Managed ................................................27
Organization and History............................................27
Directors and Officers..............................................28
The Manager.........................................................32
Brokerage Policies of the Fund..........................................34
Distribution and Service Plans..........................................36
Performance of the Fund.................................................39
About Your Account
How To Buy Shares.......................................................44
How To Sell Shares......................................................52
How To Exchange Shares..................................................56
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes......................................59
Additional Information About the Fund...................................61
Financial Information About the Fund
Independent Auditors' Report............................................63
Financial Statements....................................................64
Appendix A: Municipal Bond Ratings.....................................A-1
Appendix B: Industry Classifications...................................B-1
Appendix C: Special Sales Charge Arrangements and Waivers .............C-1
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<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's investment Manager, OppenheimerFunds,
Inc., can select for the Fund. Additional information is also provided about 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 Manager 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 in seeking its goal. It may
use some of the special investment techniques and strategies at some times or
not at all.
The Fund does not make investments with the objective of seeking capital
growth, since that would generally be inconsistent with its goal of seeking
tax-exempt income. However, the value of the securities held by the Fund may be
affected by changes in general interest rates. Because the current value of debt
securities varies inversely with changes in prevailing interest rates, if
interest rates increased after a security was purchased, that security would
normally decline in value. Conversely, if interest rates decreased after a
security was purchased, normally its value would rise.
However, those fluctuations in value will not generally result in realized
gains or losses to the Fund unless the Fund sells the security prior to
maturity. A debt security held to maturity is redeemable by its issuer at full
principal value plus accrued interest. The Fund does not usually intend to
dispose of securities prior to their maturity, but may do so for liquidity, or
because of other investment reasons, such as factors affecting the issuer that
cause the Manager to sell the particular security. In that case, the Fund could
experience a capital gain or loss on the sale.
There are variations in the credit quality of municipal securities, both
within a particular rating classification and between classifications. These
variations depend on numerous factors. The yields of municipal securities depend
on a number of factors, including general conditions in the municipal securities
market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and
rating (if any) of the issue. These factors are discussed in greater detail
below.
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%. Short-term trading increases the rate of
portfolio turnover and could increase the Fund's transaction costs. However, the
Fund ordinarily incurs little or no brokerage expense because most of the Fund's
portfolio transactions are principal trades that do not require payment of
brokerage commissions. 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.
The Fund ordinarily does not trade securities to achieve short-term
capital gains, because they would not be tax-exempt income. To a limited degree,
the Fund may engage in short-term trading to attempt to take advantage of
short-term market variations. It may also do so to dispose of a portfolio
security prior to its maturity. That might be done if, on the basis of a revised
credit evaluation of the issuer or other considerations, the Fund believes such
disposition advisable or it needs to generate cash to satisfy requests to redeem
Fund shares. In those cases, the Fund may realize a capital gain or loss on its
investments. The Fund's annual portfolio turnover rate normally is not expected
to exceed 100%.
Municipal Securities. The types of municipal securities in which the Fund can
invest are described in the Prospectus under "About the Fund's Investments."
Municipal securities generally include general obligation bonds, revenue bonds
and notes, and municipal lease interests. A discussion of the general
characteristics of these principal types of municipal securities follows below.
|X| Municipal Bonds. We have classified longer term municipal securities
as "municipal bonds." The principal classifications of long-term municipal bonds
are "general obligation" and "revenue" (or "industrial development") bonds. They
may have fixed, variable or floating rates of interest, as described below.
Some bonds may be "callable," allowing the issuer to redeem them before
their maturity date. To protect bondholders, callable bonds may be issued with
provisions that prevent them from being called for a period of time. Typically,
that is 5 to 10 years from the issuance date. When interest rates decline, if
the call protection on a bond has expired, it is more likely that the issuer may
call the bond. If that occurs, the Fund might have to reinvest the proceeds of
the called bond in bonds that pay a lower rate of return.
|_| General Obligation Bonds. The basic security behind general
obligation bonds is the issuer's pledge of its full faith and credit and taxing
power for the repayment of principal and the payment of interest. Issuers of
general obligation bonds include states, counties, cities, towns, and regional
districts. The proceeds of these obligations are used to fund a wide range of
public projects, including construction or improvement of schools, highways and
roads, and water and sewer systems. The rate of taxes that can be levied for the
payment of debt service on these bonds may be limited or unlimited.
Additionally, there may be limits on the rate or amount of special assessments
that can be levied to meet these obligations.
|_| Revenue Bonds. The principal security for a revenue bond is
generally the net revenues derived from a particular facility, group of
facilities, or, in some cases, the proceeds of a special excise tax or other
specific revenue source. Revenue bonds are issued to finance a wide variety of
capital projects. Examples include electric, gas, water and sewer systems;
highways, bridges, and tunnels; port and airport facilities; colleges and
universities; and hospitals.
Although the principal security for these types of bonds may vary
from bond to bond, many provide additional security in the form of a debt
service reserve fund that may be used to make principal and interest payments on
the issuer's obligations. Housing finance authorities bonds have a wide range of
security, including partially or fully insured mortgages, rent subsidized and/or
collateralized mortgages, and/or the net revenues from housing or other public
projects. Some authorities provide further security in the form of a state's
ability (without obligation) to make up deficiencies in the debt service reserve
fund.
|_| Industrial Development Bonds. Industrial development bonds
are considered municipal bonds if the interest paid is exempt from federal
income tax. They are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to raise money
to finance various privately operated facilities for business and manufacturing,
housing, sports, and pollution control. These bonds may also be used to finance
public facilities such as airports, mass transit systems, ports, and parking.
The payment of the principal and interest on such bonds is dependent solely on
the ability of the facility's user to meet its financial obligations and the
pledge, if any, of real and personal property financed by the bond as security
for those payments.
|_| Mello-Roos Bonds. These are bonds issued under the
California Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act. They are used to finance
infrastructure projects, such as roads or sewage treatment plants. In most cases
they are secured by real estate taxes levied on property located in the same
community as the project. This type of financing was created in response to
statutory limits on real property taxes that were enacted in California. The
bonds do not constitute an obligation of a municipal government. Timely payment
of principal and interest depends on the ability of the developer of the project
or other property owners to pay their real estate taxes. Therefore these bonds
are subject to risks of nonpayment as a result of a general economic of real
estate market decline or decline in the real estate market, as well as the
credit risk of the developer.
|_| Private Activity Municipal Securities. The Tax Reform Act
of 1986 (the "Tax Reform Act") reorganized, as well as amended, the rules
governing tax exemption for interest on certain types of municipal securities.
The Tax Reform Act generally did not change the tax treatment of bonds issued in
order to finance governmental operations. Thus, interest on general obligation
bonds issued by or on behalf of state or local governments, the proceeds of
which are used to finance the operations of such governments, continues to be
tax-exempt. However, the Tax Reform Act limited the use of tax-exempt bonds for
non-governmental governmental (private) purposes. More stringent restrictions
were placed on the use of proceeds of such bonds. Interest on certain private
activity bonds is taxable under the revised rules. There is an exception for
"qualified" tax-exempt private activity bonds: for example, exempt facility
bonds including certain industrial development bonds, qualified mortgage bonds,
qualified Section 501(c)(3) bonds, and qualified student loan bonds.
In addition, limitations on the amount of private activity bonds that each
state may issue were revised downward by the Tax Reform Act, which has reduced
the supply of such bonds. The value of the Fund's portfolio could be affected if
there is a further reduction in the availability of such bonds.
Interest on certain private activity bonds issued after August 7, 1986,
which continues to be tax-exempt, will be treated as a tax preference item
subject to the alternative minimum tax (discussed below) to which certain
taxpayers are subject. The Fund may hold municipal securities the interest on
which (and thus a proportionate share of the exempt-interest dividends paid by
the Fund) will be subject to the Federal alternative minimum tax on individuals
and corporations.
The Federal alternative minimum tax is designed to ensure that all persons
who receive income pay some tax, even if their regular tax is zero. This is
accomplished in part by including in taxable income certain tax preference items
that are used to calculate alternative minimum taxable income. The Tax Reform
Act made tax-exempt interest from certain private activity bonds a tax
preference item for purposes of the alternative minimum tax on individuals and
corporations. Any exempt-interest dividend paid by a regulated investment
company will be treated as interest on a specific private activity bond based on
a ratio between the interest the Fund receives and the total amount of the
Fund's exempt interest dividends.
In addition, under some circumstances, corporate taxpayers subject to the
alternative minimum tax mayunder some circumstances,under some circumstances,
have to include exempt-interest dividends in calculating their alternative
minimum taxable income. That could occur if the "adjusted current earnings" of
the corporation exceed its alternative minimum taxable income.
To determine whether a municipal security is treated as a taxable private
activity bond, it is subject to a test for: (a) a trade or business use and
security interest, or (b) a private loan restriction. Under the trade or
business use and security interest test, an obligation is a private activity
bond if: (i) more than 10% of the bond proceeds are used for private business
purposes and (ii) 10% or more of the payment of principal or interest on the
issue is directly or indirectly derived from such private use or is secured by
the privately used property or the payments related to the use of the property.
For certain types of uses, a 5% threshold is substituted for the 10% threshold.
The term "private business use" means any direct or indirect use in a
trade or business carried on by an individual or entity other than a state or
municipal governmental unit. Under the private loan restriction, the amount of
bond proceeds that may be used to make private loans is limited to the lesser of
5% or $5.0 million of the proceeds. Thus, certain issues of municipal securities
could lose their tax-exempt status retroactively if the issuer fails to meet
certain requirements as to the expenditure of the proceeds of that issue or the
use of the bond-financed facility. The Fund makes no independent investigation
of the users of such bonds or their use of proceeds of the bonds. If the Fund
should hold a bond that loses its tax-exempt status retroactively, there might
be an adjustment to the tax-exempt income previously distributed to
shareholders.
Additionally, a private activity bond that would otherwise be a qualified
tax-exempt private activity bond will not, under Internal Revenue Code Section
147(a), be a qualified bond for any period during which it is held by a person
who is a "substantial user" of the facilities or by a "related person" of such a
substantial user. This "substantial user" provision applies primarily to exempt
facility bonds, including industrial development bonds. The Fund may invest in
industrial development bonds and other private activity bonds. Therefore, the
Fund may not be an appropriate investment for entities which are "substantial
users" (or persons related to "substantial users") of such exempt facilities.
Those entities and persons should consult their tax advisers before purchasing
shares of the Fund.
A "substantial user" of such facilities is defined generally as a
"non-exempt person who regularly uses part of a facility" financed from the
proceeds of exempt facility bonds. Generally, an individual will not be a
"related person" under the Internal Revenue Code unless such individual or the
individual's immediate family (spouse, brothers, sisters and immediate
descendants) own directly or indirectly in the aggregate more than 50% in value
of the equity of a corporation or partnership which is a "substantial user" of a
facility financed from the proceeds of exempt facility bonds.
|X| Municipal Notes. Municipal securities having a maturity (when the
security is issued) of less than one year are generally known as municipal
notes. Municipal notes generally are used to provide for short-term working
capital needs. Some of the types of municipal notes the Fund can invest in are
described below.
|_| Tax Anticipation Notes. These are issued to finance working
capital needs of municipalities. Generally, they are issued in anticipation of
various seasonal tax revenue, such as income, sales, use or other business
taxes, and are payable from these specific future taxes.
|_| Revenue Anticipation Notes. These are notes issued in
expectation of receipt of other types of revenue, such as Federal revenues
available under Federal revenue-sharing programs.
|_| Bond Anticipation Notes. Bond anticipation notes are issued to
provide interim financing until long-term financing can be arranged. The
long-term bonds that are issued typically also provide the money for the
repayment of the notes.
|_| Construction Loan Notes. These are sold to provide project
construction financing until permanent financing can be secured. After
successful completion and acceptance of the project, it may receive permanent
financing through public agencies, such as the Federal Housing Administration.
|X| Tax-Exempt Commercial Paper. This type of short-term obligation
(usually having a maturity of 270 days or less) is issued by a municipality
to meet current working capital needs.
|X| Municipal Lease Obligations. The Fund's investments in municipal lease
obligations may be through certificates of participation that are offered to
investors by public entities. Municipal leases may take the form of a lease or
an installment purchase contract issued by a state or local government authority
to obtain funds to acquire a wide variety of equipment and facilities.
Some municipal lease securities may be deemed to be "illiquid" securities.
Their purchase by the Fund would be limited as described below in "Illiquid
Securities." From time to time the Fund may invest more than 5% of its net
assets in municipal lease obligations that the Manager has determined to be
liquid under guidelines set by the Board of Directors. Those guidelines require
the Manager to evaluate:
|_| the frequency of trades and price quotations for such securities;
o the number of dealers or other potential buyers willing to purchase or
sell such securities;
o the availability of market-makers; and
|_| the nature of the trades for such securities.
While the Fund holds such securities, the Manager will also evaluate the
likelihood of a continuing market for these securities and their credit quality.
Municipal leases have special risk considerations. Although lease
obligations do not constitute general obligations of the municipality for which
the municipality's taxing power is pledged, a lease obligation is ordinarily
backed by the municipality's covenant to budget for, appropriate and make the
payments due under the lease obligation. However, certain lease obligations
contain "non-appropriation" clauses which provide that the municipality has no
obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless
money is appropriated for that purpose on a yearly basis. While the obligation
might be secured by the lease, it might be difficult to dispose of that property
in case of a default.
Projects financed with certificates of participation generally are not
subject to state constitutional debt limitations or other statutory requirements
that may apply to other municipal securities. Payments by the public entity on
the obligation underlying the certificates are derived from available revenue
sources. That revenue might be diverted to the funding of other municipal
service projects. Payments of interest and/or principal with respect to the
certificates are not guaranteed and do not constitute an obligation of a state
or any of its political subdivisions.
In addition to the risk of "non-appropriation," municipal lease securities
do not have as highly liquid a market as conventional municipal bonds. Municipal
leases, like other municipal debt obligations, are subject to the risk of
non-payment of interest or repayment of principal by the issuer. The ability of
issuers of municipal leases to make timely lease payments may be adversely
affected in general economic downturns and as relative governmental cost burdens
are reallocated among federal, state and local governmental units. A default in
payment of income would result in a reduction of income to the Fund. It could
also result in a reduction in the value of the municipal lease and that, as well
as a default in repayment of principal, could result in a decrease in the net
asset value of the Fund.
|X| Ratings of Municipal Securities. Ratings by ratings organizations such
as Moody's Investors Service, Standard & Poor's Rating Service and Fitch IBCA,
Inc. represent the respective rating agency's opinions of the credit quality of
the municipal securities they undertake to rate. However, their ratings are
general opinions and are not guarantees of quality. Municipal securities that
have the same maturity, coupon and rating may have different yields, while other
municipal securities that have the same maturity and coupon but different
ratings may have the same yield.
Subsequent to its purchase by the Fund, a municipal security may cease to
be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum required for purchase by
the Fund. Neither event requires the Fund to sell the security, but the Manager
will consider such events in determining whether the Fund should continue to
hold the security. To the extent that ratings given by Moody's, Standard &
Poor's, or Fitch change as a result of changes in those rating organizations or
their rating systems, the Fund will attempt to use comparable ratings as
standards for investments in accordance with the Fund's investment policies.
The Fund may buy municipal securities that are "pre-refunded." The
issuer's obligation to repay the principal value of the security is generally
collateralized with U.S. government securities placed in an escrow account. This
causes the pre-refunded security to have essentially the same risks of default
as a AAA-rated security.
A list of the rating definitions of Moody's, S&P and Fitch for municipal
securities is contained in Appendix A to this Statement of Additional
Information. Because the Fund may purchase securities that are unrated by
nationally recognized rating organizations, the Manager will make its own
assessment of the credit quality of unrated issues the Fund buys. The Manager
will use criteria similar to those used by the rating agencies, and will assign
a rating category to a security that is comparable to what the Manager believes
a rating agency would assign to that security. However, the Manager's rating
does not constitute a guarantee of the quality of a particular issue.
o Special Risks of Lower-Grade Securities. The Fund may invest up to
25% of its total assets in "lower grade" debt securities. The Fund can do so to
seek current income. Because lower-rated securities tend to offer higher yields
than investment grade securities, the Fund may invest in lower grade securities
if the Manager is trying to achieve greater income.
"Lower-grade" municipal securities include municipal bonds and notes rated
below "investment grade." That includes municipal bonds that 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 and municipal notes rated SP-2
by Standard & Poor's, MIG by Moody's or F-2 by Fitch. While securities rated
"Baa" by Moody's or "BBB" by Standard & Poor's are investment grade and are not
regarded as junk bonds, those securities may be subject to special risks, and
have some speculative characteristics. If municipal securities are unrated and
are determined by the Manager to be of comparable quality to debt securities
rated below investment grade, those municipal securities are included in the
limitation on the percentage of the Fund's assets that can be invested in
lower-grade securities.
Lower grade securities may have a higher yield than securities rated in
the higher rating categories. In addition to having a greater risk of default
than higher-grade securities there may be less of a market for these securities.
As a result they may be harder to sell at an acceptable price. The additional
risks mean that the Fund may not receive the anticipated level of income from
these securities, and the Fund's net asset value may be affected by declines in
the value of lower-grade securities. However, because the added risk of lower
quality securities might not be consistent with the Fund's policy of
preservation of capital, the Fund limits its investments in lower quality
securities.
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. However, the Fund's
limitations on these investments may reduce, to the Fund's exposure to those
risks.
Special Risks of Investing Primarily in California Municipal Securities. Because
the Fund focuses its investments primarily on California municipal securities,
the value of its portfolio investments will be highly sensitive to events
affecting the fiscal stability of the State of California and its
municipalities, authorities and other instrumentalities that issue securities.
There have been a number of political developments, voter initiatives, State
constitutional amendments and legislation in California in recent years that may
affect the ability of the State government and municipal governments to pay
interest and repay principal on the securities they have issued.
It is not possible to predict the future impact of the legislation and
economic considerations described below on the long-term ability of the State of
California or California municipal issuers to pay interest or repay principal on
their obligations. In part, that is because of possible inconsistencies in the
terms of the various laws and Propositions and the applicability of other
statutes to these issues. The budgets of California counties and local
governments may be significantly affected by State budget decisions beyond their
control. The information below about these conditions is only a brief summary,
based upon information the Fund has drawn from sources that it believes are
reliable.
|_| Changes to the State Constitution. Changes to the State constitution
in recent years have raised general concerns about the ability of the State and
municipal governments in California to obtain sufficient revenues to pay their
bond obligations. In 1978, California voters approved Proposition 13, an
amendment to the State constitution. The Proposition added a new section to the
constitution that limits ad valorem taxes on real property and restricts the
ability of local taxing entities to increase real property taxes. However,
legislation enacted after Proposition 13 provided help to California municipal
issuers to raise revenue to pay their bond obligations. That legislation
provided for the redistribution of the surplus (if any) from California's
General Fund to local agencies, the reallocation of revenues to local agencies
and the assumption of certain local obligations by the State. It cannot be
predicted whether additional legislation will be enacted in the future to
redistribute State revenues. Even if such legislation is passed, it cannot be
predicted whether it will provide sufficient revenue for local municipal issuers
to pay their bond obligations.
Another amendment to the State constitution may also have an adverse
impact on State and municipal bond obligations. That amendment restricts the
State government from spending amounts in excess of appropriation limits imposed
on each State and local government entity. If revenues exceed the appropriation
limit, those revenues must be returned, in the form of a revision in the tax
rates or fee schedules.
|_| Voter Initiatives. California voters have approved a number of
initiatives that affect the ability of the State and municipalities to finance
their bond obligations. In 1988 California voters approved Proposition 98, which
requires a minimum level of funding for public schools and community colleges.
In 1986, voters approved Proposition 62, which had a number of effects. One
requires that any special tax imposed by a local government must be approved by
a two-thirds vote of the electorate. In 1995, the California Supreme Court
upheld the constitutionality of that Proposition. That created uncertainty as to
the legality of certain local taxes enacted by non-charter cities without voter
approval. It is not possible to predict the eventual impact of that decision.
In 1996, California voters approved Proposition 218. That initiative
applied the provisions of Proposition 62 to all government entities, including
cities having charters. It requires that all taxes for general purposes be
approved by a simple majority of the popular vote, and that taxes for special
purposes must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote. Proposition 218 also
limits the authority of local governments to impose property-related
assessments, fees and charges. It requires that such assessments be limited to
the special benefit conferred and prohibits their use for general governmental
services. The Proposition enables voters to use their initiative powers to
reduce or repeal previously-authorized taxes, assessments, fees and charges.
|_| Effect of other State Laws on Bond Obligations. Some of the tax-exempt
securities that the Fund can invest in may be obligations payable solely from
the revenues of a specific institution or secured by specific properties. These
are subject to provisions of California law that could adversely affect the
holders of such obligations. For example, the revenues of California health care
institutions may be subject to State law limiting the remedies of a creditor
holding debt secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on real property.
|_| The Effect of General Economic Conditions in the State. The California
economy has been recovering from a general economic recession of a few years
ago. In 1997, the rate of growth in new jobs was generally high compared to the
rest of the country. The unemployment rate, while relatively higher than the
national average, fell to 5.8% in June 1998, compared to over 10% during the
recessionary period. Many of the new jobs were created in industries such as
computer services, software design, motion pictures and high technology
manufacturing. Business services, export trade and other manufacturing also
experienced growth. All major economic regions of the State grew. The growth
rate for the Los Angeles region has nearly caught up with that of the San
Francisco Bay region, based on employment growth statistics. However, the
unsettled conditions in Asian economies in 1998 may adversely affect the State's
export-related industries, and therefore the State's overall rate of economic
growth.
On August 21, 1998, the Governor of California signed the 1998-1999 Budget
Act. It authorizes State spending of about $72 billion. That includes $57.3
billion from the General Fund, which is a 7.3% increase from 1997-1998. It also
includes spending of $14.7 billion from special funds, an increase of 1.7%.
Before signing the budget act, the Governor vetoed $1.5 billion in
appropriations adopted by the State legislature, including $1.4 billion in
General Fund spending. The Governor indicated that $250 million of the cuts he
made to primary education costs were being set aside pending legislative
consideration of various school reforms.
Continued State economic expansion and large revenue increases enabled the
Governor and the State legislature to provide both significant tax relief and
increases in spending programs in the 1998-1999 budget. These include an initial
25% reduction in vehicle license fees, large increases in education funding and
cost of living adjustments and the restoration of grants for social service
programs.
However, in recent past years the State has experienced reductions in the
overall credit ratings assigned to its General Obligation bonds by several major
rating agencies. In July 1994, the ratings of those bonds were downgraded from
Aa to A1 by Moody's, from A+ to A by Standard & Poor's and from AA to A by
Fitch. At the time, the rating agencies all cited uncertainty about the State's
ability to balance its budget by 1996. However, in 1996, noting improvements in
the economy in California and the State budget, both Fitch and Standard & Poor's
raised their ratings of the State's General Obligation bonds from A to A+ and in
1997 Fitch raised its rating to AA-. In October 1998, Moody's raised its rating
from A1 to Aa3, citing the State's continued economic recovery and a number of
actions taken to improve the State's credit condition, including the rebuilding
of cash and budget reserves.
|_| Special Financial Problems of Local Governments. Some local
governments in California have experienced notable financial difficulties. On
December 6, 1994, Orange County, California, became the largest municipality in
the United States ever to have filed for protection under federal bankruptcy
laws. The filing stemmed from losses of about $1.7 billion in the County's
investment pool due to investments in high-risk derivative securities. In
September 1995 the State legislature approved legislation that permitted Orange
County to use for bankruptcy recovery $820 million in sales taxes over 20 years
that were previously earmarked for highways, transit and development. In June
1996 the County completed an $880 million bond offering secured by real property
owned by the County. On June 12, 1996, the County emerged from bankruptcy. On
January 7, 1997, Orange County returned to the bond market with a $136 million
bond issue. In December 1997, Moody's raised its ratings on $325 million of
Orange County pension obligation bonds to Baa3 from Ba. In February 1998, Fitch
assigned outstanding Orange County pension obligation bonds a BBB rating.
Los Angeles County, the nation's most populous county, has also
experienced financial difficulties. In 1995 the credit rating of the county's
long-term bonds was downgraded for the third time since 1992. This occurred as a
result of a number of factors, including severe operating deficits for the
county's health care system. In addition, the County was affected by a long-term
loss of revenue caused by State property tax shift initiatives in 1993 through
1995. In June 1998, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a
budget of approximately $13.6 billion for 1998-1999. That was more than 5%
larger than the 1997-1998 budget, but did not require cuts in services and jobs
to balance. However, the Board of Supervisors reserved the right to make further
changes to reflect revenue allocation decisions in the final State budget.
|_| Year 2000 Concerns. In October 1997, the Governor of California issued
an executive order stating that solutions to the Year 2000 problem would be a
State government priority. It required each State agency by December 31, 1998,
to address Year 2000 problems in their essential computer systems and to protect
those systems from problems caused by interfacing with outside systems that are
not Year 2000 compliant. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by State
or local governments or agencies to address the Year 2000 problem will be
sufficient to avoid any adverse impact on their budgets or operations.
Therefore, the possible impact of Year 2000 problems on the debt securities
issued by those governments and agencies, and which may be owned by the Fund,
cannot be predicted with any certainty.
Other Investment Techniques and Strategies. In seeking its objective, the Fund
may from time to time use the types of investment strategies and investments
described below. It is not required to use all of there strategies at all times
and at times may not use them.
|X| Floating Rate and Variable Rate Obligations. Variable rate demand
obligations have a demand feature that allows the Fund to tender the obligation
to the issuer or a third party prior to its maturity. The tender may be at par
value plus accrued interest, according to the terms of the obligations.
The interest rate on a floating rate demand note is based on a stated
prevailing market rate, such as a bank's prime rate, the 91-day U.S. Treasury
Bill rate, or some other standard, and is adjusted automatically each time such
rate is adjusted. The interest rate on a variable rate demand note is also based
on a stated prevailing market rate but is adjusted automatically at specified
intervals of not less than one year. Generally, the changes in the interest rate
on such securities reduce the fluctuation in their market value. As interest
rates decrease or increase, the potential for capital appreciation or
depreciation is less than that for fixed-rate obligations of the same maturity.
The Manager may determine that an unrated floating rate or variable rate demand
obligation meets the Fund's quality standards by reason of being backed by a
letter of credit or guarantee issued by a bank that meets those quality
standards.
Floating rate and variable rate demand notes that have a stated maturity
in excess of one year may have features that permit the holder to recover the
principal amount of the underlying security at specified intervals not exceeding
one year and upon no more than 30 days' notice. The issuer of that type of note
normally has a corresponding right in its discretion, after a given period, to
prepay the outstanding principal amount of the note plus accrued interest.
Generally the issuer must provide a specified number of days' notice to the
holder.
|X| Inverse Floaters and Other Derivative Investments. The Fund can invest
in inverse floaters to seek higher tax-exempt yields than are available from
fixed-rate bonds that have comparable maturities and credit ratings. Inverse
floaters may offer relatively high current income, reflecting the spread between
short-term and long-term tax exempt interest rates. As long as the municipal
yield curve remains relatively steep and short term rates remain relatively low,
owners of inverse floaters will have the opportunity to earn interest at
above-market rates because they receive interest at the higher long-term rates
but have paid for bonds with lower short-term rates. If the yield curve flattens
and shifts upward, an inverse floater will lose value more quickly than a
conventional long-term bond.The Fund will In some cases, the holder of an
inverse floater may have an option to convert the floater to a fixed-rate bond,
pursuant to a "rate-lock" option.
Some inverse floaters have a feature known as an interest rate "cap" as
part of the terms of the investment. Investing in inverse floaters that have
interest rate caps might be part of a portfolio strategy to try to maintain a
high current yield for the Fund when the Fund has invested in inverse floaters
that expose the Fund to the risk of short-term interest rate fluctuations.
"Embedded" caps can be used to hedge a portion of the Fund's exposure to rising
interest rates. When interest rates exceed a pre-determined rate, the cap
generates additional cash flows that offset the decline in interest rates on the
inverse floater, and the hedge is successful. However, the Fund bears the risk
that if interest rates do not rise above the pre-determined rate, the cap (which
is purchased for additional cost) will not provide additional cash flows and
will expire worthless.
Inverse floaters are a form of derivative investment. Certain derivatives,
such as options, futures, indexed securities and entering into swap agreements,
can be used to increase the Fund's exposure to changing security prices,
interest rates or other factors that affect the value of securities. However,
these investments could result in losses to the Fund, if the Manager judges
market conditions incorrectly or employs a strategy that does not correlate well
with the Fund's other investments. These investments can cause losses if the
counterparty does not perform its promises. An additional risk of investing in
municipal securities that are derivative investments is that their market value
could be expected to vary to a much greater extent than the market value of
municipal securities that are not derivative investments but have similar credit
quality, redemption provisions and maturities.
|X| When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Transactions. The Fund can purchase
securities on a "when-issued" basis, and may purchase or sell such securities on
a "delayed-delivery" or "forward commitment" basis. "When-issued" or
"delayed-delivery" refers to securities whose terms and indenture are available
and for which a market exists, but which are not available for immediate
delivery. The Fund does not use this technique for speculative purposes.
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. Normally the
settlement date is within six months of the purchase of municipal bonds and
notes. FundHowever,the Fund from time to time, the Fund can purchase municipal
securities having a settlement date more than six months and possibly as long as
two years or more after the trade date. The securities are subject to change in
value from market fluctuation during the settlement period. 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 Manager before settlement
will affect the value of such securities and might cause a loss to the Fund.
The Fund can engage in when-issued transactions in order to secure what is
considered to be an advantageous price and yield at the time of entering into
the obligation. When the Fund engages in when-issued or delayed-delivery
transactions, it relies on the buyer or seller, as the case may be, to complete
the transaction. Its failure to do so may cause the Fund to lose the opportunity
to obtain the security at a price and yield it considers 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 purposes of investment
leverage. Although the Fund normally would enter into when-issued or
delayed-delivery purchase transactions to acquire securities, the Fund can
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 deliver or receive against a forward commitment, it
might incur a gain or loss.
At the time the Fund makes a commitment to purchase or sell a security on
a when-issued or forward commitment basis, it records the transaction on its
books and reflects the value of the security purchased. In a sale transaction,
it records the proceeds to be received, in determining its net asset value. The
Fund will identify to its Custodian cash, U.S. government securities or other
high- grade debt obligations at least equal to the value of purchase commitments
until the Fund pays for the investment.
When-issued transactions and forward commitments 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
forward commitment basis, to obtain the benefit of currently higher cash yields.
|X| Zero-Coupon Securities. The Fund can buy zero-coupon and delayed
interest municipal securities. Zero-coupon securities do not make periodic
interest payments and are sold at a deep discount from their face value. The
buyer recognizes a rate of return determined by the gradual appreciation of the
security, which is redeemed at face value on a specified maturity date. This
discount depends on the time remaining until maturity, as well as prevailing
interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the credit quality of the
issuer. In the absence of threats to the issuer's credit quality, the discount
typically decreases as the maturity date approaches. Some zero-coupon securities
are convertible, in that they are zero-coupon securities until a predetermined
date, at which time they convert to a security with a specified coupon rate.
Because zero-coupon securities pay no interest and compound semi-annually
at the rate fixed at the time of their issuance, their value is generally more
volatile than the value of other debt securities. Their value may fall more
dramatically than the value of interest-bearing securities when interest rates
rise. When prevailing interest rates fall, zero-coupon securities tend to rise
more rapidly in value because they have a fixed rate of return.
The Fund's investment in zero-coupon securities may cause the Fund to
recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any
cash payments on the zero-coupon investment. To generate cash to satisfy those
distribution requirements, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities that
it otherwise might have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other
sources such as the sale of Fund shares.
|X| Puts and Standby Commitments. If the Fund buys a municipal security
subject to a standby commitment to repurchase the security, the Fund is entitled
to same-day settlement from the purchaser. The Fund receives an exercise price
equal to the amortized cost of the underlying security plus any accrued interest
at the time of exercise. A put purchased in conjunction with a municipal
security enables the Fund to sell the underlying security within a specified
period of time at a fixed exercise price.
The Fund might purchase a standby commitment or put separately in cash or
it might acquire the security subject to the standby commitment or put (at a
price that reflects that additional feature). The Fund will enter into these
transactions only with banks and securities dealers that, in the Manager's
opinion, present minimal credit risks. The Fund's ability to exercise a put or
standby commitment will depend on the ability of the bank or dealer to pay for
the securities if the put or standby commitment is exercised. If the bank or
dealer should default on its obligation, the Fund might not be able to recover
all or a portion of any loss sustained from having to sell the security
elsewhere.
Puts and standby commitments are not transferable by the Fund. They
terminate if the Fund sells the underlying security to a third party. The Fund
would enter into these arrangements to facilitate portfolio liquidity, although
such arrangements might enable the Fund to sell a security at a pre-arranged
price that may be higher than the prevailing market price at the time the put or
standby commitment is exercised. However, the Fund might refrain from exercising
a put or standby commitment if the exercise price is significantly higher than
the prevailing market price, to avoid imposing a loss on the seller that could
jeopardize the Fund's business relationships with the seller.
A put or standby commitment increases the cost of the security and reduces
the yield otherwise available from the security. Any consideration paid by the
Fund for the put or standby commitment will be reflected on the Fund's books as
unrealized depreciation while the put or standby commitment is held, and a
realized gain or loss when the put or commitment is exercised or expires.
Interest income received by the Fund from municipal securities subject to puts
or stand-by commitments might not qualify as tax exempt in its hands if the
terms of the put or stand-by commitment cause the Fund not to be treated as the
tax owner of the underlying municipal securities.
|X| Repurchase Agreements. The Fund can 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 transactions.
In a repurchase transaction, the Fund acquires 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 a primary dealer in government securities, which meet the credit
requirements set by the Fund's Board of Directors from time to time.
The majority of these transactions run from day to day. Delivery pursuant to
resale typically will occur 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. netBecause income earned on repurchase
transactions tois not tax-exempt, under normal market conditions the Fund will
limit its repurchase transactions to 20% of its total assets. That limit may be
exceeded if the Fund uses repurchase agreements as temporary defensive
investments.
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 collateral's value must equal or exceed the repurchase price to
fully collateralize the repayment obligation. The Manager will impose
creditworthiness requirements to confirm that the vendor is financially sound
and will continuously monitor the collateral's value. However, if the vendor
fails to pay the resale price on the delivery date, the Fund could incur costs
in disposing of the collateral and may experience losses if there is any delay
in its ability to do so.
|X| 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 might 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 has percentage limitations that apply to purchases of restricted
and illiquid securities, as stated in the Prospectus. Those percentage
restrictions do not limit purchases of restricted securities that are eligible
for resale to qualified institutional purchasers pursuant to Rule 144A under the
Securities Act of 1933, provided that those securities have been determined to
be liquid by the Board of Directors of the Fund or by the Manager. 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 holding
of that security may be deemed to be illiquid.
The Fund can 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.
|X| Loans of Portfolio Securities. The Fund can lend its portfolio
securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. The Fund might
do so to raise cash for liquidity purposes. These loans are limited to not more
than 10% of the value of the Fund's net assets. There are 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
that will exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's total assets. Income from
securities loans does not constitute exempt-interest income for the purpose of
paying tax-exempt dividends.
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 the loaned securities, It also receives one or more of (a)
negotiated loan fees, (b) interest on securities used as collateral, and (c)
interest on short-term debt securities purchased with the loan collateral.
Either type of interest may be shared with the borrower. The Fund may pay
reasonable finder's, administrative or other 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.
|X| Borrowing. The Fund can borrow up to 10% of the value of its total
assets. It can borrow only as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency
purposes. The Fund cannot make any investment when borrowings exceed 5% of its
total assets. The Fund can borrow only if it maintains a 300% ratio of assets to
borrowings at all times while a borrowing is outstanding. Interest on borrowed
money is an expense the Fund would not otherwise incur, so that it might have
reduced net income during periods of substantial borrowings.
|X| Hedging. The Fund can use hedging to attempt to protect against
declines in the market value of the its portfolio, to permit the Fund to retain
unrealized gains in the value of portfolio securities that have appreciated, or
to facilitate selling securities for investment reasons. To do so the Fund
could: o sell interest rate futures or municipal bond index futures, o buy puts
on such futures or securities, or
write covered calls on securities, interest rate futures or municipal bond
index futures. Covered calls can also be written on debt securities to
attempt to increase the Fund's income, but that income would not be
tax-exempt. Therefore it is unlikely that the Fund would write covered
calls for that purpose.
The Fund may also use hedging to establish a position in the debt
securities market as a temporary substitute for purchasing individual debt
securities. In that case the Fund would normally seek to purchase the
securities, and then terminate that hedging position. For this type of hedging,
the Fund could:
|_| buy interest rate futures or municipal bond index futures, or |_| buy
calls on such futures or on securities.
The Fund is not obligated to use hedging instruments even though it is
permitted to use them in the manager's discretion, as described below. The
Fund's strategy of hedging with futures and options on futures will be
incidental to the Fund's investment 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.
|_| Futures. The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts relating to debt
securities (these are called "interest rate futures") and municipal bond indices
(these are referred to as "municipal bond index futures").
An interest rate future obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser
to take) cash or a specific type of debt security to settle the futures
transaction. Either party could also enter into an offsetting contract to close
out the futures position.
A "municipal bond index" assigns relative values to the municipal bonds in
the index, and is used as the basis for trading long-term municipal bond futures
contracts. Municipal bond index futures are similar to interest rate futures
except that settlement is made only in cash. The obligation under the contract
may also be satisfied by entering into an offsetting contract. The strategies
which the Fund employs in using municipal bond index futures are similar to
those with regard to interest rate futures.
Upon entering into a futures transaction, the Fund will be required to
deposit an initial margin payment in cash or U.S. government securities with the
futures commission merchant (the "futures broker"). Initial margin payments will
be deposited with the Fund's Custodian in an account registered in the futures
broker's name. However, the futures broker can gain access to that account only
under certain 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 the 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 additional cash is required to be
paid by or released to the Fund. Any gain or loss is then realized by the Fund
on the future for tax purposes. Although interest rate futures by their terms
call for settlement by the delivery of debt securities, in most cases the
obligation is fulfilled without such delivery by entering into an offsetting
transaction. All futures transactions are effected through a clearing house
associated with the exchange on which the contracts are traded.
The Fund may concurrently buy and sell futures contracts in a strategy
anticipating that the future the Fund purchased will perform better than the
future the Fund sold. For example, the Fund might buy municipal bond futures and
concurrently sell U.S. Treasury Bond futures (a type of interest rate future).
The Fund would benefit if municipal bonds outperform U.S. Treasury Bonds on a
duration-adjusted basis.
Duration is a volatility measure that refers to the expected percentage
change in the value of a bond resulting from a change in general interest rates
(measured by each 1% change in the rates on U.S. Treasury securities). For
example, if a bond has an effective duration of three years, a 1% increase in
general interest rates would be expected to cause the value of the bond to
decline about 3%. There are risks that this type of futures strategy will not be
successful. U.S. Treasury bonds might perform better on a duration-adjusted
basis than municipal bonds, and the assumptions about duration that were used
might be incorrect (in this case, the duration of municipal bonds relative to
U.S. Treasury Bonds might have been greater than anticipated).
|_| Put and Call Options. The Fund can buy and sell certain kinds of
put options (puts) and call options (calls). These strategies are described
below.
|_| Writing Covered Call Options. The Fund may write (that is,
sell) call options. The Fund's call writing is subject to a number of
restrictions:
(1) After the Fund writes a call, not more than 25% of the Fund's total
assets may be subject to calls.
Each call the Fund writes must be "covered" while it is outstanding. That
means the Fund must own the investment on which the call was written.
(3) The Fund may write calls on futures contracts that it owns, but these
calls must be covered by securities or other liquid assets that the
Fund owns and segregates to enable it to satisfy its obligations if the
call is exercised.
When the Fund writes a call on a security, it receives cash (a
premium).The Fund agrees to sell the underlying investment 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 retained 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.
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 calls or upon the Fund's entering into a
closing purchase 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 would 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 illiquid securities) the
mark-to-market value of any OTC option held by it, unless the option is subject
to a buy-back agreement by the executing broker. The Securities and Exchange
Commission is evaluating whether OTC options should be considered liquid
securities. The procedure described above could be affected by the outcome of
that evaluation.
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
was more or less than the price of the call the Fund purchased to close out the
transaction. A profit may also be realized if the call lapses unexercised,
because the Fund retains the underlying investment and the premium received. Any
such profits are considered short-term capital gains for Federal tax purposes,
as are premiums on lapsed calls. When distributed by the Fund they are taxable
as ordinary income.
The Fund can also write calls on futures contracts 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 in escrow
an equivalent dollar value of liquid assets. The Fund will segregate additional
liquid assets if the value of the escrowed assets drops below 100% of the
current value of the future. Because of this escrow requirement, in no
circumstances would the Fund's receipt of an exercise notice as to that future
put the Fund in a "short" futures position.
o Writing Put Options. The Fund can sell put options. A put
option on securities gives the purchaser the right to sell, and the writer the
obligation to buy, the underlying investment at the exercise price during the
option period. The Fund will not write puts if, as a result, more than 25% of
the Fund's total assets would be required to be segregated to cover such put
options.
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 buy the underlying investment from the buyer of the put at
the exercise price, even if the value of the 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 purchase the
underlying investment at the exercise price. That price will usually exceed the
market value of the investment at that time. In that case, the Fund may incur a
loss if it sells the underlying investment. That loss will be equal to the sum
of the sale price of the underlying investment and the premium received minus
the sum of the exercise price and any transaction costs the Fund incurred.
When writing a put option on a security, to secure its obligation to pay
for the underlying security the Fund will deposit in escrow liquid assets with a
value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the underlying securities.
The Fund therefore forgoes the opportunity of investing the segregated assets or
writing calls against those assets.
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 take delivery of the underlying security
and pay the exercise price. The Fund has no control over when it may be required
to purchase the underlying security, 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 or to prevent the underlying
security from being put. Effecting a closing purchase transaction will also
permit the Fund to write another put option on the security, or to sell the
security and use the proceeds from the sale for other investments. 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.
|_| Purchasing Calls and Puts. The Fund can buy calls only on securities,
broadly-based municipal bond indices, municipal bond index futures and interest
rate futures. It can also buy calls to close out a call it has written, as
discussed above. Calls the Fund buys must be listed on a securities or
commodities exchange, or quoted on NASDAQ, or traded in the over-the-counter
market. itsThe 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.
When the Fund purchases a call (other than in a closing purchase
transaction), it pays a premium. For calls on securities that the Fund buys, it
has 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 (1) the call is sold at a profit or (2) the call is
exercised when the market price of the underlying investment is above the sum of
the exercise price plus the transaction costs and premium paid for the call. If
the call is not either exercised or sold (whether or not at a profit), it will
become worthless at its expiration date. In that case the Fund will lose its
premium payment and the right to purchase the underlying investment.
Calls on municipal bond indices, interest rate futures and municipal bond
index futures are settled in cash rather than by delivering the underlying
investment. Gain or loss depends on changes in the securities included in the
index in question (and thus on price movements in the debt securities market
generally) rather than on changes in price of the individual futures contract.
The Fund maycan buyonly puts that relate to securities, broadly-based
municipal bond indices, municipal bond index futures or interest rate futures
(whether or not the Fund owns the purchased.underlying investment in its
portfolio).
When the Fund purchases a put, it pays a premium. The Fund then has the
right 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. Puts on
municipal bond indices are settled in cash. Buying a put on a debt security,
interest rate future or municipal bond index future the Fund owns enables it to
protect itself during the put period against a decline in the value of the
underlying investment below the exercise price. 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 lose its premium payment and the
right to sell the underlying investment. A put may be sold prior to expiration
(whether or not at a profit).
|_| 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
Manager uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges market conditions
incorrectly, hedging strategies may reduce the Fund's returns.
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 could pay a brokerage commission each time it buys a call or put,
sells a call, or buys or sells an underlying investment in connection with the
exercise of a call or put. Such commissions could 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.
There is a risk in using short hedging by selling interest rate futures
and municipal bond index futures or purchasing puts on municipal bond indices or
futures to attempt to protect against declines in the value of the Fund's
securities. The risk is that the prices of such futures or the applicable index
will correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the cash (that is, market)
prices of the Fund's securities. It is possible for example, that while the Fund
has used hedging instruments in a short hedge, the market might advance and the
value of debt securities held in the Fund's portfolio might decline. If that
occurred, the Fund would lose money on the hedging instruments and also
experience a decline in value of its debt securities. However, while this could
occur over a brief period or to a very small degree, over time the value of a
diversified portfolio of debt 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 debt
securities being hedged and movements in the price of the hedging instruments,
the Fund maymight use hedging instruments in a greater dollar amount than the
dollar amount of debt securities being hedged. It might do so if the historical
volatility of the prices of the debt securities being hedged is greater 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 natures of those markets. All
participants in the futures markets are subject to margin deposit and
maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit
requirements, investors may close out futures contracts through offsetting
transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the cash and
futures markets. From the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements
in the futures markets are less onerous than margin requirements in the
securities markets. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the
futures markets may cause temporary price distortions.
The Fund can use hedging instruments to establish a position in the
municipal securities markets as a temporary substitute for the purchase of
individual securities (long hedging). It is possible that the market might
decline. If the Fund then concluded not to invest in such securities because of
concerns that there might be further market decline or for other reasons, the
Fund would realize a loss on the hedging instruments that would not be offset by
a reduction in the purchase price of the securities.
An option position may be closed out only on a market that provides
secondary trading for options of the same series. There is no assurance that a
liquid secondary market will exist for a particular option. theThe Fund could
experience losses if it could not close out a position because of an illiquid
market for the future or option.
|_| Interest Rate Swap Transactions. In an interest rate swap, the Fund
and another party exchange their right to receive or their obligation to pay
interest on a security. For example, they could swap a right to receive floating
rate payments for fixed rate payments. The Fund can enter into swaps only on
securities it owns. The Fund may not enter into swaps with respect to more than
25% of its total assets. Also, the Fund will segregate liquid assets (such as
cash or U.S. government securities) to cover any amounts it could owe under
swaps that exceed the amounts it is entitled to receive, and it will adjust that
amount daily, as needed. Income from interest rate swaps may be taxable.
Swap agreements entail both interest rate risk and credit risk. There is a
risk that, based on movements of interest rates in the future, the payments made
by the Fund under a swap agreement will have been greater than those received by
it. Credit risk arises from the possibility that the counterparty will default.
If the counterparty to an interest rate swap defaults, the Fund's loss will
consist of the net amount of contractual interest payments that the Fund has not
yet received. The Manager will monitor the creditworthiness of counterparties to
the Fund's interest rate swap transactions on an ongoing basis.
The Fund can enter into swap transactions with appropriate counterparties
pursuant to master netting agreements. A master netting agreement provides that
all swaps done between the Fund and that counterparty under the master agreement
shall be regarded as parts of an integral agreement. If on any date amounts are
payable under one or more swap transactions, the net amount payable on that date
shall be paid. In addition, the master netting agreement may provide that if one
party defaults generally or on one swap, the counterparty can terminate the
swaps with that party. Under master netting agreements, if there is a default
resulting in a loss to one party, that party's damages are calculated by
reference to the average cost of a replacement swap with respect to each swap.
The gains and losses on all swaps are then netted, and the result is the
counterparty's gain or loss on termination. The termination of all swaps and the
netting of gains and losses on termination is generally referred to as
"aggregation."
|_| Regulatory Aspects of Hedging Instruments. When using futures and
options on futures, the Fund is required to operate within certain guidelines
and restrictions established by the Commodity 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. That 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 no 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 also must use
short futures and options on futures positions 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). 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 an interest rate
future or municipal bond index future, it must maintain cash or readily
marketable short-term debt instruments in an amount equal to the market value of
the investments underlying the future, less the margin deposit applicable to it.
|X| Temporary Defensive Investments. The securities the Fund may invest
in for temporary defensive purposes include the following:
|_| short-term municipal securities;
|_| obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its
agencies or instrumentalities; |_| short-term debt securities; o
repurchase agreements; |_| commercial paper rated A-1 by Standard &
Poor's, or a comparable rating by another nationally recognized
rating agency; |_| certificates of deposit of domestic banks with
assets of $1
billion or more; and
|_| cash equivalents
|X| Taxable Investments. While the Fund can invest up to 20% of its total
assets in investments that generate income subject to income taxes, it does not
anticipate investing substantial amounts of its assets in taxable investments
under normal market conditions or as part of its normal trading strategies and
policies. To the extent it invests in taxable securities, the Fund would not be
able to meet its objective of providing tax exempt income to its shareholders.
Taxable investments include, for example, hedging instruments, repurchase
agreements, and the types of securities the Fund could buy for temporary
defensive purposes.
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 Directors
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 lend money except in connection with the acquisition of
debt securities which the Fund's investment policies and restrictions permit it
to purchase. The Fund may also make loans of portfolio securities, subject to
the restrictions stated under "Loans of Portfolio Securities."
o The Fund cannot 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 municipal securities, obligations issued by the State of
California or its subdivisions, agencies, authorities or instrumentalities, or
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or
instrumentalities. The Fund cannot invest in any other securities other than
municipal securities, temporary defensive investments and hedging instruments.
o The Fund cannot invest in interests in oil or gas exploration or
development programs or in commodities. However, the Fund can buy and sell any
of the hedging instruments permitted by any of its other policies. It does not
matter if the hedging instrument is considered to be a commodity or commodity
contract.
o The Fund cannot invest in real estate or in interests in real estate.
However, the Fund can purchase securities of issuers holding real estate or
interests in real estate (including securities of real estate investment
trusts).
o The Fund cannot purchase securities on margin. However, the Fund can
make margin deposits when using hedging instruments permitted by any of its
other policies.
o The Fund cannot invest in companies for the purpose of acquiring control
or management of those companies.
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 in or hold securities of any issuer if officers
and directors of the Fund or the Manager 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 other open-end investment companies or invest
more than 5% of its net assets through open market purchases in closed-end
investment companies, including small business investment companies. The Fund
cannot make any such investment at commission rates in excess of normal
brokerage commissions.
o The Fund cannot pledge, mortgage or otherwise encumber, transfer or
assign any of its assets to secure a debt. Collateral arrangements for premium
and margin payments in connection with hedging instruments are not deemed to be
a pledge of assets.
o The Fund cannot issue "senior securities," but this does not prohibit
certain investment activities for which assets of the Fund are designated as
segregated, or margin, collateral or escrow arrangements are established to
cover the related obligations. Examples of those activities include reverse
repurchase agreements, delayed-delivery and when-issued arrangements for
portfolio securities transactions, and contracts to buy or sell derivatives,
hedging instruments, options or futures.
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.
Non-Diversification of the Fund's Investments. The Fund is "non-diversified" as
defined in the Investment Company Act. Funds that are diversified have
restrictions against investing too much of their assets in the securities of any
one "issuer." That means that the Fund can invest more of its assets in the
securities of a single issuer than a fund that is diversified.
Being non-diversified poses additional investment risks, because if the
Fund invests more of its assets in fewer issuers, the value of its shares is
subject to greater fluctuations from adverse conditions affecting any one of
those issuers. However, the Fund does limit its investments in the securities of
any one issuer to qualify for tax purposes as a "regulated investment company"
under the Internal Revenue Code. By qualifying, it does not have to pay federal
income taxes if more than 90% of its earnings are distributed to shareholders.
To qualify, the Fund must meet a number of conditions. First, not more than 25%
of the market value of the Fund's total assets may be invested in the securities
of a single issuer. Second, with respect to 50% of the market value of its total
assets, (1) not more than 5% of the market value of its total assets may be
invested in the securities of a single issuer, and (2) the Fund must not own
more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of a single issuer.
The identification of the issuer of a municipal security depends on the
terms and conditions of the security. When the assets and revenues of an agency,
authority, instrumentality or other political subdivision are separate from
those of the government creating it and the security is backed only by the
assets and revenues of the subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality,
the latter would be deemed to be the sole issuer. Similarly, if an industrial
development bond is backed only by the assets and revenues of the
non-governmental user, then that user would be deemed to be the sole issuer.
However, if in either case the creating government or some other entity
guarantees a security, the guarantee would be considered a separate security and
would be treated as an issue of such government or other entity.
Applying the Restriction Against Concentration. To implement its policy not to
concentrate its investments, the Fund has adopted the industry classifications
set forth in Appendix B to this Statement of Additional Information. Those
industry classifications are not a fundamental policy.
In implementing the Fund's policy not to concentrate its investments, the
Manager will consider a non-governmental user of facilities financed by
industrial development bonds as being in a particular industry. That is done
even though the bonds are municipal securities, as to which the Fund has no
concentration limitation. Although this application of the concentration
restriction is not a fundamental policy of the Fund, it will not be changed
without shareholder approval.
How the Fund is Managed
Organization and History. The Fund is one of two investment portfolios, or
"series" of Oppenheimer Main Street Funds, Inc. That corporation is an open-end,
management investment company organized as a Maryland corporation in 1987. The
Fund is a non-diversified mutual fund and commenced operations on May 18, 1990.
The Fund's parent corporation is governed by a Board of Directors, which
is responsible for protecting the interests of shareholders under Maryland law.
The Directors meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Fund's
activities, review its performance, and review the actions of the Manager.
o Classes of Shares. The Board of Directors has the power, without
shareholder approval, to divide unissued shares of the Fund into two or more
classes. The Board has done so, and the Fund currently has two classes of
shares: Class A and Class B. Both 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 Directors are authorized to create new series and classes of shares.
The Directors may reclassify unissued shares of the Fund's parent corporation or
its series or classes into additional series or classes of shares. The Directors
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 Maryland
law to hold annual meetings, it may hold shareholder meetings from time to time
on important matters. The shareholders of the Fund's parent corporation have the
right to call a meeting to remove a Director or to take certain other action
described in the Articles of Incorporation or under Maryland law.
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
Directors call a meeting or upon proper request of shareholders. If the Fund's
parent corporation 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 Director),
the Directors will call a meeting of shareholders for that specified purpose.
The Fund's parent corporation has undertaken that it will then either give the
applicants access to the Fund's shareholder list or mail the applicants'
communication to all other shareholders at the applicants' expense.
Shareholders of the Fund and of its parent corporation's other series vote
together in the aggregate on certain matters at shareholders' meetings. Those
matters include the election of Directors 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.
Directors and Officers of the Fund. The Directors of the Fund's parent
corporation and the Fund's officers and their principal occupations and business
affiliations during the past five years are listed below. Directors denoted with
an asterisk (*) below are deemed to be "interested persons" of the Fund under
the Investment Company Act. All of the Directors are also trustees, directors or
managing general partners of the following Denver-based Oppenheimer funds4:
Oppenheimer Cash Reserves Oppenheimer Total Return Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds
Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund Panorama Series Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer High Yield Fund Centennial America Fund, L. P.
Oppenheimer International Bond Fund Centennial California Tax Exempt
Trust
Oppenheimer Integrity Funds Centennial Government Trust
Oppenheimer Limited-Term Centennial Money Market Trust
Government Fund
Oppenheimer Main Street Funds, Centennial New York Tax Exempt Trust
Inc.
Oppenheimer Municipal Fund Centennial Tax Exempt Trust
Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund The New York Tax-Exempt Income Fund,
Inc.
40
Inc.Trust,
Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund
<PAGE>
Ms. Macaskill and Messrs. Swain, Bishop, Bowen, Donohue, Farrar and Zack,
who are officers of the Fund, respectively hold the same offices with the other
Denver-based Oppenheimer funds. As of December 1, 1998, the Directors and
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.
Robert G. Avis,* Director; Age: 67
One North Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, Missouri 63103
Vice Chairman of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. (a broker-dealer) and A.G.
Edwards, Inc. (its parent holding company); Chairman of A.G.E. Asset
Management and A.G. Edwards Trust Company (its affiliated investment adviser
and trust company, respectively).
William A. Baker, Director; Age: 83
197 Desert Lakes Drive, Palm Springs, California 92264
Management Consultant.
George C. Bowen,* Vice President, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and
Director; 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.
Charles Conrad, Jr., Director; Age: 68
1501 Quail Street, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Chairman and CEO of Universal Space Lines, Inc. (a space services management
company); formerly Vice President of McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co.
prior to which he was associated with the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
Jon S. Fossel, Director; Age: 56
P.O. Box 44, Mead Street, Waccabuc, New York 10597
Formerly Chairman and a director of the Manager, President and a director of
Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., Shareholder Services, Inc. and Shareholder
Financial Services, Inc.
Sam Freedman, Director; Age: 58
4975 Lakeshore Drive, Littleton, Colorado 80123
Formerly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OppenheimerFunds Services,
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Shareholder Services,
Inc. and Shareholder Financial Services, Inc., Vice President and a director
of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. and a director of the Manager.
Raymond J. Kalinowski, Director; Age: 69
44 Portland Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63131
Director of Wave Technologies International, Inc. (a computer products
training company).
C. Howard Kast, Director; Age: 76
2552 East Alameda, Denver, Colorado 80209
Formerly Managing Partner of Deloitte, Haskins & Sells (an accounting firm).
Robert M. Kirchner, Director; Age: 77
7500 E. Arapahoe Road, Englewood, Colorado 80112
President of The Kirchner Company (management consultants).
Bridget A. Macaskill*, President and Director; 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).
Ned M. Steel, Director; Age: 83
3416 South Race Street, Englewood, Colorado 80110
Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter; a director of Visiting Nurse
Corporation of Colorado.
James C. Swain*, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director; Age: 65 6803
South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112 Vice Chairman of the Manager (since
September 1988); formerly President and a director of Centennial Asset
Management Corporation, and Chairman of the Board of Shareholder Services, Inc.
Caryn Halbrecht, Vice President and Portfolio Manager; Age: 41 Two World Trade
Center, New York, New York 10048-0203 Vice President of the Manager (since March
1994); an officer of other Oppenheimer funds; previously (until Inc.March 1994)
Vice President of Fixed Income Portfolio Management of Bankers Trust Company.
Andrew J. Donohue, Vice President and 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.
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.
|_| Remuneration of Directors. The officers of the Fund and three Directors
of the Fund (Ms. Macaskill and Messrs. Bowen and Swain) are affiliated with the
Manager and receive no salary or fee from the Fund. The remaining Directors of
the Fund received the compensation shown below. The compensation from the Fund
was paid during its fiscal year ended August 31, 1998. The compensation from all
of the Denver-based Oppenheimer funds includes the compensation from the Fund
and represents compensation received as a director, trustee, managing general
partner or member of a committee of the Board during the calendar year 1997.
<PAGE>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Compensation
from all
Director's Name and Aggregate Compensation Denver-Based
Position from Fund Oppenheimer Funds1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert G. Avis $____________ $63,501
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert G. Avis $251 $63,501
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
William A. Baker $296 $77,502
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles Conrad, Jr.3 $278 $72,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jon. S. Fossel $250 $63,277
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam Freedman
Audit and Review
Committee
Member2 $264 $66,501
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Raymond J. Kalinowski
Audit and Review
Committee Member2 $281 $71,561
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Howard Kast
Audit and Review
Committee Chairman2 $300 $76,503
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert M. Kirchner3 $278 $72,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ned M. Steel $251 $63,501
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
4. For the 1997 calendar year. Compensation is only from funds on whose Board
a Director served, as described above.
5. Committee positions effective July 1, 1997.
6. Prior to July 1, 1997, Messrs. Baker, Conrad and Kirchner were members of
the Audit and Review Committee.
n Deferred Compensation Plan. The Board of Directors has adopted a Deferred
Compensation Plan for disinterested directors 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 Director
is periodically adjusted as though an equivalent amount had been invested in
shares of one or more Oppenheimer funds selected by the Director. The amount
paid to the Director under the plan will be determined based upon the
performance of the selected funds.
Deferral of Director's 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 Director or to pay any particular level
of compensation to any Director. Pursuant to an Order issued by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, the Fund may invest in the funds selected by the
Director under the plan without shareholder approval for the limited purpose of
determining the value of the Director's deferred fee account.
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 Fund. The Manager selects securities for
the Fund's portfolio and handles its day-to-day business. The portfolio manager
of the Fund is employed by the Manager and is the person who is principally
responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio. Other members
of the Manager's Fixed Income Portfolio Department provide the portfolio manager
with counsel and support in managing the Fund's portfolio.
The agreement 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. The advisory agreement lists examples of expenses paid by
the Fund. The major categories relate to interest, taxes, brokerage commissions,
fees to certain Directors, legal and audit expenses, custodian and transfer
agent expenses, share issuance costs, certain printing and registration costs
and non-recurring expenses, including litigation costs.
Under the investment advisory agreement, the Manager is paid a fee based on
the average annual net assets of the Fund. The rates at which the Manager is
paid depend on the amount of the Fund's average annual net assets: o When net
assets are less than $25 million, no fee is paid to the
Manager.
o When net assets are $25 million or more but less than $50 million, the
rate of the fee is 0.15% of average annual net assets.
o When net assets are $50 million or more but less than $75 million, the
rate of the fee is 0.25% of average annual net assets.
o When net assets are $75 million or more but less that $100 million, the
rate of the is 0.40% of average annual net assets.
o When net assets are $100 million or more, the rate is 0.55% of average
annual net assets.
Apart from the investment advisory agreement, the Manager has voluntarily
agreed to waive a portion of its isfee, so that when the Fund's net assets are
$100 million or more, the Manager's fee is paid at a rate of 0.40% of average
annual net assets. The Manager can terminate or amend that waiver at any time,
on notice to the Board of Directors. The management fees paid by the Fund to the
Manager are applied to the aggregate assets of the Fund. The fees are allocated
to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of the Fund's net
assets represented by that class. The management fees paid by the Fund to the
Manager in the last three fiscal years are shown in the chart below.
<PAGE>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fees Paid to
Fiscal Year ended Management Fee (Without OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
8/31: Voluntary Waiver) (After Waiver)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 (2 months)1 $56,478 $56,478
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $353,136 $353,136
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $646,955 $470,845
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Fiscal period from 7/1/96 to 8/31/96. The management fees paid to the Manager
for the 12 month fiscal year ended 6/30/96 were $330,555.
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 "Main Street"
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's parent
corporation to use the names "Oppenheimer" and "Main Street" as part of its name
and the name of the Fund.
Brokerage Policies of the Fund
Brokerage Provisions of the Investment Advisory Agreement. One of the duties of
the Manager under the investment advisory agreement is to buy and sell portfolio
securities for the Fund. The investment advisory agreement allows the Manager to
use broker-dealers to effect the Fund's portfolio transactions. Under the
agreement, the Manager may employ those broker-dealers, including "affiliated"
brokers, as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act. The Manager may
employ broker-dealers that the Manager thinks, in its best judgment based on all
relevant factors, will implement the Fund's policy to obtain, at reasonable
expense, the "best execution" of portfolio transactions. "Best execution" refers
to prompt and reliable execution at the most favorable price obtainable. The
Manager need not seek competitive commission bidding. However, the Manager is
expected to minimize the commissions paid to the extent consistent with the
interest and policies of the Fund as established by its Board of Directors.
Under the investment advisory agreement, the Manager 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 or its affiliates have
investment discretion. The commissions paid to such brokers may be higher than
another qualified broker would charge, if the Manager makes a good faith
determination that the commission is fair and reasonable in relation to the
services provided. Subject to those other considerations, as a factor in
selecting brokers for the Fund's portfolio transactions, the Manager may also
consider sales of shares of the Fund and other investment companies managed by
the Manager or its affiliates.
Brokerage Practices Followed by the Manager. The Manager allocates brokerage for
the Fund subject to the provisions of the investment advisory agreement and the
procedures and rules described above. Generally the Manager's portfolio traders
allocate brokerage upon recommendations from the Manager's portfolio managers.
In certain instances, portfolio managers may directly place trades and allocate
brokerage. In either case, the Manager's executive officers supervise the
allocation of brokerage.
Most securities purchases made by the Fund are principal transactions at
net prices. The Fund usually deals directly with the selling or purchasing
principal or market maker without incurring charges for the services of a broker
on its behalf unless the Manager determines that a better price or execution may
be obtained by using the services of a broker. Therefore, the Fund does not
incur substantial brokerage costs. Portfolio securities purchased from
underwriters include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the
underwriter in the price of the security. Portfolio securities purchased from
dealers include a spread between the bid and asked price. The Fund seeks to
obtain prompt execution of orders at the most favorable net prices. In an option
transaction, the Fund ordinarily uses the same broker for the purchase or sale
of the option and any transaction in the investment to which the option relates.
Other funds advised by the Manager have investment objectives and policies
similar to those of the Fund. Those other funds may purchase or sell the same
securities as the Fund at the same time as the Fund, which could affect the
supply and price of the securities. If two or more of funds advised by the
Manager purchase the same security on the same day from the same dealer, the
transactions under those combined orders are averaged as to price and allocated
in accordance with the purchase or sale orders actually placed for each account.
The investment advisory agreement permits the Manager 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 Manager
and its affiliates. Investment research received by the Manager for the
commissions paid by those other accounts may be useful both to the Fund and one
or more of the Manager's other accounts. Investment research services may be
supplied to the Manager by a third party at the instance of a broker through
which trades are placed. Investment research services include information and
analyses 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 Manager in a non-research capacity (such as
bookkeeping or other administrative functions), then only the percentage or
component that provides assistance to the Manager in the investment
decision-making process may be paid in commission dollars.
The Board of Directors has permitted the Manager to use concessions on
fixed-price offerings to obtain research, in the same manner as is permitted for
agency transactions. The Board has also permitted the Manager to use stated
commissions on secondary fixed-income agency trades to obtain research if the
broker represents to the Manager that: (i) the trade is not from or for the
broker's own inventory, (ii) the trade was executed by the broker on an agency
basis at the stated commission, and (iii) the trade is not a riskless principal
transaction.
The research services provided by brokers broaden the scope and supplement
the research activities of the Manager. That research provides additional views
and comparisons for consideration and helps the Manager 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 Manager provides information
to the Board of the Fund about the commissions paid to brokers furnishing
research services, together with the Manager's representation that the amount of
such commissions was reasonably related to the value or benefit of such
services.
Distribution and Service Plans
The Distributor. Under its General Distributor's Agreement with the Fund's
parent corporation, the Distributor acts as the Fund's principal underwriter in
the continuous public offering ofshares of the Fund'sClass 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.
<PAGE>
----------------------------------------------------------------
Aggregate Class A Commissions Commissions
Fiscal Front-End Front-End on Class A on Class B
Year Sales Sales Shares Shares
Ended Charges on Charges Advanced by Advanced by
8/31: Class A Retained by Distributor1 Distributor1
Shares Distributor
----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
19962 $24,568 $4,283 N/A $19,208
----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $293,130 $46,207 N/A $213,863
----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $406,963 $41,120 $71,099 $465,076
----------------------------------------------------------------
3. The Distributor advances commission payments to dealers for certain sales of
Class A shares and for sales of Class B shares from its own resources at the
time of sale.
Fiscal period from 7/1/96 to 8/31/96. For the 12 month fiscal year ended 6/30/96
the aggregate sales charges on Class A shares were $134,177 of which $28,111
was retained by the Distributor. For the same period, Class B contingent
deferred sales charges in the amount of $3,991were retained by the
Distributor.
------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal
Year Class A Contingent Class B Contingent
Ended Deferred Sales Deferred Sales
8/31 Charges Retained by Charges Retained by
Distributor Distributor
------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
1998 $0 $32,708
------------------------------------------------------
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 Plan. The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service
Plan for Class B shares Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act. Under the plan
the Fund reimburses the Distributor for all or a portion of its costs incurred
in connection with the distribution and/or servicing of Class B shares.
The plan has been approved by a vote of the Board of Directors, including a
majority of the Independent Directors5, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on that plan. The plan has also been approved by the
holders of a "majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the shares
of the applicable class. The shareholder vote for the Distribution and Service
Plans for Class B shares was cast by the Manager as the sole initial holder of
Class B shares of the Fund.
Under the plan, 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 the plan is terminated as described below, the plan continues in
effect from year to year but only if the Fund's Board of Directors and its
Independent Directors 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. The plan may be terminated at any time by the
vote of a majority of the Independent Directors or by the vote of the holders of
a "majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the outstandingshares
of Class B shares.
The Board of Directors and the Independent Directors must approve all
material amendments to the plan. An amendment to increase materially the amount
of payments to be made under the plan must be approved by shareholders of Class
B.
While the plan is in effect, the Treasurer of the Fund shall provide written
reports on the plan to the Board of Directors at least quarterly for its review.
The Reports shall detail the amount of all payments made under the plan, the
purpose for which the payments were made and the identity of each recipient of a
payment. The reports 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
Directors.
The plan states that while it is in effect, the selection and nomination of
those Directors of the Fund's parent corporation who are not "interested
persons" of the corporation (or the Fund) is committed to the discretion of the
Independent Directors. 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 Directors.
Under the plan, 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 Directors. The Board of
Directors has set no minimum amount of assets to qualify for payments under the
plan.
o Class B Service and Distribution Plan Fees. Under the plan, service fees
and distribution fees are computed on the average of the net asset value of
Class B shares, determined as of the close of each regular business day during
the period. The plan allows the Distributor to be reimbursed for its services
and costs in distributing Class B shares and servicing accounts.
Under the service plan, the services provided by recipients to their
customers 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 plan permits reimbursements to the
Distributor at a rate of up to 0.25% of average annual net asset of Class B. The
Board has set the rate at that level.
The plan permits 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 service fee 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 Class B 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.
The Distributor retains the asset-based sales charge on Class B shares. If a
dealer has a special agreement with the Distributor, the Distributor will pay
the Class B 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 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 B
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 Class B 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 August 31, 1998, payments under the Class B Plan
totaled $180,565. The Distributor retained $159,237 of the total amount.
The Distributor's actual expenses in selling Class B 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 plan. As of August 31, 1998, the
Distributor had incurred unreimbursed expenses under the Class B plan in the
amount of $811,620 (equal to 3.5% of the Fund's net assets represented by Class
B shares on that date). If the Class B plan is terminated by the Fund, the Board
of Directors may allow the Fund to continue payments of the asset-based sales
charge to the Distributor for distributing shares before the plan was
terminated. The plan allows for the carry-forward of distribution expenses, to
be recovered from asset-based sales charges in subsequent fiscal periods.
All payments under the Class B plan 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 performance. These terms include "standardized yield,"
"tax-equivalent yield," "dividend yield," "average annual total return,"
"cumulative total return," "average annual total return at net asset value" and
"total return at net asset value." An explanation of how yields and 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
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). Certain types of yields may also be shown, provided that they are
accompanied by standardized average annual total returns.
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:
|_| Yields and 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.
|_| 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 its yields 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.
|_| Yields and total returns for any given past period represent
historical performance information and are not, and should not be considered, a
prediction of future yields or 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 yields and 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 those investments, the
types of investments the Fund holds, and its operating expenses that are
allocated to the particular class.
|X| Yields. The Fund uses a variety of different yields to illustrate its
current returns. Each class of shares calculates its yield separately because of
the different expenses that affect each class.
|_| Standardized Yield. The "standardized yield" (sometimes referred to
just as "yield") is shown for a class of shares for a stated 30-day period. It
is not based on actual distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders in the
30-day period, but is a hypothetical yield based upon the net investment income
from the Fund's portfolio investments for that period. It may therefore differ
from the "dividend yield" for the same class of shares, described below.
Standardized yield is calculated using the following formula set forth in
rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, designed to assure
uniformity in the way that all funds calculate their yields:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[OBJECT OMITTED]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The symbols above represent the following factors:
a = dividends and interest earned during the 30-day period.
b = expenses accrued for the period (net of any expense assumptions).
c = the average daily number of shares of that class outstanding
during the 30-day period that were entitled to receive dividends.
d = the maximum offering price per share of that class on the last day
of the period, adjusted for undistributed net investment income.
The standardized yield for a particular 30-day period may differ from the
yield for other periods. The SEC formula assumes that the standardized yield for
a 30-day period occurs at a constant rate for a six-month period and is
annualized at the end of the six-month period. Additionally, because each class
of shares is subject to different expenses, it is likely that the standardized
yields of the Fund's classes of shares will differ for any 30-day period.
|_| Dividend Yield. The Fund may quote a "dividend yield" for each class
of its shares. Dividend yield is based on the dividends paid on a class of
shares during the actual dividend period. To calculate dividend yield, the
dividends of a class declared during a stated period are added together, and the
sum is multiplied by 12 (to annualize the yield) and divided by the maximum
offering price on the last day of the dividend period. The formula is shown
below:
Dividend Yield = dividends paid x 12/maximum offering price
(payment date)
The maximum offering price for Class A shares includes the current maximum
initial sales charge. The maximum offering price for Class B shares is the net
asset value per share, without considering the effect of contingent deferred
sales charges. The Class A dividend yield may also be quoted without deducting
the maximum initial sales charge.
|_| Tax-Equivalent Yield. The "tax-equivalent yield" of a class of shares
is the equivalent yield that would have to be earned on a taxable investment to
achieve the after-tax results represented by the Fund's tax-equivalent yield. It
adjusts the Fund's standardized yield, as calculated above, by a stated Federal
tax rate. Using different tax rates to show different tax equivalent yields
shows investors in different tax brackets the tax equivalent yield of the Fund
based on their own tax bracket.
The tax-equivalent yield is based on a 30-day period, and is
computed by dividing the tax-exempt portion of the Fund's current yield (as
calculated above) by one minus a stated income tax rate. The result is added to
the portion (if any) of the Fund's current yield that is not
tax-exempt.tax-exempt.
The tax-equivalent yield may be used to compare the tax effects of income
derived from the Fund with income from taxable investments at the tax rates
stated. Your tax bracket is determined by your Federal and state taxable income
(the net amount subject to Federal and state income tax after deductions and
exemptions). The tax-equivalent yield table assumes that the investor is taxed
at the highest bracket, regardless of whether a switch to non-taxable
investments would cause a lower bracket to apply.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund's Yields for the 30-Day Periods Ended 8/31/98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax-Equivalent
Class Yield (45.22%
of Combined
Shares Federal/California
Standardized Yield Dividend Yield Tax Bracket)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Without After Without After Without After
Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales
Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A 4.49% 4.27% 5.00% 4.77% 8.20% 7.79%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B 3.48% N/A 4.05% N/A 6.35% N/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
|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 4.75% (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.
|_| 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") to achieve an Ending Redeemable Value ("ERV" in the
formula) of that investment, according to the following formula:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[OBJECT OMITTED]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|_| 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:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[OBJECT OMITTED]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|_| 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 or Class B 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 8/31/98
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cumulative Total Average Annual Total Returns
Class Returns (10
of years or Life of
Shares Class)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5-Year 10-Year
(or (or
1-Year 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
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 84.46% 93.66% 4.13% 9.33% 5.57%2 6.61%2 7.67%1 8.30%1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B 26.56% 28.56% 3.24% 8.24% 4.99%2 5.33%2 N/A N/A
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Inception of Class A: 5/18/90
2. Inception of Class B: 10/29/93
Other Performance Comparisons.
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"). 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. The performance of the Fund is
ranked by Lipper against all other California municipal debt 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 municipal
bond 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 Fund's returns 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 Bond Fund Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government
Fund
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund Oppenheimer Main Street California
Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer California Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Main Street Growth &
Income Fund
Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund Oppenheimer MidCap Fund Oppenheimer
Convertible Securities Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies Fund Fund Oppenheimer
Developing Markets Fund Oppenheimer Municipal Bond Fund Oppenheimer
Disciplined Allocation Oppenheimer New York Municipal Fund Fund Oppenheimer
Disciplined Value Fund Oppenheimer New Jersey Municipal Fund Oppenheimer
Discovery Fund Oppenheimer Pennsylvania Municipal
Fund
Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Fund
Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund Oppenheimer Quest Capital Value Fund,
Inc.
Oppenheimer Florida Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund,
Inc.
Oppenheimer Global Fund Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value
Fund
Oppenheimer Global Growth & Income Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund Fund
Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc. Fund
Oppenheimer Growth Fund Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund Oppenheimer High Yield
Fund Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund Oppenheimer Insured Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Total Return Fund, Inc. Oppenheimer Intermediate Municipal
Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust Fund Oppenheimer International Bond Fund
Oppenheimer World Bond Fund Oppenheimer International Growth Fund Limited-Term
New York Municipal Fund Oppenheimer International Small Rochester Fund
Municipals Company Fund Oppenheimer Large Cap Growth Fund
and the following money market funds:
Centennial America Fund, L. P. Centennial New York Tax Exempt Trust
Centennial California Tax Exempt Centennial Tax Exempt Trust
Trust
Centennial Government Trust Oppenheimer Cash Reserves
Centennial Money Market Trust Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc.
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.
[--] 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.
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 Class B
shares and the dividends payable on Class B shares will be reduced by
incremental expenses borne solely by that class. Those expenses include the
asset-based sales charges to which Class B is 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
shares have no initial sales charge, the purpose of the deferred sales charge
and asset-based sales charge on Class B 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 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.
[--] 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.
[--] Allocation of Expenses. The Fund pays expenses related to its daily
operations, such as custodian fees, Directors' 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
Directors, 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 value of some of the Fund's
portfolio securities may change significantly on those days, when shareholders
may not purchase or redeem shares.
|X| Securities Valuation. The Fund's Board of Directors has
established procedures for the valuation of the Fund's securities. In general
those procedures are as follows:
|_| 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
Directors or obtained by the Manager from two active market makers in the
security on the basis of reasonable inquiry.
|_| 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
Directors 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.
|_| 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.
|_| 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 municipal securities, when last sale information is not
generally available, the Manager may use pricing services approved by the Board
of Directors. 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.
Puts, calls, interest rate futures and municipal bond index 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 Directors 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.
Checkwriting. When a check is presented to the Fund's bank for clearance, the
bank will ask the Fund to redeem a sufficient number of full and fractional
shares in the shareholder's account to cover the amount of the check. This
enables the shareholder to continue to receive dividends on those shares until
the check is presented to the Fund. Checks may not be presented for payment at
the offices of the bank listed on the check or at the Fund's custodian bank.
That limitation does not affect the use of checks for the payment of bills or to
obtain cash at other banks. The Fund reserves the right to amend, suspend or
discontinue offering Checkwriting privileges at any time without prior notice.
In choosing to take advantage of the Checkwriting privilege by signing the
Account Application or by completing a Checkwriting card, each individual who
signs: (1) for individual accounts, represents that they are the registered
owner(s) of the shares of the Fund in that account;
(2) for accounts for corporations, partnerships, trusts and other entities,
represents that they are an officer, general partner, trustee or other
fiduciary or agent, as applicable, duly authorized to act on behalf of
such registered owner(s);
(3) authorizes the Fund, its Transfer Agent and any bank through which the
Fund's drafts (checks) are payable to pay all checks drawn on the Fund
account of such person(s) and to redeem a sufficient amount of shares
from that account to cover payment of each check;
(4) specifically acknowledges that if they choose to permit checks to be
honored if there is a single signature on checks drawn against joint
accounts, or accounts for corporations, partnerships, trusts or other
entities, the signature of any one signatory on a check will be
sufficient to authorize payment of that check and redemption from the
account, even if that account is registered in the names of more than
one person or more than one authorized signature appears on the
Checkwriting card or the Application, as applicable;
(5) understands that the Checkwriting privilege may be terminated or
amended at any time by the Fund and/or the Fund's bank; and
(6) acknowledges and agrees that neither the Fund nor its bank shall incur
any liability for that amendment or termination of checkwriting
privileges or for redeeming shares to pay checks reasonably believed by
them to be genuine, or for returning or not paying checks that have not
been accepted for any reason.
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. 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 Directors 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 Directors 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
contingent deferred sales charge will be followed in determining the order in
which shares are transferred.
Sending Redemption Proceeds 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.
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
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).
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.
|X| 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.
|X| 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.
[--] 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.
When Class B 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 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 or Class B shares.
[--] 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.
[--] 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 investor 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.
[--] 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. Dividends will be payable on shares held of record
at the time of the previous determination of net asset value, or as otherwise
described in "How to Buy Shares." Daily dividends will not be declared or paid
on newly purchased shares until such time as Federal Funds (funds credited to a
member bank's account at the Federal Reserve Bank) are available from the
purchase payment for such shares. Normally, purchase checks received from
investors are converted to Federal Funds on the next business day. Shares
purchased through dealers or brokers normally are paid for by the third business
day following the placement of the purchase order.
Shares redeemed through the regular redemption procedure will be paid
dividends through and including the day on which the redemption request is
received by the Transfer Agent in proper form. Dividends will be declared on
shares repurchased by a dealer or broker for three business days following the
trade date (that is, up to and including the day prior to settlement of the
repurchase). If all shares in an account are redeemed, all dividends accrued on
shares of the same class in the account will be paid together with the
redemption proceeds.
The Fund's practice of attempting to pay dividends on Class A shares at a
constant level requires the Manager to monitor the Fund's portfolio and, if
necessary, to select higher-yielding securities when it is deemed appropriate to
seek income at the level needed to meet the target. Those securities must be
within the Fund's investment parameters, however. The Fund expects to pay
dividends at a targeted level from its net investment income and other
distributable income without any impact on the net asset values per share.
Dividends, distributions and the 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.
The amount of a distribution paid on a class of shares may 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 shares
of each class. However, dividends on Class B shares are expected to be lower
than dividends on Class A shares. That is due to the effect of the asset-based
sales charge on Class B shares. Those dividends will also differ in amount as a
consequence of any difference in net asset value among Class A and Class B
shares.
Tax Status of the Fund's Dividends and Distributions. The Fund intends to
qualify under the Internal Revenue Code during each fiscal year to pay
"exempt-interest dividends" to its shareholders. Exempt-interest dividends that
are derived from net investment income earned by the Fund on municipal
securities will be excludable from gross income of shareholders for Federal
income tax purposes.
Net investment income includes the allocation of amounts of income from
the municipal securities in the Fund's portfolio that are free from Federal
income taxes. This allocation will be made by the use of one designated
percentage applied uniformly to all income dividends paid during the Fund's tax
year. That designation will normally be made following the end of each fiscal
year as to income dividends paid in the prior year. The percentage of income
designated as tax-exempt may substantially differ from the percentage of the
Fund's income that was tax-exempt for a given period.
A portion of the exempt-interest dividends paid by the Fund may be an item
of tax preference for shareholders subject to the alternative minimum tax. The
amount of any dividends attributable to tax preference items for purposes of the
alternative minimum tax will be identified when tax information is distributed
by the Fund.
A shareholder receiving a dividend from income earned by the Fund from one
or more of the following sources treats the dividend as a receipt of either
ordinary income or long-term capital gain in the computation of gross income,
regardless of whether the dividend is reinvested: (1) certain taxable temporary
investments (such as certificates of deposit,
repurchase agreements, commercial paper and obligations of the U.S.
government, its agencies and instrumentalities);
(2) income from securities loans; (3) income or gains from options or futures;
or
(4) an excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital
loss from the Fund.
The Fund's dividends will not be eligible for the dividends-received
deduction for corporations. Shareholders receiving Social Security benefits
should be aware that exempt-interest dividends are a factor in determining
whether such benefits are subject to Federal income tax. Losses realized by
shareholders on the redemption of Fund shares within six months of purchase
(which period may be shortened by regulation) will be disallowed for Federal
income tax purposes to the extent of exempt-interest dividends received on such
shares.
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. That qualification enables the Fund
to "pass through" its income and realized capital gains to shareholders without
having to pay tax on them. The Fund qualified as a regulated investment company
in its last fiscal year and intends to qualify in future years, but reserves the
right not to qualify. The Internal Revenue Code contains a number of complex
tests to determine whether the Fund qualifies. The Fund might not meet those
tests in a particular year. If it does not qualify, the Fund will be treated for
tax purposes as an ordinary corporation and will receive no tax deduction for
payments of dividends and distributions made to shareholders.
In any year in which the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company
under the Internal Revenue Code, the Fund will also be exempt from California
corporate income and franchise taxes. It will also be qualified under California
law to pay exempt interest dividends that will be exempt from California
personal income tax. That exemption applies to the extent that the Fund's
distributions are attributable to interest on California municipal securities
and qualifying obligations of the United States government, if at least 50% of
the Fund's assets are invested in such obligations at the close of each quarter
in its tax year. Distributions from the Fund attributable to income from sources
other than California municipal securities and U.S. government obligations will
generally be subject to California income tax as ordinary income.
Distributions by the Fund from investment income and long- and short-term
capital gains will generally not be excludable from taxable income in
determining California corporate franchise tax or income tax for corporate
shareholders of the Fund. Additionally, certain distributions paid to corporate
shareholders of the Fund may be includable in income subject to the California
alternative minimum tax.
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
Fund's Board of Directors and the Manager might determine in a particular year
that it would be in the best interest of shareholders not to make 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.
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.
The Custodian. The Bank of New York 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. Deloitte & Touche, 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 the Manager and certain other funds
advised by the Manager and its affiliates.
================================================================================
Independent Auditors' Report
================================================================================
================================================================================
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including
the statement of investments, of Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal
Fund as of August 31, 1998, the related statement of operations for the year
then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for the years ended August
31, 1998 and 1997, and the financial highlights for the period July 1, 1993 to
August 31, 1998. These financial statements and financial highlights are the
responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our
audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial
highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned at August
31, 1998, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; and where replies
were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, such financial statements and financial highlights present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Oppenheimer Main
Street California Municipal Fund at August 31, 1998, the results of its
operations, the changes in its net assets, and the financial highlights for the
respective stated periods, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Denver, Colorado
September 22, 1998
29 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
Financials
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
================================================================================
Statement of Investments August 31, 1998
================================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Ratings:
Moody's/
S&P/Fitch Face Market Value
(Unaudited) Amount See Note 1
====================================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Municipal Bonds and Notes--100.5%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California--93.9%
Alameda, CA PFAU RRB, Marina Village
Assessment District Refinancing, 6.375%, 9/2/14 NR/NR $2,100,000 $2,162,811
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anaheim, CA PFAU TXAL RB, MBIA Insured,
Inverse Floater, 8.97%, 12/28/18(1) Aaa/AAA 1,000,000 1,301,250
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Berkeley, CA HF RRB, Alta Bates Medical
Center, Series A, 6.50%, 12/1/11 A2/NR 1,500,000 1,659,045
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA Assn. of Bay Area Governments FAU for
Non-profit Corps. Refunding COP, American
Baptist Homes, Series A, 6.20%, 10/1/27 NR/BBB 1,790,000 1,916,660
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA Assn. of Bay Area Governments FAU for
Non-profit Corps. Refunding COP, Rhonda
Haas Goldman Plaza, 5.125%, 5/15/23 NR/A+ 700,000 693,168
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA CDAU Lease RB, United Airlines, Series A,
5.70%, 10/1/33 Baa3/BB+ 3,200,000 3,304,736
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA CDAU MH RB, Village Riviera Hills,
Series E, 5.45%, 2/1/25 NR/AAA 1,000,000 1,045,170
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor
Agency Toll Road RB, Sr. Lien, Series A, 6.50%,
1/1/32 Baa/BBB-/BBB 1,400,000 1,545,628
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA GOB, 5%, 10/1/23 A1/A+/AA- 6,000,000 5,953,140
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA HFA Home Mtg. RB, Series C, 6.75%, 2/1/25 Aa2/A+ 4,875,000 5,224,099
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA HFA SFM Purchase RB, Series A-2,
6.45%, 8/1/25 Aaa/AAA 2,500,000 2,677,750
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA HFA SFM RB, Series A, Cl. I, 5.40%, 8/1/26 Aaa/AAA 1,810,000 1,828,353
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA PCFAU RB, Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
Project, Series B, 6.35%, 6/1/09 A1/AA- 2,000,000 2,169,340
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA PWBL RB, State Prison Department of
Corrections, Series E, FSA Insured, 5.50%,
6/1/15 Aaa/AAA 2,000,000 2,186,600
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA Rural Home Mtg. FAU SFM RB, Mtg.-Backed
Securities Program, Series B-3, 5.75%, 6/1/29 NR/AAA 1,500,000 1,666,995
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA Rural Home Mtg. FAU SFM RB, Series A,
5.75%, 12/1/29 NR/AAA 2,000,000 2,205,600
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA Rural Home Mtg. FAU SFM RB, Series D,
6.70%, 5/1/29 NR/AAA 1,930,000 2,211,027
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA SCDAU Revenue Refunding COP, Inverse
Floater, 7.068%, 11/1/15(1) A1/NR 1,200,000 1,239,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central CA Joint Powers Health FAU COP,
Community Hospitals of Central California
Project, 5%, 2/1/23 Baa1/NR 285,000 270,548
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central Valley FAU, CA Cogeneration Project
RRB, Carson Ice, MBIA Insured, 5.25%, 7/1/14 NR/AAA/AAA 500,000 523,555
</TABLE>
11 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
Statement of Investments (Continued)
================================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Ratings:
Moody's/
S&P/Fitch Face Market Value
(Unaudited) Amount See Note 1
====================================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C>
California (continued)
Contra Costa Cnty., CA SPTX RRB, CFD 91-1,
5.58%, 8/1/16 NR/NR $3,075,000 $3,121,679
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corona, CA SFM RB, Sub. Lien, Series B, 6.30%,
11/1/28 A2/NR 800,000 860,232
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Duarte, CA COP, City of Hope National
Medical Center, 6.25%, 4/1/23 Baa1/NR 2,460,000 2,611,708
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Escondido, CA Union High SDI CAP GOB,
MBIA Insured, Zero Coupon, 6.20%, 11/1/19(2) Aaa/AAA 2,000,000 698,100
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fontana, CA RA TXAL GORB, Jurupa Hills
Redevelopment Project-A, 7.10%, 10/1/23 NR/BBB+ 1,960,000 2,236,928
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fontana, CA RA TXAL Refunding Bonds,
Jurupa Hills Redevelopment Project,
Series A, 5.50%, 10/1/19 NR/BBB+ 1,185,000 1,216,118
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fresno, CA HAU MH RB, Central Valley
Coalition Projects, Series A, 5.60%, 8/1/30 NR/AAA 3,075,000 3,199,722
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fresno, CA USD GORB, Series A, MBIA
Insured, 6.55%, 8/1/20 Aaa/AAA/AAA 1,225,000 1,472,609
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fresno, CA USD RB, Series A, MBIA Insured,
6.40%, 8/1/16 Aaa/AAA/AAA 1,000,000 1,191,280
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
La Quinta, CA RA TXAL Refunding Bonds,
Redevelopment Project Area No. 1, MBIA
Insured, 7.30%, 9/1/09 Aaa/AAA 1,015,000 1,276,606
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Las Virgenes, CA USD CAP Bonds, Series A,
MBIA Insured, Zero Coupon, 4.95%, 11/1/12(2) Aaa/AAA/AAA 2,095,000 1,066,229
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long Beach, CA Harbor RRB, Series A,
FGIC Insured, 6%, 5/15/09 Aaa/AAA 500,000 566,310
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long Beach, CA Harbor RRB, Series A,
FGIC Insured, 6%, 5/15/10 Aaa/AAA 500,000 568,120
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles Cnty., CA COP, CAP, Disney Parking
Project, Zero Coupon, 6.95%, 9/1/11(2) Baa1/BBB/A- 2,340,000 1,203,602
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles Cnty., CA COP, CAP, Disney Parking
Project, Zero Coupon, 5.67%, 9/1/16(2) Baa1/BBB/A- 1,745,000 673,448
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles Cnty., CA MTAU Sales Tax RRB,
Series A, FSA Insured, 5%, 7/1/12(3) Aaa/AAA/AAA 2,000,000 2,031,600
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles Cnty., CA MTAU Sales Tax RRB,
Series A, FSA Insured, 5%, 7/1/19(3) Aaa/AAA/AAA 2,000,000 1,983,980
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles Cnty., CA Public Works FAU RRB,
Regional Park & Open Space District,
Series A, 5%, 10/1/16 Aa3/AA 1,900,000 1,905,529
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles, CA USD GOB, Series A,
FGIC Insured, 6%, 7/1/15 Aaa/AAA/AAA 1,000,000 1,151,250
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oakland, CA State Building Authority Lease
RB, Elihu M. Harris, Series A, AMBAC Insured,
5%, 4/1/23 Aaa/AAA/AAA 1,100,000 1,093,785
</TABLE>
12 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
================================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Ratings:
Moody's/
S&P/Fitch Face Market Value
(Unaudited) Amount See Note 1
====================================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C>
California (continued)
Palmdale, CA Civic Authority RRB, Merged
Redevelopment Project Areas, Series A,
6.60%, 9/1/34 NR/A- $1,000,000 $1,114,370
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pittsburg, CA Improvement Bond Act of 1915
SPAST GOB, Assessment District 1990-01,
7.75%, 9/2/20 NR/NR 95,000 97,861
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pittsburg, CA RA TXAL Refunding Bonds,
Los Medanos Community Development
Project, Sub. Lien, 6.20%, 8/1/19 NR/BBB 1,000,000 1,082,020
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pomona, CA SFM RRB, Escrowed to Maturity,
Series A, 7.60%, 5/1/23 Aaa/AAA 2,500,000 3,330,750
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pomona, CA USD GORB, Series A, MBIA
Insured, 6.15%, 8/1/15 Aaa/AAA 500,000 585,045
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redding, CA Electric System Revenue COP,
FGIC Insured, Inverse Floater, 7.535%, 6/1/19(1) Aaa/AAA/AAA 1,150,000 1,263,563
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redding, CA Electric System Revenue COP,
MBIA Insured, Inverse Floater, 8.781%, 7/8/22(1) Aaa/AAA 500,000 671,875
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riverside CA PFAU Lease RB, AMBAC Insured,
5.25%, 10/1/17 Aaa/AAA/AAA 2,100,000 2,166,717
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riverside Cnty., CA CFD SPTX Bonds,
No. 88-12, 7.55%, 9/1/17 NR/NR 1,500,000 1,639,605
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riverside Cnty., CA PFAU TXAL RRB,
Redevelopment Projects, Series A,
5.625%, 10/1/33 Baa2/BBB- 1,650,000 1,708,988
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riverside Cnty., CA SFM RB, Escrowed to
Maturity, Series A, 7.80%, 5/1/21 Aaa/AAA 1,000,000 1,372,160
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sacramento Cnty., CA SFM RB, Escrowed to
Maturity, 8.125%, 7/1/16(4) Aaa/AAA 2,810,000 3,855,180
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sacramento, CA MUD Electric RRB, FGIC
Insured, Inverse Floater, 9.071%, 8/15/18(1) Aaa/AAA/AAA 1,500,000 1,786,875
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sacramento, CA Cogeneration Authority RRB,
MBIA Insured, 5.25%, 7/1/12 NR/AAA/AAA 250,000 264,625
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salinas Valley, CA Solid Waste Authority RB,
5.80%, 8/1/27 Baa3/BBB 1,665,000 1,707,141
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Diego Cnty., CA Water Authority Revenue
COP, Series 91-B, MBIA Insured, Inverse
Floater, 8.62%, 4/8/21(1) Aaa/AAA 1,000,000 1,321,250
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Francisco, CA Bay Area Rapid Transit
District Sales Tax RRB, AMBAC Insured,
6.75%, 7/1/11 Aaa/AAA/AAA 1,000,000 1,221,860
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Francisco, CA City & Cnty. Airport
Commission International Airport RB, Second
Series Issue 13-B, MBIA Insured, 8%, 5/1/07 Aaa/AAA 1,140,000 1,420,702
</TABLE>
13 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
Statement of Investments (Continued)
================================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Ratings:
Moody's/
S&P/Fitch Face Market Value
(Unaudited) Amount See Note 1
====================================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C>
California (continued)
San Francisco, CA City & Cnty. Airport
Commission International Airport RB, Second
Series Issue 14-A, MBIA Insured, 8%, 5/1/07 Aaa/AAA $1,290,000 $ 1,607,637
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Francisco, CA City & Cnty. Airport
Commission International Airport RRB,
Second Series Issue 15-A, FSA Insured,
5%, 5/1/21 Aaa/AAA/AAA 1,000,000 987,250
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Francisco, CA City & Cnty. RA Lease RB,
CAP, George R. Moscone Project,
Zero Coupon, 5.36%, 7/1/10(2) A1/A-/A+ 4,500,000 2,574,540
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Francisco, CA City & Cnty.
Redevelopment FAU TXAL CAP Refunding
Bonds, Redevelopment Projects, Series C,
Zero Coupon, 5.20%, 8/1/13(2) A2/A 2,350,000 1,117,613
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Joaquin Hills, CA Transportation Corridor
Agency Toll Road RB, Sr. Lien, 6.75%, 1/1/32 Aaa/AAA/AAA 3,500,000 3,974,950
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Joaquin Hills, CA Transportation Corridor
Agency Toll Road RRB, CAP, Series A,
0%/5.75%, 1/15/21(5) Baa3/BBB-/BBB 3,200,000 2,230,848
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Ysidro, CA SDI GOB, AMBAC Insured,
6.125%, 8/1/21 Aaa/AAA 700,000 806,904
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Orange Cnty., CA PFAU SPTX RB,
Foothill Area, Series C, FGIC Insured, 8%,
8/15/08 Aaa/AAA/AAA 1,500,000 1,950,570
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern CA Home FAU SFM RB, Series A,
7.35%, 9/1/24 NR/AAA 265,000 279,914
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern CA Home FAU SFM RB, Series A,
7.35%, 9/1/24 NR/AAA 20,000 20,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern CA Metropolitan Water District
Waterworks RB, 5.55%, 10/30/20 Aa2/AA 2,400,000 2,503,392
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern CA PPAU Transmission Project RB,
Inverse Floater, 7.893%, 7/1/12(1) Aa3/A+ 2,100,000 2,420,250
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stanislaus, CA Waste-To-Energy Financing
Agency Solid Waste Facilities RRB, Ogden
Martin System, Inc. Project, 7.50%, 1/1/05 NR/BBB+ 1,450,000 1,536,580
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suisun City, CA PFAU TXAL RB, Suisun City
Redevelopment Project, Series A, 5.20%,
10/1/28 NR/A- 2,500,000 2,514,375
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Temecula, CA SPTX Refunding Bonds, CFD
88-12-A, 5.625%, 9/1/17 NR/NR 535,000 539,649
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West Covina, CA COP, Queen of the Valley
Hospital, 6.50%, 8/15/19 A2/NR 1,120,000 1,289,579
------------
124,877,948
</TABLE>
14 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
================================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Ratings:
Moody's/
S&P/Fitch Face Market Value
(Unaudited) Amount See Note 1
===================================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C>
U.S. Possessions--6.6%
PR CMWLTH GOB, 5%, 7/1/27 Baa1/A $1,000,000 $ 987,140
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PR CMWLTH GOB, 5.375%, 7/1/25 Baa1/A 1,650,000 1,690,673
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PR CMWLTH GORB, MBIA Insured,
Inverse Floater, 7.934%, 7/1/08(1) Aaa/AAA 1,500,000 1,706,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PR CMWLTH Highway & Transportation
Authority RRB, Series A, AMBAC Insured,
5.50%, 7/1/13 Aaa/AAA/AAA 1,500,000 1,653,255
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PR CMWLTH Highway & Transportation
Authority RRB, Series A, AMBAC Insured,
5.50%, 7/1/14 Aaa/AAA/AAA 1,500,000 1,651,425
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PR Housing Finance Corp. SFM RB,
Portfolio 1, Series B, 7.65%, 10/15/22 Aaa/AAA 150,000 159,150
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PR Industrial, Medical & Environmental
PC Facilities Tourist RB, Mennonite General
Hospital Project, Series A, 6.50%, 7/1/12 NR/BBB-/BBB 595,000 650,341
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PR Public Buildings Authority RB,
Government Facilities, Series B, AMBAC
Insured, 5%, 7/1/27 Aaa/AAA 300,000 299,298
------------
8,797,532
------------
Total Municipal Bonds and Notes (Cost $125,206,488) 133,675,480
===================================================================================================================================
Short-Term Tax-Exempt Obligations--0.5%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Orange Cnty., CA Sanitation District COP,
FGIC Insured, 3.15%, 9/1/98 (6) (Cost $700,000) 700,000 700,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Investments, at Value (Cost $125,906,488) 101.0% 134,375,480
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets (1.0) (1,389,605)
----- ------------
Net Assets 100.0% $132,985,875
===== ============
</TABLE>
15 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
Statement of Investments (Continued)
================================================================================
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To simplify the listings of securities, abbreviations are used per the table
below:
CAP --Capital Appreciation
CDAU --Communities Development Authority
CFD --Community Facilities District
CMWLTH --Commonwealth
COP --Certificates of Participation
FAU --Finance Authority
GOB --General Obligation Bonds
GORB --General Obligation Refunding Bonds
HAU --Housing Authority
HF --Health Facilities
HFA --Housing Finance Agency
MH --Multifamily Housing
MTAU --Metropolitan Transportation Authority
MUD --Municipal Utility District
PC --Pollution Control
PCFAU --Pollution Control Finance Authority
PFAU --Public Finance Authority
PPAU --Public Power Authority
PWBL --Public Works Board Lease
RA --Redevelopment Agency
RB --Revenue Bonds
RRB --Revenue Refunding Bonds
SCDAU --Statewide Communities Development Authority
SDI --School District
SFM --Single Family Mtg.
SPAST --Special Assessment
SPTX --Special Tax
TXAL --Tax Allocation
USD --Unified School District
1. Represents the current interest rate for a variable rate bond known as an
"inverse floater" which pays interest at a rate that varies inversely with
short-term interest rates. As interest rates rise, inverse floaters produce less
current income. Their price may be more volatile than the price of a comparable
fixed-rate security. Inverse floaters amount to $11,710,313 or 8.81% of the
Fund's net assets as of August 31, 1998.
2. For zero coupon bonds, the interest rate shown is the effective yield on
the date of purchase.
3. When-issued security to be delivered and settled after August 31, 1998.
4. Securities with an aggregate market value of $466,463 are held in
collateralized accounts to cover initial margin requirements on open futures
sales contracts. See Note 5 of Notes to Financial Statements.
5. Denotes a step bond: a zero coupon bond that converts to a fixed or
variable interest rate at a designated future date.
6. Floating or variable rate obligation maturing in more than one year. The
interest rate, which is based on specific, or an index of, market interest
rates, is subject to change periodically and is the effective rate on August 31,
1998. This instrument may also have a demand feature which allows, on up to 30
days' notice, the recovery of principal at any time, or at specified intervals
not exceeding one year.
16 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As of August 31, 1998, securities subject to the alternative minimum tax amount
to $37,917,206 or 28.51% of the Fund's net assets.
Distribution of investments by industry of issue, as a percentage of total
investments at value, is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Industry Market Value Percent
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Single Family Housing $ 25,691,210 19.1%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Assessment 23,871,602 17.8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Obligation 17,308,620 12.9
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highways 11,056,106 8.2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lease Rental 10,197,990 7.6
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hospital/Healthcare 7,720,221 5.8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electric Utilities 6,930,743 5.2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales Tax 6,351,810 4.7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine/Aviation Facilities 5,150,019 3.8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Multi-Family Housing 4,244,892 3.2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resource Recovery 3,943,721 2.9
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water Utilities 3,824,642 2.8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate Backed 3,304,736 2.5
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adult Living Facilities 2,609,828 1.9
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollution Control 2,169,340 1.6
------------ -----
Total $134,375,480 100.0%
============ =====
</TABLE>
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
17 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
=====================================================================================
Statement of Assets and Liabilities August 31, 1998
=====================================================================================
=====================================================================================
<S> <C>
Assets
Investments, at value (cost $125,906,488)--see accompanying statement $ 134,375,480
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash 801,113
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Receivables:
Shares of capital stock sold 1,988,712
Interest 1,691,439
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other 13,786
-------------
Total assets 138,870,530
=====================================================================================
Liabilities
Payables and other liabilities:
Investments purchased 5,439,669
Dividends 351,482
Transfer and shareholder servicing agent fees 12,108
Daily variation on future contracts--Note 5 9,540
Distribution and service plan fees 9,265
Shares of capital stock redeemed 5,378
Other 57,213
-------------
Total liabilities 5,884,655
=====================================================================================
Net Assets $ 132,985,875
=============
=====================================================================================
Composition of Net Assets
Par value of shares of capital stock $ 102,131
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional paid-in capital 124,777,693
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overdistributed net investment income (351,652)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated net realized loss on investment transactions (1,749)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net unrealized appreciation on investments--Notes 3 and 5 8,459,452
-------------
Net assets $ 132,985,875
=============
</TABLE>
18 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
================================================================================
================================================================================
Net Asset Value Per Share
Class A Shares:
Net asset value and redemption price per share (based on net
assets of $109,810, 944 and 8,431, 451 shares of capital
stock outstanding) $13.02
Maximum offering price per share (net asset value plus sales
charge of 4.75% of offering price) $13.67
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B Shares:
Net asset value, redemption price (excludes applicable
contingent deferred sales charge) and offering price per
share (based on net assets of $23,174,931 and 1,781,698
shares of capital stock outstanding) $13.01
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
19 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===================================================================================
Statement of Operations For the Year Ended August 31, 1998
===================================================================================
===================================================================================
<S> <C>
Investment Income
Interest $ 6,586,112
===================================================================================
Expenses
Management fees--Note 4 646,955
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and service plan fees--Note 4:
Class B 180,565
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transfer and shareholder servicing agent fees--Note 4 64,929
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder reports 53,535
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Custodian fees and expenses 18,391
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Legal, auditing and other professional fees 11,917
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Registration and filing fees:
Class A 7,604
Class B 3,822
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Directors' fees and expenses 2,449
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other 4,142
------------
Total expenses 994,309
Less assumption of expenses by OppenheimerFunds, Inc.--Note 4 (176,110)
Less expenses paid indirectly--Note 4 (17,391)
------------
Net expenses 800,808
===================================================================================
Net Investment Income 5,785,304
===================================================================================
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss) on:
Investments 439,154
Closing of futures contracts (586,335)
------------
Net realized loss (147,181)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments 4,576,330
------------
Net realized and unrealized gain 4,429,149
===================================================================================
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations $ 10,214,453
============
</TABLE>
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
20 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==========================================================================================================
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
==========================================================================================================
Year Ended August 31,
1998 1997
==========================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C>
Operations
Net investment income $ 5,785,304 $ 5,140,982
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain (loss) (147,181) 754,676
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation 4,576,330 2,696,390
------------- -------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations 10,214,453 8,592,048
==========================================================================================================
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders
Dividends from net investment income:
Class A (5,113,266) (4,733,799)
Class B (736,400) (394,165)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions from net realized gain:
Class A (802,490) (9,642)
Class B (131,382) (827)
==========================================================================================================
Capital Stock Transactions
Net increase in net assets resulting from
capital stock transactions--Note 2:
Class A 16,887,977 10,035,358
Class B 10,757,185 5,675,756
==========================================================================================================
Net Assets
Total increase 31,076,077 19,164,729
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning of period 101,909,798 82,745,069
------------- -------------
End of period [including undistributed (overdistributed) net
investment income of $(351,652) and $437,009, respectively] $ 132,985,875 $ 101,909,798
============= =============
</TABLE>
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
21 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===========================================================================================================
Financial Highlights
===========================================================================================================
Class A
------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended
Year Ended August 31, June 30,
1998 1997 1996/2/ 1996
===========================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per Share Operating Data
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 12.64 $ 12.16 $ 12.15 $ 12.09
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income .65 .73 .12 .73
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) .51 .49 .01 .07
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total income (loss) from investment
operations 1.16 1.22 .13 .80
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and distributions to shareholders:
Dividends from net investment income (.67) (.74) (.12) (.73)
Dividends in excess of net investment
income -- -- -- --
Distributions from net realized gain (.11) -- -- --
Distributions in excess of net realized gain -- -- -- (.01)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total dividends and distributions
to shareholders (.78) (.74) (.12) (.74)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $ 13.02 $ 12.64 $ 12.16 $ 12.15
=========== =========== =========== ===========
===========================================================================================================
Total Return, at Net Asset Value/3/ 9.33% 10.24% 1.12% 6.73%
===========================================================================================================
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of period
(in thousands) $ 109,811 $ 89,991 $ 76,817 $ 76,913
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average net assets (in thousands) $ 99,678 $ 80,311 $ 77,584 $ 78,676
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income 5.04% 5.91% 6.00%(4) 5.99%
Expenses, before voluntary
assumption by the Manager/5/ 0.69% 0.59% 0.57%(4) 0.58%
Expenses, net of voluntary
assumption by the Manager 0.53% N/A N/A N/A
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate/6/ 29.7% 46.4% 1.4% 33.1%
</TABLE>
1. For the period from October 29, 1993 (inception of offering) to June 30,
1994.
2. For the two months ended August 31, 1996. The Fund changed its fiscal year
end from June 30 to August 31.
3. Assumes a hypothetical initial investment on the business day before the
first day of the fiscal period (or inception of offering), with all dividends
and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and
redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the
fiscal period. Sales charges are not reflected in the total returns. Total
returns are not annualized for periods of less than one full year.
(4.) Annualized.
22 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
========================================================================================================================
========================================================================================================================
Class B
- ----------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Ended June 30, Year Ended August 31, Year Ended June 30,
1995 1994 1998 1997 1996/2/ 1996 1995 1994/1/
========================================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 11.82 $ 12.66 $ 12.63 $ 12.14 $ 12.14 $ 12.08 $ 11.80 $ 12.90
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.73 .75 .54 .60 .10 .61 .62 .38
.27 (.80) .49 .50 -- .07 .27 (1.07)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
1.00 (.05) 1.03 1.10 .10 .68 .89 (.69)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(.69) (.73) (.54) (.61) (.10) (.61) (.57) (.37)
(.04) (.03) -- -- -- -- (.04) (.01)
-- -- (.11) -- -- -- -- --
-- (.03) -- -- -- (.01) -- (.03)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(.73) (.79) (.65) (.61) (.10) (.62) (.61) (.41)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 12.09 $ 11.82 $ 13.01 $ 12.63 $ 12.14 $ 12.14 $ 12.08 $ 11.80
=========== =========== =========== =========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
========================================================================================================================
8.93% (0.60)% 8.24% 9.24% 0.85% 5.66% 7.90% (5.42)%
========================================================================================================================
$ 78,134 $ 79,555 $ 23,175 $ 11,919 $ 5,928 $ 5,442 $ 2,648 $ 1,203
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 76,148 $ 81,741 $ 18,087 $ 8,129 $ 5,767 $ 3,848 $ 1,904 $ 649
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.27% 6.09% 4.19% 4.85% 4.92%/4/ 4.94% 5.17% 4.91%(4)
0.57% 0.53% 1.70% 1.60% 1.62%/4/ 1.60% 1.55% 1.62%(4)
N/A N/A 1.53% N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14.2% 20.2% 29.7% 46.4% 1.4% 33.1% 14.2% 20.2%
</TABLE>
5. Beginning in fiscal 1995, the expense ratios reflect the effect of gross
expenses paid indirectly by the Fund. Prior year expense ratios have not been
adjusted.
6. The lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for a period,
divided by the monthly average of the market value of portfolio securities owned
during the period. Securities with a maturity or expiration date at the time of
acquisition of one year or less are excluded from the calculation. Purchases and
sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities) for the period
ended August 31, 1998 were $65,210,846 and $34,982,825, respectively.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
23 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
Notes to Financial Statements
================================================================================
================================================================================
1. Significant Accounting Policies
Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund (the Fund) is a separate
series of Oppenheimer Main Street Funds, Inc., an open-end management investment
company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The
Fund's investment objective is to seek as high a level of current income which
is exempt from Federal and California personal income taxes as is available from
investing in municipal securities while attempting to preserve capital. The
Fund's investment advisor is OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the Manager). The Fund
offers Class A and Class B shares. Class A shares are sold with a front-end
sales charge. Class B shares may be subject to a contingent deferred sales
charge. Both classes of shares have identical rights to earnings, assets and
voting privileges, except that each class has its own distribution and/or
service plan, expenses directly attributable to that class and exclusive voting
rights with respect to matters affecting that class. Class B shares will
automatically convert to Class A shares six years after the date of purchase.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently
followed by the Fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Valuation. Portfolio securities are valued at the close of the New
York Stock Exchange on each trading day. Listed and unlisted securities for
which such information is regularly reported are valued at the last sale price
of the day or, in the absence of sales, at values based on the closing bid or
the last sale price on the prior trading day. Long-term and short-term
"non-money market" debt securities are valued by a portfolio pricing service
approved by the Board of Directors. Such securities which cannot be valued by an
approved portfolio pricing service are valued using dealer-supplied valuations
provided the Manager is satisfied that the firm rendering the quotes is reliable
and that the quotes reflect current market value, or are valued under
consistently applied procedures established by the Board of Directors to
determine fair value in good faith. Short-term "money market type" debt
securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at cost (or
last determined market value) adjusted for amortization to maturity of any
premium or discount.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allocation of Income, Expenses, Gains and Losses. Income, expenses (other than
those attributable to a specific class), gains and losses are allocated daily to
each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets
represented by such class. Operating expenses directly attributable to a
specific class are charged against the operations of that class.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Taxes. The Fund intends to continue to comply with provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to
distribute all of its taxable income, including any net realized gain on
investments not offset by loss carryovers, to shareholders. Therefore, no
federal income or excise tax provision is required. At August 31, 1998, the Fund
had available for federal income tax purposes an unused capital loss carryover
of approximately $11,000, which expires in 2006.
24 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
================================================================================
================================================================================
Distributions to Shareholders. The Fund intends to declare dividends separately
for Class A and Class B shares from net investment income each day the New York
Stock Exchange is open for business and pay such dividends monthly.
Distributions from net realized gains on investments, if any, will be declared
at least once each year.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Classification of Distributions to Shareholders. Net investment income (loss)
and net realized gain (loss) may differ for financial statement and tax
purposes. The character of the distributions made during the year from net
investment income or net realized gains may differ from its ultimate
characterization for federal income tax purposes. Also, due to timing of
dividend distributions, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may
differ from the fiscal year in which the income or realized gain was recorded by
the Fund.
The Fund adjusts the classification of distributions to shareholders to
reflect the differences between financial statement amounts and distributions
determined in accordance with income tax regulations. Accordingly, during the
year ended August 31, 1998, amounts have been reclassified to reflect an
increase in overdistributed net investment income of $724,299, accumulated net
realized loss on investments was decreased by $158,956, and paid-in capital was
increased by $565,343.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other. Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the investments are
purchased or sold (trade date). Original issue discount on securities purchased
is amortized over the life of the respective securities, in accordance with
federal income tax requirements. As of November 4, 1997, in order to conform
book and tax bases, the Fund began amortization of premiums on securities for
book purposes. Such cumulative change was limited to a reclassification
adjustment and had no impact on net assets or total increase (decrease) in net
assets. Accordingly, during the year ended August 31, 1998, amounts have been
reclassified to reflect an increase in unrealized appreciation of $1,179,386.
Paid-in capital was decreased by the same amount. For bonds acquired after April
30, 1993, accrued market discount is recognized at maturity or disposition as
taxable ordinary income. Taxable ordinary income is realized to the extent of
the lesser of gain or accrued market discount. Realized gains and losses on
investments and unrealized appreciation and depreciation are determined on an
identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax
purposes.
The Fund concentrates its investments in California and, therefore, may
have more credit risks related to the economic conditions of California than a
portfolio with a broader geographical diversification.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
25 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
================================================================================
================================================================================
2. Capital Stock
The Fund has authorized 16,250,000 shares of $.01 par value capital stock of
each class. Transactions in shares of capital stock were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended August 31, 1998 Year Ended August 31, 1997
---------------------------- ----------------------------
Shares Amount Shares Amount
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Class A:
Sold 2,165,645 $ 27,847,918 1,377,422 $ 17,228,574
Dividends and distributions
reinvested 290,138 3,721,102 233,721 2,900,249
Redeemed (1,141,736) (14,681,043) (811,980) (10,093,465)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net increase 1,314,047 $ 16,887,977 799,163 $ 10,035,358
============ ============ ============ ============
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B:
Sold 931,591 $ 11,964,499 467,166 $ 5,821,078
Dividends and distributions
reinvested 44,882 575,114 20,557 255,214
Redeemed (138,617) (1,782,428) (32,007) (400,536)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net increase 837,856 $ 10,757,185 455,716 $ 5,675,756
============ ============ ============ ============
</TABLE>
================================================================================
3. Unrealized Gains and Losses on Investments
At August 31, 1998, net unrealized appreciation on investments of $8,468,992 was
composed of gross appreciation of $8,468,992.
================================================================================
4. Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates
Management fees paid to the Manager were in accordance with the investment
advisory agreement with the Fund which provides for a fee of 0.55% of average
annual net assets, with a contractual waiver when net assets are less than $100
million. Annual fees, reflecting this waiver, are 0.40% of net assets of $75
million or more but less than $100 million, 0.25% of net assets of $50 million
or more but less than $75 million, 0.15% of net assets of $25 million or more
but less than $50 million, and 0% of net assets less than $25 million. In
addition, the Manager has voluntarily undertaken to continue to waive those
expenses over 0.40% when the net assets of the Fund exceed $100 million.
For the year ended August 31, 1998, commissions (sales charges paid by
investors) on sales of Class A shares totaled $406,963, of which $41,120 was
retained by OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. (OFDI), a subsidiary of the
Manager, as general distributor, and by an affiliated broker/dealer. Sales
charges advanced to broker/dealers by OFDI on sales of the Fund's Class B shares
totaled $465,076. During the year ended August 31, 1998, OFDI received
contingent deferred sales charges of $32,708 upon redemption of Class B shares.
26 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
================================================================================
================================================================================
4. Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates (continued)
OppenheimerFunds Services (OFS), a division of the Manager, is the transfer and
shareholder servicing agent for the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds. OFS's
total costs of providing such services are allocated ratably to these funds.
Expenses paid indirectly represent a reduction of custodian fees for
earnings on cash balances maintained by the Fund.
The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan for Class B shares to
reimburse OFDI for its costs in distributing Class B shares and servicing
accounts. Under the Plan, the Fund pays OFDI an annual asset-based sales charge
of 0.75% per year for its services rendered in distributing Class B shares. OFDI
also receives a service fee of 0.25% per year to reimburse dealers for providing
personal services for accounts that hold Class B shares. Each fee is computed on
the average annual net assets of Class B shares, determined as of the close of
each regular business day. During the year ended August 31, 1998, OFDI retained
$159,237 as reimbursement for Class B sales commissions and service fee
advances, as well as financing costs. If the Plan is terminated by the Fund, the
Board of Directors may allow the Fund to continue payments of the asset-based
sales charge to OFDI for distributing shares before the Plan was terminated. As
of August 31, 1998, OFDI had incurred excess distribution and servicing costs of
$811,620 for Class B.
================================================================================
5. Futures Contracts
The Fund may buy and sell interest rate futures contracts in order to gain
exposure to or protect against changes in interest rates. The Fund may also buy
or write put or call options on these futures contracts.
The Fund generally sells futures contracts to hedge against increases in
interest rates and the resulting negative effect on the value of fixed rate
portfolio securities. The Fund may also purchase futures contracts to gain
exposure to changes in interest rates as it may be more efficient or cost
effective than actually buying fixed income securities.
Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit
either cash or securities (initial margin) in an amount equal to a certain
percentage of the contract value. Subsequent payments (variation margin) are
made or received by the Fund each day. The variation margin payments are equal
to the daily changes in the contract value and are recorded as unrealized gains
and losses. The Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is
closed or expires.
Securities held in collateralized accounts to cover initial margin
requirements on open futures contracts are noted in the Statement of
Investments. The Statement of Assets and Liabilities reflects a receivable or
payable for the daily mark to market for variation margin.
27 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
================================================================================
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
================================================================================
================================================================================
5. Futures Contracts (continued)
Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the
possibility that there may be an illiquid market and that a change in the value
of the contract or option may not correlate with changes in the value of the
underlying securities.
At August 31, 1998, the Fund had outstanding futures contracts as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Unrealized
Expiration Number of Valuation as of Appreciation
Date Contracts August 31, 1998 (Depreciation)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Contracts to Purchase
- ---------------------
Municipal Bond Future 12/98 26 $3,286,563 $ 2,178
--------
Contracts to Sell
- -----------------
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 20 yr. 12/98 20 2,540,000 (11,718)
--------
$ (9,540)
========
</TABLE>
================================================================================
6. Bank Borrowings
The Fund may borrow from a bank for temporary or emergency purposes including,
without limitation, funding of shareholder redemptions provided asset coverage
for borrowings exceeds 300%. The Fund has entered into an agreement which
enables it to participate with other Oppenheimer funds in an unsecured line of
credit with a bank, which permits borrowings up to $400 million, collectively.
Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate equal to
the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.35%. Borrowings are payable 30 days after such
loan is executed. The Fund also pays a commitment fee equal to its pro rata
share of the average unutilized amount of the credit facility at a rate of
0.0575% per annum.
The Fund had no borrowings outstanding during the year ended August 31,
1998.
28 Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
Appendix A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MUNICIPAL BOND RATINGS DEFINITIONS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below are summaries of the rating definitions used by the nationally-recognized
rating agencies listed below for municipal securities. 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 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.
Con. (...): Bonds for which the security depends on the completion of some act
or the fulfillment of some condition are rated conditionally. These bonds are
secured by (a) earnings of projects under construction, (b) earnings of projects
unseasoned in operating experience, (c) rentals that begin when facilities are
completed, or (d) payments to which some other limitation attaches.
Parenthetical rating denotes probable credit stature upon completion of
construction or elimination of basis of condition. 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. Advanced refunded issues
that are secured by certain assets are identified with a # symbol.
Short-Term Ratings - U.S. Tax-Exempt Municipals
There are four ratings below for short-term obligations that are investment
grade. Short-term speculative obligations are designated SG. For variable rate
demand obligations, a two-component rating is assigned. The first (MIG) element
represents an evaluation by Moody's of the degree of risk associated with
scheduled principal and interest payments, and the other (VMIG) represents an
evaluation of the degree of risk associated with the demand feature.
MIG 1/VMIG 1: Denotes best quality. There is strong protection by established
cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated broad-based access to the
market for refinancing..
MIG 2/VMIG 2: Denotes high quality. Margins of protection are ample although not
as large as in the preceding group.
MIG 3/VMIG 3: Denotes favorable quality. All security elements are accounted for
but there is lacking the undeniable strength of the preceding grades. Liquidity
and cash flow protection may be narrow and market access for refinancing is
likely to be less well established.
MIG 4/VMIG 4: Denotes adequate quality. Protection commonly regarded as required
of an investment security is present and although not distinctly or
predominantly speculative, there is specific risk.
SG: Denotes speculative quality. Debt instruments in this category lack
margins of protection.
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.
B-2A-2
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>
A-1B-1
Appendix B
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry Classifications
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adult Living Facilities Education Electric Gas General Obligation Higher
Education Highways Hospital Lease Rental Manufacturing, Durables Manufacturing,
Non Durables Marine/Aviation Facilities Multi-Family Housing Pollution Control
Resource Recovery Sales Tax Sewer Single Family Housing Special Assessment
Telephone Water
<PAGE>
B-46C-46
APPENDIX C
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
or sales charge reduction in a particular case is determined solely by the
Distributor or the Transfer Agent of the fund. These provisions may be changed
at any time without prior notice by a fund. Waivers relating to redemptions must
be requested at the time the redemption request is submitted.
- --------------
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>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
n Purchases of Class A Shares 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, those 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, the Distributor will pay the applicable commission on
those purchases 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 $500,00 or more, or
(5) has, at the time of purchase, 100 or more eligible participants, or (6)
certifies to the Distributor that it projects to have annual plan
purchases of $200,00 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
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|X| 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), 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.
|X| 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.
|X| 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 a TRAC-2000 401(k) plan sponsored by the
Distributor due to the termination of the TRAC-2000 program.
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.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. In order to receive a waiver of the Class B and
Class C contingent deferred sales charge, you must notify the Transfer Agent
which conditions apply.
|X| 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:
|_| Redemptions from accounts 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. For
disability you must provide evidence of a determination of disability by the
Social Security Administration. o Shares redeemed involuntarily, as described in
""Shareholder Account
Rules and Policies,"
in the Statement of Additional Information.
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.
|X| 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.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Sales Charge Arrangements for Shareholders of the Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 of the Fund described in the Prospectus or Statement
of Additional Information of the Fund are modified as described below for
certain persons who were shareholders of the 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.
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.
The table also applies 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 the Fund that are either:
|_|acquired by such shareholder pursuant to an exchange of shares of one of the
Oppenheimer funds that was one of the Former Quest for Value Funds or
|_|purchased by such shareholder by exchange of other Oppenheimer funds that
were acquired pursuant to the merger of any of the Former Quest for Value Funds
into an Oppenheimer fund on November 24, 1995.
<PAGE>
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.
Initial Initial Commission
Sales Charge Sales Charge as
as a as a Percentage
Number of Percentage Percentage of
Eligible Employees of Offering of Amount Offering
or Members Price Invested 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 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 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 Fund's Distributor.
|X| Waiver of Class A Sales Charges for Certain Shareholders. Class A shares of
the Fund purchased by the following investors are not subject to any Class A
initial or contingent deferred sales charges:
|_| Shareholders of the Fund 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 of the Fund 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 of the Fund 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 the Fund. The Fund 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:
|_| 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 |_| 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 the Fund. The Fund 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 on or after March 6, 1995, but prior to
November 24, 1995:
|_| 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); |_| 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
|_| 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 Fund described in this section if the proceeds are invested in the
same Class of shares in this 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 the Former 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 the
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 the 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 Funds' policies on Combined
Purchases or Rights of Accumulation, who still hold those shares in the 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
Funds' former general distributor 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 the 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 the 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 Fund's prior distributor, 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 the 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 the Fund and exchanges of Class A or Class B
shares of the 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 organizational documents, or as
adopted by the Board 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>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Web Site:
www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Investment Adviser
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
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
The Bank of New York
One Wall Street
New York, New York 10015
Independent Auditors
Deloitte & Touche LLP
555 Seventeenth Street, Suite 3600
Denver, Colorado 80202-3942
Legal Counsel
Myer, Swanson, Adams & Wolf, P.C.
1600 Broadway
Denver, Colorado 80202
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. logo
PX725.1298
