RBB FUND INC, 497, 2001-01-04

RBB FUND INC
497, 2001-01-04

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<PAGE>

n/i numeric investors
family of funds

n/i numeric investors Micro Cap Fund

n/i numeric investors Growth Fund

n/i numeric investors Mid Cap Fund

n/i numeric investors Small Cap Value Fund

--------------------------------------------

advised by Numeric Investors L.P.(R)

--------------------------------------------

The securities described in this prospectus have been registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC, however, has not judged
these securities for their investment merit and has not determined the
accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Anyone who tells you otherwise is
committing a criminal offense.

Prospectus

December 31, 2000
<PAGE>

TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
INTRODUCTION TO RISK/RETURN SUMMARY
Who Should Invest............................................ 1
Numeric's Investment Style................................... 1

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FUNDS

A look at the goals, strategies, risks, expenses and financial history of each
Fund.

n/i numeric investors Micro Cap Fund......................... 3
n/i numeric investors Growth Fund............................ 4
n/i numeric investors Mid Cap Fund........................... 6
n/i numeric investors Small Cap Value Fund................... 8
Additional Information on Fund Investments................... 10

MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser.......................................... 10
Service Provider Chart...................................... 11

Details on the management and operations of the Funds.

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Pricing of Fund Shares....................................... 12
Purchase of Fund Shares...................................... 12
Redemption of Fund Shares.................................... 14
Exchange Privilege........................................... 16
Dividends and Distributions.................................. 17
Taxes........................................................ 17

Policies and instructions for opening, maintaining and closing an account in any
of the Funds.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS........................................... 19

FOR MORE INFORMATION................................ See Back Cover
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

INTRODUCTION TO RISK/RETURN SUMMARY

This Prospectus has been written to provide you with the information you need
to make an informed decision about whether to invest in the n/i numeric
investors family of funds of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the "Company").

The four classes of common stock of the Company represent interests in the n/i
numeric investors Micro Cap Fund, n/i numeric investors Growth Fund, n/i
numeric investors Mid Cap Fund and n/i numeric investors Small Cap Value Fund
(each a "Fund," collectively the "Funds"). This Prospectus and the Statement
of Additional Information incorporated herein relate solely to the n/i numeric
investors family of funds of the Company.

This Prospectus has been organized so that each Fund has its own short section
with important facts about that particular Fund. After you read this
introduction and the short sections about Fund strategies and risks, read the
sections about Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares, which apply to all the
Funds offered by this Prospectus.

Who Should Invest?

Long-Term Investors Seeking Capital Appreciation. The Funds are intended for
investors who are seeking long-term capital appreciation, and who do not need
to earn current income from their investment in the Funds. Because of the
risks associated with common stock investments, the Funds are intended to be a
long-term investment vehicle and are not designed to provide investors with a
means of speculating on short-term stock market movements. The Funds should
not be considered a complete investment program. Most investors should
maintain diversified holdings of securities with different risk
characteristics--including common stocks, bonds and money market instruments.
Investors may also wish to complement an investment in the Funds with other
types of common stock investments.

General Considerations for Taxable Investors. High portfolio turnover (100% or
more) can adversely affect taxable investors, especially those in higher
marginal tax brackets, in two ways. First, short-term capital gains, which are
a by-product of high turnover investment strategies, are currently taxed at
rates comparable to ordinary income rates. Ordinary income tax rates are
higher than long-term capital gain tax rates for middle and upper income
taxpayers. Second, the frequent realization of gains, which causes taxes to be
paid frequently, is less advantageous than infrequent realization of gains.
Infrequent realization of gains allows the payment of taxes to be deferred to
later years, allowing more of the gains to compound before taxes are paid.
Numeric Investors L.P.(R) advises all of its investors to consider their
ability to allocate tax-deferred assets (such as IRAs and other retirement
plans) to active strategies, and taxable assets to lower turnover passive
strategies, when considering their investment options.

Numeric's Investment Style

Quantitative Approach. To meet each Fund's investment objective, Numeric
Investors L.P.(R) ("Numeric"), the Funds' investment adviser, uses
quantitative investment techniques. These quantitative techniques rely on two
proprietary computer models developed by Numeric to aid in the stock selection
process. Currently, Numeric classifies their models into two types:

. the Value Stock Model--This model attempts to find companies for purchase or
sale whose stocks are determined to be mispriced relative to their projected
earnings, growth and quality. In searching for stocks with market valuations
lower than the average market valuation of stocks, this model considers,
among other characteristics, price to earnings ratios and price to book
ratios. The Value Stock Model is the primary model used in the management of
the n/i numeric investors Small Cap Value Fund. This model is given equal
consideration in the management of the n/i numeric investors Mid Cap Fund
along with the Growth Stock Model (described below).

. the Growth Stock Model or Estrend(TM) Model--This model attempts to find
companies for purchase or sale whose earnings are improving more rapidly
than the earnings of the average company. It also measures recent changes in
Wall Street analysts' earnings forecasts for each company, selecting for
purchase companies judged likely to experience upward revisions in earnings
estimates, and for sale companies thought likely to suffer downward
revisions. The Growth Stock

1
<PAGE>

Model is the primary model used in the management of the n/i numeric
investors Micro Cap and n/i numeric investors Growth Funds. This model is
given equal consideration in the management of the n/i numeric investors Mid
Cap Fund along with the Value Stock Model (described above).

The Value Stock Model and Growth Stock Model are intentionally complementary
to each other. The insights they provide about each stock are from different
perspectives and each model tends to be more effective during periods when the
other is less effective. Combined, they are more likely to generate more
consistent excess returns. Numeric's models incorporate dozens of
characteristics for the more than 2,000 companies analyzed, rapidly
incorporating new market information during each trading day. The Funds'
portfolio managers closely monitor this flow of information to identify the
most immediate investment opportunities.

Capital Limitation. Numeric pursues an unusual business strategy for an
investment manager in that it strictly limits the amount of capital that it
accepts into a Fund. It is Numeric's belief that as a pool of assets in any
one strategy grows larger, the transaction costs associated with buying and
selling securities for the strategy correspondingly increase. Numeric believes
that too large a pool of capital in any one strategy will inevitably reduce
its ability to achieve investment results that meet its objectives.

As a result, each of the Funds will close to further investment when
increasing transaction costs begin to diminish the Fund's performance.
Currently, the n/i numeric investors Micro Cap Fund is closed to new
investors. Shares of the n/i numeric investors Micro Cap Fund are offered only
to existing shareholders of the Fund and certain other persons, who are
generally subject to cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows: (i)
persons who already hold shares of this Fund directly or through accounts
maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Company, (ii) existing and
future clients of financial advisors and planners whose clients already hold
shares of this Fund, and (iii) employees of Numeric and their spouses and
children. Other persons who are shareholders of other n/i numeric investors
Funds are not permitted to acquire shares of this Fund by exchange.
Distributions to all shareholders of the Fund will continue to be reinvested
unless a shareholder has elected otherwise.

Numeric reserves the right to reopen the Fund to new investments at any time
or to further restrict sales of its shares.

Numeric intends to close the n/i numeric investors Growth Fund to new
investors when total assets reach $125 million, and intends to close the n/i
numeric investors Mid Cap and n/i numeric investors Small Cap Value Funds when
each Fund's total assets reach $200 million.

2
<PAGE>

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FUNDS

n/i numeric investors Micro Cap Fund
Ticker Symbol: NIMCX

Investment Goal

The Fund's investment goal is to provide long-term capital appreciation.

Primary Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 65% of its total assets
in common stock of companies with a market capitalization of $600 million or
less, although the Fund may invest in companies with higher market
capitalization. Numeric determines its stock selection decisions for this Fund
primarily on the basis of its Growth Stock Model. Considered, but of
significantly less importance, is the Value Stock Model.

The Fund may use futures to reduce risk to the Fund as a whole (hedge); they
may also be used to maintain liquidity, commit cash pending investment or
increase returns.

As noted above, the Fund is currently closed to new investors.

Key Risks

. Common stocks may decline over short or even extended periods of time.
Equity markets tend to be cyclical; there are times when stock prices
generally increase, and other times when they generally decrease. Therefore,
you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

. The net asset value of the Fund will change with changes in the market value
of its portfolio positions.

. Investments in micro-cap companies involve greater risk than is customarily
associated with larger more established companies due to the greater
business risks of small size, limited markets and financial resources,
narrow product lines and frequent lack of depth of management.

. The securities of smaller-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt or
erratic market movements than securities of larger more established
companies.

. The Fund's micro-cap securities may underperform small-cap, mid-cap or
large-cap securities, or the equity markets as a whole when they are out of
favor.

. The Fund's use of futures may reduce returns and/or increase volatility.
Volatility is defined as the characteristic of a security or a market to
fluctuate significantly in price within a short time period.

Portfolio Turnover--The more often stocks are traded, the more the Fund will
be charged brokerage commissions and other transaction costs that lower
performance. In addition to higher transaction costs, high portfolio turnover,
such as that experienced by the Fund, could result in the realization of
taxable capital gains. Because the Fund has higher than average portfolio
turnover and resultant transaction costs, the Fund is better suited for tax-
deferred type accounts because of the potential for taxable capital gains.

Risk/Return Information

The chart and table below give you a picture of the variability of the Fund's
long-term performance. The information shows you how the Fund's performance
has varied year by year and provides some indication of the risks of investing
in the Fund. The chart and table below both assume reinvestment of dividends
and distributions. As with all such investments, past performance is not an
indication of future results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If
fee waivers were not in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced.

Annual Total Returns
As of December 31

1996 1997 1998 1999
---- ---- ---- ----
16.85% 30.86% 16.27% 34.46%

Year to date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2000: 19.82%
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Best Quarter: 28.66% (quarter ended
December 31,
1998)
Worst Quarter: (17.81)% (quarter ended
September 30,
1998)
</TABLE>

3
<PAGE>

Average Annual Total Returns--Comparison
As of December 31, 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 Year Since Inception
------ ---------------
<S> <C> <C>
n/i numeric investors
Micro Cap Fund*......................................... 34.46% 27.56%
Russell 2000 Growth
Index**................................................. 42.89% 12.37%
</TABLE>
--------
*Commenced operations on June 3, 1996.
**The Russell 2000 Growth Index contains stocks from the Russell 2000 with
greater-than-average growth orientation. Companies in this index generally
have higher price to book and price to earnings ratios. The Russell 2000 is
an index of stocks 1,001 through 3,000 in the Russell 3000 Index as ranked by
total market capitalization. This index is segmented into growth and value
categories.

Expenses and Fees

As a shareholder you pay certain fees and expenses. Annual Fund operating
expenses are paid out of Fund assets and are reflected in the Fund's price.

The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy
and hold shares of the Fund. The table is based on expenses for the most
recent fiscal year ended (August 31, 2000) restated to reflect the reduction
of fee waivers.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Management fees......................................................... 0.75%
Rule 12b-1 fees......................................................... None
Other expenses.......................................................... 0.53%
-----
Total annual Fund operating expenses.................................... 1.28%
Fee waivers*............................................................ (0.03)%
-----
Net expenses............................................................ 1.25%
=====
</TABLE>
--------
* Numeric has agreed that until December 31, 2001, it will waive advisory fees
and reimburse expenses to the extent that total annual Fund operating
expenses exceed 1.25%.

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all
of your shares at the end of each period. The example also assumes that your
investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses
remain the same. Although your actual cost may be higher or lower, based on
these assumptions your costs would be:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
------ ------- ------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$127 $403 $699 $1,543
</TABLE>

n/i numeric investors Growth Fund
Ticker Symbol: NISGX

Investment Goal

The Fund's investment goal is to provide long-term capital appreciation.

Primary Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in common stock of companies with
smaller ($2.0 billion or less) market capitalization or companies with
substantial equity capital and higher than average earnings growth rates.
Numeric determines its stock selection decisions for this Fund primarily on
the basis of its Growth Stock Model. Considered, but of significantly less
importance, is the Value Stock Model.

The Fund may use futures to reduce risk to the Fund as a whole (hedge); they
may also be used to maintain liquidity, commit cash pending investment or
increase returns.

Key Risks

. The net asset value of the Fund will change with changes in the market value
of its portfolio positions.

. Investments in smaller-cap companies involve greater risk than is
customarily associated with larger more established companies due to the
greater business risks of small size, limited markets and

4
<PAGE>

financial resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of depth of
management.

. The securities of smaller-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt or
erratic market movements than securities of larger more established
companies.

. The Fund's securities may underperform other securities, or the equity
markets as a whole when they are out of favor.

Risk/Return Information

Annual Total Returns
As of December 31

1996 1997 1998 1999
---- ---- ---- ----
10.42% 15.61% 2.22% 49.47%

Year to date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2000: 17.52%
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Best Quarter: 31.08% (quarter ended
December 31,
1999)
Worst Quarter: (25.96)% (quarter ended
September 30,
1998)
</TABLE>

Average Annual Total Returns--Comparison
As of December 31, 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 Year Since Inception
------ ---------------
<S> <C> <C>
n/i numeric investors
Growth Fund*............................................ 49.47% 20.51%
Russell 2500 Growth
Index**................................................. 55.49% 17.62%
</TABLE>
--------
*Commenced operations on June 3, 1996.
**The Russell 2500 is an index of stocks 501 through 3,000 in the Russell 3000
Index, as ranked by total market capitalization. This index is segmented into
growth and value categories. The Russell 2500 Growth Index contains stocks
from the Russell 2500 with greater-than-average growth orientation. Companies
in this index generally have higher price to book and price to earnings
ratios.

Expenses and Fees

As a shareholder you pay certain fees and expenses. Annual Fund operating
expenses are paid out of Fund assets and are reflected in the Fund's price.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)

--------
+ Effective January 1, 2001, Numeric is entitled to a performance based fee
calculated at the end of each month using a basic fee of 0.85% of average

5
<PAGE>

daily net assets and a performance fee adjustment based upon the Fund's
performance during the last rolling 12 month period. The figures shown
reflect the maximum performance fee adjustment to which Numeric may be
entitled under certain performance arrangements. This maximum fee may be
applicable only if the Fund outperforms the Russell 2500 Growth Index by 900
basis points (9%). See "Management--Investment Adviser" for a further
discussion. Prior to January 1, 2001, Numeric was entitled to a management
fee of 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
* Numeric has agreed that until December 31, 2001, it will reimburse expenses
to the extent that the Fund's other expenses exceed 0.50%.

Example

The example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all
of your shares at the end of each period. The example also assumes that your
investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses
remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on
these assumptions your cost would be:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
------ ------- ------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$188 $596 $1,030 $2,238
</TABLE>

n/i numeric investors Mid Cap Fund
Ticker Symbol: NIGVX

Investment Goal

The Fund's investment goal is to provide long-term capital appreciation.

Primary Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in common stocks of middle and
large capitalization companies where Numeric believes that earnings per share
are improving more rapidly than earnings per share of the average company, as
well as companies whose securities have market valuations which are lower than
the average market valuations of securities, as measured by such
characteristics as price to earnings ratios and price to book ratios. Numeric
determines its stock selection decisions for this Fund based on both the
Growth Stock Model and the Value Stock Model. The Fund anticipates that it
will invest 65% of its total assets in common stock of "mid-cap" companies,
which the Fund defines as the 151st to the 1,000th largest companies
(excluding American Depositary Receipts) as ranked by market capitalization.
The market capitalization of the 1,000th largest company is approximately $1.3
billion.

The Fund may use futures to reduce risk to the Fund as a whole (hedge); they
may also be used to maintain liquidity, commit cash pending investment or
increase returns.

Key Risks

. The net asset value of the Fund will change with changes in the market value
of its portfolio positions.

. Investments in smaller-cap companies involve greater risk than is
customarily associated with larger more established companies due to the
greater business risks of small size, limited markets and financial
resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of depth of management.

. The securities of smaller-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt or
erratic market movements than securities of larger more established
companies.

. The Fund's securities may underperform other securities, or the equity
markets as a whole when they are out of favor.

6
<PAGE>

average portfolio turnover and resultant transaction costs, the Fund is better
suited for tax-deferred type accounts because of the potential for taxable
capital gains.

Risk/Return Information

Annual Total Returns
As of December 31

1996 1997 1998 1999
---- ---- ---- ----
11.41% 33.07% 13.88% 20.70%

Year to date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2000: 17.52%
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Best Quarter: 20.51% (quarter ended
December 31, 1998)
Worst Quarter: (18.85)% (quarter ended
September 30, 1998)
</TABLE>

Average Annual Total Returns--Comparison
As of December 31, 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 Year Since Inception
------ ---------------
<S> <C> <C>
n/i numeric investors
Mid Cap Fund*........................................... 20.70% 22.00%
S&P MidCap 400
Index**................................................. 14.72% 20.37%
</TABLE>
--------
* Commenced operations on June 3, 1996.
** A broad-based index of 400 companies with market capitalizations currently
from $102 million to $9,650 million. The Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index
is a widely accepted, unmanaged index of overall mid-cap stock market
performance.

Expenses and Fees

As a shareholder you pay certain fees and expenses. Annual Fund operating
expenses are paid out of Fund assets and are reflected in the Fund's price.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Management fees+........................................................ 1.35%
Rule 12b-1 fees......................................................... None
Other expenses.......................................................... 0.86%
-----
Total annual Fund operating expenses.................................... 2.21%
Fee waivers*............................................................ (0.36)%
-----
Net expenses............................................................ 1.85%
=====
</TABLE>
--------
+ Effective January 1, 2001, Numeric is entitled to a performance based fee
calculated at the end of each month using a basic fee of 0.85% of average
daily net assets and a performance fee adjustment based upon the Fund's
performance during the last rolling 12 month period. The figures shown
reflect the maximum performance fee adjustment to which Numeric may be
entitled under certain performance arrangements. This maximum fee may be
applicable only if the Fund outperforms the S&P MidCap 400 Index by 900
basis points (9%). See "Management--Investment Adviser" for a further
discussion. Prior to January 1, 2001, Numeric was entitled to a management
fee of 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
* Numeric has agreed that until December 31, 2001, it will reimburse expenses
to the extent that the Fund's other expenses exceed 0.50%.

Example

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
------ ------- ------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$188 $657 $1,152 $2,516
</TABLE>

7
<PAGE>

n/i numeric investors
Small Cap Value Fund
Ticker Symbol: NISVX

Investment Goal

The Fund's investment goal is to provide long-term capital appreciation.

Primary Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 65% of its total assets
in common stock of companies with market capitalizations of $2.0 billion or
less. Numeric determines its stock selection decisions for the Fund primarily
on the basis of its Value Stock Model. Also considered, but of less
importance, is the Growth Stock Model.

The Fund may use futures to reduce risk to the Fund as a whole (hedge); they
may also be used to maintain liquidity, commit cash pending investment or
increase returns.

Key Risks

. The net asset value of the Fund will change with changes in the market value
of its portfolio positions.

. The securities of smaller-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt or
erratic market movements than securities of larger more established
companies.

. The Fund's small-cap securities may underperform mid-cap or large-cap
securities, or the equity markets as a whole when they are out of favor.

Risk/Return Information

The chart and table below give you a picture of the Fund's performance. The
chart and table below both assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions.
As with all such investments, past performance is not an indication of future
results. Performance reflects fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not
in place, the Fund's performance would be reduced.

Annual Total Return
As of December 31

1999
----
(0.63)%

Year to date total return for the nine months ended September 30, 2000: 21.05%

<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Best Quarter: 22.07% (quarter ended
June 30, 1999)
Worst Quarter: (10.27)% (quarter ended
March 31, 1999)
</TABLE>

Average Annual Total Returns--Comparison
As of December 31, 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 Year Since Inception
------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C>
n/i numeric investors
Small Cap Value Fund*.................................. (0.63)% 2.23%
Russell 2000 Value
Index**................................................ (0.75)% 0.65%
</TABLE>
--------
* Commenced operations on November 30, 1998.
** The Russell 2000 Value Index contains stocks

8
<PAGE>

from the Russell 2000 with greater-than-average value orientation. Companies
in this index generally have lower price to book and price to earnings
ratios. The Russell 2000 is an index of stocks 1,001 through 3,000 in the
Russell 3000 Index as ranked by total market capitalization. This index is
segmented into growth and value categories.

Expenses and Fees

As a shareholder you pay certain fees and expenses. Annual Fund operating
expenses are paid out of Fund assets and are reflected in the Fund's price.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Management fees+........................................................ 1.35%
Rule 12b-1 fees......................................................... None
Other expenses.......................................................... 1.59%
-----
Total annual Fund operating expenses.................................... 2.94%
Fee waivers*............................................................ (1.09)%
-----
Net expenses............................................................ 1.85%
=====
</TABLE>
--------
+ Effective January 1, 2001, Numeric is entitled to a performance based fee
calculated at the end of each month using a basic fee of 0.85% of average
daily net assets and a performance fee adjustment based upon the Fund's
performance during the last rolling 12 month period. The figures shown
reflect the maximum performance fee adjustment to which Numeric may be
entitled under certain performance arrangements. This maximum fee may be
applicable only if the Fund outperforms the Russell 2000 Value Index by 900
basis points (9%). See "Management--Investment Adviser" for a further
discussion. Prior to January 1, 2001, Numeric was entitled to a management
fee of 0.75% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
* Numeric has agreed that until December 31, 2001, it will reimburse expenses
to the extent that the Fund's other expenses exceed 0.50%.
Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you
invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all
of your shares at the end of each period. The example also assumes that your
investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses
remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on
these assumptions your cost would be:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
------ ------- ------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$188 $807 $1,452 $3,184
</TABLE>

9
<PAGE>

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON FUND INVESTMENTS

Each Fund may lend its portfolio securities to financial institutions. A Fund
will receive collateral in cash or high quality securities equal to the
current value of the loaned securities. These loans will be limited to 33 1/3%
of the value of the Fund's total assets. Lending a Fund's portfolio securities
involves the risk of a delay in additional collateral if the value of the
securities goes up while they are on loan. There is also the risk of delay in
recovering the loaned securities and of losing rights to the collateral if the
borrower goes bankrupt.

A Fund may borrow money for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes.
Each Fund will not make any additional investments while borrowings exceed 5%
of its total assets.

MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser

Numeric Investors L.P.(R) serves as investment adviser to the Funds. Numeric,
whose principal business address is One Memorial Drive, Cambridge,
Massachusetts 02142, was organized in October 1989 as a Delaware limited
partnership. The firm, which specializes in the active management of U.S. and
international equity portfolios using internally developed quantitative stock
selection and portfolio risk-control techniques, currently has over $3.5
billion in assets under management for individuals, limited partnerships,
mutual funds, offshore funds, pension plans and endowment accounts.

Langdon B. Wheeler, CFA is the founder and President of Numeric. Mr. Wheeler
received his MBA from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree from Yale
University. All investment decisions with respect to the Funds are made by a
team of Numeric's Portfolio Management Department. No one person is
responsible for making recommendations to that team. The general partner of
Numeric is WBE & Associates, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The
President of WBE & Associates, LLC is Mr. Wheeler.

For the Funds' fiscal year ended August 31, 2000, for its advisory services to
the n/i numeric investors Micro Cap Fund, n/i numeric investors Growth Fund,
n/i numeric investors Mid Cap Fund and n/i numeric investors Small Cap Value
Fund, Numeric received investment advisory fees of 0.61%, 0.57%, 0.26% and
0.03%, respectively, of each Fund's average daily net assets, after fee
waivers and expense reimbursements, if any.

Numeric is entitled to a management fee of 0.75% of the n/i numeric investors
Micro Cap Fund's average daily net assets before fee waivers and expense
reimbursements, if any.

Numeric is entitled to a performance based fee for the n/i numeric investors
Growth Fund, n/i numeric investors Mid Cap Fund and n/i numeric investors
Small Cap Value Fund. The performance based fee is calculated at the end of
each month using a basic fee of 0.85% of average daily net assets, and a
performance fee adjustment based upon each Fund's performance during the last
rolling 12-month period. Each Fund's net performance would be compared with
the performance of its benchmark index during that same rolling 12-month
period. When a Fund's performance is at least 5.00% better than its benchmark,
it would pay Numeric more than the basic fee. If a Fund did not perform at
least 4.00% better than its benchmark, Numeric would be paid less than the
basic fee. Each 1.00% of the difference in performance between a Fund and its
benchmark plus 4.00% during the performance period would result in a 0.10%
adjustment to the basic fee. The benchmark index for each of the Growth, Mid
Cap and Small Cap Value Funds is the Russell 2500 Growth Index, S&P MidCap 400
Index and Russell 2000 Value Index, respectively.

The maximum annualized performance adjustment rate would be + or - 0.50% of
average daily net assets which would be added to or deducted from the basic
fee if a Fund outperformed its benchmark index over a rolling 12-month period
by 9.00% or more or if it underperformed its benchmark index over a rolling
12-month period. Under the fulcrum fee arrangement, Numeric's fee would never
be greater than 1.35% nor less than 0.35% of a Fund's average annualized daily
net assets for the preceding month.

10
<PAGE>

Other Service Providers

The following chart shows the Funds' other service providers and includes their
addresses and principal activities.

<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
---------------------
Shareholders
---------------------
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Distribution and Principal Distributor Transfer Agent
Shareholder
Services Provident Distributors, Inc. PFPC Inc.
3200 Horizon Drive 400 Bellevue Parkway
King of Prussia, PA 19406 Wilmington, DE 19809

Distributes shares of the Funds. Handles shareholder services,
including record-keeping and
Effective on or about January 2, 2001, statements, distribution of dividends
PFPC Distributors, Inc. ("PFPC and processing of buy and sell
Distributors"), will serve as the requests.
distributor of the Company's shares.
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
Investment Adviser
-----------------------------------------
Custodian
Asset Numeric Investors L.P.(R)
Management One Memorial Drive Custodial Trust Company
Cambridge, MA 02142 101 Carnegie Center
Princeton, NJ 05840
Manages each Fund's business and
investment activities. Holds each Fund's assets, settles all
portfolio trades.
---------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
Co-Administrator
Fund Bear Stearns Funds Management Inc.
Operations 575 Lexington Avenue, 9/th/ Floor
New York, NY 10022

Assists each of the Funds in all
Aspects of their administration
And operations.

Co-Administrator
PFPC Inc.
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809

Provides facilities, equipment and
personnel to carry out administrative
services related to each Fund and
calculates each Fund's NAV, dividends
and distributions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Board of Directors
Supervises the Fund's activities.
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
---------------------------------------
</TABLE>

11
<PAGE>

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Pricing of Fund Shares

Shares of the Funds are priced at their net asset value ("NAV"). The NAV of
each Fund is calculated by adding the value of all its securities to cash and
other assets, deducting its actual and accrued liabilities and dividing by the
total number of shares outstanding.

Each Fund's NAV is calculated once daily at the close of regular trading on
the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") (currently 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), each
day the NYSE is open. Fund shares will not be priced on the days that the NYSE
is closed.

Securities which are listed on stock exchanges are valued at the last sale
price on the day the securities are valued or, lacking any sales on such day,
at the mean of the bid and asked prices available prior to valuation. In cases
where securities are traded on more than one exchange, the securities are
generally valued on the exchange designated by the Board of Directors as the
primary market. Securities traded in the over-the-counter market and listed on
the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System
("NASDAQ") are valued at the last trade price listed on the NASDAQ at the
close of regular trading (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time); securities listed
on NASDAQ for which there were no sales on that day and other over-the-counter
securities are valued at the mean of the bid and asked prices available prior
to valuation. Short term debt investments having maturities of 60 days or less
are amortized to maturity based on their cost. With the approval of the
Company's Board of Directors, a Fund may use a pricing service, bank or
broker-dealer experienced in providing valuations to value a Fund's
securities. If market quotations are unavailable or deemed unreliable by
Numeric's Valuation Committee, securities will be valued at fair value as
determined by procedures adopted by the Board.

Purchase of Fund Shares

You may purchase Shares of each Fund at the NAV per share next calculated
after your order is received by the Transfer Agent in proper form as described
below under "Initial Investment by Mail." After an initial purchase is made,
the Transfer Agent will set up an account for you on the Company's records.
The minimum initial investment in any Fund is $3,000 and the minimum
additional investment is $100. You can only purchase Shares of each Fund on
days the NYSE is open and through the means described below.

Initial Investment By Mail. Subject to acceptance by the Company, an account
may be opened by completing and signing the application included with this
Prospectus and mailing it to the Transfer Agent at the address noted below,
together with a check ($3,000 minimum) payable to n/i numeric investors family
of funds:

n/i numeric investors family of funds
c/o PFPC Inc.
P.O. Box 8966
Wilmington, DE 19899-8966

The name of the Fund(s) to be purchased should be designated on the
application and should appear on the check. Subject to acceptance by the
Company, payment for the purchase of Shares received by mail will be credited
to a shareholder's account at the NAV per share of the Fund next determined
after receipt of payment in good order.

Initial Investment By Wire. Subject to acceptance by the Company, Shares of
each Fund may be purchased by wiring federal funds to PNC Bank (see
instructions below). In order to use this option your investment must be at
least $3,000. A wire charge of $7.50 is assessed and charged to the
shareholder. A completed application should be forwarded to the Company at the
address noted above under "Initial Investment by Mail" in advance of the wire.
For each Fund, notification for purchase of shares must be given to the
Transfer Agent at 1-800-348-5031 prior to the close of trading on the NYSE
(usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the same day. (Prior notification must
also be received from investors with existing accounts.) Funds should be wired
to:

PNC Bank
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
From: (your name)
ABA# 031-0000-53
Account # 86-1108-2312
F/B/O n/i numeric investors family of funds
Ref. (Fund Name and Account Number)

Federal funds purchases will be accepted only on a day on which the NYSE and
PNC Bank are open for business.

12
<PAGE>

Additional Investments. Additional investments may be made at any time by
mailing a check to the Transfer Agent at the address noted above under
"Initial Investment by Mail" (payable to n/i numeric investors family of
funds), or by wiring monies to PNC Bank as outlined above under "Initial
Investment by Wire." Additional investments by wire must be at least $3,000.
For each Fund, notification for purchase of shares must be given to the
Transfer Agent at 1-800-348-5031 prior to the close of trading on the NYSE
(usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), on the same day. Initial and additional
purchases made by check cannot be redeemed until payment of the purchase has
been collected.

Additional Investments Via the Internet. You may also purchase Shares of the
Funds, up to $25,000 per day with no single trade over $10,000, via the
Internet. In order to engage in Internet transactions you must complete and
return a separate Internet account application. You can request an Internet
account application by contacting Numeric at http://www.numeric.com or by
calling 1-800-numeric (686-3742).

After your Internet application is received, you will receive a Welcome Letter
that will provide you with further instructions.

The Company employs reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions
communicated over the Internet are genuine. Such procedures include, but are
not limited to, requiring a separate application for Internet access services
and appropriate personal identification for each on-line session, providing
written confirmations to the address of record and employing other precautions
reasonably designed to protect the integrity, confidentiality and security of
shareholder information. Neither the Company, Numeric, PDI, PFPC Distributors,
PFPC Inc., BSFM nor any agent of the Company will be liable for any loss,
liability, cost or expense for following instructions communicated via the
Internet that they reasonably believe to be genuine or for following such
security procedures. In the event that high volume on the Internet or other
technical difficulties make Internet access unavailable, investors may contact
the Company through the other methods described herein.

Shareholder Organizations. Shares of the Funds may also be sold to
corporations or other institutions such as trusts, foundations or broker-
dealers purchasing for the accounts of others ("Shareholder Organizations").
If you purchase and redeem shares of the Funds through a Shareholder
Organization, you may be charged a transaction-based fee or other fee for the
services of such organization. Each Shareholder Organization is responsible
for transmitting to its customers a schedule of any such fees and information
regarding any additional or different conditions regarding purchases and
redemptions. Customers of Shareholder Organizations should read this
Prospectus in light of the terms governing accounts with their organization.
The Company does not pay to or receive compensation from Shareholder
Organizations for the sale of Shares. The Company officers are authorized to
waive the minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements.

Automatic Investment Plan. Additional investments in Shares of the Funds may
be made automatically by authorizing the Transfer Agent to withdraw funds from
your bank account through an Automatic Investment Plan. Investors desiring to
participate in an Automatic Investment Plan should call the Transfer Agent at
1-800-348-5031 to obtain the appropriate forms, or complete the appropriate
section of the Application included with this Prospectus. The minimum initial
investment for an Automatic Investment Plan is $1,000, with minimum monthly
payments of $100.

IRA Accounts. Shares of the Funds may be purchased in conjunction with
individual retirement accounts ("IRAs"), rollover IRAs, or pension, profit-
sharing or other employer benefit plans. Contact the Transfer Agent for
further information as to applications and annual fees. To determine whether
the benefits of an IRA are available and/or appropriate, a shareholder should
consult with a tax adviser.

Other Purchase Information. The Company reserves the right, in its sole
discretion, to suspend the offering of shares of its Funds or to reject
purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or
rejection is in the best interests of the Funds.

Closing of Funds. Numeric will monitor the Funds' total assets and may close
any of the Funds at any time to new investments or new accounts due to
concerns that a significant increase in the size of a Fund may adversely
affect the implementation of Numeric's investment strategy. As noted earlier,

13
<PAGE>

currently the n/i numeric investors Micro Cap Fund is closed to new
investments. Numeric may also choose to reopen a closed fund to new
investments at any time, and may subsequently close such Fund again should
concerns regarding Fund size recur. Numeric reserves the right while a Fund is
closed to accept new investments from any of its employees or their spouses,
parents or children, or to further restrict the sale of its shares. If a Fund
closes to new investments, the following may apply:

. The closed Fund would only be offered to certain existing shareholders of
that Fund and certain other persons, who are generally subject to
cumulative, maximum purchase amounts, as follows:

a. persons who already hold shares of the closed Fund directly or through
accounts maintained by brokers by arrangement with the Company,

b. existing and future clients of financial advisors and planners whose
clients already hold shares of the closed Fund, and

c. employees of Numeric and their spouses and children.

Other persons who are shareholders of other n/i numeric investors family of
funds are not permitted to acquire shares of the closed Fund by exchange.
Other purchase limitations may be implemented at the time of closing.
Distributions to all shareholders of the closed Fund will continue to be
reinvested unless a shareholder elected otherwise.

Redemption of Fund Shares

You may redeem Shares of the Funds at the next NAV calculated after a
redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent in proper form. The NAV
is calculated as of the close of trading on the NYSE (usually 4:00 p.m.
Eastern time). You can only redeem shares of the Funds on days the NYSE is
open and through the means described below.

You may redeem Shares of each Fund by mail, or, if you are authorized, by
telephone or via the Internet. There is no charge for a redemption. However,
if you redeem Shares held for less than six months, a transaction fee of 1% of
the net asset value of the Shares redeemed at the time of redemption will be
charged. This additional transaction fee is paid to the affected Fund, not the
adviser, distributor or transfer agent as reimbursement for transaction costs
associated with redemptions. The value of Shares redeemed may be more or less
than the purchase price, depending on the market value of the investment
securities held by the Fund. For purposes of this redemption feature, Shares
purchased first will be considered to be Shares first redeemed.

Redemption By Mail. Your redemption requests should be addressed to n/i
numeric investors family of funds, c/o PFPC Inc., P.O. Box 8966, Wilmington,
DE 19899-8966 and must include:

a. a letter of instruction specifying the number of shares or dollar amount
to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners of the shares in the
exact names in which they are registered;

b. any required signature guarantees, which are required when (i) the
redemption request proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the
registered shareholder(s) or (ii) the redemption request is for $10,000
or more. A signature guarantee may be obtained from a domestic bank or
trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency or savings association
who are participants in a Medallion Program recognized by the Securities
Transfer Association. The three recognized Medallion Programs are
Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges
Medallion Program (SEMP) and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion
Program (MSP). Signature guarantees which are not a part of these
programs will not be accepted. Please note that a notary public stamp or
seal is not acceptable; and

c. other supporting legal documents, if required, in the case of estates,
trusts, guardianships, custodianships, corporations, pension and profit
sharing plans and other organizations.

Redemption By Telephone. In order to request a telephone redemption, you must
have returned your account application containing a telephone election. To add
a telephone redemption option to an existing account, contact the Transfer
Agent by calling 1-800-348-5031.

Once you are authorized to utilize the telephone redemption option, a
redemption of Shares may be requested by calling the Transfer Agent at 1-800-
348-5031 and requesting that the redemption proceeds be mailed to the primary
registration address or wired per the authorized instructions. A wire charge
of $7.50 is assessed and charged to the shareholder. If
14
<PAGE>

the telephone redemption option or the telephone exchange option (as described
below) is authorized, the Transfer Agent may act on telephone instructions
from any person representing himself or herself to be a shareholder and
believed by the Transfer Agent to be genuine. The Transfer Agent's records of
such instructions are binding and shareholders, not the Company or the
Transfer Agent, bear the risk of loss in the event of unauthorized
instructions reasonably believed by the Company or the Transfer Agent to be
genuine. The Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that
instructions communicated are genuine and, if it does not, it may be liable
for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. The procedures
employed by the Transfer Agent in connection with transactions initiated by
telephone include tape recording of telephone instructions and requiring some
form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by
telephone.

For accounts held of record by Shareholder Organizations, additional
documentation or information regarding the scope of a caller's authority is
required. Finally, for telephone transactions in accounts held jointly,
additional information regarding other account holders is required. Telephone
transactions will not be permitted in connection with IRA or other retirement
plan accounts or by an attorney-in-fact under power of attorney.

Redemption Via the Internet. You may also redeem and exchange Shares of the
Funds, up to $25,000 per day with no single trade over $10,000, via the
Internet. In order to engage in Internet transactions you must complete and
return a separate Internet account application. You can request an Internet
account application by contacting Numeric at http://www.numeric.com or by
calling 1-800-numeric (686-3742).

After your Internet application is received, you will receive a Welcome Letter
that will provide you with further instructions.

Automatic Withdrawal. Automatic withdrawal permits you to request withdrawal
of a specified dollar amount (minimum of $25) on either a monthly, quarterly
or annual basis if you have a $10,000 minimum account balance. An application
for automatic withdrawal can be obtained from the Transfer Agent. Automatic
withdrawal may be ended at any time by the investor, the Company or the
Transfer Agent. Purchases of additional shares concurrently with withdrawals
generally are undesirable as a shareholder may incur additional expenses and
such transactions may have tax consequences.

Transaction Fee on Certain Redemptions of the Funds. The Funds require the
payment of a transaction fee on redemptions of Shares held for less than six
months equal to 1.00% of the net asset value of such Shares redeemed at the
time of redemption. This additional transaction fee is paid to each Fund, not
to the adviser, distributor or transfer agent. It is not a sales charge or a
contingent deferred sales charge. The fee does not apply to redeemed Shares
that were purchased through reinvested dividends or capital gain
distributions. The purpose of the additional transaction fee is to indirectly
allocate transaction costs associated with redemptions to those investors
making redemptions after holding their shares for a short period, thus
protecting existing shareholders. These costs include: (1) brokerage costs;
(2) market impact costs--i.e., the decrease in market prices which may result
when a Fund sells certain securities in order to raise cash to meet the
redemption request; (3) the realization of capital gains by the other
shareholders in each Fund; and (4) the effect of the "bid-ask" spread in the
over-the-counter market. The 1.00% amount represents each Fund's estimate of
the brokerage and

15
<PAGE>

other transaction costs which may be incurred by each Fund in disposing of
stocks in which each Fund may invest. Without the additional transaction fee,
each Fund would generally be selling its shares at a price less than the cost
to each Fund of acquiring the portfolio securities necessary to maintain its
investment characteristics, resulting in reduced investment performance for
all shareholders in the Funds. With the additional transaction fee, the
transaction costs of selling additional stocks are not borne by all existing
shareholders, but the source of funds for these costs is the transaction fee
paid by those investors making redemptions of the Funds.

Involuntary Redemption. The Company reserves the right to redeem a
shareholder's account in any Fund at any time the net asset value of the
account in such Fund falls below $500 as the result of a redemption or an
exchange request. Shareholders will be notified in writing that the value of
their account in a Fund is less than $500 and will be allowed 30 days to make
additional investments before the redemption is processed. The transaction fee
will not be charged when shares are involuntarily redeemed.

Other Redemption Information. Redemption proceeds for Shares of the Funds
recently purchased by check may not be distributed until payment for the
purchase has been collected, which may take up to fifteen days from the
purchase date. Shareholders can avoid this delay by utilizing the wire
purchase option.

Other than as described above, redemption proceeds will ordinarily be paid
within seven days after a redemption request is received by the Transfer Agent
in proper form. The Company may suspend the right of redemption or postpone
the date at times when the NYSE is closed or under any emergency circumstances
as determined by the SEC.

If the Board of Directors determines that it would be detrimental to the best
interests of the remaining shareholders of the Funds to make payment wholly or
partly in cash, redemption proceeds may be paid in whole or in part by a
distribution in-kind of readily marketable securities held by a Fund instead
of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. Investors generally
will incur brokerage charges on the sale of portfolio securities so received
in payment of redemptions. The Funds have elected, however, to be governed by
Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, so that a Fund is obligated to redeem its
Shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its net asset
value during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of a Fund.

Exchange Privilege

The exchange privilege is available to shareholders residing in any state in
which the Shares being acquired may be legally sold. A shareholder may
exchange Shares of any Fund for Shares of any other Fund up to three (3) times
per year (at least 30 days apart). Such exchange will be effected at the net
asset value of the exchanged Fund and the net asset value of the Fund to be
acquired next determined after the Transfer Agent's receipt of a request for
an exchange. An exchange of Shares held for less than six months (with the
exception of Shares purchased through dividend reinvestment or the
reinvestment of capital gains) will be subject to the 1.00% transaction fee.
In addition, the Company reserves the right to impose a $5.00 administrative
fee for each exchange. An exchange of Shares will be treated as a sale for
federal income tax purposes. A shareholder wishing to make an exchange may do
so by sending a written request to the Transfer Agent or, if authorized, by
telephone or Internet.

If the exchanging shareholder does not currently own Shares of the Fund whose
Shares are being acquired, a new account will be established with the same
registration, dividend and capital gain options as the account from which
shares are exchanged, unless otherwise specified in writing by the shareholder
with all signatures guaranteed. See "Redemption By Mail" for information on
signature guarantees. The exchange privilege may be modified or terminated at
any time, or from time to time, by the Company, upon 60 days' written notice
to shareholders.

If an exchange is to a new n/i numeric investors Fund, the dollar value of
Shares acquired must equal or exceed the Company's minimum for a new account;
if to an existing account, the dollar value must equal or exceed the Company's
minimum for subsequent investments. If an amount remains in the n/i numeric
investors Fund from which the exchange is being made that is below the minimum
account value required, the account will be subject to involuntary redemption.

The Funds' exchange privilege is not intended to afford shareholders a way to
speculate on short-term movements in the market. Accordingly, in order to

16
<PAGE>

prevent excessive use of the exchange privilege that may potentially disrupt
the management of the Funds and increase transactions costs, the Funds have
established a policy of limiting excessive exchange activity. Shareholders are
entitled to three (3) exchange redemptions (at least 30 days apart) from each
Fund during any twelve-month period. Notwithstanding these limitations, the
Funds reserve the right to reject any purchase request (including exchange
purchases from other n/i numeric investors Funds) that the investment adviser
reasonably deems to be disruptive to efficient portfolio management.

Dividends and Distributions

Each Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and
net realized capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. Its distributions are
reinvested in additional full and fractional Shares of the Fund unless a
shareholder elects otherwise.

The Funds expect to declare and pay dividends from net investment income
annually. Net realized capital gains (including net short-term capital gains),
if any, will be distributed at least annually.

Taxes

Each Fund contemplates declaring as dividends each year all or substantially
all of its taxable income, including its net capital gain (the excess of long-
term capital gain over short-term capital loss). Distributions attributable to
the net capital gain of a Fund will be taxable to you as long-term capital
gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares. Other Fund
distributions (other than exempt-interest dividends, discussed below) will
generally be taxable as ordinary income. You will be subject to income tax on
Fund distributions regardless whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in
additional shares. You will be notified annually of the tax status of
distributions to you.

You should note that if you purchase just before a distribution, the purchase
price will reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution, but you will be
taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an
economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of a portion of
your purchase price. This is known as "buying into a dividend."

You will recognize taxable gain or loss on a sale, exchange or redemption of
your shares, including an exchange for shares of another Fund, based on the
difference between your tax basis in the shares and the amount you receive for
them. (To aid in computing your tax basis, you generally should retain your
account statements for the periods during which you held shares.) Any loss
realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term
capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on
the shares. Additionally, any loss realized on a sale or redemption of shares
of a Fund may be disallowed under "wash sale" rules to the extent the shares
disposed of are replaced with other shares of a Fund within a period of 61
days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed
of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of a Fund. If
disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the basis of the
shares acquired.

The one major exception to these tax principles is that distributions on, and
sales, exchanges and redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-
qualified plan) are not currently taxable.

The foregoing is only a summary of certain tax considerations under current
law, which may be subject to change in the future. Shareholders who are
nonresident aliens, foreign trusts or estates, or foreign corporations or
partnerships, may be subject to different United States federal income tax
treatment. You should consult your tax adviser for further information
regarding federal, state, local and/or foreign tax consequences relevant to
your specific situation.

The Company may be required to withhold federal income tax at a rate of 31%
("backup withholding") from dividends and redemption proceeds paid to non-
corporate shareholders. This tax may be withheld from dividends if (i) you
fail to furnish the Company with your correct taxpayer identification number,
(ii) the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") notifies the Company that you have
failed to report properly certain interest and dividends income to the IRS and
to respond to notices to that effect, or (iii) when required to do so, you
fail to certify that you are not subject to backup withholding.

State and Local Taxes. Shareholders may also be subject to state and local
taxes on distributions and

17
<PAGE>

redemptions. State income taxes may not apply however, to the portions of each
Fund's distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest on federal
securities or interest on securities of the particular state or localities
within the state. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the
tax status of distributions in their state and locality.

18
<PAGE>

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The table below sets forth certain financial information for the periods
indicated, including per share information results for a single Fund share.
The term "Total Investment Return" indicates how much your investment would
have increased or decreased during this period of time and assumes that you
have reinvested all dividends and distributions, if any. This information has
been derived from each Fund's financial statements audited by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Company's independent accountants. This
information should be read in conjunction with each Fund's financial
statements which, together with the report of independent accountants, are
included in the Funds' annual report, which is available upon request (see
back cover for ordering instructions).

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Micro Cap Fund
----------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal
Year Year Year Year Period
Ended Ended Ended Ended 6/3/96* to
8/31/00 8/31/99 8/31/98 8/31/97 8/31/96
-------- ------- ------- -------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per Share Operating
Performance
Net asset value,
beginning of period.... $ 18.03 $ 12.52 $ 18.47 $ 11.67 $ 12.00
-------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Net investment
income/(loss).......... (0.10) (0.18) (0.07) (0.01) 0.01
Net realized and
unrealized gain/(loss)
on investments and
futures transactions,
if any................. 7.39 6.72 (3.23) 6.82 (0.34)
-------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Net increase/(decrease)
in net assets resulting
from operations........ 7.29 6.54 (3.30) 6.81 (0.33)
-------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Dividends and
distributions to
shareholders from:
Net investment income.. -- -- -- (0.01) --
Net realized capital
gains................. (4.33) (1.03) (2.65) -- --
-------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Total dividends and
distributions to
shareholders.......... (4.33) (1.03) (2.65) (0.01) --
-------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Net asset value, end of
period................. $ 20.99 $ 18.03 $ 12.52 $ 18.47 $ 11.67
======== ======= ======= ======== =======
Total investment
return(1).............. 54.42% 56.09% (20.74)% 58.41% (2.75)%
======== ======= ======= ======== =======
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of
period (000's
omitted)............... $134,533 $76,349 $99,266 $142,119 $14,100
Ratio of expenses to
average net asset(2)... 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 1.00%(3)
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets,
without waivers and
expense reimbursements,
if any................. 1.28% 1.26% 1.23% 1.45% 3.45%(3)
Ratio of net investment
income/(loss) to
average net assets(2).. (0.55)% (0.46)% (0.41)% (0.06)% 0.73%(3)
Portfolio turnover
rate................... 297.08 % 316.02 % 408.70 % 233.49 % 42.92%
</TABLE>
--------
* Commencement of operations.
(1) Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the
first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and
includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any. Total
investment returns are not annualized.
(2) Reflects waivers and expense reimbursements, if any.
(3) Annualized.

19
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Growth Fund
---------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal
Year Year Year Year Period
Ended Ended Ended Ended 6/3/96* to
8/31/00 8/31/99 8/31/98 8/31/97 8/31/96
------- ------- ------- -------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per Share Operating
Performance
Net asset value,
beginning of period..... $ 14.89 $ 9.75 $ 16.29 $ 11.84 $ 12.00
------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Net investment
income/(loss)........... (0.12) (0.18) (0.07) ( 0.04) 0.01
Net realized and
unrealized gain/(loss)
on investments and
futures transactions, if
any..................... 9.29 5.33 (3.98) 4.50 (0.17)
------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Net increase/(decrease)
in net assets resulting
from operations......... 9.17 5.15 (4.05) 4.46 (0.16)
------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Dividends and
distributions to
shareholders from:
Net investment income... -- -- -- (0.01) --
Net realized capital
gains.................. (0.37) (0.01) (2.49) -- --
------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Total dividends and
distributions to
shareholders........... (0.37) (0.01) (2.49) (0.01) --
------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Net asset value, end of
period.................. $ 23.69 $ 14.89 $ 9.75 $ 16.29 $ 11.84
======= ======= ======= ======== =======
Total investment
return(1)............... 63.11% 52.80% (29.03)% 37.69% (1.33)%
======= ======= ======= ======== =======
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of period
(000's omitted)......... $79,520 $62,376 $77,840 $117,724 $26,756
Ratio of expenses to
average net asset(2).... 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 1.00%(3)
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets,
without waivers and
expense reimbursements,
if any.................. 1.32% 1.30% 1.24% 1.40% 2.62%(3)
Ratio of net investment
income/(loss) to average
net assets(2)........... (0.59)% (0.45)% (0.50)% (0.38)% 0.71%(3)
Portfolio turnover rate.. 228.69 % 309.60 % 338.40 % 266.25 % 19.21%
</TABLE>
--------
* Commencement of operations.
(1) Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the
first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and
includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any. Total
investment returns are not annualized.
(2) Reflects waivers and expense reimbursements, if any.
(3) Annualized.

20
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Small Cap Value
Mid Cap Fund Fund
--------------------------------------------- ------------------
Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal Fiscal Period Fiscal Period
Year Year Year Year 6/3/96* Year 11/30/98*
Ended Ended Ended Ended to Ended to
8/31/00 8/31/99 8/31/98 8/31/97 8/31/96 8/31/00 8/31/99
------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per Share Operating
Performance
Net asset value,
beginning of period.... $ 16.89 $ 13.30 $ 17.16 $ 11.56 $12.00 $ 12.86 $ 12.00
------- ------- -------- ------- ------ ------- -------
Net investment income... 0.08 0.05 0.05 0.08 0.03 0.15 0.10
Net realized and
unrealized gain/(loss)
on
investments and futures
transactions, if any... 4.25 4.97 (1.24) 5.58 (0.47) 1.32 0.76
------- ------- -------- ------- ------ ------- -------
Net increase/(decrease)
in net assets resulting
from operations........ 4.33 5.02 (1.19) 5.66 (0.44) 1.47 0.86
------- ------- -------- ------- ------ ------- -------
Dividends and
distributions to
shareholders from:
Net investment income.. (0.03) (0.06) (0.06) (0.06) -- (0.10) --
Net realized capital
gains................. (1.97) (1.37) (2.61) -- -- (1.32) --
------- ------- -------- ------- ------ ------- -------
Total dividends and
distributions to
shareholders......... (2.00) (1.43) (2.67) (0.06) -- (1.42) --
------- ------- -------- ------- ------ ------- -------
Net asset value, end of
period................. $ 19.22 $ 16.89 $ 13.30 $ 17.16 $11.56 $ 12.91 $ 12.86
======= ======= ======== ======= ====== ======= =======
Total investment
return(1).............. 29.61% 41.61% (8.97)% 49.11% (3.67)% 13.94% 7.17%
======= ======= ======== ======= ====== ======= =======
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of
period (000's
omitted)............... $44,430 $49,156 $110,176 $52,491 $3,813 $13,481 $11,498
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets(2).. 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 1.00%(3) 1.00% 1.00%(3)
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets,
without waivers and
expense reimbursements,
if any................. 1.61% 1.33% 1.26% 1.81% 8.98%(3) 2.34% 2.59%(3)
Ratio of net investment
income to average net
assets(2).............. 0.40% 0.31% 0.36% 0.79% 1.89%(3) 1.35% 1.15%(3)
Portfolio turnover
rate................... 378.17 384.71% 341.73% 263.83% 5.25% 256.28% 212.55%
</TABLE>
--------
* Commencement of operations.
(1) Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the
first day and a sale of shares on the last day of each period reported and
includes reinvestments of dividends and distributions, if any. Total
investment returns are not annualized.
(2) Reflects waivers and expense reimbursements, if any.
(3) Annualized.

21
<PAGE>

n/i numeric investors family of funds

1-800-numeric (686-3742)
http://www.numeric.com

For More Information:

This prospectus contains important information you should know before you
invest. Read it carefully and keep it for future reference. More
information about the n/i numeric investors family of funds is available
free, upon request, including:

Annual/Semi-Annual Report

These reports contain additional information about each of the Funds'
investments, describe the Funds' performance, list portfolio holdings, and
discuss recent market conditions and economic trends. The Annual Report
includes fund strategies for the last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information (SAI)

A Statement of Additional Information, dated December 31, 2000 has been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SAI, which includes
additional information about the n/i numeric investors family of funds, may
be obtained free of charge, along with the n/i numeric investors family of
funds annual and semi-annual reports, by calling (800) 348-5031. The SAI,
as supplemented from time to time, is incorporated by reference into this
Prospectus and is legally considered a part of this Prospectus.

Shareholder Inquiries

Representatives are available to discuss account balance information,
mutual fund prospectuses, literature, programs and services available.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday-Friday. Call: (800) 348-5031
or visit Numeric's website at http://www.numeric.com.

Written Correspondence

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Post Office
Address: n/i numeric investors family of funds
c/o PFPC Inc., P.O. Box 8950
Wilmington, DE 19899-8950

Street Address: n/i numeric investors family of funds
c/o PFPC Inc., 400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
</TABLE>

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

You may also view information about The RBB Fund, Inc. and the Funds,
including the SAI, by visiting the SEC's Public Reference Room in
Washington, D.C. You may also obtain copies of Fund documents by paying a
duplicating fee and sending an electronic request to the following e-mail
address: [email protected]., or by sending your request and a duplicating
fee to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.
Information on the operation of the public reference room may be obtained
by calling the SEC at 1-202-942-8090.

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NO. 811-05518
<PAGE>

n/i numeric investors
family of funds
800.numeric (686-3742)
www.numeric.com
---------------
Account Application
Important Information:
. Retirement Accounts: Do not use this information to open an individual
retirement plan account (such as an IRA). For an IRA application or help
with this application, please call 800.numeric (686-3742).
. Internet Transactions: If you wish to engage in internet transactions, you
must complete and return an additional Internet Account Application, which
can be obtained by contacting Numeric Investors on their web site,
www.numeric.com, or by phone, 800-686-3742.
---------------
1. Account Registration: (Please check the appropriate box(es) below.)
[_] Individual
[_] Joint Tenant

Name

Social Security Number of Primary Owner

Name of Joint Owner (if applicable)

Joint Owner Social Security Number

For joint accounts, the account registrants will be joint tenants with right
of survivorship and not tenants in common unless tenants in common or
community property registrations are requested.
Gift to Minor (if applicable):
[_] Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minor's Act

Name of Adult Custodian (only one permitted)

Name of Minor (only one permitted)

Minor's Social Security Number Date of Birth

Corporation, Partnership, Trust or other Entity (if applicable):

Name of Corporation, Partnership, or other

Names(s) of Trustee(s)

Taxpayer Identification Number

Trust Date

2. Mailing Address:

Street or PO Box Apartment Number

City State Zip Code

Daytime Phone Number Evening Phone Number
3. Investment Amount:
Minimum initial investment of $3,000 per Fund or $1,000 for an automatic
investment plan.
[_] n/i numeric investors
Micro Cap (50) $ ___________
[_] n/i numeric investors
Growth (51) $ ___________
[_] n/i numeric investors
Mid Cap (52) $ ___________
[_] n/i numeric investors
Small Cap Value (54) $ ___________

Make the check payable to n/i numeric investors family of funds.

Shareholders may not purchase shares of the n/i numeric investors Funds with a
check issued by a third party and endorsed over to the Funds. Checks for
investment must be made payable to n/i numeric investors family of funds.

4. Distribution Options:
NOTE: Dividends and capital gains may be reinvested or paid by check. If no
options are selected below, both dividends and capital gains will be
reinvested in additional Fund shares.

Dividends: [_] Pay by check [_] Reinvest
Capital Gains: [_] Pay by check [_] Reinvest

Please check one of the following options:
[_] Please mail checks to Address of Record (Named in Section 2)
[_] Please electronically credit my Bank of Record (Named in Section 8)

5. Telephone Exchange and Redemption:
To use either or both of these options, you must initial the appropriate line
below.

I authorize the Transfer Agent to accept instructions from any person to
exchange and/or redeem shares in my account(s) by telephone in accordance with
the procedures and conditions set forth in the Fund's current prospectus.

_____________________ Exchange shares for shares of another n/i
initial joint initial numeric investors Fund.

_____________________ Redeem shares, and send the proceeds to
initial joint initial the address of record.

(please complete other side)
NOT PART OF THE PROSPECTUS
<PAGE>

6. Automatic Investment Plan (if applicable):
Please attach an unsigned, voided check.
The Automatic Investment Plan ($1,000 minimum initial investment), makes
possible regularly scheduled purchases of Fund Shares. The Fund's Transfer
Agent can arrange for an amount of money selected by you ($100 minimum) to be
deducted from your checking account to purchase shares of a specified n/i
numeric investors family of funds Fund.

Please debit $ (total) from my checking account (named below) on or about
the 20th of every month.

$ into the Fund Start Month.
$100 minimum

7. Systematic Withdrawal Plan:
Please attach an unsigned, voided check.
. A minimum account value of $10,000 in a single account is required to
establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan.
. Payments will be made on or near the 25th of the month.

To select option, check box, and fill out the information below:
[_] For deposit of redemption proceeds into your Bank account:

Fund Name: __________

Amount: __________

Startup Month:
__________

Frequency Options: [_] Annually [_] Quarterly [_] Monthly

[_] Or transfer to an existing n/i numeric investors Fund account: (for
transfers from more than one existing account, please call 800-348-5031)

I authorize PFPC Inc. to withdraw a total of $ ($50 minimum per Fund) from
my /
(Fund Name) (Account Number)
to purchase shares of the following Fund(s):

______________ $_________
(please list
fund name(s))

Startup Month: ______

Frequency Options: [_] Annually [_] Quarterly [_] Monthly
8. Bank of Record:
Complete only if using Automatic Investment Plan (Section 6) Systematic
Withdrawal Plan (Section 7), or choose to have your dividends and/or capital
gains electronically credited to your bank account (Section 4)

Bank Name

Street Name or PO Box

City State Zip Code

Bank ABA Number Bank Account
Number

9. Signatures
The undersigned warrants that I (we) have full authority and if a natural
person, I (we) am (are) of legal age to purchase shares pursuant to this
Account Application, and I (we) have received a current prospectus for the n/i
numeric investors Fund(s) in which I (we) am (are) investing. Under the
Interest and Dividend Tax Compliance Act of 1983, the Fund is required to have
the following certification:
Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:
(1) The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer
identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me), and
(2) I am not subject to backup withholding because (a) I am exempt from backup
withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service
that I am subject to 31% backup withholding as a result of a failure to report
all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer
subject to backup withholding.
Note: You must cross out item (2) above if you have been notified by the IRS
that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you failed to
report all interest and dividends on your tax return. The Internal Revenue
Service does not require your consent to any provision of this document other
than certification required to audit backup withholding.

X / /
Signature of Applicant Date

Print Name Title (If
Applicable)

Signature of Joint Owner

Print Name Title (If
Applicable)

(If you are signing for a corporation, you must indicate corporate office or
title. If you wish additional signatories on the account, please include a
corporate resolution. If signing as a fiduciary, you must indicate capacity.)
For information on additional options, such as IRA Applications, rollover
requests for qualified retirement plans, or for wire instructions, please call
us at 800.348.5031. For information on new or existing accounts call
800.348.5031.
Mail completed Account Application and check to:
n/i numeric investors Fundsc/o PFPC Inc.PO Box 8966Wilmington, DE 19899-8966 or
fax to: 302-791-1074
NOT PART OF THE PROSPECTUS
<PAGE>

n/i numeric investors Micro Cap Fund

n/i numeric investors Growth Fund

n/i numeric investors Mid Cap Fund

n/i numeric investors Small Cap Value Fund

(Investment Portfolios of The RBB Fund, Inc.)

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DECEMBER 31, 2000

This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") provides information about
the n/i numeric investors Micro Cap Fund (the "Micro Cap Fund"), the n/i numeric
investors Growth Fund (the "Growth Fund"), the n/i numeric investors Mid Cap
Fund (the "Mid Cap Fund") and the n/i numeric investors Small Cap Value Fund
(the "Small Cap Value Fund") (each a "Fund," collectively, the "Funds") of The
RBB Fund, Inc. ("RBB"). This information is in addition to the information
contained in the n/i numeric investors family of funds Prospectus dated December
31, 2000 (the "Prospectus").

This SAI is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the
Prospectus and the Funds' Annual Report dated August 31, 2000. The financial
statements and notes contained in the Annual Report are incorporated by
reference into this SAI. Copies of the Prospectus and Annual Report may be
obtained from Numeric Investors L.P.(R) ("Numeric") by calling toll-free (800)
NUMERIC [686-3742].
<PAGE>

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION............................................. 1
INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS AND POLICIES............................. 1
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS.......................................... 14
MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY....................................... 17
Directors and Officers..................................... 17
Directors' Compensation.................................... 18
Code of Ethics............................................. 19
CONTROL PERSONS................................................. 19
INVESTMENT ADVISORY, DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS.... 29
Advisory Agreements........................................ 29
Custodian Agreements....................................... 32
Transfer Agency Agreements................................. 33
Co-Administration Agreements............................... 33
Administrative Services Agent.............................. 34
Distributor................................................ 35
FUND TRANSACTIONS............................................... 36
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING RBB SHARES.................... 38
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION............................. 40
VALUATION OF SHARES............................................. 41
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION......................................... 42
TAXES........................................................... 44
MISCELLANEOUS................................................... 45
Counsel.................................................... 45
Independent Accountants.................................... 45
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS............................................ 45
APPENDIX A...................................................... A1
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

GENERAL INFORMATION

RBB was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 29, 1988 and is an
open-end management investment company currently operating or proposing to
operate 14 separate investment portfolios. This Statement of Additional
Information pertains to Shares representing interests in the diversified Funds
offered by the Prospectus dated December 31, 2000.

INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS AND POLICIES

The following supplements the information contained in the Prospectus
concerning the investment objectives and policies of the Funds.

Equity Markets.

The Funds invest primarily in equity markets at all times. Equity markets
can be highly volatile, so that investing in the Funds involves substantial
risk. In addition, the Funds can and will typically invest in stocks that are
riskier and more volatile than the average stock. As a result, investing in
these Funds involves risk of substantial loss of capital.

Micro Cap and Small Cap Stocks.

Securities of companies with micro and small capitalizations tend to be
riskier than securities of companies with medium or large capitalizations. This
is because micro and small cap companies typically have smaller product lines
and less access to liquidity than mid cap or large cap companies, and are
therefore more sensitive to economic downturns. In addition, growth prospects
of micro and small cap companies tend to be less certain than mid or large cap
companies, and the dividends paid on micro and small cap stocks are frequently
negligible. Moreover, micro and small cap stocks have, on occasion, fluctuated
in the opposite direction of large cap stocks or the general stock market.
Consequently, securities of micro and small cap companies tend to be more
volatile than those of mid and large cap companies. The market for micro cap
securities may be thinly traded and, as a result, greater fluctuations in the
price of micro cap securities may occur.

Market Fluctuation.

Because the investment alternatives available to each Fund may be limited
by the specific objectives of that Fund, investors should be aware that an
investment in a particular Fund may be subject to greater market fluctuation
than an investment in a portfolio of securities representing a broader range of
investment alternatives. In view of the specialized nature of the investment
activities of each Fund, an investment in any single fund should not be
considered a complete investment program.

Futures and Options.

The Funds may write covered call options, buy put options, buy call options
and write put options, without limitation except as noted below. Such options
may relate to particular securities
<PAGE>

or to various indexes and may or may not be listed on a national securities
exchange or issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. The Funds may also
invest in futures contracts and options on futures contracts (index futures
contracts or interest rate futures contracts, as applicable) for hedging
purposes, including conversion of cash to equity.

The risks related to the use of options and futures contracts include: (i)
the correlation between movements in the market price of a Fund's investments
(held or intended for purchase) being hedged and in the price of the futures
contract or option may be imperfect; (ii) possible lack of a liquid secondary
market for closing out options or futures positions; (iii) the need for
additional portfolio management skills and techniques; and (iv) losses due to
unanticipated market movements. Successful use of options and futures by the
Funds is subject to Numeric's ability to predict correctly movements in the
direction of the market. For example, if a Fund uses future contracts as a
hedge against the possibility of a decline in the market adversely affecting
securities held by it and securities prices increase instead, the Fund will lose
part or all of the benefit of the increased value of its securities which it has
hedged because it will have approximately equal offsetting losses in its futures
positions. The risk of loss in trading futures contracts in some strategies can
be substantial, due both to the low margin deposits required, and the extremely
high degree of leverage involved in futures pricing. As a result, a relatively
small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and
substantial loss or gain to the investor. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures
contract may result in losses or gains in excess of the amount invested in the
contract.

Futures.

Futures Contracts. To enter into a futures contract, the Funds must make a
deposit of an initial margin with their custodian in a segregated account in the
name of the futures broker or directly with the futures broker itself.
Subsequent payments to or from the broker, called variation margin, will be made
on a daily basis as the price of the underlying security or index fluctuates,
making the long and short positions in the futures contracts more or less
valuable.

When a Fund purchases a futures contract, it agrees to purchase a specified
underlying instrument at a specified future date. When a Fund sells a futures
contract, it agrees to sell the underlying instrument at a specified future
date. The price at which the purchase and sale will take place is fixed when a
Fund enters into the contract. The underlying instrument may be a specified
type of security, such as U.S. Treasury bonds or notes.

The majority of futures contracts are closed out by entering into an
offsetting purchase or sale transaction in the same contract on the exchange
where they are traded, rather than being held for the life of the contract.
Futures contracts are closed out at their current prices, which may result in a
gain or loss.

If a Fund holds a futures contract until the delivery date, it will be
required to complete the purchase and sale contemplated by the contract. In the
case of futures contracts on securities, the purchaser generally must deliver
the agreed-upon purchase price in cash, and the seller must deliver securities
that meet the specified characteristics of the contract.

-2-
<PAGE>

A Fund may purchase futures contracts as an alternative to purchasing
actual securities. For example, if a Fund intended to purchase bonds but had not
yet done so, it could purchase a futures contract in order to lock in current
bond prices while deciding on particular investments. This strategy is sometimes
known as an anticipatory hedge. Alternatively, a Fund could purchase a futures
contract if it had cash and short-term securities on hand that it wished to
invest in longer-term securities, but at the same time that Fund wished to
maintain a highly liquid position in order to be prepared to meet redemption
requests or other obligations. In these strategies a Fund would use futures
contracts to attempt to achieve an overall return -- whether positive or
negative -- similar to the return from longer-term securities, while taking
advantage of potentially greater liquidity that futures contracts may offer.
Although the Funds would hold cash and liquid debt securities in a segregated
account with a value sufficient to cover their open futures obligations, the
segregated assets would be available to the Funds immediately upon closing out
the futures position, while settlement of securities transactions can take
several days.

The Fund may sell futures contracts to hedge its other investments against
changes in value, or as an alternative to sales of securities. For example, if
the Adviser anticipated a decline in the price of a particular security, but did
not wish to sell such securities owned by the Fund, it could sell a futures
contract in order to lock in a current sale price. If prices subsequently fell,
the futures contract's value would be expected to rise and offset all or a
portion of the loss in the securities that the Fund has hedged. Of course, if
prices subsequently rose, the futures contract's value could be expected to fall
and offset all or a portion of the benefit of the Fund.

Futures margin payments. The purchaser or seller of a futures contract is
not required to deliver or pay for the underlying instrument unless the contract
is held until the delivery date. However, both the purchaser and seller are
required to deposit "initial margin" with a futures broker (known as a futures
commission merchant, or FCM), when the contract is entered into. Initial margin
deposits are equal to a percentage of the contract's value, as set by the
exchange where the contract is traded, and may be maintained in cash or high
quality liquid securities. If the value of either party's position declines,
that party will be required to make additional "variation margin" payments to
settle the change in value on a daily basis. The party that has a gain may be
entitled to receive all or a portion of this amount. Initial and variation
margin payments are similar to good faith deposits or performance bonds, unlike
margin extended by a securities broker, and initial and variation margin
payments do not constitute purchasing securities on margin for purposes of a
Fund's investment limitations. In the event of the bankruptcy of an FCM that
holds margin on behalf of a Fund, that Fund may be entitled to a return of
margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM's other
customers. The investment adviser will attempt to minimize this risk by careful
monitoring of the creditworthiness of the FCMs with which a Fund does business.

Correlation of price changes. The prices of futures contracts depend
primarily on the value of their underlying instruments. Because there are a
limited number of types of futures contracts, it is likely that the standardized
futures contracts available to a Fund will not match that Fund's current or
anticipated investments. Futures prices can also diverge from the prices of
their underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match a Fund's
investments well. Futures prices are affected by such factors as current and
anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying
instrument, and the time remaining until expiration

-3-
<PAGE>

of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect
correlation between a Fund's investments and its futures positions may also
result from differing levels of demand in the futures markets and the securities
markets, from structural differences in how futures and securities are traded,
or from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits for futures contracts. The
Funds may purchase or sell futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than
the securities they wish to hedge or intend to purchase in order to attempt to
compensate for differences in historical volatility between the futures contract
and the securities, although this may not be successful in all cases. If price
changes in a Fund's futures positions are poorly correlated with its other
investments, its futures positions may fail to produce anticipated gains or
result in losses that are not offset by the gains in the Fund's other
investments.

Liquidity of futures contracts. Because futures contracts are generally
settled within a day from the date they are closed out, compared with a
settlement period of seven days for some types of securities, the futures
markets can provide liquidity superior to the securities markets in many cases.
Nevertheless, there is no assurance a liquid secondary market will exist for any
particular futures contract at any particular time. In addition, futures
exchanges may establish daily price fluctuation limits for futures contracts and
may halt trading if a contract's price moves upward or downward more than the
limit in a given day. On volatile trading days when the price fluctuation limit
is reached, it may be impossible for a Fund to enter into new positions or close
out existing positions. If the secondary market for a futures contract is not
liquid because of price fluctuation limits or otherwise, it would prevent prompt
liquidation of unfavorable futures positions, and potentially could require a
Fund to continue to hold a futures position until the delivery date regardless
of changes in its value. As a result, a Fund's access to other assets held to
cover its futures positions could also be impaired. The ultimate result of
these factors may be a loss of dollars.

Put and Call Options.

Options trading is a highly specialized activity which entails greater than
ordinary investment risks. A call option for a particular security gives the
purchaser of the option the right to buy, and a writer the obligation to sell,
the underlying security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the
expiration of the option, regardless of the market price of the security. The
premium paid to the writer is in consideration for undertaking the obligations
under the option contract. A put option for a particular security gives the
purchaser the right to sell the underlying security at the stated exercise price
at any time prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of the market
price of the security. In contrast to an option on a particular security, an
option on an index provides the holder with the right to make or receive a cash
settlement upon exercise of the option. The amount of this settlement will be
equal to the difference between the closing price of the index at the time of
exercise and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars, times a
specified multiple.

The Funds will engage in unlisted over-the-counter options only with
broker-dealers deemed creditworthy by Numeric. Closing transactions in certain
options are usually effected directly with the same broker-dealer that effected
the original option transaction. The Funds bear the risk that the broker-dealer
will fail to meet its obligations. There is no assurance that the Funds will be
able to close an unlisted option position. Furthermore, unlisted options are not
subject to the protections afforded purchasers of listed options by the Options
Clearing Corporation, which

-4-
<PAGE>

performs the obligations of its members who fail to do so in connection with the
purchase or sale of options.

Purchasing Put Options. By purchasing a put option, a Fund obtains the
right (but not the obligation) to sell the option's underlying instrument at a
fixed strike price. The option may give a Fund the right to sell only on the
option's expiration date, or may be exercisable at any time up to and including
that date. In return for this right, a Fund pays the current market price for
the option (known as the option premium). The option's underlying instrument may
be a security or a futures contract.

A Fund may terminate its position in a put option it has purchased by
allowing it to expire or by exercising the option. If the option is allowed to
expire, the Fund will lose the entire premium it paid. If the Fund exercises the
option, it completes the sale of the underlying instrument at the strike price.
If a Fund exercises a put option on a futures contract, it assumes a seller's
position in the underlying futures contract. Purchasing an option on a futures
contract does not require a Fund to make futures margin payments unless it
exercises the option. A Fund may also terminate a put option position by closing
it out in the secondary market at its current price, if a liquid secondary
market exists.

Put options may be used by a Fund to hedge securities it owns, in a manner
similar to selling futures contracts, by locking in a minimum price at which the
Fund can sell. If security prices fall, the value of the put option would be
expected to rise and offset all or a portion of the Fund's resulting losses. The
put thus acts as a hedge against a fall in the price of such securities.
However, all other things being equal (including securities prices) option
premiums tend to decrease over time as the expiration date nears. Therefore,
because of the cost of the option in the form of the premium (and transaction
costs), a Fund would expect to suffer a loss in the put option if prices do not
decline sufficiently to offset the deterioration in the value of the option
premium. This potential loss represents the cost of the hedge against a fall in
prices. At the same time, because the maximum a Fund has at risk is the cost of
the option, purchasing put options does not eliminate the potential for a Fund
to profit from an increase in the value of the securities hedged to the same
extent as selling a futures contract.

Purchasing Call Options. The features of call options are essentially the
same as those of put options, except that the purchaser of a call option obtains
the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the
option's strike price (call options on futures contracts are settled by
purchasing the underlying futures contract). By purchasing a call option, a
Fund would attempt to participate in potential price increases of the underlying
instrument, with results similar to those obtainable from purchasing a futures
contract, but with risk limited to the cost of the option if security prices
fell. At the same time, a Fund can expect to suffer a loss if security prices
do not rise sufficiently to offset the cost of the option.

The Funds will purchase call options only in connection with "closing
purchase transactions." A Fund may terminate its position in a call option by
entering into a closing purchase transaction. A closing purchase transaction is
the purchase of a call option on the same security with the same exercise price
and call period as the option previously written by a Fund. If a Fund is unable
to enter into a closing purchase transaction, the Fund may be required to hold a
security that it might otherwise have sold to protect against depreciation.

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<PAGE>

Writing Put Options. When a Fund writes a put option, it takes the opposite
side of the transaction from the option's purchaser. In return for receipt of
the premium, a Fund assumes the obligation to pay the strike price for the
option's underlying instrument if the other party to the option chooses to
exercise it. When writing an option on a futures contract a Fund will be
required to make margin payments to an FCM as described above for futures
contracts. A Fund may seek to terminate its position in a put option it writes
before exercise by closing out the option in the secondary market at its current
price. If the secondary market is not liquid for an option a Fund has written,
however, the Fund must continue to be prepared to pay the strike price while the
option is outstanding, regardless of price changes, and must continue to set
aside assets to cover its position.

A Fund may write put options as an alternative to purchasing actual
securities. If security prices rise, the Fund would expect to profit from a
written put option, although its gain would be limited to the amount of the
premium it received. If security prices remain the same over time, it is likely
that the Fund will also profit, because it should be able to close out the
option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the Fund would expect to
suffer a loss. This loss should be less than the loss the Fund would have
experienced from purchasing the underlying instrument directly, however, because
the premium received for writing the option should mitigate the effects of the
decline. As with other futures and options strategies used as alternatives for
purchasing securities, a Fund's return from writing put options generally will
involve a smaller amount of interest income than purchasing longer-term
securities directly, because a Fund's cash will be invested in shorter-term
securities which usually offer lower yields.

Writing Call Options. Writing a call option obligates a Fund to sell or
deliver the option's underlying instrument, in return for the strike price, upon
exercise of the option. The characteristics of writing call options are similar
to those of writing put options, as described above, except that writing covered
call options generally is a profitable strategy if prices remain the same or
fall. Through receipt of the option premium, a Fund would seek to mitigate the
effects of a price decline. At the same time, because a Fund would have to be
prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price,
even if its current value is greater, the Fund would give up some ability to
participate in security price increases when writing call options.

Combined Option Positions. A Fund may purchase and write options in
combination with each other to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the
overall position. For example, a Fund may purchase a put option and write a
call option on the same underlying instrument, in order to construct a combined
position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures
contract. Another possible combined position would involve writing a call
option at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, in order
to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial
price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades,
they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and
close out.

Risks of Options Transactions. Options are subject to risks similar to
those described above with respect to futures contracts, including the risk of
imperfect correlation between the option and a Fund's other investments and the
risk that there might not be a liquid secondary market for the option. In the
case of options on futures contracts, there is also a risk of imperfect

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<PAGE>

correlation between the option and the underlying futures contract. Options are
also subject to the risks of an illiquid secondary market, particularly in
strategies involving writing options, which a Fund cannot terminate by exercise.
In general, options whose strike prices are close to their underlying
instruments' current value will have the highest trading volume, while options
whose strike prices are further away may be less liquid. The liquidity of
options may also be affected if options exchanges impose trading halts,
particularly when markets are volatile.

Asset Coverage for Futures and Options Positions. A Fund will not use
leverage in its options and futures strategies. A Fund will hold securities or
other options or futures positions whose values are expected to offset its
obligations under the hedge strategies. A Fund will not enter into an option or
futures position that exposes the Fund to an obligation to another party unless
it owns either (i) an offsetting position in securities or other options or
futures contracts or (ii) cash, receivables and short-term debt securities with
a value sufficient to cover its potential obligations. A Fund will comply with
guidelines established by the SEC with respect to coverage of options and
futures strategies by mutual funds, and if the guidelines so require will set
aside cash and high grade liquid debt securities in a segregated account with
its custodian bank in the amount prescribed. Securities held in a segregated
account cannot be sold while the futures or option strategy is outstanding,
unless they are replaced with similar securities. As a result, there is a
possibility that segregation of a large percentage of a Fund's assets could
impede portfolio management or the Fund's ability to meet redemption requests or
other current obligations. Depending on the asset levels that are required to
be segregated, a Fund may be required to sell assets it would not otherwise
liquidate.

Limitations on Futures and Options Transactions. RBB, on behalf of the
Funds, has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of
the term "commodity pool operator" with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
("CFTC") and the National Futures Association, which regulate trading in the
futures markets. Pursuant to Section 4.5 of the regulations under the Commodity
Exchange Act, the Funds will not enter into any commodity futures contract or
option on a commodity futures contract for non-hedging purposes if, as a result,
the sum of initial margin deposits on commodity futures contracts and related
commodity options and premiums paid for options on commodity futures contracts
the Funds have purchased would exceed 5% of a Fund's net assets after taking
into account unrealized profits and losses on such contracts.

The Funds' limitations on investments in futures contracts and their
policies regarding futures contracts and the limitations on investments in
options and its policies regarding options discussed above in this Statement of
Additional Information, are not fundamental policies and may be changed as
regulatory agencies permit. The Funds will not modify the above limitations to
increase its permissible futures and options activities without supplying
additional information in a current Prospectus or Statement of Additional
Information that has been distributed or made available to the Funds'
shareholders.

Short Sales.

Short sales are transactions in which a Fund sells a security it does not
own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To
complete such a transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery
to the buyer. The Fund then is obligated to replace the

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<PAGE>

security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of
replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which
the security was sold by the Fund. Until the security is replaced, the Fund is
required to pay to the lender amounts equal to any dividend which accrues during
the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the Fund also may be required to
pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The proceeds
of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to
meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

Until a Fund replaces a borrowed security in connection with a short sale,
the Fund will: (a) maintain daily a segregated account, containing cash, cash
equivalents, or liquid marketable securities, at such a level that (i) the
amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as
collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short and (ii) the
amount deposited in the segregated account plus the amount deposited with the
broker as collateral will not be less than the market value of the security at
the time it was sold short; or (b) otherwise cover its short position in
accordance with positions taken by the Staff of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

A Fund will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the
security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the
Fund replaces the borrowed security. The Fund will realize a gain if the
security declines in price between those dates. This result is the opposite of
what one would expect from a cash purchase of a long position in a security.
The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased,
by the amount of any premium or amounts in lieu of interest the Fund may be
required to pay in connection with a short sale. A Fund may purchase call
options to provide a hedge against an increase in the price of a security sold
short by the Fund. See "Futures and Options" above.

The Funds anticipate that the frequency of short sales will vary
substantially in different periods, and they do not intend that any specified
portion of their assets, as a matter of practice, will be invested in short
sales. However, no securities will be sold short if, after effect is given to
any such short sale, the total market value of all securities sold short would
exceed 25% of the value of a Fund's net assets.

Short Sales "Against the Box".

In addition to the short sales discussed above, the Funds may make short
sales "against the box," a transaction in which a Fund enters into a short sale
of a security that the Fund owns. The proceeds of the short sale will be held by
a broker until the settlement date at which time the Fund delivers the security
to close the short position. The Fund receives the net proceeds from the short
sale. It currently is anticipated that the Funds will make short sales against
the box for purposes of protecting the value of the Funds' net assets.

In a short sale, a Fund sells a borrowed security and has a corresponding
obligation to the lender to return the identical security. A Fund may engage in
short sales if at the time of the short sale it owns or has the right to obtain,
at no additional cost, an equal amount of the security being sold short. This
investment technique is known as a short sale "against the box." In a short
sale, a seller does not immediately deliver the securities sold and is said to
have a short position in those securities until delivery occurs. If a Fund
engages in a short sale, the collateral

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<PAGE>

for the short position will be maintained by the Fund's custodian or a qualified
sub-custodian. While the short sale is open, the Fund will maintain in a
segregated account an amount of securities equal in kind and amount to the
securities sold short or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such
equivalent securities. These securities constitute a Fund's long position. The
Funds will not engage in short sales against the box for speculative purposes. A
Fund may, however, make a short sale as a hedge, when it believes that the price
of a security may decline, causing a decline in the value of a security owned by
the Fund (or a security convertible or exchangeable for such security), or when
the Fund wants to sell the security at an attractive current price, but also
wishes possibly to defer recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes. (A short sale against the box will defer recognition of gain for
federal income tax purposes only if the Portfolio subsequently closes the short
position by making a purchase of the relevant securities no later than 30 days
after the end of the taxable year. The original long position must also be held
for the sixty days after the short position is closed.) In such case, any future
losses in a Fund's long position should be reduced by a gain in the short
position. Conversely, any gain in the long position should be reduced by a loss
in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses are reduced will
depend upon the amount of the security sold short relative to the amount a Fund
owns. There will be certain additional transaction costs associated with short
sales against the box, but the Funds will endeavor to offset these costs with
the income from the investment of the cash proceeds of short sales.

Lending of Fund Securities.

The Funds may lend their portfolio securities to financial institutions.
Such loans would involve risks of delay in receiving additional collateral in
the event the value of the collateral decreases below the value of the
securities loaned or of delay in recovering the securities loaned or even loss
of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail
financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers which Numeric deems
to be of good standing and only when, in Numeric's judgment, the income to be
earned from the loans justifies the attendant risks. A Fund may not make loans
in excess of 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets.

Borrowing Money.

The Funds are permitted to borrow to the extent permitted under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") and to mortgage, pledge or
hypothecate their respective assets in connection with such borrowings in
amounts not in excess of 125% of the dollar amounts borrowed. The 1940 Act
permits an investment company to borrow in an amount up to 33 1/3% of the value
of such company's total assets. However, the Funds currently intend to borrow
money only for temporary or emergency (not leveraging) purposes, in an amount up
to 15% of the value of their respective total assets (including the amount
borrowed) valued at the lesser of cost or market, less liabilities (not
including the amount borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made. If the
securities held by a Fund should decline in value while borrowings are
outstanding, the net asset value of a Fund's outstanding shares will decline in
value by proportionately more than the decline in value suffered by a Fund's
securities. As a result, a Fund's share price may be subject to greater
fluctuation until the borrowing is paid off. No Fund will make any additional
investments while borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets.

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<PAGE>

Section 4(2) Paper.

"Section 4(2) paper" is commercial paper which is issued in reliance on the
"private placement" exemption from registration which is afforded by Section
4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"). Section 4(2) paper is
restricted as to disposition under the federal securities laws and is generally
sold to institutional investors such as the Funds which agree that they are
purchasing the paper for investment and not with a view to public distribution.
Any resale by the purchaser must be in an exempt transaction. Section 4(2) paper
normally is resold to other institutional investors through or with the
assistance of investment dealers who make a market in the Section 4(2) paper,
thereby providing liquidity. See "Illiquid Securities" below and Appendix "A"
for a list of commercial paper ratings.

Rights Offerings and Purchase Warrants.

Rights offerings and purchase warrants are privileges issued by a
corporation which enable the owner to subscribe to and purchase a specified
number of shares of the corporation at a specified price during a specified
period of time. Subscription rights normally have a short lifespan to
expiration. The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that a Fund
could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to
additional shares is not executed prior to the rights and warrants expiration.
Also, the purchase of rights and/or warrants involves the risk that the
effective price paid for the right and/or warrant added to the subscription
price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security's
market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying
security.

Illiquid Securities.

A Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid
securities, including repurchase agreements which have a maturity of longer than
seven days and securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a
readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.
Securities that have legal or contractual restrictions on resale but have a
readily available market are not considered illiquid for purposes of this
limitation. Repurchase agreements subject to demand are deemed to have a
maturity equal to the notice period.

Mutual funds do not typically hold a significant amount of illiquid
securities because of the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in
valuation. Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability
of portfolio securities and a mutual fund might be unable to dispose of
restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and
might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days. A
mutual fund might also have to register such restricted securities in order to
dispose of them resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market
conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

The Funds may purchase securities which are not registered under the
Securities Act but which may be sold to "qualified institutional buyers" in
accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act. These securities will not be
considered illiquid so long as it is determined by the Fund's adviser that an
adequate trading market exists for the securities. This investment practice
could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in a Fund during
any period that qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing
restricted securities.

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<PAGE>

The Adviser will monitor the liquidity of restricted securities in the
Funds under the supervision of the Board of Directors. In reaching liquidity
decisions, the Adviser may consider, among others, the following factors: (1)
the unregistered nature of the security; (2) the frequency of trades and quotes
for the security; (3) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the
security and the number of other potential purchasers; (4) dealer undertakings
to make a market in the security and (5) the nature of the security and the
nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the
security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of the transfer).

Depositary Receipts.

The Funds' assets may be invested in the securities of foreign issuers in
the form of American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"), European Depositary Receipts
("EDRs") or Global Depositary Receipts ("GDRs"). These securities may not
necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which
they may be converted. ADRs and EDRs are receipts typically issued by a United
States or European bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying
securities issued by a foreign corporation. GDRs are depositary receipts
structured like global debt issues to facilitate international trading. The
Funds may invest in ADRs, EDRs and GDRs through "sponsored" or "unsponsored"
facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the
underlying security and a depositary, whereas a depositary may establish an
unsponsored facility without participation by the issuer of the deposited
security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the
costs of such facilities and the depositary of an unsponsored facility
frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications
received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting
rights to the holders of such receipts in respect of the deposited securities.

Investment Company Securities.

The Funds may invest in securities issued by other investment companies.
Under the 1940 Act, the Funds' investments in such securities currently are
limited to, subject to certain

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<PAGE>

exceptions, (i) 3% of the total voting stock of any one investment company, (ii)
5% of a Fund's net assets with respect to any one investment company and (iii)
10% of a Fund's net assets in the aggregate. Investments in the securities of
other investment companies will involve duplication of advisory fees and certain
other expenses. The Funds presently intend to invest in other investment
companies only as investment vehicles for short-term cash. The Funds will only
invest in securities of other investment companies which are purchased on the
open market with no commission or profit to a sponsor or dealer, other than the
customary brokers commission, or when the purchase is part of a plan of merger,
consolidation, reorganization or acquisition.

Convertible Securities.

The Funds may invest in convertible securities, such as convertible
debentures, bonds and preferred stock, primarily for their equity
characteristics. Convertible securities may be converted into common stock at a
specified share price or ratio. Because the price of the common stock may
fluctuate above or below the specified price or ratio, a Fund may have the
opportunity to purchase the common stock at below market price. On the other
hand, fluctuations in the price of the common stock could render the right of
conversion worthless.

Debt Securities.

The Funds may invest in debt securities rated no less than investment grade
by either Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P") or Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. ("Moody's"). Bonds in the lowest investment grade debt category
(e.g., bonds rated BBB by S&P or Baa by Moody's) have speculative
characteristics, and changes in economic conditions or other circumstances are
more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to make principal and interest
payments than is the case with higher grade bonds. The Funds will not retain a
bond that was rated as investment grade at the time of purchase but whose rating
is subsequently downgraded below investment grade. The value of debt securities
held by a Fund will tend to vary inversely in relation to changes in prevailing
interest rates. Thus, if interest rates have increased from the time a debt
security was purchased, such security, if sold, might be sold at a price less
than its cost. Conversely, if interest rates have declined from the time a debt
security was purchased, the debt security, if sold, might be sold at a price
greater than its cost.

Short-Term Debt Obligations.

The Funds may purchase money market instruments to the extent consistent
with their investment objectives and policies. Such instruments include U.S.
Government obligations, repurchase agreements, certificates of deposit, bankers
acceptances and commercial paper.

U.S. Government Obligations.

Examples of types of U.S. Government obligations include U.S. Treasury
Bills, Treasury Notes and Treasury Bonds and the obligations of Federal Home
Loan Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, the Federal Housing
Administration, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United
States, Small Business Administration, Federal National Mortgage Association,
Government National Mortgage Association, General

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<PAGE>

Services Administration, Student Loan Marketing Association, Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Corporation, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, and the Maritime
Administration.

Repurchase Agreements.

The Funds may agree to purchase securities from financial institutions
subject to the seller's agreement to repurchase them at an agreed-upon time and
price ("repurchase agreements"). The financial institutions with whom the Funds
may enter into repurchase agreements will be banks and broker/dealers which
Numeric considers creditworthy pursuant to criteria approved by the Board of
Directors. Numeric will consider, among other things, whether a repurchase
obligation of a seller involves minimal credit risk to a Fund in determining
whether to have the Fund enter into a repurchase agreement. The seller under a
repurchase agreement will be required to maintain the value of the securities
subject to the agreement at not less than the repurchase price plus accrued
interest. Numeric will mark to market daily the value of the securities and
will, if necessary, require the seller to maintain additional securities, to
ensure that the value is not less than the repurchase price. Default by or
bankruptcy of the seller would, however, expose a Fund to a possible loss
because of adverse market action or delays in connection with the disposition of
the underlying obligations.

The repurchase price under repurchase agreements generally equals the price
paid by the Fund involved plus interest negotiated on the basis of current
short-term rates (which may be more or less than the rate on the securities
underlying the repurchase agreement). Securities subject to repurchase
agreements will be held by RBB's custodian in the Federal Reserve/Treasury book-
entry system or by another authorized securities depository. Repurchase
agreements are considered to be loans by the Fund involved under the 1940 Act.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements.

Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by a Fund
pursuant to the Fund's agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed upon
price, date and rate of interest. Such agreements are considered to be
borrowings under the 1940 Act, and may be entered into only for temporary or
emergency purposes. While reverse repurchase transactions are outstanding, a
Fund will maintain in a segregated account with its custodian or a qualified
sub-custodian, cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid, high-grade debt
securities of an amount at least equal to the market value of the securities,
plus accrued interest, subject to the agreement and will monitor the account to
ensure that such value is maintained. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the
risk that the market value of the securities sold by a Fund may decline below
the price of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase and the return
on the cash exchanged for the securities.

When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments.

Each Fund may purchase securities on a "when-issued" basis and may purchase
or sell securities on a "forward commitment" basis. These transactions involve a
commitment by a Fund to purchase or sell particular securities with payment and
delivery taking place at a future date (perhaps one or two months later), and
permit a Fund to lock-in a price or yield on a security it owns or intends to
purchase, regardless of future changes in interest rates. When-issued and

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<PAGE>

forward commitment transactions involve the risk, however, that the price or
yield obtained in a transaction may be less favorable than the price or yield
available in the market when the securities delivery takes place. A Fund's when-
issued purchases and forward commitments are not expected to exceed 25% of the
value of its total assets absent unusual market conditions. Each Fund does not
intend to engage in when-issued purchases and forward commitments for
speculative purposes but only in furtherance of their investment
objectives.

Portfolio Turnover.

The Funds may be subject to a greater degree of turnover and thus a higher
incidence of short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income than might be
expected from portfolios which invest substantially all of their assets on a
long-term basis, and correspondingly larger brokerage charges and other
transaction costs can be expected to be borne by the Funds. Investment
strategies which require periodic changes to portfolio holdings with the
expectation of outperforming equity indices are called "active" strategies.
These compare with "passive" or "index" strategies which hold only the stocks in
the equity indices. Passive strategies trade infrequently -- only as the indices
change. Most equity mutual funds, including the Funds, pursue active strategies,
which have higher turnover than passive strategies.

High portfolio turnover (100% or more) can adversely affect taxable
investors, especially those in higher marginal tax brackets, in two ways: First,
short term capital gains, which are a by-product of high turnover investment
strategies, are currently taxed at rates comparable to ordinary income rates.
Ordinary income tax rates are higher than long term capital gain tax rates for
middle and upper income taxpayers. Second, the frequent realization of gains,
which causes taxes to be paid frequently, is less advantageous than infrequent
realization of gains. Infrequent realization of gains allows the payment of
taxes to be deferred to later years, allowing more of the gains to compound
before taxes are paid. Consequently after-tax compound rates of return will
generally be higher for taxable investors using investment strategies with very
low turnover, all else being equal.

Although tax considerations should not typically drive an investment
decision, investors should consider their ability to allocate tax-deferred (such
as IRAs and 401(k) plans) versus taxable assets when considering where to
invest. For further information, see "Taxes" below.

The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of a
Fund's annual sales or purchases of portfolio securities (exclusive of purchases
or sales of securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year
or less) by the monthly average value of the securities in the portfolio during
the year.

* * *

The Funds' investment objectives and policies described above may be
changed by RBB's Board of Directors without shareholder approval. Shareholders
will be provided 30 days prior written notice of any change in a Fund's
investment objectives. There is no assurance that the investment objective of
the Funds will be achieved.

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INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

The Funds have adopted the following fundamental investment limitations
which may not be changed without the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the Funds' outstanding shares (as defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the
1940 Act). As used in this Statement of Additional Information and in the
Prospectus, "shareholder approval" and a "majority of the outstanding shares" of
a class, series or Fund means, with respect to the approval of an investment
advisory agreement, a distribution plan or a change in a fundamental investment
limitation, the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of the particular class, series
or Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the
outstanding shares of such class, series or Fund are present in person or by
proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such class, series or
Fund.

The Funds may not:

1. Purchase securities of any one issuer, other than securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or
instrumentalities, if immediately after and as a result of such
purchase more than 5% of a Fund's total assets would be invested in
the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the outstanding
voting securities of such issuer would be owned by a Fund, except that
up to 25% of the value of a Fund's assets may be invested without
regard to such limitation.

2. Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act or
mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any of their respective assets in
connection with any such borrowing except in amounts not in excess of
125% of the dollar amounts borrowed. The 1940 Act permits an
investment company to borrow in an amount up to 33 1/3% of the value
of such company's total assets. For purposes of this Investment
Restriction, the entry into options, forward contracts, futures
contracts, including those relating to indexes, and options on futures
contracts or indexes shall not constitute borrowing.

3. Purchase any securities which would cause, at the time of purchase,
25% or more of the value of the total assets of a Fund to be invested
in the obligations of issuers in any industry, provided that there is
no limitation with respect to investments in U.S. Government
obligations.

4. Make loans, except that a Fund may purchase or hold debt obligations
in accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations,
may enter into repurchase agreements for securities, and may lend
portfolio securities against collateral consisting of cash or
securities which are consistent with the Fund's permitted investments,
which is equal at all times to at least 100% of the value of the
securities loaned. There is no investment restriction on the amount of
securities that may be loaned, except that payments received on such
loans, including amounts received during the loan on account of
interest on the securities loaned, may not (together with all non-
qualifying income) exceed 10% of a Fund's annual gross income (without
offset for realized capital gains) unless, in the opinion of counsel
to RBB, such amounts are qualifying income under Federal income tax
provisions applicable to regulated investment companies.

-15-
<PAGE>

5. Purchase securities on margin, except for short-term credit necessary
for clearance of portfolio transactions, and except that the Fund may
establish margin accounts in connection with its use of options,
forward contracts, futures contracts, including those relating to
indexes, and options on futures contracts or indexes.

6. Underwrite securities of other issuers, except to the extent that, in
connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, a Fund may be
deemed an underwriter under federal securities laws.

7. Purchase or sell real estate or real estate limited partnership
interests, provided that a Fund may invest in securities secured by
real estate or interests therein or issued by companies which invest
in real estate or interests therein or in real estate investment
trusts.

8. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that a
Fund may purchase and sell options, forward contracts, futures
contracts, including those relating to indexes, and options on futures
contracts or indexes.

9. Invest in oil, gas or mineral-related exploration or development
programs or leases.

10. Purchase any securities issued by any other investment company, except
to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and except in connection with
the merger, consolidation or acquisition of all the securities or
assets of such an issuer.

11. Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management,
but each Fund will vote those securities it owns in its portfolio as a
shareholder in accordance with its views.

12. Issue any senior security, as defined in section 18(f) of the 1940
Act, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

13. Pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets, except to the extent
necessary to secure permitted borrowings as described in Limitation 2
above and to the extent related to the purchase of securities on a
when-issued or forward commitment basis and the deposit of assets in
escrow in connection with writing covered put and call options and
collateral and initial or variation margin arrangements with respect
to options, forward contracts, futures contracts, including those
relating to indexes, and options on futures contracts or indexes.

* * *

If a percentage restriction under one of the Fund's investment policies or
limitations or the use of assets is adhered to at the time a transaction is
effected, later changes in percentage resulting from changing values will not be
considered a violation (except with respect to any restrictions that may apply
to borrowings or senior securities issued by the Fund).

-16-
<PAGE>

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

Directors and Officers.

The business and affairs of RBB are managed under the direction of RBB's
Board of Directors. The directors and executive officers of RBB, their ages,
business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Position Principal Occupation
Name, Address and Age with RBB During Past Five Years
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Arnold M. Reichman - 53 Director Chief Operating Officer and member of the Board of
609 Greenwich Street Directors of Outercurve Technologies (wireless
5/th/ Floor enabling services) since March 2000; Chief Operating
New York, NY 10014 Officer and a member of the Executive Operating
Committee of Warburg Pincus Asset Management, Inc.;
Executive Officer and Director of Credit Suisse Asset
Management Securities, Inc. (formerly Counsellors Securities
Inc.) and Director/Trustee of various investment companies
advised by Warburg Pincus Asset Management, Inc. until
September 15, 1999; Prior to 1997, Managing Director of
Warburg Pincus Asset Management, Inc.

*Robert Sablowsky - 63 Director Executive Vice President of Fahnestock Co., Inc. (a
Fahnestock & Company, Inc. registered broker-dealer); Prior to October 1996,
125 Broad Street Executive Vice President of Gruntal & Co., Inc. (a
New York, NY 10004 registered broker-dealer).

Francis J. McKay - 65 Director Since 1963, Executive Vice President, Fox Chase
Fox Chase Cancer Institute Cancer Center (biomedical research and medical care).
7701 Burholme Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111

*Marvin E. Sternberg - 67 Director Since 1974, Chairman, Director and President, Moyco
Moyco Technologies, Inc. Technologies, Inc. (manufacturer of dental supplies
200 Commerce Drive and precision coated abrasives).
Montgomeryville, PA 18936

Julian A. Brodsky - 67 Director Director and Vice Chairman, since 1969 Comcast
Comcast Corporation Corporation (cable television and communications);
1500 Market Street Director, NDS Group PLC; Director, Internet Capital
35th Floor Group.
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Donald van Roden - 77 Director and Self-employed businessman. From February 1980 to
1200 Old Mill Lane Chairman of the Board March 1987, Vice Chairman, SmithKline Beecham
Wyomissing, PA 19610 Corporation (pharmaceuticals).
</TABLE>

-17-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Position Principal Occupation
Name, Address and Age with RBB During Past Five Years
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Edward J. Roach - 76 President and Certified Public Accountant; Vice Chairman
Suite 100 Treasurer of the Board, Fox Chase Cancer Center;
Bellevue Park Corporate Trustee Emeritus, Pennsylvania School for
Center the Deaf; Trustee Emeritus, Immaculata
400 Bellevue Parkway College; President or Vice President and
Wilmington, DE 19809 Treasurer of various investment companies
advised by subsidiaries of PNC Bank Corp.
(1981-1997); Managing General Partner and
Treasurer of Chestnut Street Exchange Fund;
Director of the Bradford Funds, Inc.
(1996-2000)
</TABLE>

* Each of Mr. Sablowsky and Mr. Sternberg is an "interested person" of RBB,
as that term is defined in the 1940 Act.

Messrs. McKay, Sternberg and Brodsky are members of the Audit Committee of
the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee, among other things, reviews results
of the annual audit and recommends to RBB the firm to be selected as independent
auditors.

Messrs. Reichman, McKay and van Roden are members of the Executive
Committee of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee may generally carry
on and manage the business of RBB when the Board of Directors is not in session.

Messrs. McKay, Sternberg, Brodsky and van Roden are members of the
Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee
recommends to the Board all persons to be nominated as directors of RBB.

Directors' Compensation.

RBB currently pays directors $15,000 annually and $1,250 per meeting of the
Board or any committee thereof that is not held in conjunction with a Board
meeting. In addition, the Chairman of the Board receives an additional fee of
$6,000 per year for his services in this capacity. Directors are reimbursed for
any expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any
committee thereof. For the year ended August 31, 2000, each of the following
members of the Board of Directors received compensation from RBB in the
following amounts:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total
Pension or Compensation
Aggregate Retirement Benefits Estimated From Fund and
Compensation Accrued as Part of Annual Benefits Upon Fund Complex
Name of Person/Position from Registrant Fund Expenses Retirement Paid to Directors
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Julian A. Brodsky, Director $19,250 N/A N/A $19,250

Francis J. McKay, Director $19,250 N/A N/A $19,250
</TABLE>

-18-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Pension or Total Compensation
Aggregate Retirement Benefits Estimated Annual From Fund and Fund
Compensation from Accrued as Part of Benefits Upon Complex Paid to
Name of Person/Position Registrant Fund Expenses Retirement Directors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Arnold M. Reichman, Director $15,750 N/A N/A $15,750

Robert Sablowsky, Director $19,250 N/A N/A $19,250

Marvin E. Sternberg, Director $20,500 N/A N/A $20,500

Donald van Roden, Director $25,250 N/A N/A $25,250
and Chairman
</TABLE>

On October 24, 1990, RBB adopted, as a participating employer, the Fund
Office Retirement Profit-Sharing Plan and Trust Agreement, a retirement plan for
employees (currently Edward J. Roach) pursuant to which RBB will contribute on a
quarterly basis amounts equal to 10% of the quarterly compensation of each
eligible employee. By virtue of the services performed by RBB's advisers,
custodians, administrators and distributor, RBB itself requires only one part-
time employee. No officer, director or employee of Numeric or the Distributor
currently receives any compensation from RBB.

Code of Ethics.

The Company, the Adviser and PFPC Distributors, Inc. (the Company's
distributor commencing on or about January 2, 2001) have adopted codes of ethics
that permit personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including
securities that may be purchased or held by the Company.

CONTROL PERSONS

As of November 29, 2000, to RBB's knowledge, the following named persons at
the addresses shown below owned of record approximately 5% or more of the total
outstanding shares of the class of RBB indicated below. See "Additional
Information Concerning Fund Shares" above. RBB does not know whether such
persons also beneficially own such shares.

-19-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUND NAME SHAREHOLDER NAME PERCENTAGE
AND ADDRESS OF FUND HELD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Dominic & Barbara Pisciotta
and Successors in Tr under the Dominic Trst 47.354%
& Barbara Pisciotta Caring Trst dtd 01/24/92
207 Woodmere Way
St. Charles., MD 63303
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saxon and Co.
SANSOM STREET c/o PNC Bank, N.A. 94.674%
MONEY MARKET F3-F076-02-2
200 Stevens Drive, Suite 260/ACI
Lester, PA 19113
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary L. Lange
CASH PRESERVATION and Susan D. Lange 73.021%
MUNICIPAL MONEY JT TEN
MARKET 837 Timber Glen Ln.
Ballwin, MO 63021-6066
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Capital Appreciation Fund
RBB SELECT MONEY Attn. Kevin W. Carroll 19.513%
MARKET MS W3-F400-03-2
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Emerging Growth Fund 25.218%
Attn. Kevin W. Carroll
MS W3-F400-03-2
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust Small Company Growth 13.019%
Portfolio
Attn. Kevin W. Carroll
MS W3-F400-03-2
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

-20-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUND NAME SHAREHOLDER NAME PERCENTAGE
AND ADDRESS OF FUND HELD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Warburg Pincus International Equity Portfolio 9.994%
Attn. Kevin W. Carroll
MS W3-F400-03-2
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust 5.997%
International Equity Portfolio
Attn: Kevin W. Carroll
MS W3-F400-03-2
400 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N/I MICRO CAP FUND Charles Schwab & Co. Inc 11.243%
Special Custody Account for the Exclusive
Benefit of Customers
Attn: Mutual Funds A/C 3143-0251
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Janis Claflin, Bruce Fetzer and 9.836%
Winston Franklin
Robert Lehman Trst.
The John E. Fetzer Institute, Inc.
U/A DTD 06-1992
Attn: Christina Adams
9292 West KL Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Louisa Stude Sarofim Foundation 5.089%
dtd 01/04/91
c/o Nancy Head
1001 Fannin 4700
Houston, TX 77002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Inst. For Social Security 18.760%
1001 19th St., N. 16/th/ Flr.
Arlington, VA 22209
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

-21-
<PAGE>

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N/I GROWTH FUND Charles Schwab & Co. Inc 8.997%
Special Custody Account for the Exclusive
Benefit of Customers
Attn: Mutual Funds
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Citibank North America Inc. 47.551%
Trst. Sargent & Lundy Retirement Trust
DTD. 06/01/96
Mutual Fund Unit
Bld. B Floor 1 Zone 7
3800 Citibank Center Tampa
Tampa, FL 33610-9122

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Louisa Stude Sarofim Foundation 6.040%
c/o Nancy Head
DTD. 01/04/91
1001 Fannin 4700
Houston, TX 77002

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N/I MID CAP Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. 19.341%
Special Custody Account for the Exclusive
Benefit of Customers
Attn: Mutual Funds
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Investors Services Corp. 8.631%
For the Exclusive Benefit of our Customers
S. 55 Water St. 32/nd/ Floor
New York, NY 10041-3299

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

-22-
<PAGE>

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Street Bank and Trust Company 50.346%
FBO Yale Univ. Ret. Pl. for Staff Emp.
State Street Bank & Tr. Co. Master Tr. Div.
Attn: Kevin Sutton
Solomon Williard Bldg.
One Enterprise Dr.
North Quincy, MA 02171

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yale University 25.042%
Trst. Yale University Ret. Health Bene. Tr.
Attention: Seth Alexander
230 Prospect St.
New Haven, CT 06511

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON PARTNERS Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 8.705%
LARGE CAP FUND INST Special Custody Account for Bene. of Cust.
SHARES Attn: Mutual Funds
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Swanee Hunt and Charles Ansbacher 24.425%
Trst. Swanee Hunt Family Foundation
c/o Elizabeth Alberti
168 Brattle St.
Cambridge, MA 02138

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Union Bank of California 14.147%
FBO Service Employees BP 610001265-01
P. O. Box 85484
San Diego, CA 92186

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
US Bank National Association 16.260%
FBO A-Dec Inc. DOT 093098
Attn: Mutual Funds A/C 97307536
P. O. Box 64010
St. Paul, MN 55164-0010

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

-23-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUND NAME SHAREHOLDER NAME AND PERCENTAGE
ADDRESS OF FUND HELD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Northern Trust Company 22.701%
FBO AEFC Pension Trust
A/C 22-53582
P. O. Box 92956
Chicago, IL 60675
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON PARTNERS Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. 73.676%
LARGE CAP FUND Special Custody Account for Bene. of Cust.
INVESTOR SHARES Attn: Mutual Funds
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jupiter & Co. 5.155%
c/o Investors Bank
PO Box 9130 FPG90
Boston, MA 02110

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON PARTNERS MAC & CO. 8.389%
MID CAP VALUE FUND A/C BPHF 3006002 Mutual Funds Operations
INST. SHARES P.O. Box 3198
Pittsburgh, PA 15230-3198

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Northern Trust Company 5.673%
FBO Thomas & Betts Master Retirement Trust
Attn: Ellen Shea
8155 T&B Blvd.
Memphis, TN 38123

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strafe & Co. 6.352%
FAO S A A F Custody
A/C B300022102
P.O. Box 160
Westerville, OH 43086-0160

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAC & CO. 8.107%
A/C LEMF5044062 Mutual Funds Operations
P.O. Box 3198
Pittsburgh, PA 15230-3198

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

-24-
<PAGE>

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wells Fargo Bank MN NA 5.323%
FBO McCormick & Co
Pen-Boston A/C 12778825
P.O. Box 1533
Minneapolis, MN 55480

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Express Trust Co. 5.093%
FBO American Express Retir Serv Plans
Attn: Pat Brown
50534 AXP Financial Ctr.
Minneapolis, MN 55474

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON PARTNERS National Financial Svcs. Corp. for Exclusive 15.115%
MID CAP VALUE FUND Bene. of Our Customers
INV SHARES Sal Vella
200 Liberty St.
New York, NY 10281

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. 48.180%
Special Custody Account for Bene. of Cust.
Attn: Mutual Funds
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
George B. Smithy, Jr. 5.910%
38 Greenwood Road
Wellesley, MA 02181

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON PARTNERS Chiles Foundation 9.476%
BOND FUND 111 S.W. Fifth Ave.
INSTITUTIONAL Ste. 4050
SHARES Portland, OR 97204

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

-25-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUND NAME SHAREHOLDER NAME AND PERCENTAGE
ADDRESS OF FUND HELD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
The Roman Catholic Diocese of 72.081%
Raleigh, NC
General Endowment
715 Nazareth St.
Raleigh, NC 27606
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Roman Catholic Diocese of 15.140%
Raleigh, NC
Clergy Trust
715 Nazareth St.
Raleigh, NC 27606
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON PARTNERS Charles Schwab & Co. Inc 96.869%
BOND FUND INVESTOR Special Custody Account for Bene. of Cust.
SHARES Attn: Mutual Funds
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON PARTNERS Desmond J. Heathwood 12.533%
SMALL CAP VALUE 41 Chestnut St.
FUND II- Boston, MA 02108
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boston Partners Asset Mgmt. L. P. 57.428%
Attn: Jan Penney
28 State St.
Boston, MA 02109

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wayne Archambo 5.772%
42 DeLopa Circle
Westwood, MA 02090

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David M. Dabora 5.772%
11 White Plains Ct.
San Anselmo, CA 94960

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Investor Services Corp. 5.087%
FBO Exclusive Benefit for our Customers
55 Water St.
New York, NY 10041-3299

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

-26-
<PAGE>

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 84.035%
Special Custody Account for Bene. of Cust.
Attn: Mutual Funds
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON PARTNERS Boston Partners Asset Mgmt. L. P. 99.152%
LONG/SHORT EQUITY Attn: Jan Penney
FUND - INSTITUTIONAL 28 State St.
SHARES Boston, MA 02109

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON PARTNERS Thomas Lannan and Kathleen Lannan 75.131%
LONG/SHORT EQUITY FUND - Jt. Ten. Wros.
INVESTOR SHARES P. O. Box 312
Osterville, MA 02655
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steven W. Kirkpatrick and 17.131%
Jane B. Kirkpatrick
Jt Ten Wros
One Rocky Run
Hingham, MA 02043
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCHNEIDER SMALL Arnold C. Schneider III 9.924%
CAP VALUE FUND SEP IRA
826 Turnbridge Rd.
Wayne, PA 19087

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Frederick Lyness 11.406%
81 Hillcrest Ave.
Summit, NJ 07901

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fulvest & Co. 11.448%
c/o Fulton Bank Trust Dept.
P.O. Box 3215
Lancaster, PA 17604-3215

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

-27-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUND NAME SHAREHOLDER NAME AND PERCENTAGE
ADDRESS OF FUND HELD
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. 26.214%
Special Custody Account for Benefit of
Customers
Attn Mutual Funds
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco,CA 94104
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOGLE SMALL CAP National Investors Services Corp. 6.155%
GROWTH FUND for the Exclusive Benefit of our Customers
INVESTOR SHARES 55 Water Street 32/nd/ floor
New York, NY 10041-3299

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOGLE SMALL CAP John C. Bogle, Jr. 7.196%
GROWTH FUND IRA
INSTITUTIONAL 36 Carisbrooke Rd.
SHARES Wellesley, MA 02481

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Investors Services Corp for the 6.731%
Exclusive Benefit of our Customers
55 Water St., 32/nd/ floor
New York, NY 10041-3299

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FTC & Co. 18.480%
Attn: Datalynx 125
P.O. Box 173736
Denver, CO 80217-3736

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Equity Investment Portfolio LP 5.493%
1001 North U.S. Highway One
Suite 800
Jupiter, FL 33477

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles Schwab & Co, Inc. 35.152%
Special Custody Account for the Benefit of
Customers
Attn: Mutual Funds
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104

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

-28-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUND NAME SHAREHOLDER NAME AND PERCENTAGE
ADDRESS OF FUND HELD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Howard Schilit 8.383%
and Diane Schilit
Jt Ten Wros
10800 Mazwood Plaza
Rockville, MD 20852
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

As of November 29, 2000, the directors and officers as a group owned less
than 1% of RBB's Shares.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY, DISTRIBUTION
AND SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS

Advisory Agreements.

Numeric renders advisory services to the Funds pursuant to Investment
Advisory Agreements. The Advisory Agreements relating to each of the Funds are
dated April 24, 1996, except for the Small Cap Value Fund, which is dated
November 30, 1998.

Numeric is entitled to receive a fee from its Micro Cap Fund calculated at
an annual rate of 0.75% of its average daily net assets. Until December 31,
2001, Numeric has agreed to waive its advisory fees and/or reimburse expenses
for its Micro Cap Fund (other than brokerage commissions, extraordinary items,
interest and taxes) in excess of its advisory fees to the extent necessary to
maintain an annualized expense ratio for its Micro Cap Fund of 1.25%. There can
be no assurance that Numeric will continue such waivers and reimbursements
thereafter.

Effective January 1, 2001, for the Growth, Mid Cap and Small Cap Value
Funds, Numeric is entitled to a performance based fee calculated at the end of
each month using a basic fee of 0.85% of average daily net assets and a
performance fee adjustment based upon the Fund's performance during the last
rolling 12 month period. Under this arrangement, the investment advisory fee
would never be greater than 1.35% nor less than 0.35% of each of the Growth, Mid
Cap and Small Cap Value Funds' average daily net assets for the preceding month.
The table below details the performance based fee arrangements.

-29-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Percentage Point Difference
Between Fund Performance (Net
of Expenses Including Advisory Performance
Fees) and Change in Adjustment Total
Total Benchmark Index Basic Fee Rate Advisory Fee
--------------------- ---------------- ---- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
+9% or more...................... 0.85% 0.50% 1.35%
+8% or more but less than +9%.... 0.85% 0.40% 1.25%
+7% or more but less than +8%.... 0.85% 0.30% 1.15%
+6% or more but less than +7%.... 0.85% 0.20% 1.05%
+5% or more but less than +6%.... 0.85% 0.10% 0.95%
+4% or more but less than +5%.... 0.85% None 0.85%
+3% or more but less than +4%.... 0.85% -0.10% 0.75%
+2% or more but less than +3%.... 0.85% -0.20% 0.65%
+1% or more but less than +2%.... 0.85% -0.30% 0.55%
+0% or more but less than +1%.... 0.85% -0.40% 0.45%
Less than 0%..................... 0.85% -0.50% 0.35%
</TABLE>

From January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2001, Numeric has agreed to
reimburse expenses (other than investment advisory fees, brokerage commissions,
extraordinary items, interest and taxes) in an aggregate amount equal to the
amount by which the Growth, Mid Cap and/or Small Cap Value Funds' total
operating expenses (other than investment advisory fees, brokerage commissions,
extraordinary items, interest and taxes) exceeds a total operating expense ratio
(other than investment advisory fees, brokerage commissions, extraordinary
items, interest and taxes) of 0.50% of such Fund's average daily net assets.

Prior to January 1, 2001, Numeric was entitled to a management fee of 0.75%
of the average daily net assets of each of the Growth, Mid Cap and Small Cap
Value Funds.

For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 the Funds paid
Numeric advisory fees and Numeric waived advisory fees and reimbursed expenses
in excess of its advisory fees as follows:

-30-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Advisory Fees Paid
(after waivers and
Fund reimbursements) Waivers Reimbursements
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year ended August 31, 2000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Micro Cap $691,341 $160,187 $ 0
Growth $408,582 $125,333 $ 0
Mid Cap $115,878 $213,484 $ 0
Small Cap Value $ 7,892 $ 75,193 $ 4,558
Fiscal year ended August 31, 1999
Micro Cap $630,289 $125,805 $ 0
Growth $451,504 $121,919 $ 0
Mid Cap $488,857 $171,847 $ 0
Small Cap Value* $ 931 $ 54,759 $14,836
Fiscal year ended August 31, 1998
Micro Cap $912,750 $140,740 $ 0
Growth $782,298 $121,746 $ 0
Mid Cap $675,595 $136,503 $ 0
</TABLE>

* The Small Cap Value Fund commenced operations on November 30, 1998.

The Funds bear all of their own expenses not specifically assumed by
Numeric. General expenses of RBB not readily identifiable as belonging to a
portfolio of RBB are allocated among all investment portfolios by or under the
direction of RBB's Board of Directors in such manner as the Board determines to
be fair and equitable. Expenses borne by a Fund include, but are not limited to
the expenses listed in the prospectus and the following (or a Fund's share of
the following): (a) the cost (including brokerage commissions) of securities
purchased or sold by a Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith; (b)
expenses of organizing RBB that are not attributable to a class of RBB; (c) any
costs, expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for damages or
other relief asserted against RBB or a Fund for violation of any law; (d) any
extraordinary expenses; (e) fees, voluntary assessments and other expenses
incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; (f)
costs of mailing and tabulating proxies and costs of shareholders' and
directors' meetings; and (g) the cost of investment company literature and other
publications provided by RBB to its directors and officers. Distribution
expenses, transfer agency expenses, expenses of preparation, printing and
mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements and
reports to shareholders, and organizational expenses and registration fees,
identified as belonging to a particular class of RBB, are allocated to such
class.

Under the Advisory Agreements, Numeric will not be liable for any error of
judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by RBB or the Funds in
connection with the performance of an Advisory Agreement, except a loss
resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of
Numeric in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its
duties and obligations thereunder.

The Advisory Agreements for the Micro Cap, Growth and Mid Cap Funds were
approved on April 24, 1996 and were most recently reapproved on July 26, 2000,
each time by vote of RBB's Board of Directors, including a majority of those
directors who are not parties to the Advisory Agreements or interested persons
(as defined in the 1940 Act) of such parties. The

-31-
<PAGE>

Advisory Agreement for the Small Cap Value Fund was similarly approved on
October 28, 1998 and was most recently reapproved on July 26, 2000. The Advisory
Agreements are terminable by vote of RBB's Board of Directors or by the holders
of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Funds, at any time
without penalty, on 60 days' written notice to Numeric. The Advisory Agreements
for the Micro Cap, Growth and Mid Cap Funds became effective on May 20, 1996 and
were approved by written consent of the sole shareholder of each of the Micro
Cap, Growth and Mid Cap Funds on May 28, 1996. Amendments to each of the
Advisory Agreements for the Micro Cap, Growth and Mid Cap Funds were approved at
a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on November 22, 1999. The Advisory
Agreement for the Small Cap Value Fund became effective on November 30, 1998 and
was approved by written consent of the sole shareholder of the Fund on November
30, 1998. An amendment to the Advisory Agreement for the Small Cap Value Fund
was approved at a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on November 22, 1999. The
Advisory Agreements terminate automatically in the event of assignment thereof.

The Advisory Agreements provide that Numeric shall at all times have all
rights in and to each Fund's name and all investment models used by or on behalf
of the Funds. Numeric may use each Fund's name or any portion thereof in
connection with any other mutual fund or business activity without the consent
of any shareholder, and RBB has agreed to execute and deliver any and all
documents required to indicate its consent to such use.

The Advisory Agreements further provide that no public reference to, or
description of, Numeric or its methodology or work shall be made by RBB, whether
in the Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information or otherwise, without the
prior written consent of Numeric, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. In each case, RBB has agreed to provide Numeric a reasonable
opportunity to review any such reference or description before being asked for
such consent.

Custodian Agreements.

Custodial Trust Company ("CTC") is custodian of the Funds' assets pursuant
to custodian agreements dated as of May 20, 1996, as amended (the "Custodian
Agreements"). Under the Custodian Agreements, CTC (a) maintains a separate
account or accounts in the name of each of the Funds, (b) holds and transfers
portfolio securities on account of each of the Funds, (c) accepts receipts and
makes disbursements of money on behalf of each of the Funds, (d) collects and
receives all income and other payments and distributions on account of each of
the Funds' portfolio securities and (e) makes periodic reports to RBB's Board of
Directors concerning the Funds' operations. CTC is authorized to select one or
more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on behalf of the Funds,
provided that CTC remains responsible for the performance of all its duties
under the Custodian Agreements and holds RBB harmless from the acts and
omissions of any sub-custodian. For its services to the Funds under the
Custodian Agreements, CTC receives a fee calculated at 0.03% of each Fund's
average daily net assets.

-32-
<PAGE>

Transfer Agency Agreements.

PFPC Inc. ("PFPC") serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for
the Funds pursuant to a Transfer Agency Agreement dated August 16, 1988, as
supplemented (collectively, the "Transfer Agency Agreement"). Under the Transfer
Agency Agreement, PFPC (a) issues and redeems Shares of each of the Funds, (b)
addresses and mails all communications by the Funds to record owners of shares
of the Funds, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution
notices and proxy materials for its meetings of shareholders, (c) maintains
shareholder accounts and, if requested, sub-accounts and (d) makes periodic
reports to RBB's Board of Directors concerning the operations of the Funds. For
its services to the Funds under the Transfer Agency Agreement, PFPC receives a
fee at the annual rate of $10 per account for the Funds, exclusive of out-of-
pocket expenses, and also receives reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses.

Co-Administration Agreements.

Bear Stearns Funds Management Inc. ("BSFM") serves as co-administrator to
the Funds pursuant to Co-Administration Agreements dated April 24, 1996, as
amended, for each of the Funds (the "BSFM Co-Administration Agreements"). BSFM
has agreed to assist each of the Funds in all significant aspects of their
administration and operations. The BSFM Co-Administration Agreements provide
that BSFM shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any
loss suffered by RBB or the Funds in connection with the performance of the
agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or
negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties and obligations thereunder. In
consideration for providing services pursuant to the BSFM Co-Administration
Agreements, BSFM receives a fee with respect to each of the Funds calculated at
an annual rate of 0.05% of the first $150 million of each Fund's average daily
net assets and 0.02% on all assets above $150 million.

PFPC also serves as co-administrator to Funds pursuant to Co-Administration
Agreements dated as of April 24, 1996, as amended (the "PFPC Co-Administration
Agreements"). PFPC has agreed to calculate the Funds' net asset values, provide
all accounting services for the Funds and assist in related aspects of the
Funds' operations. The PFPC Co-Administration Agreements provide that PFPC shall
not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered
by RBB or the Funds in connection with the performance of the agreement, except
a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence, or reckless
disregard of its duties and obligations thereunder. In consideration for
providing services pursuant to the PFPC Co-Administration Agreements, PFPC
receives a fee with respect to each of the Funds calculated at an annual rate of
0.125% of each Fund's average daily net assets, exclusive of out-of-pocket
expenses and pricing charges. PFPC is currently waiving fees in excess of
0.115% of each Fund's average daily net assets.

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<PAGE>

For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, the Funds paid
administration fees to PFPC and BSFM, and PFPC waived administration fees as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Co-Administration Fees
Fund Paid (After Waivers) Waivers
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2000.
(PFPC)
------
Micro Cap $130,599 $11,354
Growth $ 82,562 $ 6,521
Mid Cap $ 74,999 $ 0
Small Cap Value $ 37,498 $37,501
(BSFM)
------
Micro Cap $ 56,768 $ 0
Growth $ 35,614 $ 0
Mid Cap $ 21,957 $ 0
Small Cap Value $ 5,539 $ 0
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999.
(PFPC)
------
Micro Cap $115,935 $10,081
Growth $ 87,944 $ 7,646
Mid Cap $103,317 $ 8,809
Small Cap Value* $ 28,123 $28,126
(BSFM)
------
Micro Cap $ 50,406 $ 0
Growth $ 38,228 $ 0
Mid Cap $ 44,047 $ 0
Small Cap Value* $ 3,775 $ 0
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 1998.
(PFPC)
------
Micro Cap $161,535 $14,047
Growth $138,620 $12,054
Mid Cap $124,522 $11,179
(BSFM)
------
Micro Cap $ 70,233 $ 0
Growth $ 60,270 $ 0
Mid Cap $ 54,025 $ 0
</TABLE>

* The Small Cap Value Fund commenced operations on November 30, 1998.

Administrative Services Agent.

Provident Distributors, Inc. ("PDI") provides certain administrative
services to the Funds that are not provided by BSFM or PFPC. These services
include furnishing data processing and clerical services, acting as liaison
between the Funds and various service providers and coordinating the preparation
of proxy statements and annual, semi-annual and quarterly reports. As
compensation for such administrative services, PDI is entitled to a monthly fee
calculated at the annual rate of 0.15% of each Fund's average daily net assets.
PDI is currently waiving fees in excess of 0.03% of each Fund's average daily
net assets for open Funds and 0.02% of each closed Fund's average daily net
assets.

-34-
<PAGE>

Effective on or about January 2, 2001, PFPC Distributors, Inc. ("PFPC
Distributors") will provide administrative services to the Funds as described
above and pursuant to the same compensation as for PDI.

Prior to May 29, 1998, Credit Suisse Asset Management Funds Services, Inc.
("Credit Suisse Service") (formerly known as Counsellors Funds Services Inc.),
an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Credit Suisse, Inc., acted as
Administrative Services Agent pursuant to the same compensation as for PDI.

For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, the Funds paid
administrative services fees to PDI and Credit Suisse Service, and PDI and
Credit Suisse Service waived administrative services fees as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Administrative Services
Fund Fees Paid (After Waivers) Waivers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2000
(PDI)
-----
Micro Cap $22,708 $147,598
Growth $14,245 $ 92,597
Mid Cap $13,174 $ 52,698
Small Cap Value $ 3,323 $ 13,294
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999
(PDI)
-----
Micro Cap $20,163 $131,056
Growth $15,292 $ 99,393
Mid Cap $26,428 $105,713
Small Cap Value* $ 2,265 $ 9,059
For the period from May 29, 1998 through August 31, 1998
(PDI)
-----
Micro Cap $ 6,924 $ 44,172
Growth $ 5,888 $ 37,315
Mid Cap $11,064 $ 44,256
For the period from September 1, 1997 through May 29, 1998
(Credit Suisse Service)
-----------------------
Micro Cap $31,920 $127,682
Growth $27,521 $110,085
Mid Cap $21,420 $ 85,680
</TABLE>

* The Small Cap Value Fund commenced operations on November 30, 1998.

Distributor.

PDI serves as distributor of the Shares pursuant to the terms of a
distribution agreement dated as of June 25, 1999 (the "Distribution Agreement")
entered into by PDI and RBB. No compensation is payable by RBB to PDI for
distribution services with respect to the Funds. Effective on or about January
2, 2001, PFPC Distributors will serve as the distributor of the Funds pursuant
to the same compensation as for PDI. Credit Suisse Asset Management Securities,
Inc. (formerly known as Counsellors Securities Inc.) served as distributor of
the Shares prior to May 29, 1998.

-35-
<PAGE>

FUND TRANSACTIONS

Subject to policies established by the Board of Directors and applicable
rules, Numeric is responsible for the execution of portfolio transactions and
the allocation of brokerage transactions for the Funds. In executing portfolio
transactions, Numeric seeks to obtain the best price and most favorable
execution for the Funds, taking into account such factors as the price
(including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of the
order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved.
While Numeric generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, payment
of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining
the best price and execution in particular transactions.

No Fund has any obligation to deal with any broker or group of brokers in
the execution of portfolio transactions. Numeric may, consistent with the
interests of the Funds and subject to the approval of the Board of Directors,
select brokers on the basis of the research, statistical and pricing services
they provide to the Funds and other clients of Numeric. Information and
research received from such brokers will be in addition to, and not in lieu of,
the services required to be performed by Numeric under its respective contracts.
A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that which another
qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same transaction, provided
that Numeric, as applicable, determines in good faith that such commission is
reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall responsibility of
Numeric, as applicable, to a Fund and its other clients and that the total
commissions paid by a Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to a
Fund over the long-term.

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2000, the Funds paid aggregate
commissions to brokers on account of research services as follows:

Fund Brokerage Commissions
---------------------------------------------
Micro Cap $59,497
Growth $18,944
Mid Cap $24,588
Small Cap Value $ 2,554

Corporate debt and U.S. Government securities and many micro- and small-cap
stocks are generally traded on the over-the-counter market on a "net" basis
without a stated commission, through dealers acting for their own account and
not as brokers. The Funds will primarily engage in transactions with these
dealers or deal directly with the issuer unless a better price or execution
could be obtained by using a broker. Prices paid to a dealer in debt, micro- or
small-cap securities will generally include a "spread," which is the difference
between the prices at which the dealer is willing to purchase and sell the
specific security at the time, and includes the dealer's normal profit.

Numeric may seek to obtain an undertaking from issuers of commercial paper
or dealers selling commercial paper to consider the repurchase of such
securities from the Funds prior to their maturity at their original cost plus
interest (sometimes adjusted to reflect the actual maturity of the securities),
if it believes that the Funds' anticipated need for liquidity makes such action
desirable. Any such repurchase prior to maturity reduces the possibility that
the Funds would

-36-
<PAGE>

incur a capital loss in liquidating commercial paper (for which there is no
established market), especially if interest rates have risen since acquisition
of the particular commercial paper.

Investment decisions for the Funds and for other investment accounts
managed by Numeric are made independently of each other in the light of
differing conditions. However, the same investment decision may occasionally be
made for two or more of such accounts. In such cases, simultaneous transactions
are inevitable. Purchases or sales are then averaged as to price and allocated
as to amount according to a formula deemed equitable to each such account. While
in some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect upon the price or
value of the security as far as a Fund is concerned, in other cases it is
believed to be beneficial to the Funds. The Funds will not purchase securities
during the existence of any underwriting or selling group relating to such
security of which Numeric or any affiliated person (as defined in the 1940 Act)
thereof is a member except pursuant to procedures adopted by RBB's Board of
Directors pursuant to Rule 10f-3 under the 1940 Act.

In no instance will portfolio securities be purchased from or sold to PDI,
PNC Bank or Numeric or any affiliated person of the foregoing entities except as
permitted by SEC exemptive order or by applicable law.

For the fiscal years ended August 31, 1998, 1999 and 2000, the Funds paid
brokerage commissions on behalf of the Funds as follows:

Aggregate
Fund Commissions
1998 1999 2000
--------------------------------------------------------
Micro Cap $706,342 $568,754 $442,734
Growth $512,762 $395,555 $183,824
Mid Cap $508,568 $514,406 $209,571
Small Cap Value* N/A $ 58,795 $ 62,105

* The Small Cap Value Fund commenced operations on November 30, 1998.

The Funds are required to identify any securities of RBB's regular broker
dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act) or their parents held by
the Funds as of the end of the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2000,
the following Funds held the following securities:

Fund Security Value
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid Cap Bear Stearns Companies, Inc. (the) $254,837
Mid Cap Investment Technology Group, Inc. $235,200
Mid Cap Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. $116,000
Small Cap Value Tucker Anthony Sutro Corp. $ 37,700

-37-
<PAGE>

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING RBB SHARES

RBB has authorized capital of 30 billion shares of Common Stock at a
par value of $0.001 per share. Currently, 15.976 billion shares have been
classified into 94 classes as shown in the table below. Shares of the Classes
FF, GG, HH and MMM constitute the Funds described herein. Under RBB's charter,
the Board of Directors has the power to classify and reclassify any unissued
shares of Common Stock from time to time.

B 100 ZZ 100
C (Balanced) 100 AAA 100
D (Tax-Free) 100 BBB 100
E (Money) 500 CCC 100
F (Municipal Money) 500 DDD (Boston Partners Institutional
Small Cap Value Fund II) 100

G (Money) 500 EEE (Boston Partners Investors Small
Cap Value Fund II) 100

H (Municipal Money) 500 FFF 100
I (Sansom Money) 1500 GGG 100
J (Sansom Municipal Money) 500 HHH 100
K (Sansom Government Money) 500 III (Boston Partners Institutional
Long/Short Equity) 100

L (Bedford Money) 1500 JJJ (Boston Partners Investors
Long/Short Equity) 100

M (Bedford Municipal Money) 500 KKK (Boston Partners Institutional
Long-Short Equity) 100

N (Bedford Government Money) 500 LLL (Boston Partners Investors
Long-Short Equity) 100

O (Bedford N.Y. Money) 500 MMM (n/i numeric Small Cap Value) 100

P (RBB Government) 100 Class NNN (Bogle Institutional Small
Cap Growth) 100

Q 100 Class OOO (Bogle Investors Small Cap
Growth) 100

R (Municipal Money) 500 Select (Money) 700
S (Government Money) 500 Beta 2 (Municipal Money) 1
T 500 Beta 3 (Government Money) 1
U 500 Beta 4 (N.Y. Money) 1
V 500 Principal Class (Money) 700
W 100 Gamma 2 (Municipal Money) 1
X 50 Gamma 3 (Government Money) 1
Y 50 Gamma 4 (N.Y. Money) 1
Z 50 Delta 1 (Money) 1
AA 50 Delta 2 (Municipal Money) 1
BB 50 Delta 3 (Government Money) 1
CC 50 Delta 4 (N.Y. Money) 1
DD 100 Epsilon 1 (Money) 1
EE 100 Epsilon 2 (Municipal Money) 1
FF (n/i numeric Micro Cap) 50 Epsilon 3 (Government Money) 1
GG (n/i numeric Growth) 50 Epsilon 4 (N.Y. Money) 1
HH (n/i numeric Mid Cap) 50 Zeta 1 (Money) 1
II 100 Zeta 2 (Municipal Money) 1
</TABLE>

-38-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Authorized Number of Authorized
Class of Common Stock Shares (millions) Class of Common Stock Shares (millions)
------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
JJ 100 Zeta 3 (Government Money) 1
KK 100 Zeta 4 (N.Y. Money) 1
LL 100 Eta 1 (Money) 1
MM 100 Eta 2 (Municipal Money) 1
NN 100 Eta 3 (Government Money) 1
OO 100 Eta 4 (N.Y. Money) 1
PP 100 Theta 1 (Money) 1
QQ (Boston Partners Institutional Large Theta 2 (Municipal Money) 1
Cap) 100
RR (Boston Partners Investors Large Cap) 100 Theta 3 (Government Money) 1
SS (Boston Partners Advisor Large Cap) 100 Theta 4 (N.Y. Money) 1
TT (Boston Partners Investors Mid Cap) 100
UU (Boston Partners Institutional Mid Cap) 100
VV (Boston Partners Institutional Bond) 100
WW (Boston Partners Investors Bond) 100
</TABLE>

The classes of Common Stock have been grouped into 14 separate "families":
the Cash Preservation Family, the Sansom Street Family, the Bedford Family, the
Principal (Gamma) Family, the Select (Beta) Family, the Schneider Capital
Management Family, the n/i numeric family of funds, the Boston Partners Family,
the Bogle Family, the Delta Family, the Epsilon Family, the Theta Family, the
Eta Family, and the Zeta Family. The Cash Preservation Family represents
interests in the Money Market and Municipal Money Market Portfolios; the Sansom
Street Family represents interests in the Money Market, Municipal Money Market
and Government Obligations Money Market Portfolios; the Bedford Family
represents interests in the Money Market, Municipal Money Market and Government
Obligations Money Market Portfolios; the n/i numeric investors family of funds
represents interests in four non-money market portfolios; the Boston Partners
Family represents interests in five non-money market portfolios; the Bogle
Family represents interests in one non-money market portfolio; the Schneider
Capital Management Family represents interests in one non-money market
portfolio; the Select (Beta) Family, the Principal (Gamma) Family and the Delta,
Epsilon, Zeta, Eta and Theta Families represent interests in the Money Market,
Municipal Money Market, New York Municipal Money Market and Government
Obligations Money Market Portfolios.

RBB does not currently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders
except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. RBB's amended By-
Laws provide that shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding
shares of all classes of Common Stock of RBB have the right to call for a
meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more directors. To the
extent required by law, RBB will assist in shareholder communication in such
matters.

Holders of shares of each class of RBB will vote in the aggregate and not
by class on all matters, except where otherwise required by law. Further,
shareholders of RBB will vote in the

-39-
<PAGE>

aggregate and not by portfolio except as otherwise required by law or when the
Board of Directors determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the
interests of the shareholders of a particular portfolio. Rule 18f-2 under the
1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of
such Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the
outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as RBB shall not be
deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, of
each portfolio affected by the matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a
portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the
interests of each portfolio in the matter are identical or that the matter does
not affect any interest of the portfolio. Under the Rule, the approval of an
investment advisory agreement or any change in a fundamental investment policy
would be effectively acted upon with respect to a portfolio only if approved by
the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in
the 1940 Act) of such portfolio. However, the Rule also provides that the
ratification of the selection of independent public accountants and the election
of directors are not subject to the separate voting requirements and may be
effectively acted upon by shareholders of an investment company voting without
regard to portfolio.

Notwithstanding any provision of Maryland law requiring a greater vote of
shares of RBB's common stock (or of any class voting as a class) in connection
with any corporate action, unless otherwise provided by law (for example by Rule
18f-2 discussed above), or by RBB's Articles of Incorporation, RBB may take or
authorize such action upon the favorable vote of the holders of more than 50% of
all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock voting without regard to class (or
portfolio). The name "n/i numeric investors" may be used in the name of other
portfolios managed by Numeric.

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

You may purchase shares through an account maintained by your brokerage
firm and you may also purchase shares directly by mail or wire. The Funds
reserve the right, if conditions exist that make cash payments undesirable, to
honor any request for redemption or repurchase of a Fund's shares by making
payment in whole or in part in securities chosen by RBB and valued in the same
way as they would be valued for purposes of computing a Fund's net asset value.
If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction costs in
converting these securities into cash. RBB has elected, however, to be governed
by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act so that a Fund is obligated to redeem its
shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its net asset value
during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of a Fund. A shareholder will
bear the risk of a decline in market value and any tax consequences associated
with a redemption in securities.

Under the 1940 Act, the Company may suspend the right to redemption or
postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") is closed (other than customary weekend
and holiday closings), or during which the SEC restricts trading on the NYSE or
determines an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of
portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as
the SEC may permit. (A Fund may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the
transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions.)

-40-
<PAGE>

Shares of the Company are subject to redemption by the Company, at the
redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time, including,
without limitation: to reimburse a Fund for any loss sustained by reason of the
failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the
shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the
benefit of a shareholder as provided in the Prospectus from time to time; if
such redemption is, in the opinion of the Company's Board of Directors,
desirable in order to prevent the Company or any Fund from being deemed a
"personal holding company" within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended; or if the net income with respect to any particular class of
common stock should be negative or it should otherwise be appropriate to carry
out the Company's responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

An illustration of the computation of the public offering price per share
of each of the Funds, based on the value of the Funds' respective net assets as
of August 31, 2000, is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Micro Cap Growth Mid Cap Small Cap Value
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net assets $134,533,059 $79,520,332 $44,430,163 $13,480,767
Outstanding shares 6,408,939 3,356,493 2,311,295 1,044,582
Net asset value per share $ 20.99 $ 23.69 $ 19.22 $ 12.91
Maximum sales charge -- -- -- --
Maximum Offering Price to
Public $ 20.99 $ 23.69 $ 19.22 $ 12.91
</TABLE>

VALUATION OF SHARES

The net asset value per share of each Fund is calculated as of the close of
regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on each Business
Day. "Business Day" means each weekday when the NYSE is open. Currently, the
NYSE is closed on New Year's Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents'
Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day
and Christmas Day and on the preceding Friday or subsequent Monday when one of
those holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday. Securities which are listed on
stock exchanges are valued at the last sale price on the day the securities are
valued or, lacking any sales on such day, at the mean of the bid and asked
prices available prior to the evaluation. In cases where securities are traded
on more than one exchange, the securities are generally valued on the exchange
designated by the Board of Directors as the primary market. Securities traded
in the over-the-counter market and listed on the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System ("NASDAQ") are valued at the last
trade price listed on the NASDAQ at the close of regular trading (generally 4:00
p.m. Eastern Time); securities listed on NASDAQ for which there were no sales on
that day and other over-the-counter securities are valued at the mean of the bid
and asked prices available prior to valuation. Securities for which market
quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in
good faith by or under the direction of RBB's Board of Directors. The amortized
cost method of valuation may also be used with respect to debt obligations with
sixty days or less remaining to maturity. Net asset value per share is
calculated by adding the value of each Fund's securities, cash and other

-41-
<PAGE>

assets, subtracting the actual and accrued liabilities of the Fund, and dividing
the result by the number of outstanding shares of the Fund.

In determining the approximate market value of portfolio investments, the
Funds may employ outside organizations, which may use a matrix or formula method
that takes into consideration market indices, matrices, yield curves and other
specific adjustments. This may result in the securities being valued at a price
different from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or
formula method not been used. All cash, receivables and current payables are
carried on the Funds' books at their face value. Other assets, if any, are
valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of
RBB's Board of Directors.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Total Return. For purposes of quoting and comparing the performance of the
Funds to that of other mutual funds and to stock or other relevant indices in
advertisements or in reports to shareholders, performance may be stated in terms
of total return. Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
funds advertising performance must include total return quotes calculated
according to the following formula:

P(1 + T)/n/ = ERV

Where: P = hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
T = average annual total return
n = number of years (1, 5 or 10)
ERV = ending redeemable value at the end of the 1, 5 or 10 year
periods (or fractional portion thereof) of a hypothetical
$1,000 payment made at the beginning of the 1, 5 or 10
year periods.

Under the foregoing formula, the time periods used in advertising will be
based on rolling calendar quarters, updated to the last day of the most recent
quarter prior to submission of the advertisement for publication, and will cover
one, five and ten year periods or a shorter period dating from the effectiveness
of the Funds' registration statement. In calculating the ending redeemable
value, the maximum sales load is deducted from the initial $1,000 payment and
all dividends and distributions by the Funds are assumed to have been reinvested
at net asset value, as described in the Prospectus, on the reinvestment dates
during the period. Total return, or "T" in the formula above, is computed by
finding the average annual compounded rates of return over the 1, 5 and 10 year
periods (or fractional portion thereof) that would equate the initial amount
invested to the ending redeemable value. Any sales loads that might in the
future be made applicable at the time to reinvestments would be included as
would any recurring account charges that might be imposed by the Funds.

-42-
<PAGE>

The formula for calculating aggregate total return is as follows:

ERV
Aggregate Total Return = [(---) - 1]
P

The calculations are made assuming that (1) all dividends and capital gain
distributions are reinvested on the reinvestment dates at the price per share
existing on the reinvestment date, (2) all recurring fees charged to all
shareholder accounts are included, and (3) for any account fees that vary with
the size of the account, a mean (or median) account size in the Fund during the
periods is reflected. The ending redeemable value (variable "ERV" in the
formula) is determined by assuming complete redemption of the hypothetical
investment after deduction of all non-recurring charges at the end of the
measuring period.

Performance. From time to time, the Funds may advertise their average
annual total return over various periods of time. These total return figures
show the average percentage change in value of an investment in a Fund from the
beginning of the measuring period to the end of the measuring period. The
figures reflect changes in the price of a Fund's shares assuming that any income
dividends and/or capital gain distributions made by a Fund during the period
were reinvested in shares of the Fund. Total return will be shown for recent
one-, five- and ten-year periods, and may be shown for other periods as well
(such as from commencement of a Fund's operations or on a year-by-year,
quarterly or current year-to-date basis).

When considering average total return figures for periods longer than one
year, it is important to note that a Fund's annual total return for one year in
the period might have been greater or less than the average for the entire
period. When considering total return figures for periods shorter than one
year, investors should bear in mind that the Funds seek long-term appreciation
and that such return may not be representative of a Fund's return over a longer
market cycle. The Funds may also advertise aggregate total return figures for
various periods, representing the cumulative change in value of an investment in
a Fund for the specific period (again reflecting changes in a Fund's share
prices and assuming reinvestment of dividends and distributions). Aggregate and
average total returns may be shown by means of schedules, charts or graphs, may
indicate various components of total return (i.e., change in value of initial
investment, income dividends and capital gain distributions) and would be quoted
separately for each class of a Fund's shares.

-43-
<PAGE>

Calculated according to the SEC Rules, the average annual total returns for
the Funds were as follows:

Fund Average Annual Return
--------------------------------------------------------------
For one year ended August 31, 2000
Micro Cap 54.42%
Growth 63.11%
Mid Cap 29.61%
Small Cap Value 13.94%
Since Inception
Micro Cap/1/ 28.92%
Growth/1/ 22.91%
Mid Cap/1/ 22.88%
Small Cap Value/2/ 12.04%

/1/ The Micro Cap, Growth and Mid Cap Funds commenced operations on
June 3, 1996.
/2/ The Small Cap Value Fund commenced operations on November 30,
1998.

Calculated according to the above formula, the aggregate total return for
the Funds was as follows:

Fund Aggregate Total Return
---------------------------------------------------------------
For one year ended August 31, 2000
Micro Cap 54.42%
Growth 63.11%
Mid Cap 29.61%
Small Cap Value 13.94%
Since Inception
Micro Cap/1/ 194.29%
Growth/1/ 140.27%
Mid Cap/1/ 140.00%
Small Cap Value/2/ 22.10%

/1/ The Micro Cap, Growth and Mid Cap Funds commenced operations on
June 3, 1996.
/2/ The Small Cap Value Fund commenced operations on November 30,
1998.

Investors should note that total return figures are based on historical
earnings and are not intended to indicate future performance.

In reports or other communications to investors or in advertising material,
the Funds may describe general economic and market conditions affecting the
Funds and may compare their performance with (1) that of other mutual funds as
listed in the rankings prepared by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. or similar
investment services that monitor the performance of mutual funds or as set forth
in the publications listed below; (2) with their benchmark indices, as well as
the S&P 500 or (3) other appropriate indices of investment securities or with
data developed by Numeric derived from such indices. Performance information
may also include evaluation of the Funds by nationally recognized ranking
services and information as reported in financial publications such as Business
Week, Fortune, Institutional Investor, Money Magazine, Forbes, Barron's, The
Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, or other national, regional or local
publications.

-44-
<PAGE>

In reports or other communications to investors or in advertising, the
Funds may also describe the general biography or work experience of the
portfolio managers of the Funds and may include quotations attributable to the
portfolio managers describing approaches taken in managing the Funds'
investments, research methodology, underlying stock selection or the Funds'
investment objective. The Funds may also discuss the continuum of risk and
return relating to different investments, and the potential impact of foreign
stock on a portfolio otherwise composed of domestic securities. In addition, the
Funds may from time to time compare their expense ratios to those of investment
companies with similar objective and policies, as advertised by Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc. or similar investment services that monitor mutual
funds.

TAXES

The Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and to distribute out its income to
shareholders each year, so that the Fund itself generally will be relieved of
federal income and excise taxes. If the Fund were to fail to so qualify: (1) the
Fund would be taxed at regular corporate rates without any deduction for
distributions to shareholders; and (2) shareholders would be taxed as if they
received ordinary dividends, although corporate shareholders could be eligible
for the dividends received deduction.

MISCELLANEOUS

Counsel. The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, 18th
and Cherry Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6996, serves as counsel to
RBB and RBB's non-interested directors.

Independent Accountants. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square,
Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as RBB's
independent accountants. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP performs an annual audit of
RRB's financial statements.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The audited financial statements and notes thereto in the Funds' Annual
Report to Shareholders (the "2000 Annual Report") for the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2000 (the "Financial Statements") are incorporated by reference into
this Statement of Additional Information. No other parts of the 2000 Annual
Report are incorporated by reference herein. The financial statements included
in the 2000 Annual Report have been audited by RBB's independent accountants,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are
incorporated herein by reference, and such financial statements have been
incorporated herein in reliance upon such reports given upon their authority as
experts in accounting and auditing. Copies of the 2000 Annual Report may be
obtained free of charge by telephoning PFPC at (800) 348-5031.

-45-
<PAGE>

APPENDIX A
----------

Commercial Paper Ratings
------------------------

A Standard & Poor's commercial paper rating is a current opinion of the
creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to financial obligations having an
original maturity of no more than 365 days. The following summarizes the rating
categories used by Standard and Poor's for commercial paper:

"A-1" - Obligations are rated in the highest category indicating that the
obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.
Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+).
This indicates that the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on
these obligations is extremely strong.

"A-2" - Obligations are 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" - Obligations 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.

"B" - Obligations are 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" - Obligations are currently vulnerable to nonpayment and are dependent
upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to
meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

"D" - Obligations are in payment default. The "D" rating category is used
when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the
applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor's believes that
such payments will be made during such grace period. The "D" rating will be
used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action
if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks:
------------------------------------------

Country risk considerations are a standard part of Standard & Poor's
analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a
key factor in this analysis. An obligor's capacity to repay foreign obligations
may be lower than its capacity to repay

A-1
<PAGE>

obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government's own
relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These
sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to
specific issues. Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from
local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks
make them different for the same issuer.

Moody's commercial paper ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to
honor senior financial obligations and contracts. These obligations have an
original maturity not exceeding one year, unless explicitly noted. The
following summarizes the rating categories used by Moody's for commercial paper:

"Prime-1" - Issuers (or supporting institutions) have a superior ability for
repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. Prime-1 repayment ability will
often be evidenced by many of the following characteristics: leading market
positions in well-established industries; high rates of return on funds
employed; conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt
and ample asset protection; broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed
financial charges and high internal cash generation; and well-established access
to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.

"Prime-2" - Issuers (or supporting institutions) have a strong ability for
repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This will normally be
evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree.
Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, may be more subject to
variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.

"Prime-3" - Issuers (or supporting institutions) have an acceptable ability
for repayment of senior short-term debt 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" - Issuers do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

Fitch short-term ratings apply to time horizons of less than 12 months for
most obligations, or up to three years for U.S. public finance securities, and
thus places greater emphasis on the liquidity necessary to meet financial
commitments in a timely manner. The following summarizes the rating categories
used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

"F1" - Securities possess the highest credit quality. This designation
indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments and
may have an added "+" to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

A-2
<PAGE>

"F2" - Securities possess good credit quality. This designation indicates a
satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the
margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.

"F3" - Securities possess fair credit quality. This designation indicates
that the capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate;
however, near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment
grade.

"B" - Securities possess speculative credit quality. This designation
indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus
vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

"C" - Securities possess high default risk. This designation indicates a
capacity for meeting financial commitments which is solely reliant upon a
sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

"D" - Securities are in actual or imminent payment default.

Corporate and Municipal Long-Term Debt Ratings
----------------------------------------------

The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor's for corporate and
municipal debt:

"AAA" - An obligation rated "AAA" has the highest rating assigned by Standard
& Poor's. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation is extremely strong.

"AA" - An obligation rated "AA" differs from the highest rated obligations
only in small degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment
on the obligation is very strong.

"A" - An obligation rated "A" is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse
effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in
higher-rated categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation is still strong.

"BBB" - An obligation rated "BBB" exhibits adequate protection parameters.
However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely
to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment
on the obligation.

Obligations 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.

A-3
<PAGE>

"BB" - An obligation rated "BB" is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other
speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing 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" - An obligation rated "B" is more vulnerable to nonpayment than
obligations rated "BB", but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial or economic
conditions will likely impair the obligor's capacity or willingness to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation.

"CCC" - An obligation 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" - An obligation rated "C" is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
The "C" rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has
been filed or similar action taken, but payments on this obligation are being
continued.

"D" - An obligation rated "D" is in payment default. The "D" rating category
is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the
applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor's believes that
such payments will be made during such grace period. The "D" rating also will
be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar
action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

- PLUS (+) OR MINUS (-) - The ratings from "AA" through "CCC" may be modified
by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the
major rating categories.

- "r" - The 'r' highlights obligations that Standard & Poor's believes
have significant noncredit risks. Examples of such obligations are securities
with principal or interest return indexed to equities, commodities, or
currencies; certain swaps and options; and interest-only and principal-only
mortgage securities. The absence of an 'r' symbol should not be taken as an
indication that an obligation will exhibit no volatility or variability in total
return.

- N.R. Indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is
insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor's
does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody's for corporate and municipal
long-term debt:

A-4
<PAGE>

"Aaa" - Bonds are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest
degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt edged."
Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin
and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to
change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the
fundamentally strong position of such issues.

"Aa" - Bonds are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with
the "Aaa" group they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds.
They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not
be as large as in "Aaa" securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be
of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long-
term risk appear somewhat larger than the "Aaa" securities.

"A" - Bonds 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 are considered as medium-grade obligations, (i.e., they are
neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and principal
security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be
lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time.
Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have
speculative characteristics as well.

"Ba" - Bonds are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot
be considered as well-assured. Often the protection of interest and principal
payments may be very moderate, and thereby not well safeguarded during both good
and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in
this class.

"B" - Bonds generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment.
Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of
the contract over any long period of time may be small.

"Caa " - Bonds are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there
may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.

"Ca" - Bonds represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree.
Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.

"C" - Bonds are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be
regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real
investment standing.

Con. (...) - Bonds for which the security depends on the completion of some
act or the fulfillment of some condition are rated conditionally. These are
bonds secured by (a) earnings of projects under construction, (b) earnings of
projects unseasoned in operation experience, (c) rentals which begin when
facilities are completed, or (d) payments to which some other limiting

A-5
<PAGE>

condition attaches. The parenthetical rating denotes probable credit stature
upon completion of construction or elimination of the basis of the condition.

Note: 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 generic rating category; the modifier
2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the
lower end of its generic rating category.

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch:

"AAA" - Securities considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit
quality. These ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk and are
assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of
financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely
affected by foreseeable events.

"AA" - Securities considered to be investment grade and of very high credit
quality. These ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk and
indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This
capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

"A" - Securities considered to be investment grade and of high credit quality.
These ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk and indicate strong
capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity may,
nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic
conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

"BBB" - Securities considered to be investment grade and of good credit
quality. These ratings denote 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.

"BB" - Securities considered to be speculative. These 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. Securities rated in
this category are not investment grade.

"B" - Securities are considered highly speculative. These 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" and "C" - Securities have high default risk. Default is a real
possibility, and capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant
upon sustained, favorable

A-6
<PAGE>

business or economic developments. "CC" ratings indicate that default of some
kind appears probable, and "C" ratings signal imminent default.

"DDD," "DD" and "D" - Securities are in default. The ratings of obligations
in this category are based on their prospects for achieving partial or full
recovery in a reorganization or liquidation of the obligor. While expected
recovery values are highly speculative and cannot be estimated with any
precision, the following serve as general guidelines. "DDD" obligations have
the highest potential for recovery, around 90%-100% of outstanding amounts and
accrued interest. "DD" indicates potential recoveries in the range of 50%-90%,
and "D" the lowest recovery potential, i.e., below 50%.

Entities rated in this category have defaulted on some or all of their
obligations. Entities rated "DDD" have the highest prospect for resumption of
performance or continued operation with or without a formal reorganization
process. Entities rated "DD" and "D" are generally undergoing a formal
reorganization or liquidation process; those rated "DD" are likely to satisfy a
higher portion of their outstanding obligations, while entities rated "D" have a
poor prospect for repaying all obligations.

Notes to Fitch Long-Term and Short-Term Ratings:
------------------------------------------------

- To provide more detailed indications of credit quality, the Fitch ratings
from and including "AA" to "CCC" and "F1" may be modified by the addition of a
plus (+) or minus (-) sign to denote relative standing within these major rating
categories.

- `NR' indicates the Fitch does not rate the issuer or issue in
question.

- `Withdrawn': A rating is withdrawn when Fitch deems the amount of
information available to be inadequate for rating purposes, or when an
obligation matures, is called, or refinanced.

- RatingWatch: Ratings are placed on RatingWatch to notify investors that
there is a reasonable probability of a rating change and the likely direction of
such change. These are designated as "Positive", indicating a potential
upgrade, "Negative", for a potential downgrade, or "Evolving", if ratings may be
raised, lowered or maintained. RatingWatch is typically resolved over a
relatively short period.

A Rating Outlook indicates the direction a rating is likely to move over a one
to two-year period. Outlooks may be positive, stable or negative. A positive
or negative Rating Outlook does not imply a rating change is inevitable.
Similarly, companies whose outlooks are "stable" could be upgraded or downgraded
before an outlook moves to positive or negative if circumstances warrant such an
action. Occasionally, Fitch may be unable to identify the fundamental trend.
In these cases, the Rating Outlook may be described as evolving.

A-7
<PAGE>

Municipal Note Ratings
----------------------

A Standard and Poor's note rating reflects the liquidity factors and market
access risks unique to notes due in three years or less. The following
summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor's for municipal notes:

"SP-1" - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit a strong capacity to pay
principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess a very strong
capacity to pay debt service are given a plus (+) designation.

"SP-2" - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit satisfactory capacity to
pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and
economic changes over the term of the notes.

"SP-3" - The issuers of these municipal notes exhibit speculative capacity to
pay principal and interest.

Moody's ratings for state and municipal notes and other short-term loans are
designated Moody's Investment Grade ("MIG") and variable rate demand obligations
are designated Variable Moody's Investment Grade ("VMIG"). Such ratings
recognize the differences between short-term credit risk and long-term risk.
The following summarizes the ratings by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. for
short-term notes:

"MIG-1"/"VMIG-1" - This designation denotes superior credit quality.
Excellent protection afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable
liquidity support or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for
refinancing.

"MIG-2"/"VMIG-2" - This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of
protection are ample although not so large as in the preceding group.

"MIG-3"/"VMIG-3" - This designation denotes acceptable credit. Liquidity and
cash flow protection may be narrow and market access for refinancing is likely
to be less well established.

"SG" - This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt
instruments in this category lack sufficient margins of protection.

A-8