PIONEER AMERICA INCOME TRUST
485BPOS, 1997-04-28
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 1997        
                                                  File No. 33-20795
                                                      811-5516







                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933     / X /
                                                            ----
         Pre-Effective Amendment No. ___                    /   /
         Post-Effective Amendment No. 11                    / X /
                           
                              and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
                                                            / X /

         Amendment No. 12                                   / X /
                                                            ----
                           (Check appropriate box or boxes)

                          PIONEER AMERICA INCOME TRUST
                    (formerly Pioneer U.S. Government Trust)
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


                  60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
                (Address of principal executive office) Zip Code


     Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (617) 742-7825

   Joseph P. Barri, Hale and Dorr, 60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109 (Name and
                         address of agent for service)

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:
          ---
          /X/      immediately upon filing pursuant to Rule 485(b)
          ---
         /  /     on (date) pursuant to Rule 485(b)
          ---
         /  /     60 days after filing pursuant to Rule 485(a)(1)
         ---
          ---
         /  /     on (date) pursuant to Rule 485(a)(1)
          ---
         /  /     75 days after filing pursuant to Rule 485(a)(2)
         ---
          ---
         /  /     on (date) pursuant to Rule 485(a)(2)

Registrant  has  registered  an  indefinite   amount  of  securities  under  the
Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 24(f) of the  Investment  Company Act
of 1940. The Registrant  filed the Notice  required by Rule 24f-2 for its fiscal
year ended December 31, 1995 on or about February 28, 1997.

<PAGE>
                          PIONEER AMERICA INCOME TRUST

     Cross-Reference  Sheet  Showing  Location in  Prospectus  and  Statement of
Additional Information of Information Required by Items of the Registration Form

                                                            Location in
                                                            Prospectus or
                                                        Statement of Additional
Form N-1A Item Number and Caption                             Information


1. Cover Page................................ Prospectus - Cover Page

2. Synopsis ................................. Prospectus - Expense Information

3. Condensed Financial Information........... Prospectus - Financial Highlights

4. General Description of Registrant......... Prospectus - Investment Objective
                                              and Policies; Management of the
                                              Trust; Trust Share Alternatives;
                                              Share Price; How to Sell Trust
                                              Shares; How to Exchange Trust
                                              Shares; The Trust

5. Management of the Fund.................... Prospectus - Management of the
                                              Trust

6. Capital Stock and Other Securities........ Prospectus - Investment Objective
                                              and Policies; Trust Share
                                              Alternatives; Share Price; How to
                                              Sell Trust Shares; How to Exchange
                                              Trust Shares; The Trust

7. Purchase of Securities Being Offered...... Prospectus - Trust Share
                                              Alternatives; Share Price; How to
                                              Sell Trust Shares; How to Exchange
                                              Trust Shares; The Trust;
                                              Shareholder Services; Distribution
                                              Plans



<PAGE>


                                                        Location in
                                                        Prospectus or
                                                        Statement of Additional
   Form N-1A Item Number and Caption                    Information


8. Redemption or Repurchase..............     Prospectus - Trust Share
                                              Alternatives; Share Price; How to
                                              Sell Trust Shares; How to Exchange
                                              Trust Shares; The Trust;
                                              Shareholder Services

9. Pending Legal Proceedings.............     Not Applicable


10.Cover Page............................     Statement of Additional
                                              Information - Cover Page

11.Table of Contents.....................     Statement of Additional
                                              Information - Cover Page

12.General Information and History.......     Statement of Additional
                                              Information - Cover Page;
                                              Description of Shares

13.Investment Objectives and Policy......     Statement of Additional
                                              Information - Investment Policies
                                              and Restrictions

14.Management of the Fund................     Statement of Additional
                                              Information - Management of the
                                              Trust; Investment Adviser

15.Control Persons and Principle Holders
     of Securities.......................     Statement of Additional
                                              Information - Management of the
                                              Trust
<PAGE>

16.Investment Advisory and Other
     Services............................     Statement of Additional
                                              Information - Management of the
                                              Trust; Investment Adviser;
                                              Principal Underwriter;
                                              Distribution Plans; Shareholder
                                              Servicing/Transfer Agent;
                                              Custodian; Independent Public
                                              Accountant

17.Brokerage Allocation and Other
     Practices...........................     Statement of Additional
                                              Information - Portfolio
                                              Transactions

18.Capital Stock and Other Securities....     Statement of Additional
                                              Information - Description of
                                              Shares; Certain Liabilities

19.Purchase Redemption and Pricing of
     Securities Being Offered............     Statement of Additional
                                              Information - Letter of Intent;
                                              Systematic Withdrawal Plan;
                                              Determination of Net Asset Value

20.Tax Status............................     Statement of Additional
                                              Information - Tax Status

21.Underwriters..........................     Statement of Additional
                                              Information - Principal
                                              Underwriter; Distribution Plans

22.Calculation of Performance Data.......     Statement of Additional
                                              Information - Investment Results

23.Financial Statements..................     Statement of Additional
                                              Information - Financial Statements
<PAGE>


                                                                 [PIONEER LOGO]
Pioneer America
Income Trust 

Class A, Class B and Class C Shares
Prospectus
   
April 30, 1997

      Pioneer America Income Trust (the "Trust") seeks to provide as high a
level of current income as is consistent with preservation of capital and
prudent investment risk. The Trust seeks to achieve this objective by investing
its assets exclusively in securities backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States ("U.S.") and in "when issued" commitments and repurchase
agreements with respect to such securities. 
    

      Trust returns and share prices fluctuate and the value of your account
upon redemption may be more or less than your purchase price. Shares in the
Trust are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank
or other insured depository institution, and the shares are not federally
insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board
or any other government agency. 

   
      This Prospectus provides information about the Trust that you should know
before investing. Please read and keep it for your future reference. More
information about the Trust is included in the Trust's Statement of Additional
Information, also dated April 30, 1997, which is incorporated into this
Prospectus by reference. A copy of the Statement of Additional Information may
be obtained free of charge by calling Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-6292 or
by written request to the Trust at 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.
Other information about the Trust has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and is available upon request and without
charge.
                           TABLE OF CONTENTS                        PAGE 
       ---------------------------------------------------------   ------
I.      EXPENSE INFORMATION    .................................     2   
II.     FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS   .................................     3   
III.    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES  .....................     5   
IV.     MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST   ..............................     6   
V.      TRUST SHARE ALTERNATIVES  ..............................     7   
VI.     SHARE PRICE   ..........................................     8   
VII.    HOW TO BUY TRUST SHARES   ..............................     8   
VIII.   HOW TO SELL TRUST SHARES  ..............................    11   
IX.     HOW TO EXCHANGE TRUST SHARES    ........................    12   
X.      DISTRIBUTION PLANS  ....................................    13   
XI.     DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXATION    ...............    14   
XII.    SHAREHOLDER SERVICES   .................................    15   
         Account and Confirmation Statements  ..................    15   
         Additional Investments   ..............................    15   
         Automatic Investment Plans  ...........................    15   
         Financial Reports and Tax Information   ...............    15   
         Distribution Options  .................................    15   
         Directed Dividends    .................................    15   
         Direct Deposit  .......................................    15   
         Voluntary Tax Withholding   ...........................    15   
         Telephone Transactions and Related Liabilities   ......    15   
         FactFone(SM) ..........................................    16   
         Retirement Plans   ....................................    16   
         Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD)  .........    16   
         Systematic Withdrawal Plans    ........................    16   
         Reinstatement Privilege (Class A Shares Only)    ......    16   
XIII.   THE TRUST  .............................................    17   
XIV.    INVESTMENT RESULTS  ....................................    17   

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

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

<PAGE>

I. EXPENSE INFORMATION 

   
     This table is designed to help you understand the charges and expenses that
you, as a shareholder, will bear directly or indirectly when you invest in the
Trust. The table reflects annual operating expenses of Class A and Class B
shares based upon actual expenses incurred for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1996. For Class C shares, operating expenses are based on expenses that
would have been incurred if Class C shares had been outstanding for the entire
fiscal year ended December 31, 1996. 

Shareholder Transaction Expenses:      Class A        Class B   Class C     
                                       ------------- ---------- ----------  
 Maximum Initial Sales Charge on                                            
  Purchases (as a percentage of                                             
  offering price)   ..................        4.50%(1)     None       None  
 Maximum Sales Charge on                                                    
  Reinvestment of Dividends  .........        None         None       None  
 Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (as a                                        
  percentage of purchase price or                                           
  redemption proceeds, as applicable)         None(1)      4.00%      1.00% 
 Redemption Fee(2) ...................        None         None       None  
 Exchange Fee ........................        None         None       None  
Annual Operating Expenses                                                   
 (as a percentage of average net                                            
 assets):                                                                   
 Management Fee (after fee                                                  
  reduction)(3) ......................        0.34%        0.34%      0.34% 
 12b-1 Fees   ........................        0.25%        1.00%      1.00% 
 Other Expenses (including transfer                                         
  agent fee, custodian fees and                                             
  accounting and printing expenses)           0.41%        0.39%      0.42% 
                                          ----------   --------   --------  
Total Operating Expenses (after fee                                         
 reduction):(3)  .....................        1.00%        1.73%      1.76% 
                                          ==========   ========   ========  
    

- ------------------ 
   
(1)  Purchases of $1 million or more and purchases by participants of certain
     group plans are not subject to an initial sales charge but may be subject
     to a contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC"). See "How to Sell Trust
     Shares."

(2)  Separate fees (currently $10 and $20, respectively) apply to domestic and
     international wire transfers of redemption proceeds.

(3)  Pioneering Management Corporation ("PMC"), the Trust's investment adviser,
     has agreed not to impose a portion of its management fee as required to
     limit the Class A shares expenses to 1.00% of the average daily net assets
     attributable to Class A shares; the portion of Trust-wide expenses
     attributable to Class B and Class C shares will be reduced only to the
     extent that such expenses are reduced for Class A shares. This agreement is
     voluntary and temporary and may be revised or terminated at any time by
     PMC.

                                 Class A    Class B    Class C  
                                ---------  ---------  --------- 
Expenses Absent Fee Reduction                                   
 Management Fee    ............   0.50%      0.50%     0.50%    
 Total Operating Expenses   ...   1.16%      1.89%      1.91%   

 Example:

     You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5%
annual return, reinvestment of all dividends and distributions and that the
percentage amounts listed under "Annual Operating Expenses" remain the same each
year. 
                               1 Year      3 Years     5 Years      10 Years  
                              ---------   ----------   ----------   ----------
Class A Shares                 $55         $74            $98         $ 162   
Class B Shares                                                                
 --Assuming complete                                                          
 redemption at end of                                                         
 period                        $58         $84            $114        $185*   
 --Assuming no redemption      $18         $54            $94         $185*   
Class C Shares**                                                              
 --Assuming complete                                                          
 redemption at end of                                                         
 period                        $28         $55            $95         $ 207   
 --Assuming no redemption      $18         $55            $95         $ 207   
    

- ------------------- 
   
 *Class B shares convert to Class A shares eight years after purchase;
  therefore, Class A share expenses are used after year eight. 

**Class C shares redeemed during the first year after purchase are subject to a
  1% CDSC. 

     THE EXAMPLE IS DESIGNED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND SHOULD NOT BE
CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES OR RETURNS. ACTUAL TRUST
EXPENSES AND RETURNS VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR AND MAY BE HIGHER OR LOWER THAN
THOSE SHOWN. 

     For further information regarding management fees, Rule 12b-1 fees and
other expenses of the Trust see "Management of the Trust," "Distribution Plans"
and "How To Buy Trust Shares" in this Prospectus and "Management of the Trust"
and "Underwriting Agreement and Distribution Plans" in the Statement of
Additional Information. The Trust's payment of Rule 12b-1 fees may result in
long-term shareholders indirectly paying more than the economic equivalent of
the maximum initial sales charge permitted under the Conduct Rules of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"). 

     The maximum initial sales charge is reduced on purchases of specified
amounts of Class A shares and the value of shares owned in other Pioneer mutual
funds is taken into account in determining the applicable initial sales charge.
See "How to Buy Trust Shares." No sales charge is applied to exchanges of shares
of the Trust for shares of other publicly available Pioneer mutual funds. See
"How to Exchange Trust Shares." 
    

                                       2

<PAGE>


II. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   
     The following information has been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP,
independent public accountants. Arthur Andersen LLP's report on the Trust's
financial statements as of December 31, 1996 appears in the Trust's Annual
Report and is incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional
Information. The information listed below should  be read in conjunction with
the financial statements contained in the Trust's Annual Report. The Annual
Report includes more information about the Trust's performance and is available
free of charge by calling Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-6292. 
    

Pioneer America Income Trust

   
Selected Data for a Class A Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period: 
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  For the Year Ended December 31,         
                                          ----------------------------------------------- 
                                               1996        1995        1994       1993    
                                          ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- 
<S>                                         <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>        
Net asset value, beginning of period ....    $ 10.20     $  9.41     $ 10.48    $ 10.27   
                                             --------    --------    --------   -------   
Increase (decrease) from investment                                                       
 operations:                                                                              
  Net investment income (loss)  .........    $  0.64     $  0.68     $  0.66    $  0.68   
  Net realized and unrealized gain                                                        
   (loss) on investments  ...............      (0.43)       0.79       (1.07)      0.24   
                                             --------    --------    --------   -------   
Net increase (decrease) from                                                              
 investment operations    ...............    $  0.21     $  1.47     $ (0.41)   $  0.92   
Distribution to shareholders:                                                             
 Net investment income    ...............      (0.64)      (0.68)      (0.66)     (0.67)  
 Net realized gain  .....................         --          --          --      (0.04)  
                                             --------    --------    --------   -------   
Net increase (decrease) in net asset                                                      
 value  .................................    $ (0.43)    $  0.79     $ (1.07)   $  0.21   
                                             --------    --------    --------   -------   
Net asset value, end of period  .........    $  9.77     $ 10.20     $  9.41    $ 10.48   
                                             ========    ========    ========   =======   
Total return*    ........................       2.29%      16.06%      (3.97)%     9.07%  
Ratio of net expenses to average net                                                      
 assets    ..............................       1.01%+      1.02%+      1.00%      1.00%  
Ratio of net investment income (loss)                                                     
 to average net assets    ...............       6.51%+      6.85%+      6.84%      6.37%  
Portfolio turnover rate   ...............         43%         62%         61%        42%  
Net assets, end of period                                                                 
 (in thousands)  ........................   $145,408    $162,708    $161,858   $105,892   
Ratios assuming no waiver of                                                              
 management fees by PMC and no                                                            
 reduction for fees paid indirectly:                                                      
  Net expenses   ........................       1.17%       1.22%       1.12%      1.13%  
  Net investment income (loss)  .........       6.35%       6.65%       6.72%      6.24%  
Ratios assuming waiver of management                                                      
 fees by PMC and reduction for fees                                                       
 paid indirectly:                                                                         
  Net expenses   ........................       1.00%       1.00%         --         --   
  Net investment income (loss)  .........       6.52%       6.87%         --         --   

<CAPTION>
                                                                                          May 31    
                                                                                            to      
                                               For the Year Ended December 31,         December 31, 
                                          -----------------------------------------                 
                                             1992       1991       1990       1989         1988     
                                          ---------- ---------- ---------- --------   ------------- 
<S>                                        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>       
Net asset value, beginning of period ....   $10.35     $10.03     $10.04     $ 9.86       $ 10.00   
                                            ------     ------     ------     ------       --------  
Increase (decrease) from investment                                                                 
 operations:                                                                                        
  Net investment income (loss)  .........   $ 0.73     $ 0.84     $ 0.87     $ 0.90       $  0.51   
  Net realized and unrealized gain                                                                  
   (loss) on investments  ...............    (0.07)      0.33      (0.02)      0.18         (0.14)  
                                            ------     ------     ------     ------       --------  
Net increase (decrease) from                                                                        
 investment operations    ...............   $ 0.66     $ 1.17     $ 0.85     $ 1.08       $  0.37   
Distribution to shareholders:                                                                       
 Net investment income    ...............    (0.73)     (0.85)     (0.86)     (0.90)        (0.51)  
 Net realized gain  .....................    (0.01)        --         --         --            --   
                                            ------     ------     ------     ------       --------  
Net increase (decrease) in net asset                                                                
 value  .................................   $(0.08)    $ 0.32     $(0.01)    $ 0.18       $ (0.14)  
                                            ------     ------     ------     ------       --------  
Net asset value, end of period  .........   $10.27     $10.35     $10.03     $10.04       $  9.86   
                                            ======     ======     ======     ======       ========  
Total return*    ........................     6.67%     12.14%      8.99%     11.49%         3.76%  
Ratio of net expenses to average net                                                                
 assets    ..............................     1.03%      0.75%      0.75%      0.75%         0.67%**
Ratio of net investment income (loss)                                                               
 to average net assets    ...............     7.01%      8.07%      8.75%      9.10%         8.86%**
Portfolio turnover rate   ...............       55%        37%        69%        66%           61%**
Net assets, end of period                                                                           
 (in thousands)  ........................  $85,425    $43,711    $17,160    $10,533       $ 4,634   
Ratios assuming no waiver of                                                                        
 management fees by PMC and no                                                                      
 reduction for fees paid indirectly:                                                                
  Net expenses   ........................     1.25%      1.75%      1.81%      2.36%         3.01%**
  Net investment income (loss)  .........     6.79%      7.07%      7.69%      7.49%         6.52%**
Ratios assuming waiver of management                                                                
 fees by PMC and reduction for fees                                                                 
 paid indirectly:                                                                                   
  Net expenses   ........................       --         --         --         --            --   
  Net investment income (loss)  .........       --         --         --         --            --   
</TABLE>
    

- ----------------- 
 + Ratios assuming no reduction for fees paid indirectly.
   
 * Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of each
   period, reinvestment of distributions, the complete redemption of the
   investment at net asset value at the end of each period, and no sales
   charges. Total return would be reduced if sales charges were taken into
   account.
    
 ** Annualized.

                                       3
                                        

<PAGE>

   
II. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued) 

Selected Data for a Class B Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period: 
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                For the Year      
                                                                                             Ended December 31,   
                                                                                           ---------------------- 
                                                                                             1996       1995      
                                                                                           ---------- ----------  
<S>                                                                                           <C>        <C>      
Net asset value, beginning of period   ...................................................    $10.17     $ 9.40   
                                                                                              -------    -------  
Increase (decrease) from investment operations:                                                                   
 Net investment income (loss)    .........................................................    $ 0.57     $ 0.61   
 Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments  .................................     (0.42)      0.77   
                                                                                              -------    -------  
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations    ....................................    $ 0.15     $ 1.38   
Distribution to shareholders:                                                                                     
 Net investment income  ..................................................................     (0.57)     (0.61)  
                                                                                              -------    -------- 
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value   .............................................    $(0.42)    $ 0.77   
                                                                                              -------    -------- 
Net asset value, end of period   .........................................................    $ 9.75     $10.17   
                                                                                              =======    ======== 
Total return*  ...........................................................................      1.59%     15.08%  
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets  .............................................      1.75%+     1.77%+ 
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets    ...........................      5.78%+     5.92%+ 
Portfolio turnover rate ..................................................................        43%        62%  
Net assets, end of period (in thousands)  ................................................    $9,557     $6,992   
Ratios assuming no waiver of management fees by PMC and no reduction for fees paid                                
  indirectly:                                                                                                     
  Net expenses    ........................................................................      1.91%      1.97%  
  Net investment income (loss)   .........................................................      5.62%      5.72%  
Ratios assuming waiver of managements fees by PMC and reduction for fees paid indirectly:
  Net expenses    ........................................................................      1.73%      1.72%  
  Net investment income (loss)   .........................................................      5.80%      5.97%  

<CAPTION>
                                                                                               April 29, 1994     
                                                                                            to December 31, 1994  
                                                                                           ---------------------- 
<S>                                                                                                 <C>           
Net asset value, beginning of period   ...................................................          $  9.85       
                                                                                                    --------      
Increase (decrease) from investment operations:                                                                   
 Net investment income (loss)    .........................................................          $  0.40       
 Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments  .................................            (0.45)      
                                                                                                    --------      
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations    ....................................          $ (0.05)      
Distribution to shareholders:                                                                                     
 Net investment income  ..................................................................            (0.40)      
                                                                                                    --------      
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value   .............................................          $ (0.45)      
                                                                                                    --------      
Net asset value, end of period   .........................................................          $  9.40       
                                                                                                    ========      
Total return*  ...........................................................................            (0.57)%     
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets  .............................................             1.78%**    
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets    ...........................             6.35%**    
Portfolio turnover rate ..................................................................               61%**    
Net assets, end of period (in thousands)  ................................................          $ 2,170       
Ratios assuming no waiver of management fees by PMC and no reduction for fees paid                                
  indirectly:                                                                                                     
  Net expenses    ........................................................................             1.90%**    
  Net investment income (loss)   .........................................................             6.23%**    
Ratios assuming waiver of managements fees by PMC and reduction for fees paid indirectly:                         
  Net expenses    ........................................................................               --       
  Net investment income (loss)   .........................................................               --       
</TABLE>
    

   
Selected Data for a Class C Share Outstanding Throughout Each Period(a): 
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              For the period January 31, 1996 
                                                                                                through December 31, 1996     
                                                                                             ---------------------------------
<S>                                                                                                        <C>                
Net asset value, beginning of period   ...................................................                 $  10.16           
                                                                                                           --------           
Increase (decrease) from investment operations:                                                                               
 Net investment income (loss)    .........................................................                     0.52           
 Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments  .................................                    (0.42)          
                                                                                                           --------           
Net increase (decrease) from investment operations    ....................................                 $   0.10           
Distribution to shareholders:                                                                                                 
 Net investment income  ..................................................................                    (0.52)          
                                                                                                           --------           
Net increase (decrease) in net asset value   .............................................                 $  (0.42)          
                                                                                                           --------           
Net asset value, end of period   .........................................................                 $   9.74           
                                                                                                           ========           
Total return*  ...........................................................................                     1.04%          
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets  .............................................                     1.80%**+       
Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets    ...........................                     5.73%**+       
Portfolio turnover rate ..................................................................                       43%          
Net assets, end of period (in thousands)  ................................................                 $  1,306           
Ratios assuming no waiver of management fees by PMC and no reduction for fees paid                                            
  indirectly:                                                                                                                 
  Net expenses    ........................................................................                     1.95%**        
  Net investment income (loss)   .........................................................                     5.58%**        
Ratios assuming waiver of managements fees by PMC and reduction for fees paid indirectly:                                     
  Net expenses    ........................................................................                     1.76%**        
  Net investment income (loss)   .........................................................                     5.77%**        
</TABLE>
    

   
- ----------------- 
(a) Class C shares were first publicly offered on January 31, 1996.
 *  Assumes initial investment at net asset value at the beginning of each
    period, reinvestment of distributions, the complete redemption of the
    investment at net asset value at the end of each period and no sales charge.
    Total return would be reduced if sale charges were taken into account.
**  Annualized.
 +  Ratio assuming no reduction for fees paid indirectly. 
    

                                        4
                                        

<PAGE>

III. INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

   
     The investment objective of the Trust is to provide as high a level of
current income as is consistent with preservation of capital and prudent
investment risk. The Trust seeks to achieve this objective by investing its
assets exclusively in securities backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States and in "when-issued" commitments and repurchase agreements with
respect to such securities. The Trust may only invest in securities and engage
in transactions in securities that are legal under applicable Federal law, as of
September 30, 1995, for federal credit unions. 
    

     U.S. Government Securities in which the Trust may invest include (1) U.S.
Treasury obligations, which differ only in their interest rates, maturities and
times of issuance: U.S. Treasury bills (maturities of one year or less), U.S.
Treasury notes (maturities of one to ten years) and U.S. Treasury bonds
(generally maturities of greater than ten years) and (2) obligations of varying
maturities issued or guaranteed by certain agencies and instrumentalities of the
U.S. Government, such as mortgage participation certificates ("GNMA
Certificates") guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association
("GNMA") and Federal Housing Administration ("FHA") debentures, for which the
U.S. Treasury unconditionally guarantees payment of principal and interest.
Although the payment when due of interest and principal on U.S. Government
Securities is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, this
guarantee does not extend to the market value of these securities. Accordingly,
the market value of these securities held in the Trust's portfolio and the net
asset value of the Trust's shares will fluctuate. 

     The Trust's portfolio will be managed by purchasing and selling securities,
as well as holding selected securities to maturity. The Trust's investment
manager, PMC, employs "cycle analysis" in the management of the Trust's
portfolio. Cycle analysis is the process of analyzing the business and credit
cycles of the economy to identify and monitor trends in interest rates and to
identify debt securities with characteristics most likely to meet the Trust's
objectives at given stages in all cycles. Relying on analysis of economic
indicators, as well as price, yield and maturity data of individual securities,
this process requires ongoing adjustments to the portfolio based on the relative
values or maturities of individual securities. 
   
     Any such change in the portfolio may result in increases or decreases in
the Trust's current income available for distribution to shareholders and in its
holding of debt securities which may sell at moderate to substantial premiums or
discounts from face value. If the Trust's expectations of changes in interest
rates or its evaluation of the normal yield relationships between two securities
is incorrect, the Trust's income, net asset value and potential gain may be
reduced or its potential loss may be increased. 
    
     The Trust may take advantage of the entire range of maturities offered by
U.S. Government Securities, and the average maturity of the Trust's portfolio
may vary significantly. Under normal circumstances, however, the dollar weighted
average portfolio maturity of the Trust is not expected to exceed twenty years.
Capital gains will not be a major consideration in the selection of investments.
The Trust will not normally engage in short-term trading but it may do so when
it believes a particular transaction will contribute to the achievement of its
investment objective. 

     The Trust may invest all or any portion of its assets in GNMA Certificates
but it is not obligated to do so; the portion of its assets so invested will
vary with management's view of the relative yields and values of GNMA
Certificates compared to U.S. Treasury obligations. 

     GNMA Certificates are mortgage-backed securities which evidence part
ownership of a pool of mortgage loans. The mortgages loans are made by lenders
such as mortgage bankers, commercial banks and savings and loan associations,
and are insured by the FHA or the Farmers' Home Administration ("FHMA"), or
guaranteed by the Veterans Administration ("VA"). The mortgages are grouped in
pools containing mortgages which are of similar types and maturities and bear
similar interest rates. Upon approval by GNMA of a pool, GNMA guarantees the
timely payment of principal and interest on securities backed by the pool. The
GNMA guarantee is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
GNMA is also empowered to borrow without limitation from the U.S. Treasury if
necessary to make any payments required under its guarantee. 

     The GNMA Certificates which the Trust purchases are the "modified
pass-through" type. Modified pass-through certificates entitle the holder to
receive all principal and interest owned on the mortgages in the pool, net of
fees paid to the issuer and GNMA, regardless of whether or not the mortgagor
actually makes the payment. 

     The average life of a GNMA Certificate is likely to be substantially less
than the original maturity of the underlying mortgage pools because of principal
prepayments and foreclosures. Foreclosures create no risk to principal invested
because of the GNMA guarantee. As prepayment rates of individual mortgage pools
will vary widely, it is not possible to predict accurately the average life of a
particular issue of GNMA Certificates. However, it is customary to treat GNMA
Certificates as 30-year mortgage-backed securities which prepay fully in the
twelfth year. 

     There are several factors that may cause the yield earned by the Trust to
be substantially different than the coupon rate of interest on the GNMA
Certificates and other securities held in the Trust's portfolio. First, as with
any fund consisting of fixed-income securities, repayments and prepayments of
principal require reinvestment which may be at a lower or higher interest rate.
This reinvestment risk is increased in the case of GNMA Certificates because
principal is repaid monthly rather than in a lump sum at maturity. Second,
prepayments of mortgage-backed GNMA Certificates will tend to increase when
general interest rates decline, requiring reinvestment at the lower market rate.
Higher interest rate mortgages will be more prone to prepayment. Third, the
Trust may purchase GNMA Certificates at a premium or discount, rather than at
par, causing actual yield to be lower or higher than the interest rate on the
GNMA Certificates. After issuance, GNMA Certificates may also trade in the
market at a premium or discount. Upon prepayment, the Trust may realize a loss
in the amount of any unamortized premiums paid upon purchase of GNMA
Certificates since prepayment may be at par. 

                                        5
                                        

<PAGE>

   
     The values of the U.S. Government Securities, including GNMA Certificates,
in which the Trust invests will fluctuate with changes in interest rates.
Changes in the value of such securities will not effect interest income from
those obligations but will be reflected in the Trust's net asset value. Thus, a
decrease in interest rates will generally result in an increase in the value of
the Trust's shares and conversely during periods of rising interest rates the
value of the Trust's shares will generally decline. The magnitude of these
fluctuations will generally be greater when the Trust's average maturity is
longer. 

     GNMA Certificates may offer yields higher than those available from other
types of U.S. Government Securities, but because of their prepayment aspect may
be less effective than other types of securities as a means of "locking in"
attractive long-term interest rates. This is caused by the need to reinvest
prepayments of principal generally and the possibility of significant
unscheduled prepayments resulting from declines in mortgage interest rates.
These prepayments would have to be reinvested at the lower rates. As a result,
the Trust's GNMA Certificates may have less potential for capital appreciation
during periods of declining interest rates than other U.S. Government Securities
of comparable maturities, although such obligations may have a comparable risk
of decline in market value during periods of rising interest rates. 

     Prices of GNMA Certificates are readily available from securities dealers
and depend on, among other things, the level of market interest rates, the GNMA
Certificate's coupon rate and the prepayment history of the pool of mortgages
backing each GNMA Certificate. 
    
     For further information on GNMA Certificates, see "Investment Policies and
Restrictions" in the Statement of Additional Information. 

     "When-Issued" GNMA Certificates. The Trust may purchase and sell GNMA
Certificates on a when-issued or a delayed delivery basis. When-issued or
delayed delivery transactions arise when securities are purchased or sold by the
Trust with payment and delivery taking place in the future in order to secure
what is considered to be an advantageous price and yield which is fixed at the
time of entering into the transaction. However, the yield on a comparable GNMA
Certificate when the transaction is consummated may vary from the yield on the
GNMA Certificate at the time that the when-issued or delayed delivery
transaction was made. Also, the market value of the when-issued or delayed
delivery GNMA Certificate may increase or decrease as a result of changes in
general interest rates. When-issued and delayed delivery transactions involve
risk of loss if the value of the GNMA Certificate declines before the settlement
date. This risk is in addition to the risk of decline in the value of the
Trust's other assets. When the Trust engages in when-issued and delayed delivery
transactions, the Trust relies on the seller or buyer, as the case may be, to
consummate the transaction. Failure of the seller or buyer to do so may result
in the Trust missing the opportunity of obtaining a price or yield considered to
be advantageous. However, no payment or delivery is made by the Trust until it
receives payment or delivery from the other party to the transaction. To the
extent the Trust engages in when-issued and delayed delivery transactions, it
will do so for the purpose of acquiring or disposing of GNMA Certificates for
the Trust's portfolio consistent with the Trust's investment objective and
policies and not for the purpose of investment leverage.

     The value of such purchase commitments at any time will not exceed the
value of the Trust's assets invested in U.S. Treasury Bills and other securities
having remaining maturities of less than six months. The Trust's investments in
when-issued or delayed delivery commitments and in repurchase agreements
(limited to seven days) may represent up to 25% of its assets. 

     The Trust's investment objective and its policy of investing exclusively in
U.S. Government Securities and when-issued commitments and repurchase agreements
with respect to such securities are fundamental policies which may not be
changed without shareholder approval. Except for these policies and certain
investment restrictions designated in the Statement of Additional Information as
fundamental, the investment policies described in this Prospectus and in the
Statement of Additional Information are not fundamental policies. The Trustees
may change any non-fundamental investment policy without shareholder approval. 

IV. MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

     The Trust's Board of Trustees has overall responsibility for management and
supervision of the Trust. There are currently eight Trustees, six of whom are
not "interested persons" of the Trust as defined in the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The Board meets at least quarterly. By
virtue of the functions performed by PMC as investment adviser, the Trust
requires no employees other than its executive officers, all of whom receive
their compensation from PMC or other sources. The Statement of Additional
Information contains the names and general background of each Trustee and
executive officer of the Trust. 
   
     The Trust is managed under a contract with PMC which serves as investment
adviser to the Trust and is responsible for the overall management of the
Trust's business affairs, subject only to the authority of the Board of
Trustees. PMC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Pioneer Group, Inc. ("PGI"), a
Delaware corporation. Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc. ("PFD"), an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of PGI, is the principal underwriter of shares of the
Trust. John F. Cogan, Jr., Chairman and President of the Trust, Chairman and a
director of PMC, Chairman of PFD, and President and a Director of PGI, owned
approximately 14% of the outstanding capital stock of PGI as of the date of this
Prospectus. 

     Mr. David Tripple, President and Chief Investment Officer of PMC and
Executive Vice President of each Pioneer mutual fund, has general responsibility
for PMC's investment operations and chairs a committee of PMC's fixed income
managers which reviews PMC's research and portfolio operations, including those
of the Trust. Mr. Tripple joined PMC in 1974. 

     Research and management for the Trust is the responsibility of a team of
portfolio managers and analysts focusing on 
    

                                        6

<PAGE>

   
fixed income securities. Members of the team meet regularly to discuss holdings,
prospective investments and portfolio composition. Mr. Sherman Russ, a Senior
Vice President of PMC and Vice President of the Trust, is the senior member of
the fixed income team. Mr. Russ joined PMC in 1983. 

     Day-to-day management of the Trust has been the responsibility of Mr. Russ
since inception. Mr. Russ has over ten years of investment experience. 


     In addition to the Trust, PMC also manages and serves as the investment
adviser for other mutual funds and is an investment adviser to certain other
institutional accounts. PMC's and PFD's executive offices are located at 60
State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. In an effort to avoid conflicts of
interest with the Trust, the Trust and PMC have adopted a Code of Ethics that is
designed to maintain a high standard of personal conduct by directing that all
personnel defer to the interests of the Trust and its shareholders in making
personal securities transactions. 

     Under the terms of its contract with the Trust, PMC assists in the
management of the Trust and is authorized in its discretion to buy and sell
securities for the account of the Trust, subject to the right of the Trust's
Trustees to disapprove any such purchase or sale. PMC pays all the ordinary
operating expenses, including executive salaries and the rental of office space
related to its services for the Trust, with the exception of the following which
are to be paid by the Trust: (a) charges and expenses for fund accounting,
pricing and appraisal services and related overhead, including, to the extent
such services are performed by personnel of PMC or its affiliates, office space
and facilities and personnel compensation, training and benefits; (b) the
charges and expenses of auditors; (c) the charges and expenses of any custodian,
transfer agent, plan agent, dividend disbursing agent and registrar appointed by
the Trust with respect to shares of the Trust; (d) issue and transfer taxes,
chargeable to the Trust in connection with securities transactions to which the
Trust is a party; (e) insurance premiums, interest charges, dues and fees for
membership in trade associations, and all taxes and corporate fees payable by
the Trust to federal, state or other governmental agencies; (f) fees and
expenses involved in registering and maintaining registrations of the Trust
and/or its shares with the regulatory agencies, individual states or blue sky
securities agencies, territories and foreign countries, including the
preparation of Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information for filing
with regulatory agencies; (g) all expenses of shareholders' and Trustees'
meetings and of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses, notices,
proxy statements and all reports to shareholders and to governmental agencies;
(h) charges and expenses of legal counsel to the Trust and to Trustees; (i)
distribution fees paid by the Trust in accordance with Rule 12b-1 promulgated by
the SEC pursuant to the 1940 Act; (j) compensation of those Trustees of the
Trust who are not affiliated with or interested persons of PMC, the Trust (other
than as Trustees), PGI or PFD; (k) the cost of preparing and printing share
certificates; and (l) interest on borrowed money, if any. The Trust also pays
all brokers' and underwriting commissions chargeable to the Trust in connection
with its portfolio transactions.

     Orders for the Trust's portfolio securities transactions are placed by PMC,
which strives to obtain the best price and execution for each transaction. In
circumstances where two or more broker-dealers are in a position to offer
comparable prices and execution, consideration may be given to whether the
broker-dealer provides brokerage or research services or sells shares of the
Pioneer mutual funds for which PMC or any of its affiliates serves as investment
adviser or manager. See the Statement of Additional Information for a further
description of PMC's brokerage allocation practices. 

     As compensation for its management services and certain expenses which PMC
incurs, PMC is entitled to a management fee equal to 0.50% per annum of the
Trust's average daily net assets. The fee is normally computed daily and paid
monthly. See "Expense Information" in this Prospectus and "Investment Adviser"
in the Statement of Additional Information. 
    

V. TRUST SHARE ALTERNATIVES

     The Trust continuously offers three Classes of shares designated as Class
A, Class B and Class C shares, as described more fully in "How to Buy Trust
Shares." If you do not specify in your instructions to the Trust which Class of
shares you wish to purchase, exchange or redeem, the Trust will assume that your
instructions apply to Class A shares. 

     Class A Shares. If you invest less than $1 million in Class A shares, you
will pay an initial sales charge. Certain purchases may qualify for reduced
initial sales charges. If you invest $1 million or more in Class A shares, no
sales charge will be imposed at the time of purchase. However, shares redeemed
within 12 months of purchase may be subject to a CDSC. Class A shares are
subject to distribution and service fees at a combined annual rate of up to
0.25% of the Trust's average daily net assets attributable to Class A shares. 
   
     Class B Shares. If you plan to invest up to $250,000, Class B shares are
available to you. Class B shares are sold without an initial sales charge, but
are subject to a CDSC of up to 4% if redeemed within six years. Class B shares
are subject to distribution and service fees at a combined annual rate of 1% of
the Trust's average daily net assets attributable to Class B shares. Your entire
investment in Class B shares is available to work for you from the time you make
your investment, but the higher distribution fee paid by Class B shares will
cause your Class B shares (until conversion) to have a higher expense ratio and
to pay lower dividends, to the extent dividends are paid, than Class A shares.
Class B shares will automatically convert to Class A shares, based on relative
net asset value, eight years after the initial purchase. 

     Class C Shares. Class C shares are sold without an initial sales charge,
but are subject to a 1% CDSC if they are redeemed within the first year after
purchase. Class C shares are subject to distribution and service fees at a
combined annual rate of up to 1% of the Trust's average daily net assets
attributable to Class C shares. Your entire investment in Class C shares is
available to work for you from the time 
    

                                        7

<PAGE>

you make your investment, but the higher distribution fee paid by Class C shares
will cause your Class C shares to have a higher expense ratio and to pay lower
dividends, to the extent dividends are paid, than Class A shares. Class C shares
have no conversion feature. 

     Selecting a Class of Shares. The decision as to which Class to purchase
depends on the amount you invest, the intended length of the investment and your
personal situation. If you are making an investment that qualifies for reduced
sales charges, you might consider Class A shares. If you prefer not to pay an
initial sales charge on an investment of $250,000 or less and you plan to hold
the investment for at least six years, you might consider Class B shares. If you
prefer not to pay an initial sales charge and you plan to hold your investment
for one to eight years, you may prefer Class C shares. 

     Investment dealers and their representatives may receive different
compensation depending on which Class of shares they sell. Shares may be
exchanged only for shares of the same Class of another Pioneer mutual fund and
shares acquired in the exchange will continue to be subject to any CDSC
applicable to the shares of the Trust originally purchased. Shares sold outside
the U.S. to persons who are not U.S. citizens may be subject to different sales
charges, CDSCs and dealer compensation arrangements in accordance with local
laws and business practices. 

VI. SHARE PRICE
   
     Shares of the Trust are sold at the public offering price, which is the net
asset value per share, plus the applicable sales charge. Net asset value per
share of each Class of the Trust is determined by dividing the fair market value
of its assets, less liabilities attributable to that Class, by the number of
shares of that Class outstanding. The net asset value is computed once daily, on
each day the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") is open, as of the close
of regular trading on the Exchange. 
    

VII. HOW TO BUY TRUST SHARES
   
     You may buy Trust shares from any securities broker-dealer which has a
selling agreement with PFD. If you do not have a securities broker-dealer,
please call 1-800-225-6292. Shares will be purchased at the public offering
price, that is, the net asset value per share plus any applicable sales charge,
next computed after receipt of a purchase order, except as set forth below. 
    
     The minimum initial investment is $1,000 for Class A, Class B and Class C
shares except as specified below. The minimum initial investment is $50 for
Class A accounts being established to utilize monthly bank drafts, government
allotments, payroll deduction and other similar automatic investment plans.
Separate minimum investment requirements apply to retirement plans and to
telephone and wire orders placed by broker-dealers; no sales charges or minimum
requirements apply to the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains
distributions. The minimum subsequent investment is $50 for Class A shares and
$500 for Class B and Class C shares except that the subsequent minimum
investment amount for Class B and Class C share accounts may be as little as $50
if an automatic investment plan is established (see "Automatic Investment
Plans"). 
   
     Telephone Purchases. Your account is automatically authorized to have the
telephone purchase privilege unless you indicate otherwise on your Account
Application or by writing to Pioneering Services Corporation ("PSC"). The
telephone purchase option may be used to purchase additional shares for an
existing fund account; it may not be used to establish a new account. Proper
account identification will be required for each telephone purchase. A maximum
of $25,000 per account may be purchased by telephone each day. The telephone
purchase privilege is available to Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs") but
may not be available to other types of retirement plan accounts. Call PSC for
more information. 
    
     You are strongly urged to consult with your financial representative prior
to requesting a telephone purchase. To purchase shares by telephone, you must
establish your bank account of record by completing the appropriate section of
your Account Application or an Account Options Form. PSC will electronically
debit the amount of each purchase from this predesignated bank account.
Telephone purchases may not be made for 30 days after the establishment of your
bank of record or any change to your bank information. 

     Telephone purchases will be priced at the net asset value plus any
applicable sales charge next determined after PSC's receipt of a telephone
purchase instruction and receipt of good funds (usually three days after the
purchase instruction). You may always elect to deliver purchases to PSC by mail.
See "Telephone Transactions and Related Liabilities" for additional information.

Class A Shares
   
     You may buy Class A shares at the public offering price, including a sales
charge as follows: 
    





                                                             
                             Sales Charge as % of        Dealer
                           -------------------------    Allowance  
                                            Net         as a % of  
                            Offering      Amount        Offering   
  Amount of Purchase         Price        Invested       Price     
- ------------------------   -----------   -----------   ----------- 
Less than $100,000           4.50%          4.71%         4.00%      
$100,000 but less than                                             
 $250,000                    3.50           3.63          3.00       
$250,000 but less than                                             
 $500,000                    2.50           2.56          2.00       
$500,000 but less than                                             
 $1,000,000                  2.00           2.04          1.75       
$1,000,000 or more           -0-            -0-        see below  

     The schedule of sales charges above is applicable to purchases of Class A
shares of the Trust by an (i) an individual, (ii) an individual and his or her
spouse and children under the age of 21 and (iii) a trustee or other fiduciary
of a trust estate or fiduciary account or related trusts or accounts including
pension, profit-sharing and other employee benefit trusts qualified under
Section 401 or 408 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), although more than one beneficiary is involved. The sales charges
applicable to a 

                                        8

<PAGE>

   
current purchase of Class A shares of the Trust by a person listed above is
determined by adding the value of shares to be purchased to the aggregate value
(at the then current offering price) of shares of any of the other Pioneer
mutual funds previously purchased and then owned, provided PFD is notified by
such person or his or her broker-dealer each time a purchase is made which would
qualify. Pioneer mutual funds include all mutual funds for which PFD serves as
principal underwriter. At the sole discretion of PFD, holdings of funds
domiciled outside the U.S., but which are managed by affiliates of PMC, may be
included for this purpose. 

     No sales charge is payable at the time of purchase on investments of $1
million or more or for participants in certain group plans (described below)
subject to a CDSC of 1% which may be imposed in the event of a redemption of
Class A shares within 12 months of purchase. See "How to Sell Trust Shares." PFD
may, in its discretion, pay a commission to broker-dealers who initiate and are
responsible for such purchases as follows: 1% on the first $5 million invested;
0.50% on the next $45 million; and 0.25% on the excess over $50 million. These
commissions will not be paid if the purchaser is affiliated with the
broker-dealer or if the purchase represents the reinvestment of a redemption
made during the previous 12 calendar months. Broker-dealers who receive a
commission in connection with Class A share purchases at net asset value by
401(a) or 401(k) retirement plans with 1,000 or more eligible participants or
with at least $10 million in plan assets will be required to return any
commission paid or a pro rata portion thereof if the retirement plan redeems its
shares within 12 months of purchase. See also "How to Sell Trust Shares." In
connection with PGI's acquisition of Mutual of Omaha Fund Management Company and
contingent upon the achievement of certain sales objectives, PFD may pay to
Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. 50% of PFD's retention of any sales
commission on sales of the Trust's Class A shares through such dealer. From time
to time, PFD may elect to reallow the entire initial sales charge to
participating dealers for all sales of Class A shares with respect to which
orders are placed during a particular period. Dealers to whom substantially the
entire sales charge is reallowed may be deemed to be underwriters under the
federal securities laws. 

     Qualifying for a Reduced Sales Charge. Class A shares of the Trust may be
sold at a reduced or eliminated sales charge to certain group plans ("Group
Plans") under which a sponsoring organization makes recommendations to, permits
group solicitation of, or otherwise facilitates purchases by, its employees,
members or participants. Information about such arrangements is available from
PFD. 

     Class A shares of the Trust may be sold at net asset value per share
without a sales charge to: (a) current or former Trustees and officers of the
Trust and partners and employees of its legal counsel; (b) current or former
directors, officers, employees or sales representatives of PGI or its
subsidiaries; (c) current or former directors, officers, employees or sales
representatives of any subadviser or predecessor investment adviser to any
investment company for which PMC serves as investment adviser, and the
subsidiaries or affiliates of such persons; (d) current or former officers,
partners, employees or registered representatives of broker-dealers which have
entered into sales agreements with PFD; (e) members of the immediate families of
any of the persons above; (f) any trust, custodian, pension, profit-sharing or
other benefit plan of the foregoing persons; (g) insurance company separate
accounts; (h) certain "wrap accounts" for the benefit of clients of financial
planners adhering to standards established by PFD; (i) other funds and accounts
for which PMC or any of its affiliates serves as investment adviser or manager;
and (j) certain unit investment trusts. Shares so purchased are purchased for
investment purposes and may not be resold except through redemption or
repurchase by or on behalf of the Trust. The availability of this privilege is
conditioned upon the receipt by PFD of written notification of eligibility.
Class A shares of the Trust may be sold at net asset value without a sales
charge to 401(k) retirement plans with 100 or more participants or at least
$500,000 in plan assets. Class A shares of the Trust may be sold at net asset
value per share without a sales charge to Optional Retirement Program (the
"Program") participants if (i) the employer has authorized a limited number of
investment company providers for the Program, (ii) all authorized investment
company providers offer their shares to Program participants at net asset value,
(iii) the employer has agreed in writing to actively promote the authorized
investment providers to Program participants and (iv) the Program provides for a
matching contribution for each participant contribution. Class A shares may also
be sold at net asset value in connection with certain reorganization,
liquidation, or acquisition transactions involving other investment companies or
personal holding companies. 

     Investors who are clients of a broker-dealer with a current selling
agreement with PFD may purchase Class A shares of the Trust at net asset value,
without a sales charge, to the extent that the purchase price is paid out of
proceeds from one or more redemptions by the investor of shares of certain other
mutual funds. In order for a purchase to qualify for this privilege, the
investor must document to the broker-dealer that the redemption occurred within
the 60 days immediately preceding the purchase of Class A shares; that the
client paid a sales charge on the original purchase of the shares redeemed; and
that the mutual fund whose shares were redeemed also offers net asset value
purchases to redeeming shareholders of any of the Pioneer mutual funds. Further
details may be obtained from PFD. 

     Reduced sales charges are available for purchases of $100,000 or more of
Class A shares (excluding any reinvestments of dividends and capital gains
distributions) made within a 13-month period pursuant to a Letter of Intent
("LOI") which may be established by completing the Letter of Intent section of
the Account Application. The reduced sales charge will be the charge that would
be applicable to the purchase of the specified amount of Class A shares as if
the shares had all been purchased at the same time. A purchase not made pursuant
to an LOI may be included if the LOI is submitted to PSC within 90 days of such
purchase. You may also obtain the reduced sales charge by including the value
(at current 
    

                                        9

<PAGE>

   
offering price) of all your Class A shares in the Trust and all other Pioneer
mutual funds held of record as of the date of your LOI in the amount used to
determine the applicable sales charge for the Class A shares to be purchased
under the LOI. Five percent of your total intended purchase amount will be held
in escrow by PSC, registered in your name, until the terms of the LOI are
fulfilled. 

     You are not obligated to purchase the amount specified in your LOI. If,
however, the amount actually purchased during the 13-month period is more or
less than that indicated in your LOI, an adjustment in the sales charge will be
made. If a payment to cover actual sales charges is due, it must be paid to PFD
within 20 days after PFD or your dealer sends you a written request otherwise
PFD will direct PSC to liquidate sufficient shares from your escrow account to
cover the amount due. See the Statement of Additional Information for more
information. 
    

Class B Shares

     You may buy Class B shares at the net asset value per share next computed
after receipt of a purchase order without the imposition of an initial sales
charge. However, Class B shares redeemed within six years of purchase will be
subject to a CDSC at the rates shown in the table below. The charge will be
assessed on the amount equal to the lesser of the current market value or the
original purchase cost of the shares being redeemed. No CDSC will be imposed on
increases in account value above the initial purchase price, including shares
derived from the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. 

     The amount of the CDSC, if any, will vary depending on the number of years
from the time of purchase until the time of redemption of Class B shares. For
the purpose of determining the number of years from the time of any purchase,
all payments during a quarter will be aggregated and deemed to have been made on
the first day of that quarter. In processing redemptions of Class B shares, the
Trust will first redeem shares not subject to any CDSC, and then shares held
longest during the six-year period. As a result, you will pay the lowest
possible CDSC. 

   
     The CDSC for Class B shares subject to a CDSC upon redemption will be
determined as follows: 
    

Year Since                 CDSC as a Percentage of Dollar      
 Purchase                     Amount Subject to CDSC           
- ------------------------   --------------------------------    
First                                  4.0%                 
Second                                 4.0%                 
Third                                  3.0%                 
Fourth                                 3.0%                 
Fifth                                  2.0%                 
Sixth                                  1.0%                 
Seventh and thereafter                 none                 

     Proceeds from the CDSC are paid to PFD and are used in whole or in part to
defray PFD's expenses related to providing distribution-related services to the
Trust in connection with the sale of Class B shares, including the payment of
compensation to broker-dealers. 

     Class B shares will automatically convert into Class A shares at the end of
the calendar quarter that is eight years after the purchase date, except as
noted below. Class B shares acquired by exchange from Class B shares of another
Pioneer mutual fund will convert into Class A shares based on the date of the
initial purchase and the applicable CDSC. Class B shares acquired through
reinvestment of distributions will convert into Class A shares based on the date
of the initial purchase to which such shares relate. For this purpose, Class B
shares acquired through reinvestment of distributions will be attributed to
particular purchases of Class B shares in accordance with such procedures as the
Trustees may determine from time to time. The conversion of Class B shares to
Class A shares is subject to the continuing availability of a ruling from the
Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), for which the Trust is applying, or an opinion
of counsel that such conversions will not constitute taxable events for federal
tax purposes. There can be no assurance that such ruling or opinion will be
available. The conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares will not occur if
such ruling or opinion is not available and, therefore, Class B shares would
continue to be subject to higher expenses than Class A shares for an
indeterminate period. 

Class C Shares

   
     You may buy Class C shares at the net asset value per share next computed
after receipt of a purchase order without the imposition of an initial sales
charge; however, Class C shares redeemed within one year of purchase will be
subject to a CDSC of 1%. The charge will be assessed on the amount equal to the
lesser of the current market value or the original purchase cost of the shares
being redeemed. No CDSC will be imposed on increases in account value above the
initial purchase price, including shares derived from the reinvestment of
dividends or capital gains distributions. Class C shares do not convert to any
other Class of Trust shares. 
    

     For the purpose of determining the time of any purchase, all payments
during a quarter will be aggregated and deemed to have been made on the first
day of that quarter. In processing redemptions of Class C shares, the Trust will
first redeem shares not subject to any CDSC, and then shares held for the
shortest period of time during the one-year period. As a result, you will pay
the lowest possible CDSC. 

     Proceeds from the CDSC are paid to PFD and are used in whole or in part to
defray PFD's expenses related to providing distribution-related services to the
Trust in connection with the sale of Class C shares, including the payment of
compensation to broker-dealers. 

     Waiver or Reduction of Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. The CDSC on Class
B shares may be waived or reduced for non-retirement accounts if: (a) the
redemption results from the death of all registered owners of an account (in the
case of UGMAs, UTMAs and trust accounts, waiver applies upon the death of all
beneficial owners) or a total and permanent disability (as defined in Section 72
of the Code) of all registered owners occurring after the purchase of the shares
being redeemed or (b) the redemption is made in connection with limited
automatic redemptions as set forth in "Systematic Withdrawal Plans" (limited in
any year to 10% of the value of the account in the Trust at the time the
withdrawal plan is established).

                                       10
                                        

<PAGE>

     The CDSC on Class B shares may be waived or reduced for retirement plan
accounts if: (a) the redemption results from the death or a total and permanent
disability (as defined in Section 72 of the Code) occurring after the purchase
of the shares being redeemed of a shareholder or participant in an
employer-sponsored retirement plan; (b) the distribution is to a participant in
an IRA, 403(b) or employer-sponsored retirement plan, is part of a series of
substantially equal payments made over the life expectancy of the participant or
the joint life expectancy of the participant and his or her beneficiary or as
scheduled periodic payments to a participant (limited in any year to 10% of the
value of the participant's account at the time the distribution amount is
established; a required minimum distribution due to the participant's attainment
of age 701/2 may exceed the 10% limit only if the distribution amount is based
on plan assets held by Pioneer); (c) the distribution is from a 401(a) or 401(k)
retirement plan and is a return of excess employee deferrals or employee
contributions or a qualifying hardship distribution as defined by the Code or
results from a termination of employment (limited with respect to a termination
to 10% per year of the value of the plan's assets in the Trust as of the later
of the prior December 31 or the date the account was established unless the
plan's assets are being rolled over to or reinvested in the same class of shares
of a Pioneer mutual fund subject to the CDSC of the shares originally held); (d)
the distribution is from an IRA, 403(b) or employer-sponsored retirement plan
and is to be rolled over to or reinvested in the same class of shares in a
Pioneer mutual fund and which will be subject to the applicable CDSC upon
redemption; (e) the distribution is in the form of a loan to a participant in a
plan which permits loans (each repayment of the loan will constitute a new sale
which will be subject to the applicable CDSC upon redemption); or (f) the
distribution is from a qualified defined contribution plan and represents a
participant's directed transfer (provided that this privilege has been
pre-authorized through a prior agreement with PFD regarding participant directed
transfers). 

   
     The CDSC on Class C shares and on any Class A shares subject to a CDSC may
be waived or reduced as follows: (a) for automatic redemptions as described in
"Systematic Withdrawal Plans" (limited to 10% of the value of the account); (b)
if the redemption results from the death or a total and permanent disability (as
defined in Section 72 of the Code) occurring after the purchase of the shares
being redeemed of a shareholder or participant in an employer-sponsored
retirement plan; (c) if the distribution is part of a series of substantially
equal payments made over the life expectancy of the participant or the joint
life expectancy of the participant and his or her beneficiary; or (d) if the
distribution is to a participant in an employer-sponsored retirement plan and is
(i) a return of excess employee deferrals or contributions, (ii) a qualifying
hardship distribution as defined by the Code, (iii) from a termination of
employment, (iv) in the form of a loan to a participant in a plan which permits
loans, or (v) from a qualified defined contribution plan and represents a
participant's directed transfer (provided that this privilege has been
pre-authorized through a prior agreement with PFD regarding participant directed
transfers).

     The CDSC on any shares subject to a CDSC may be waived or reduced for
either non-retirement or retirement plan accounts if the redemption is made
pursuant to the Trust's right to liquidate or involuntarily redeem shares in a
shareholder's account. The CDSC on any shares subject to a CDSC will not be
applicable if the selling broker-dealer elects, with PFD's approval, to waive
receipt of the commission normally paid at the time of the sale. 

     Broker-Dealers. An order for any Class of Trust shares received by PFD from
a broker-dealer prior to the close of regular trading on the Exchange is
confirmed at the price appropriate for that Class as determined at the close of
regular trading on the Exchange on the day the order is received, provided the
order is received by PFD prior to PFD's close of business (usually, 5:30 p.m.
Eastern Time). It is the responsibility of broker-dealers to transmit orders so
that they will be received by PFD prior to its close of business. PFD or its
affiliates may provide additional compensation to certain dealers or such
dealers' affiliates based on certain objective criteria established from time to
time by PFD. All such payments are made out of PFD's or the affiliate's own
assets. These payments will not change the price an investor will pay for shares
or the amount that the Trust will receive from such sale. 
    

     General. The Trust reserves the right in its sole discretion to withdraw
all or any part of the offering of shares when, in the judgment of the Trust's
management, such withdrawal is in the best interest of the Trust. An order to
purchase shares is not binding on, and may be rejected by, PFD until it has been
confirmed in writing by PFD and payment has been received. 

VIII. HOW TO SELL TRUST SHARES

     You can arrange to sell (redeem) Trust shares on any day the Exchange is
open by selling (redeeming) either some or all of your shares to the Trust. 

   
     You may sell your shares either through your broker-dealer or directly to
the Trust. Please note the following: 

  [bullet] If you are selling shares from a retirement account other than an
           IRA, you must make your request in writing (except for exchanges to
           other Pioneer mutual funds which can be requested by phone or in
           writing). Call 1-800-622-0176 for more information.
    

  [bullet] If you are selling shares from a non-retirement account, you may use
           any of the methods described below.

     Your shares will be sold at the share price next calculated after your
order is received in good order less any applicable CDSC. Sale proceeds
generally will be sent to you in cash, normally within seven days after your
order is received in good order. The Trust reserves the right to withhold
payment of the sale proceeds until checks received by the Trust in payment for
the shares being sold have cleared, which may take up to 15 calendar days from
the purchase date. 

     In Writing. You may always sell your shares by delivering a written
request, signed by all registered owners, in good 

                                       11
 
<PAGE>

   
order to PSC, however, you must use a written request, including a signature
guarantee, to sell your shares if any of the following applies: 
    

  [bullet] you wish to sell over $50,000 worth of shares,

  [bullet] your account registration or address has changed within the last 30
           days,

  [bullet] the check is not being mailed to the address on your account (address
           of record),

  [bullet] the check is not being made out to the account owners, or

   
  [bullet] the sale proceeds are being transferred to a Pioneer mutual fund
           account with a different registration.

     Your request should include your name, the Trust's name, your Trust account
number, the Class of shares to be redeemed, the dollar amount or number of
shares to be redeemed, and any other applicable requirements as described below.
Unless instructed otherwise, PSC will send the proceeds of the sale to the
address of record. Fiduciaries and corporations are required to submit
additional documents. For more information, contact PSC at 1-800-225-6292. 

     Written requests will not be processed until they are received in good
order by PSC. Good order means that there are no outstanding claims or requests
to hold redemptions on the account, any certificates are endorsed by the record
owner(s) exactly as the shares are registered and the signature(s) are
guaranteed by an eligible guarantor. You should be able to obtain a signature
guarantee from a bank, broker, dealer, credit union (if authorized under state
law), securities exchange or association, clearing agency or savings
association. A notary public cannot provide a signature guarantee. Signature
guarantees are not accepted by facsimile ("fax"). For additional information
about the necessary documentation for redemption by mail, please contact PSC at
1-800-225-6292. 

     By Telephone or by Fax. Your account is automatically authorized to have
the telephone redemption privilege unless you indicate otherwise on your Account
Application or by writing to PSC. Proper account identification will be required
for each telephone redemption. The telephone redemption option is not available
to retirement plan accounts, except IRAs. A maximum of $50,000 per account per
day may be redeemed by telephone or fax and the proceeds may be received by
check or by bank wire or electronic funds transfer. To receive the proceeds by
check: the check must be made payable exactly as the account is registered and
the check must be sent to the address of record which must not have changed in
the last 30 days. To receive the proceeds by bank wire or by electronic funds
transfer: the proceeds must be sent to your bank address of record which must
have been properly predesignated either on your Account Application or on an
Account Options Form and which must not have changed in the last 30 days. To
redeem by fax send your redemption request to 1-800-225-4240. You may always
elect to deliver redemption instructions to PSC by mail. See "Telephone
Transactions and Related Liabilities" below. Telephone and fax redemptions will
be priced as described above. You are strongly urged to consult with your
financial representative prior to requesting a telephone redemption. 
    

     Selling Shares Through Your Broker-Dealer. The Trust has authorized PFD to
act as its agent in the repurchase shares of the Trust from qualified
broker-dealers and reserves the right to terminate this procedure at any time.
Your broker-dealer must receive your request before the close of business on the
Exchange and transmit it to PFD before PFD's close of business to receive that
day's redemption price. Your broker-dealer is responsible for providing all
necessary documentation to PFD and may charge you for its services. 

     Small Accounts. The minimum account value is $500. If you hold shares of
the Trust in an account with a net asset value of less than the minimum required
amount due to redemptions or exchanges, the Trust may redeem the shares held in
this account at net asset value if you have not increased the net asset value of
the account to at least the minimum required amount within six months of notice
by the Trust to you of the Trust's intention to redeem the shares. 

   
     CDSC on Class A Shares. Purchases of Class A shares of $1 million or more,
or by participants in a Group Plan which were not subject to an initial sales
charge, may be subject to a CDSC upon redemption. A CDSC is payable to PFD on
these investments in the event of a share redemption within 12 months following
the share purchase, at the rate of 1% of the lesser of the value of the shares
redeemed (exclusive of reinvested dividend and capital gain distributions) or
the total cost of such shares. Shares subject to the CDSC which are exchanged
into another Pioneer mutual fund will continue to be subject to the CDSC until
the original 12-month period expires. However, no CDSC is payable upon
redemption with respect to Class A shares purchased by 401(a) or 401(k)
retirement plans with 1,000 or more eligible participants or with at least $10
million in plan assets. 
    

     General.  Redemptions may be suspended or payment postponed during any
period in which any of the following conditions exist: the Exchange is closed or
trading on the Exchange is restricted; an emergency exists as a result of which
disposal by the Trust of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or
it is not reasonably practicable for the Trust to fairly determine the value of
the net assets of its portfolio; or the SEC, by order, so permits. 

     Redemptions and repurchases are taxable transactions to shareholders. The
net asset value per share received upon redemption or repurchase may be more or
less than the cost of shares to an investor, depending on the market value of
the portfolio at the time of redemption or repurchase. 

IX. HOW TO EXCHANGE TRUST SHARES

   
     Written Exchanges. You may exchange your shares by sending a letter of
instruction to PSC. Your letter should include your name, the name of the Fund
out of which you wish to exchange and the name of the Pioneer mutual fund into
which you wish to exchange, your fund account number(s), the Class of shares to
be exchanged and the dollar amount or number of shares to be exchanged. Written
exchange requests must be signed by all record owner(s) exactly as the shares
are registered. 
    

                                       12

<PAGE>

   
     Telephone Exchanges. Your account is automatically authorized to have the
telephone exchange privilege unless you indicate otherwise on your Account
application or by writing to PSC. Proper account identification will be required
for each telephone exchange. Telephone exchanges may not exceed $500,000 per
account per day. Each telephone exchange request, whether by voice or by
FactFoneSM, will be recorded. You are strongly urged to consult with your
financial representative prior to requesting a telephone exchange. See
"Telephone Transactions and Related Liabilities" below. 

     Automatic Exchanges. You may automatically exchange shares from one Pioneer
mutual fund account for shares of the same Class in another Pioneer mutual fund
account on a monthly or quarterly basis. The accounts must have identical
registrations and the originating account must have a minimum balance of $5,000.
The exchange will be effective on the day of the month designated on your
Account Application or Account Options Form. 
    

     General. Exchanges must be at least $1,000. You may exchange your
investment from one Class of Trust shares at net asset value, without a sales
charge, for shares of the same Class of any other Pioneer mutual fund. Not all
Pioneer mutual funds offer more than one Class of shares. A new Pioneer mutual
fund account opened through an exchange must have a registration identical to
that on the original account. 

   
     Shares which would normally be subject to a CDSC upon redemption will not
be charged the applicable CDSC at the time of an exchange. Shares acquired in an
exchange will be subject to the CDSC of the shares originally held. For purposes
of determining the amount of any applicable CDSC, the length of time you have
owned shares acquired by exchange will be measured from the date you acquired
the original shares and will not be affected by any subsequent exchange. 

     Exchange requests received by PSC before 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, will be
effective on that day if the requirements below have been met, otherwise, they
will be effective on the next business day. PSC will process exchanges only
after receiving an exchange request in good order. There are currently no fees
or sales charges imposed at the time of an exchange. An exchange of shares may
be made only in states where legally permitted. For federal and (generally)
state income tax purposes, an exchange is considered to be a sale of the shares
of the Fund exchanged and a purchase of shares in another Pioneer mutual fund.
Therefore, an exchange could result in a gain or loss on the shares sold,
depending on the tax basis of these shares and the timing of the transaction,
and special tax rules may apply. 
    

     You should consider the differences in objectives and policies of the
Pioneer mutual funds, as described in each fund's current prospectus, before
making any exchange. For the protection of the Trust's performance and
shareholders, the Trust and PFD reserve the right to refuse any exchange request
or restrict, at any time without notice, the number and/or frequency of
exchanges to prevent abuses of the exchange privilege. Such abuses may arise
from frequent trading in response to short-term market fluctuations, a pattern
of trading by an individual or group that appears to be an attempt to "time the
market," or any other exchange request which, in the view of management, will
have a detrimental effect on the Trust's portfolio management strategy or its
operations. In addition, the Trust and PFD reserve the right to charge a fee for
exchanges or to modify, limit, suspend or discontinue the exchange privilege
with notice to shareholders as required by law. 

X. DISTRIBUTION PLANS

     The Trust has adopted a Plan of Distribution for each Class of shares (the
"Class A Plan," "Class B Plan," and "Class C Plan") in accordance with Rule
12b-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which certain distribution and service fees
are paid. 

   
     Pursuant to the Class A Plan, the Trust reimburses PFD for its actual
expenditures to finance any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of
Class A shares or to provide services to holders of Class A shares, provided the
categories of expenses for which reimbursement is made are approved by the
Trust's Board of Trustees. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Board of
Trustees has approved the following categories of expenses for Class A shares of
the Trust: (i) a service fee to be paid to qualified broker-dealers in an amount
not to exceed 0.25% per annum of the Trust's daily net assets attributable to
Class A shares; (ii) reimbursement to PFD for its expenditures for broker-dealer
commissions and employee compensation on certain sales of the Trust's Class A
shares with no initial sales charge (See "How to Buy Trust Shares"); and (iii)
reimbursement to PFD for expenses incurred in providing services to Class A
shareholders and supporting broker-dealers and other organizations (such as
banks and trust companies) in their efforts to provide such services. Banks are
currently prohibited under the Glass-Steagall Act from providing certain
underwriting or distribution services. If a bank was prohibited from acting in
any capacity or providing any of the described services, management would
consider what action, if any, would be appropriate.

     Expenditures of the Trust pursuant to the Class A Plan are accrued daily
and may not exceed 0.25% of the Trust's average daily net assets attributable to
Class A shares. Distribution expenses of PFD are expected to substantially
exceed the distribution fees paid by the Trust in a given year. The Class A Plan
may not be amended to increase materially the annual percentage limitation of
average net assets which may be spent for the services described therein without
approval of the shareholders of the Trust. The Class A Plan does not provide for
the carryover of reimbursable expenses beyond 12 months from the time the Trust
is first invoiced for an expense. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996,
there was an allowable carryover of distribution expenses reimbursable to PFD of
$16,218 (less than 0.01% of the net assets attributable to the Class A shares of
the Trust). 
    

     Both the Class B Plan and the Class C Plan provide that the Trust will pay
a distribution fee at the annual rate of 0.75% of the Trust's average daily net
assets attributable to the applicable Class of shares and will pay PFD a service
fee at the annual rate of 0.25% of the Trust's average daily net assets
attributable to that Class of shares. The distribution fee is intended to
compensate PFD for its distribution ser-

                                       13
                                        

<PAGE>

vices to the Trust. The service fee is intended to be additional compensation
for personal services and/or account maintenance services with respect to Class
B or Class C shares. PFD also receives the proceeds of any CDSC imposed on the
redemption of Class B or Class C shares. 

     Commissions of 4%, equal to 3.75% of the amount invested and a first year's
service fee equal to 0.25% of the amount invested in Class B shares, are paid to
broker-dealers who have selling agreements with PFD. PFD may advance to dealers
the first year service fee at a rate up to 0.25% of the purchase price of such
shares and, as compensation therefor, PFD may retain the service fee paid by the
Trust with respect to such shares for the first year after purchase. Dealers
will become eligible for additional service fees with respect to such shares
commencing in the 13th month following the purchase.

     Commissions of up to 1% of the amount invested in Class C shares,
consisting of 0.75% of the amount invested and a first year's service fee of
0.25% of the amount invested, are paid to broker-dealers who have selling
agreements with PFD. PFD may advance to dealers the first year service fee at a
rate up to 0.25% of the purchase price of such shares and, as compensation
therefore, PFD may retain the service fee paid by the Trust with respect to such
shares for the first year after purchase. Commencing in the 13th month following
the purchase of Class C shares, dealers will become eligible for additional
annual distribution fees and service fees of up to 0.75% and 0.25%,
respectively, of the net asset value of such shares. 

   
     When a broker-dealer sells Class B or Class C shares and elects, with PFD's
approval, to waive its right to receive the commission normally paid at the time
of sale, PFD may cause all or a portion of the distribution fees described above
to be paid to the broker-dealer. 
    

     Dealers may from time to time be required to meet certain criteria in order
to receive service fees. PFD or its affiliates are entitled to retain all
service fees payable under the Class B Plan or the Class C Plan for which there
is no dealer of record or for which qualification standards have not been met as
partial consideration for personal services and/or account maintenance services
performed by PFD or its affiliates for shareholder accounts. 

XI. DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXATION

   
     The Trust has elected to be treated, has qualified, and intends to qualify
each year as a "regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Code, so
that it will not pay federal income tax on income and capital gains distributed
to shareholders as required under the Code. 

     Under the Code, the Trust will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax
on a portion of its undistributed ordinary income and capital gains if it fails
to meet certain distribution requirements with respect to each calendar year.
The Trust intends to make distributions in a timely manner and accordingly does
not expect to be subject to the excise tax. 

     Each business day the Trust declares a dividend consisting of substantially
all of the Trust's net investment income (earned interest income less expenses).
Shareholders begin earning dividends on the first business day following receipt
of payment for purchased shares. Shares continue to earn dividends up to and
including the date of redemption. Dividends are normally paid on the last
business day of the month or shortly thereafter. Monthly distributions consist
of net investment income and may also include net short-term capital gains
realized by the Trust. The Trust's policy is to make distributions from net
long-term capital gains, if any, in December. Dividends from income and/or
capital gains may also be paid at such other times as may be necessary for the
Trust to avoid federal income or excise tax. Generally, dividends from the
Trust's net investment income, market discount income, and net short-term
capital gains are taxable under the Code as ordinary income, and dividends from
the Trust's net long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains.
Unless shareholders specify otherwise, all distributions will be automatically
reinvested in additional full and fractional shares of the Trust. For federal
income tax purposes, all dividends are taxable as described above whether a
shareholder takes them in cash or reinvests them in additional shares of the
Trust. Information as to the federal tax status of dividends and distributions
will be provided to shareholders annually. For further information on the
distribution options available to shareholders, see "Distribution Options" and
"Directed Dividends" below. 

     The Trust's dividends and distributions will not qualify for any
dividends-received deduction available to corporate shareholders. 

     Dividends and other distributions and the proceeds of redemptions,
exchanges or repurchases of Trust shares paid to individuals and other
non-exempt payees will be subject to 31% backup withholding of federal income
tax if the Trust is not provided with the shareholder's correct taxpayer
identification number and certification that the number is correct and that the
shareholder is not subject to backup withholding or the Trust receives notice
from the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") or a broker that such withholding
applies. Please refer to the Account Application for additional information. 

     The description above relates only to U.S. federal income tax consequences
for shareholders who are U.S. persons, i.e., U.S. citizens or residents or U.S.
corporations, partnerships, trust or estates, and who are subject to U.S.
federal income tax. Non-U.S. shareholders and tax-exempt shareholders are
subject to different tax treatment that is not described above. A state income
(and possibly local income and/or intangible property) tax exemption is
generally available to the extent the Trust's distributions are derived from
interest on (or, in the case of intangible property taxes, the value of its
shares is attributable to) certain U.S. Government obligations, provided in some
states that certain concentration, designation, reporting or other requirements
are satisfied. The Trust will not attempt to and may not satisfy all such
requirements in all states. Shareholders should consult their 
    

                                       14

<PAGE>

own tax advisors regarding state, local and other applicable tax laws. 

XII. SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

     PSC is the shareholder services and transfer agent for shares of the Trust.
PSC, a Massachusetts corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PGI. PSC's
offices are located at 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, and
inquiries to PSC should be mailed to Pioneering Services Corporation, P.O. Box
9014, Boston, Massachusetts 02205-9014. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (the
"Custodian") serves as custodian of the Trust's portfolio securities. The
principal business address of the mutual fund division of the Custodian is 40
Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109. 

Account and Confirmation Statements

   
     PSC maintains an account for each shareholder and all transactions of the
shareholder are recorded in this account. Confirmation statements showing
details of transactions are sent to shareholders as transactions occur, except
Automatic Investment Plan transactions which are confirmed quarterly. The
Pioneer Combined Account Statement, mailed quarterly, is available to
shareholders who have more than one Pioneer mutual fund account. 

     Shareholders whose shares are held in the name of an investment
broker-dealer or other party will not normally have an account with the Trust
and might not be able to utilize some of the services available to shareholders
of record. Examples of services which might not be available are purchases,
exchanges or redemptions of shares by mail or telephone, automatic reinvestment
of dividends and capital gains distributions, withdrawal plans, Letters of
Intent, Rights of Accumulation, and newsletters. 
    

Additional Investments

     You may add to your account by sending a check (minimum of $50 for Class A
shares and $500 for Class B and Class C shares) to PSC (account number and Class
of shares should be clearly indicated). The bottom portion of a confirmation
statement may be used as a remittance slip to make additional investments.
Additions to your account, whether by check or through a Pioneer Investomatic
Plan, are invested in full and fractional shares of the Trust at the applicable
offering price in effect as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange on
the day of receipt. 

Automatic Investment Plans

   
     You may arrange for regular automatic investments of $50 or more through
government/military allotments, payroll deduction or through a Pioneer
Investomatic Plan. A Pioneer Investomatic Plan provides for a monthly or
quarterly investment by means of a pre-authorized electronic funds transfer or
draft drawn on a checking account. Pioneer Investomatic Plan investments are
voluntary, and you may discontinue the plan at any time without penalty upon 30
days' written notice. PSC acts as agent for the purchaser, the broker-dealer and
PFD in maintaining these plans. 
    

Financial Reports and Tax Information

     As a shareholder, you will receive financial reports at least semiannually.
In January of each year, the Trust will mail you information about the tax
status of dividends and distributions. 

Distribution Options

   
     Dividends and capital gains distributions, if any, will automatically be
invested in additional shares of the Trust, at the applicable net asset value
per share, unless you indicate another option on the Account Application.Two
other options available are (a) dividends in cash and capital gains
distributions in additional shares; and (b) all dividends and capital gains
distributions in cash. These two options are not available, however, for
retirement plans or for an account with a net asset value of less than $500.
Changes in your distribution options may be made by written request to PSC. 

     If you elect to receive either dividends or capital gains or both in cash
and a distribution check issued to you is returned by the U.S. Postal Service as
not deliverable or a distribution check remains uncashed for six months or more,
the amount of the check may be reinvested in your account. Such additional
shares will be purchased at the then current net asset value. Furthermore, the
distribution option on the account will automatically be changed to the
reinvestment option until such time as you request a different option by writing
to PSC. 
    

Directed Dividends

     You may elect (in writing) to have the dividends paid by one Pioneer mutual
fund account invested in a second Pioneer mutual fund account. The value of this
second account must be at least $1,000 ($500 for Pioneer Fund or Pioneer II).
Invested dividends may be in any amount, and there are no fees or charges for
this service. Retirement plan shareholders may only direct dividends to accounts
with identical registrations, i.e., PGI IRA Cust for John Smith may only go into
another account registered PGI IRA Cust for John Smith. 

Direct Deposit

     If you have elected to take distributions, whether dividends or dividends
and capital gains, in cash, or have established a Systematic Withdrawal Plan,
you may choose to have those cash payments deposited directly into your savings,
checking or NOW bank account. You may also establish this service by completing
the appropriate section on the Account Application when opening a new account or
the Account Options Form for an existing account. 

Voluntary Tax Withholding

     You may request (in writing) that PSC withhold 28% of the dividends and
capital gains distributions paid from your account (before any reinvestment) and
forward the amount withheld to the IRS as a credit against your federal income
taxes. This option is not available for retirement plan accounts or for accounts
subject to backup withholding. 

Telephone Transactions and Related Liabilities

   
     Your account is automatically authorized to have telephone transaction
privileges unless you indicate otherwise on your Account Application or by
writing to PSC. You may purchase, sell or exchange Trust shares by telephone.
See "How to Buy Trust Shares," "How to Sell Trust Shares" and "How to Exchange
Trust Shares" for more information. For personal 
    

                                       15
                                        

<PAGE>

assistance, call 1-800-225-6292 between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Eastern time on
weekdays. Computer-assisted transactions may be available to shareholders who
have pre-recorded certain bank information (see "FactFone(SM)"). You are 
strongly urged to consult with your financial representative prior to 
requesting any telephone transaction. 

   
     To confirm that each transaction instruction received by telephone is
genuine, PSC will record each telephone transaction, require the caller to
provide the personal identification number ("PIN") for the account and send you
a written confirmation of each telephone transaction. Different procedures may
apply to accounts that are registered to non-U.S. citizens or that are held in
the name of an institution or in the name of an investment broker-dealer or
other third-party. If reasonable procedures, such as those described above, are
not followed, the Trust may be liable for any loss due to unauthorized or
fraudulent instructions. The Trust may implement other procedures from time to
time. In all other cases, neither the Trust, PSC or PFD will be responsible for
the authenticity of instructions received by telephone, therefore, you bear the
risk of loss for unauthorized or fraudulent telephone transactions. 
    

     During times of economic turmoil or market volatility or as a result of
severe weather or a natural disaster, it may be difficult to contact the Trust
by telephone to institute a redemption or exchange. You should communicate with
the Trust in writing if you are unable to reach the Trust by telephone. 

FactFone(SM)

   
     FactFone(SM) is an automated inquiry and telephone transaction system
available to Pioneer shareholders by dialing 1-800-225-4321. FactFone(SM) allows
you to obtain current information on your Pioneer mutual fund accounts and to
inquire about the prices and yields of all publicly available Pioneer mutual
funds. In addition, you may use FactFone(SM) to make computer-assisted telephone
purchases, exchanges and redemptions from your Pioneer mutual fund accounts if
you have activated your PIN. Telephone purchases and redemptions require the
establishment of a bank account of record. You are strongly urged to consult
with your financial representative prior to requesting any telephone
transaction. Shareholders whose accounts are registered in the name of a
broker-dealer or other third party may not be able to use FactFone(SM). See "How
to Buy Trust Shares," "How to Exchange Trust Shares," "How to Sell Trust Shares"
and "Telephone Transactions and Related Liabilities." Call PSC for assistance.
    

Retirement Plans

     You should contact the Retirement Plans Department of PSC at 1-800-622-0176
for information relating to retirement plans for businesses, age-weighted profit
sharing plans, Simplified Employee Pension Plans, IRAs, and Section 403(b)
retirement plans for employees of certain non-profit organizations and public
school systems, all of which are available in conjunction with investments in
the Trust. The Account Application enclosed with this Prospectus should not be
used to establish any of these plans. Separate applications are required. 

Telecommunications for the Deaf (TDD)

     If you have a hearing disability and access to TDD keyboard equipment, you
can call our TDD number toll-free at 1-800-225-1997, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. Eastern Time to contact our telephone representatives with questions
about your account.

Systematic Withdrawal Plans 

   
     If your account has a total value of at least $10,000 you may establish a
Systematic Withdrawal Plan ("SWP") providing for fixed payments at regular
intervals. Withdrawals from Class B and Class C share accounts are limited to
10% of the value of the account at the time the SWP is implemented. See "Waiver
or Reduction of Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" for more information. Periodic
payments of $50 or more will be sent to you, or any person designated by you,
monthly or quarterly and your periodic redemptions may be taxable to you.
Payments can be made either by check or electronic transfer to a bank account
designated by you. If you direct that withdrawal payments be made to another
person after you have opened your account, a signature guarantee must accompany
your instructions. Purchases of Class A shares of the Trust at a time when you
have a SWP in effect may result in the payment of unnecessary sales charges and
may, therefore, be disadvantageous. 
    

     You may obtain additional information by calling PSC at 1-800-225-6292 or
by referring to the Statement of Additional Information. 

Reinstatement Privilege (Class A Shares Only)

     If you redeem all or part of your Class A shares of the Trust, you may
reinvest all or part of the redemption proceeds without a sales charge in Class
A shares of the Trust if you send a written request to PSC not more than 90 days
after your shares were redeemed. Your redemption proceeds will be reinvested at
the next determined net asset value of the Class A shares of the Trust in effect
immediately after receipt of the written request for reinstatement. You may
realize a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the
redemption, and special tax rules may apply if a reinstatement occurs. Subject
to the provisions outlined under "How to Exchange Trust Shares" above, you may
also reinvest in Class A shares of other Pioneer mutual funds; in this case, you
must meet the minimum investment requirement for each fund you enter. 

     The 90-day reinstatement period may be extended by PFD for periods of up to
one year for shareholders living in areas that have experienced a natural
disaster, such as a flood, hurricane, tornado or earthquake. 

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

     The options and services available to shareholders, including the terms of
the Exchange Privilege and the Pioneer Investomatic Plan, may be revised,
suspended or terminated at any time by PFD or by the Trust. You may establish
the services described in this section when you open your account. You may also
establish or revise many 

                                       16

<PAGE>

of them on an existing account by completing an Account Options Form, which you
may request by calling 1-800-225-6292.

XIII. THE TRUST

     Pioneer America Income Trust is a diversified, open-end management
investment company (commonly referred to as a mutual fund) organized as a
Massachusetts business trust on March 17, 1988. Prior to July 1, 1994 the Trust
was named Pioneer U.S. Government Trust. The Trust has authorized an unlimited
number of shares of beneficial interest. As an open-end management investment
company, the Trust usually continuously offers its shares to the public and
under normal conditions must redeem its shares upon the demand of any
shareholder at the then current net asset value per share. See "How to Sell
Trust Shares." The Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual
shareholder meetings, although special meetings may be called for the purposes
of electing or removing Trustees, changing fundamental investment restrictions
or approving a management or subadvisory contract. 

     The Trustees have the authority, without further shareholder approval, to
classify and reclassify the shares of the Trust, or any additional series of the
Trust, into one or more classes. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Trustees
have authorized the issuance of three classes of shares, designated Class A,
Class B and Class C. The shares of each class represent an interest in the same
portfolio of investments of the Trust. Each class has equal rights as to voting,
redemption, dividends and liquidation, except that each class bears different
distribution and transfer agent fees and may bear other expenses properly
attributable to the particular class. Class A, Class B and Class C shareholders
have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Rule 12b-1 distribution plans
adopted by holders of those shares in connection with the distribution of
shares. The Trust reserves the right to create and issue additional series of
shares. 

   
     When issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus and
Statement of Additional Information, shares of the Trust are fully-paid and
non-assessable by the Trust. Shares will remain on deposit with the Trust's
transfer agent and certificates will not normally be issued. The Trust reserves
the right to charge a fee for the issuance of Class A share certificates;
certificates will not be issued for Class B or Class C shares. 
    

XIV. INVESTMENT RESULTS

     The Trust may from time to time include yield information in advertisements
or in information furnished generally to existing or proposed shareholders.
Yield information is computed in accordance with the SEC's standardized yield
formula. The calculation for all Classes is computed by dividing the net
investment income per share of a Class during a base period of 30 days, or one
month, by the maximum offering price per share of the applicable Class of the
Trust on the last day of such base period. The resulting "30-day yield" is then
annualized as described below. (Net investment income per share of a Class is
determined by dividing the Trust's net investment income attributable to a Class
during the base period by the average number of shares of that Class of the
Trust.) The 30-day yield is then "annualized" by a computation that assumes that
the net investment income per share of a Class is earned and reinvested for a
six-month period at the same rate as during the 30-day base period and that the
resulting six-month income will be generated over an additional six months. 

     The average annual total return (for a designated period of time) on an
investment in the Trust may also be included in advertisements, and furnished to
existing or prospective shareholders. The average annual total return for each
Class is computed in accordance with the SEC's standardized formula. The
calculation for all Classes assumes the reinvestment of all dividends and
distributions at net asset value. In addition, for Class A shares the
calculation assumes the deduction of the maximum sales charge of 4.50%; for
Class B and Class C shares the calculation reflects the deduction of any
applicable CDSC. The periods illustrated would normally include one, five and
ten years (or since the commencement of the public offering of the shares of a
Class, if shorter) through the most recent calendar quarter. 

     Yield and average annual total return quotations of the Trust do not
reflect the impact of federal or state income taxes. 

     One or more additional measures and assumptions, including but not limited
to historical total returns; distribution returns; results of actual or
hypothetical investments; changes in dividends, distributions or share values;
or any graphic illustration of such data may also be used. These data may cover
any period of the Trust's existence and may or may not include the impact of
sales charges, taxes or other factors. 

     Other investments or savings vehicles and/or unmanaged market indices,
indicators of economic activity or averages of mutual funds results may be cited
or compared with the investment results of the Trust. Rankings or listings by
magazines, newspapers or independent statistical or rating services, such as
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., may also be referenced. 

     The Trust's investment results will vary from time to time depending on
market conditions, the composition of the Trust's portfolio and operating
expenses of the Trust. All quoted investment results are historical and should
not be considered representative of what an investment in the Trust may earn in
any future period. For further information about the calculation methods and
uses of the Trust's investment results, see the Statement of Additional
Information. 

                                       17

<PAGE>


                                     Notes
                                        
                                        


                                       18
                                        

<PAGE>

   
                      THE PIONEER FAMILY OF MUTUAL FUNDS

                      Growth Funds
                      Global/International

                          Pioneer Emerging Markets Fund 
                          Pioneer Europe Fund 
                          Pioneer Gold Shares 
                          Pioneer India Fund 
                          Pioneer International Growth Fund 
                          Pioneer World Equity Fund 

                      United States

                          Pioneer Capital Growth Fund 
                          Pioneer Growth Shares 
                          Pioneer Mid-Cap Fund 
                          Pioneer Small Company Fund 
                          Pioneer Micro-Cap Fund*

                      Growth and Income Funds

                          Pioneer Balanced Fund 
                          Pioneer Equity-Income Fund 
                          Pioneer Fund 
                          Pioneer Real Estate Shares 
                          Pioneer II 

                      Income Funds
                      Taxable

                          Pioneer America Income Trust 
                          Pioneer Bond Fund 
                          Pioneer Short-Term Income Trust* 

                      Tax-Exempt

                          Pioneer Intermediate Tax-Free Fund**
                          Pioneer Tax-Free Income Fund**

                      Money Market Fund

                          Pioneer Cash Reserves Fund

                           *Offers Class A and B Shares only
                          **Not suitable for retirement accounts
    

                                       19
                                        

<PAGE>

                                                                [PIONEER LOGO]
Pioneer America
Income Trust 
60 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109

OFFICERS

JOHN F. COGAN, JR., Chairman and President
DAVID D. TRIPPLE, Executive Vice President
SHERMAN B. RUSS, Vice President
WILLIAM H. KEOUGH, Treasurer
JOSEPH P. BARRI, Secretary

INVESTMENT ADVISER
PIONEERING MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

CUSTODIAN
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.

INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

LEGAL COUNSEL
   
HALE AND DORR LLP
    

PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
PIONEER FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES AND TRANSFER AGENT
PIONEERING SERVICES CORPORATION
60 State Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Telephone: 1-800-225-6292

SERVICE INFORMATION
If you would like information on the following, please call:
Existing and new accounts, prospectuses, 
 applications and service forms
 and telephone transactions   ................................. 1-800-225-6292
FactFone(SM)
 Automated fund yields, automated prices and 
 account information    ....................................... 1-800-225-4321
Retirement plans  ............................................. 1-800-622-0176
Toll-free fax  ................................................ 1-800-225-4240
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD)    ............... 1-800-225-1997


   
0497-4144
    

(Copyright) Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc.

<PAGE>
                                                    




                          PIONEER AMERICA INCOME TRUST
                                 60 State Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02109

                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                       Class A, Class B and Class C Shares

                                         
                                 April 30, 1997


This Statement of Additional  Information is not a Prospectus but should be read
in conjunction  with the Prospectus (the  "Prospectus")  dated April 30 1997, as
amended and/or  supplemented  from time to time, of Pioneer America Income Trust
(the  "Trust").  A copy of the  Prospectus  can be  obtained  free of  charge by
calling  Shareholder  Services at  1-800-225-6292  or by written  request to the
Trust at 60 State Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts  02109. The most recent Annual
Report to Shareholders  is attached to this Statement of Additional  Information
and is hereby incorporated by reference.


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                             Page

1.  Investment Policies and Restrictions..................    2
2.  Management of the Trust...............................    6
3.  Investment Adviser....................................   10
4.  Principal Underwriter ................................   10
5.  Distribution Plans....................................   11
6.  Shareholder Servicing/Transfer Agent..................   14
7.  Custodian.............................................   14
8.  Independent Public Accountants........................   14
9.  Portfolio Transactions................................   14
10. Tax Status............................................   16
11. Description of Shares.................................   18
12. Certain Liabilities...................................   18
13. Letter of Intent......................................   19
14. Systematic Withdrawal Plan............................   19
15. Determination of Net Asset Value......................   20
16. Investment Results....................................   20
17. Financial Statements..................................   24
         Appendix A - Description of Bond Ratings.......................... 25
         Appendix B - Comparative Performance Statistics................... 27
         Appendix C - Additional Pioneer Information....................... 41
    
                                                -------------------------

        THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT A PROSPECTUS AND
         IS AUTHORIZED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ONLY IF
               PRECEDED OR ACCOMPANIED BY AN EFFECTIVE PROSPECTUS.



<PAGE>



1........INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS

   
     .........The  Prospectus  presents the  investment  objective and principal
investment  policies  of the  Trust.  Other  investment  policies  and a further
description of some of the policies  described in the  Prospectus  appear below.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meaning given to them in
the Prospectus.     


     .........The following policies and restrictions supplement those discussed
in the Prospectus. Whenever an investment policy or restriction states a maximum
percentage  of the  Trust's  assets  that may be  invested  in any  security  or
presents  a  policy  regarding  quality   standards,   this  standard  or  other
restrictions  shall be  determined  immediately  after  and as a  result  of the
Trust's investment. Accordingly, any later increase or decrease resulting from a
change in values,  net assets or other  circumstances  will not be considered in
determining   whether  the  investment  complies  with  the  Trust's  investment
objective and policies.

Additional Information Regarding GNMA Certificates.

     .........As prepayment rates of individual mortgage pools will vary widely,
it is not  possible to predict with  certainty  the average life of a particular
issue  of  GNMA  Certificates.  However,  statistics  published  by the  FHA are
normally used as an indicator of the expected average life of GNMA Certificates.
These  statistics  indicate  that the  average  life of  single-family  dwelling
mortgages with 25- to 30-year maturities, the type of mortgages backing the vast
majority of GNMA Certificates, is approximately 12 years. For this reason, it is
customary to treat GNMA Certificates as 30-year mortgage-backed securities which
prepay fully in the twelfth year. The actual life of a particular  issue of GNMA
Certificates,  however,  will  depend  on the  coupon  rate  of  the  underlying
mortgages, with higher interest rate mortgages being more prone to prepayment or
refinancing.
     .........The coupon rate of interest of GNMA Certificates is lower than the
interest rate paid on the VA-guaranteed or FHA-insured  mortgages underlying the
GNMA  Certificates,  but only by the  amount  of the  fees  paid to GNMA and the
issuer.  For the most  common type of mortgage  pool,  containing  single-family
dwelling  mortgages,  GNMA  receives  an  annual  fee  of  6/100  of 1%  of  the
outstanding  principal for providing  its  guarantee,  and the issuer is paid an
annual fee of 44/100 of 1% for  assembling  the  mortgage  pool and for  passing
through monthly payments of interest and principal to GNMA Certificate holders.
     .........The  coupon rate by itself,  however,  does not indicate the yield
that will be earned on GNMA  Certificates  for the reasons  given in the section
"Investment  Objective and Policies" in the  Prospectus.  In quoting  yields for
GNMA   Certificates,   the  customary  practice  is  to  assume  that  the  GNMA
Certificates will have a 12-year life. Compared on this basis, GNMA Certificates
have  historically  yielded  roughly 25/100 of 1% more than high grade corporate
bonds and 50/100 of 1% more than  United  States  ("U.S.")  Government  and U.S.
Government  agency  bonds.  As the life of  individual  pools  may vary  widely,
however,  the actual yield earned on any issue of GNMA  Certificates  may differ
significantly from the yield estimated on the assumption of a 12-year life.
     .........Since the inception of the GNMA mortgage-backed securities program
in 1970, the amount of GNMA Certificates outstanding has grown rapidly. The size
of the market and the active participation in the secondary market by securities
dealers and many types of investors  make the GNMA  Certificates a highly liquid
instrument.  Prices of GNMA  Certificates are readily  available from securities
dealers and depend on, among other things,  the level of market  interest rates,
the GNMA Certificate's coupon rate and the prepayment experience of the pools of
mortgages backing each GNMA Certificate.

                                       2
<PAGE>

Investment Restrictions

   
Fundamental  Investment  Restrictions.  The Trust has adopted certain additional
investment restrictions which may not be changed without the affirmative vote of
the holders of a "majority of the outstanding voting securities" ( as defined in
the 1940 Act) of the Trust. The Trust may not:
    

     .........(1) invest its assets,  except in U.S.  Government  Securities (as
defined  in  the  Prospectus)  and in  when-issued  commitments  and  repurchase
agreements with respect to these securities;
     
     .........(2) borrow money, except from banks to meet redemptions in amounts
not exceeding 33 1/3% (taken at the lower of cost or current value) of its total
assets  (including  the  amount  borrowed).  The Trust does not intend to borrow
money  during the coming  year,  and will do so only as a temporary  measure for
extraordinary purposes or to facilitate redemptions. The Trust will not purchase
securities while any borrowings are outstanding;

     .........(3)      purchase securities on margin;

     .........(4) make loans to any person, except by (a) the purchase of a debt
obligation  in which  the  Trust is  permitted  to invest  and (b)  engaging  in
repurchase agreements;
     
     .........(5)  act as an  underwriter,  except  as it may be deemed to be an
underwriter in a sale of restricted securities; or

     .........(6) issue senior  securities,  except as permitted by restrictions
nos. 2 and 4 above,  and,  for  purposes of this  restriction,  the  issuance of
shares of  beneficial  interest in multiple  classes or series,  the purchase or
sale of options,  futures  contracts and options on futures  contracts,  forward
commitments,  forward  foreign  exchange  contracts  and  repurchase  agreements
entered into in accordance with the Trust's investment policies.

     .........In  order to  register  its shares in certain  jurisdictions,  the
Trust has agreed to adopt certain additional  investment  restrictions which are
not  fundamental  and may be changed by a vote of the Trust's  Board of Trustees
and without shareholder  approval or notification.  Pursuant to these additional
restrictions, the Trust may not:
     .........(a) make short sales of securities;

     .........(b) write, purchase or otherwise invest in any put, call, straddle
or spread option;

                                       3
<PAGE>

     .........(c)  invest in any security,  including any  repurchase  agreement
maturing in more than seven days, which is illiquid, if more than 15% of the net
assets  of the  Trust,  taken  at  market  value,  would  be  invested  in  such
securities;
     .........(d) pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its portfolio securities if at
the time of such action the value of the  securities  so pledged,  mortgaged  or
hypothecated would exceed 10% of the value of the Trust;
 .........     (e)      invest in warrants;

     .........(f)  invest in oil, gas or other mineral  leases or exploration or
development programs; and 
   
     .........(g) purchase or sell real estate,  including real estate limited
partnerships except that the Trust may (i) acquire or lease office space for its
own use,  (ii)  invest in  securities  of issuers  that invest in real estate or
interests therein, (iii) invest in securities that are secured by real estate or
interests therein,  (iv) purchase and sell  mortgage-related  securities and (v)
hold and sell real estate acquired by the Trust as a result of the ownership or
securities.
    

     .........In  order to qualify as permissible  investment for Federal credit
unions,  the Trust  has  agreed to adopt  the  following  additional  investment
restrictions  which  are not  fundamental  and may be  changed  by a vote of the
Trust's Board of Trustees and without shareholder approval or notification.
     .........(1)  Except as provided in  non-fundamental  restriction (2), with
respect to each security purchased or sold by the Trust: (1) the delivery of the
security will be made within  thirty (30) days from the trade date;  and (2) the
price  of the  security  at the  time  of  purchase  will be the  market  price.
 .........     (2)  The Trust may purchase  securities on a  when-issued  or a 
delayed delivery basis only in accordance with the following criteria:
     a. the  securities  which are the  subject  of the  when-issued  or delayed
delivery commitment will be marked-to-market daily;

     b. the delivery of the securities  subject to the  commitment  will be made
within 120 days after the trade date;
     
     c. the price of the  security at the time of entering  into the  commitment
will be the market price; and

     d. the Trust's custodian will maintain in a segregated account liquid, high
grade debt securities  having a value  (determined  daily) at least equal to the
amount of the Trust's purchase commitment.
         (3) The Trust may engage in repurchase  agreements which are comparable
to "investment-type" repurchase agreements into which a Federal credit union may
enter.  In all  instances,  the purchase  price of  securities  obtained in such
repurchase  transactions  will  be  at  or  below  the  market  price  for  such
securities.  An  "investment-type"  repurchase  transaction  means a  repurchase
transaction  where the  Federal  credit  union  purchasing  the  security  takes
physical  possession of the security,  or receives  written  confirmation of the
purchase  and a  custodial  or  safekeeping  receipt  from a third party under a
written bailment for hire contract,  or is recorded as the owner of the security
through the Federal Reserve Book-Entry System.

                                       4
<PAGE>

         (4)      The Trust may not purchase or sell a standby commitment.

         (5)      The Trust may not purchase or sell futures contracts or 
                  options on futures contracts.

         (6) The Trust may not engage in "adjusted  trading."  Adjusted  trading
means any method or  transaction  used to defer a loss whereby the Trust sells a
security to a counterparty  at a price above its  then-current  market price and
simultaneously  purchases or commits to purchase from the  counterparty  another
security at a price above its then-current price.

         (7)      Except as provided in non-fundamental restriction (10), the 
Trust may not purchase stripped mortgage-backed securities ("SMBS").

         (8) Except as provided in  non-fundamental  restriction (10), the Trust
may not purchase or hold a collateralized  mortgage  obligation  ("CMO") or real
estate  mortgage  investment  conduit  ("REMIC") that meets any of the following
three tests:

     a. Average Life Test. The CMO or REMIC has an expected average life greater
than 10 years; -----------------
     
     b. Average Life Sensitivity Test. The average life of the CMO or REMIC: (a)
extends by more then 4 years, assuming an immediate and sustained parallel shift
in the yield  curve of plus 300 basis  points;  or (b)  shortens  by more than 6
years,  assuming an immediate and sustained parallel shift in the yield curve of
minus 300 basis points; or
     
     c. Price  Sensitivity Test. The estimated change in the price of the CMO or
REMIC is more than 17 percent,  due to an immediate and sustained parallel shift
in the yield curve of plus or minus 300 basis points.
         
The three tests contained in this non-fundamental  restriction apply at
the time of purchase  and on any  subsequent  retesting  date,  assuming  market
interest rates and prepayment speeds at the time the tests are applied.

     (9) The  Trust  may  not  purchase  residual  interests  in a CMO or  REMIC
transaction.

     (10)  Non-fundamental  restrictions  (7)  and  (8) do not  apply  where  an
investment in SMBS,  CMOs or REMICs is made solely to reduce  interest rate risk
and where:

     a. A  monitoring  and  reporting  system  is in  place  that  provides  the
documentation  necessary to evaluate the expected and actual  performance of the
investment  under  different  interest rate  scenarios; 
     
     b. The  monitoring  and
reporting  system is used to conduct and document an analysis that shows,  prior
to purchase,  that the proposed investment will reduce the Trust's interest rate
risk;  and 
     
     c. The  investment,  subsequent  to  purchase,  is evaluated at least
quarterly,  to determine  whether or not the investment has actually reduced the
Trust's interest rate risk.


                                       5
<PAGE>


   
2.       MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST
         The  Trust's  Board of Trustees  provides  broad  supervision  over the
affairs of the Trust.  The officers of the Trust are responsible for the Trust's
operations.  The Trustees and executive  officers of the Trust are listed below,
together  with  their  principal  occupations  during  the past five  years.  An
asterisk indicates those Trustees who are interested persons of the Trust within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").

     JOHN F. COGAN,  JR.*,  Chairman of the Board,  President and Trustee,  DOB:
June 1926  President,  Chief  Executive  Officer  and a Director  of The Pioneer
Group,  Inc.  ("PGI");   Chairman  and  a  Director  of  Pioneering   Management
Corporation  ("PMC") and Pioneer Funds  Distributor,  Inc. ("PFD");  Director of
Pioneering Services Corporation ("PSC"), Pioneer Capital Corporation ("PCC") and
Forest-Starma  (a Russian  timber  joint  venture);  President  and  Director of
Pioneer Plans Corporation  ("PPC"),  Pioneer Investment Corp.  ("PIC"),  Pioneer
Metals and Technology,  Inc. ("PMT"),  Pioneer  International  Corp.  ("Pintl"),
Luscina, Inc., Pioneer First Russia, Inc. ("First Russia"),  Pioneer Omega, Inc.
("Omega");  and Theta Enterprises,  Inc.;  Chairman of the Board and Director of
Pioneer Goldfields Limited ("PGL") and Teberebie Goldfields Limited; Chairman of
the Supervisory Board of Pioneer Fonds Marketing,  GmbH ("Pioneer GmbH"); Member
of the Supervisory  Board of Pioneer First Polish Trust Fund Joint Stock Company
("PFPT");  Chairman,  President and Trustee of all of the Pioneer  mutual funds;
and Partner, Hale and Dorr LLP (counsel to the Trust).

RICHARD H. EGDAHL, M.D., Trustee,  DOB: December 1926
Boston University Health Policy Institute, 53 Bay State Rd., Boston, MA  02115
       Professor  of  Management,   Boston   University  School  of  Management;
Professor of Public Health, Boston University School of Public Health; Professor
of Surgery,  Boston University School of Medicine;  Director,  Boston University
Health Policy  Institute and Boston  University  Medical Center;  Executive Vice
President and Vice  Chairman of the Board,  University  Hospital;  Academic Vice
President for Health Affairs,  Boston  University;  Director,  Essex  Investment
Management  Company,  Inc.  (investment  adviser),  Health Payment Review,  Inc.
(health care  containment  software firm),  Mediplex Group,  Inc.  (nursing care
facilities firm),  Peer Review Analysis,  Inc. (health care facilities firm) and
Springer-Verlag  New  York,  Inc.  (publisher);   Honorary  Trustee,  Franciscan
Children's Hospital; and Trustee of all of the Pioneer mutual funds.

                                       6
<PAGE>

MARGARET B.W. GRAHAM, Trustee,  DOB:  May 1947
The Keep, P.O. Box 110. Little Deer Isle, ME  04650
       Founding  Director,  Winthrop Group,  Inc (consulting  firm);  Manager of
Research  Operations,  Xerox  Palo  Alto  Research  Center,  from  1991 to 1994;
Professor  of  Operations  Management  and  Management  of  Technology,   Boston
University School of Management ("BUSM"),  from 1989 to 1993; and Trustee of all
of the Pioneer mutual funds, except Pioneer Variable Contracts Trust.

JOHN W. KENDRICK, Trustee,  DOB:  July 1917
6363 Waterway Drive, Falls Church, VA  22044
       Professor  Emeritus and Adjunct Scholar,  George  Washington  University;
Economic  Consultant and Director,  American  Productivity  and Quality  Center;
American Enterprise  Institute;  and Trustee of all of the Pioneer mutual funds,
except Pioneer Variable Contracts Trust.

MARGUERITE A. PIRET, Trustee,  DOB:  May 1948
One Boston Place, Suite 2635, Boston, MA 02108
     President,  Newbury,  Piret & Company,  Inc.  (merchant  banking  firm) and
Trustee of all of the Pioneer mutual funds.

DAVID D. TRIPPLE*, Trustee and Executive Vice President,  DOB:  February 1944
       Executive  Vice  President  and  a  Director  of  PGI;  President,  Chief
Investment  Officer and a Director of PMC;  Director of PFD,  PCC,  PIC,  PIntl,
First Russia,  Omega and Pioneer SBIC Corporation;  and Executive Vice President
and Trustee of all of the Pioneer mutual funds.

STEPHEN K. WEST, Trustee,  DOB: September 1928
125 Broad Street, New York, NY  10004
       Partner,  Sullivan & Cromwell  (law firm);  Trustee,  The Winthrop  Focus
Funds (mutual funds) and Trustee of all of the Pioneer mutual funds.

JOHN WINTHROP, Trustee,  DOB:  June 1936
One North Adgers Wharf, Charleston, SC  29401
     President, John Winthrop & Co., Inc. (private investment firm); Director of
NUI Corp.;  Trustee of Alliance Capital Reserves,  Alliance  Government Reserves
and  Alliance  Tax Exempt  Reserves;  and Trustee of all of the  Pioneer  mutual
funds, except Pioneer Variable Contracts Trust.

                                       7
<PAGE>

WILLIAM H. KEOUGH, Treasurer,  DOB:  April 1937
       Senior Vice  President,  Chief  Financial  Officer and  Treasurer of PGI;
Treasurer of PFD, PMC, PSC, PCC, PIC, PIntl,  PMT, PGL, First Russia,  Omega and
Pioneer SBIC Corporation; Treasurer and Director of PPC; and Treasurer of all of
the Pioneer mutual funds.


JOSEPH P. BARRI, Secretary, DOB: August 1946
       Secretary of PGI, PMC, PPC, PIC, PIntl, PMT, First Russia, Omega and PCC;
Clerk of PFD and PSC;  Partner,  Hale and Dorr LLP  (counsel to the Trust);  and
Secretary of all of the Pioneer mutual funds.

ERIC W. RECKARD, Assistant Treasurer, DOB:  June 1956
       Manager of Fund  Accounting  of PMC since May 1994;  Manager of Auditing,
Compliance  and  Business  Analysis  for PGI  prior to May 1994;  and  Assistant
Treasurer of all of the Pioneer mutual funds.

ROBERT P. NAULT, Assistant Secretary, DOB:   March 1964
       General  Counsel and  Assistant  Secretary  of PGI since 1995;  Assistant
Secretary of PMC, PIntl, PGL, First Russia,  Omega and all of the Pioneer mutual
funds;  Assistant  Clerk  of PFD and  PSC;  and  formerly  of Hale  and Dorr LLP
(counsel to the Fund) where he most recently served as junior partner.

SHERMAN B. RUSS,  Vice President, DOB:   July 1937
       Senior Vice President of PMC; Vice President of  Pioneer Bond Fund, 
Pioneer Money Market Trust, and Pioneer Interest Shares

         The Trust's Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration
of Trust") provides that the holders of two-thirds of its outstanding shares may
vote to  remove a Trustee  of the  Trust at any  meeting  of  shareholders.  See
"Description of Shares" below.  The business address of all officers is 60 State
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.

         All of the  outstanding  capital  stock of PFD,  PMC and PSC is  owned,
directly or indirectly, by PGI, a publicly-owned Delaware corporation.  PMC, the
Trust's  investment  adviser,  serves as the investment  adviser for the Pioneer
mutual funds listed below and manages the  investments of certain  institutional
accounts.

                                       8
<PAGE>

         The table below lists all the Pioneer U. S. mutual funds currently 
offered to the public and the investment
adviser and principal underwriter for each fund.

                                            Investment         Principal
Fund Name                                   Adviser           Underwriter

Pioneer International Growth Fund            PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Europe Fund                          PMC                 PFD
Pioneer World Equity Fund                    PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Emerging Markets Fund                PMC                 PFD
Pioneer India Fund                           PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Capital Growth Fund                  PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Mid-Cap Fund                         PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Growth Shares                        PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Small Company Fund                   PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Micro-Cap Fund                       PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Gold Shares                          PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Equity-Income Fund                   PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Balanced Fund                        PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Fund                                 PMC                 PFD
Pioneer II                                   PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Real Estate Shares                   PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Short-Term Income Trust              PMC                 PFD
Pioneer America Income Trust                 PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Bond Fund                            PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Intermediate Tax-Free Fund           PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Tax-Free Income Fund                 PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Cash Reserves Fund                   PMC                 PFD
Pioneer Interest Shares                      PMC               Note 1
Pioneer Variable Contracts Trust             PMC               Note 2

Note 1 This fund is a closed-end fund.

Note 2 This is a  series  of  eight  separate  portfolios  designed  to  provide
investment  vehicles  for the  variable  annuity  and  variable  life  insurance
contracts of various insurance companies or for certain qualified pension plans.


                                       9
<PAGE>



         To the knowledge of the Trust, no officer or Trustee of the Trust owned
5% or more of the  issued and  outstanding  shares of PGI as of the date of this
Statement  of   Additional   Information,   except  Mr.  Cogan  who  then  owned
approximately 14% of such shares. As of the date of this Statement of Additional
Information,  the Trustees and Officers of the Trust owned  beneficially  in the
aggregate less than 1% of the  outstanding  shares of the Trust. As of such date
Prudential  Securities  Inc. FBO National  Association  of Surety Bond Producers
Inc.  Attn:  Martin Huber  Operating  Account,  5225 Wisconsin Ave. NW Ste 600 ,
Washington,  DC  20015-2014,  owned  approximately  12.62%  (20,784.752)  of the
outstanding  Class C shares of the Trust;  Pioneer  Funds  Distributor  Inc., 60
State Street,  Boston, MA 02109-1800,  owned approximately 6.41% (10,561.287) of
the outstanding  Class shares of the Trust;  and Debra E Owen,  Justin Alan Owen
and Andrew Michael Owen JT TEN, 811 Goettel Ct., Benicia, CA, 94510-2574,  owned
approximately 5.64% (9,284.032) of the outstanding Class shares of the Trust.



Compensation of Officers and Trustees

         The Trust pays no salaries or compensation to any of its officers.  The
Trust pays an annual  trustee's fee to each Trustee who is not  affiliated  with
PMC, PGI, PFD or PSC  consisting of two  components:  (a) a base fee of $500 and
(b) a variable  fee,  calculated  on the basis of the  average net assets of the
Trust. In addition, the Trust pays a per meeting fee of $100 to each Trustee who
is not  affiliated  with PMC,  PGI,  PFD or PSC.  The Trust  also pays an annual
committee  participation  fee to  trustees  who serve as members  of  committees
established  to act on  behalf  of one or  more  of the  Pioneer  mutual  funds.
Committee  fees are  allocated to the Trust on the basis of the Trust's  average
net assets.  Each Trustee who is a member of the Audit Committee for the Pioneer
mutual  funds  receives  an  annual  fee  equal to 10% of the  aggregate  annual
trustee's fee, except the Committee  Chair who receives an annual  trustee's fee
equal to 20% of the  aggregate  annual  trustee's  fee.  Members of the  Pricing
Committee for the Pioneer  mutual funds,  as well as any other  committee  which
renders  material  functional  services to the Board of Trustees for the Pioneer
mutual  funds,  receive an annual fee equal to 5% of the annual  trustee's  fee,
except the Committee Chair who receives an annual  trustee's fee equal to 10% of
the annual trustee's fee. Any such fees paid to affiliates or interested persons
of PGI,  PMC,  PFD or PSC are  reimbursed  to the  Trust  under  its  Management
Contract.
    

         The following  table provides  information  regarding the  compensation
paid by the Trust and other Pioneer Funds to the Trustees for their services.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                      <C>                     <C>                 <C>   

                                                                                Total Compensation
                                                              Pension or        from the Trust and
                                                          Retirement Benefits    all other Pioneer
                                        Aggregate         Accrued as Part of      Mutual Funds**
                                    Compensation from    the Trust's Expenses
                                        the Trust*


   
John F. Cogan, Jr.                     $    500.00               $0                 $11,083.00
Richard H. Egdahl,M.D.                    2,002.00               0                   59,858.00
Margaret B.W. Graham                      2,102.00               0                   59,858.00
John W. Kendrick                          2,102.00               0                   59,858.00
Marguerite A. Piret                       2,464.00               0                   79,842.00
David D. Tripple                            500.00               0                   11,083.00
Stephen K. West                           2,246.00               0                   67,850.00
John Winthrop                             2,236.00               0                   66,442.00

                       Total             14,152.00               0                  415,874.00
                                         =========                                  ==========
    


- -----------------------------
   
*        As of December 31, 1996, the Trust's fiscal year end. .

**       For the calendar year ended December 31, 1996.  As of such date, there were 21 Pioneer mutual funds.
    
</TABLE>


3.  INVESTMENT ADVISER

   
         The  Trust  has   contracted   with  PMC,  60  State  Street,   Boston,
Massachusetts, to act as its investment adviser. The term of the contract is one
year, but it is renewable  annually after such date by the vote of a majority of
the  Board of  Trustees  of the  Trust  (including  a  majority  of the Board of
Trustees who are not parties to the contract or  interested  persons of any such
parties). The vote must be cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting  on  such  renewal.  This  contract  terminates  if  assigned  and may be
terminated  without penalty by either party by vote of its Board of Directors or
Trustees or a majority of its  outstanding  voting  securities and the giving of
sixty  days'  written  notice.  The  management  contract  was  approved  by the
shareholders of the Trust at a meeting of shareholders held on December 6, 1993.
As  compensation  for its  management  services  and expenses  incurred,  PMC is
entitled  to a  management  fee at the rate of 0.50%  per  annum of the  Trust's
average  daily net assets.  The fee is normally  computed and accrued  daily and
paid monthly.

         PMC has  agreed  not to  impose  a  portion  of its  management  fee as
required to limit the Class A shares  expenses to 1.00% of the average daily net
assets  attributable  to Class A shares;  the  portion  of  Trust-wide  expenses
attributable  to Class B and Class C shares  will be reduced  only to the extent
that such expenses are reduced for Class A shares. See "Expense Information" and
"Management  of the Trust" in the  Prospectus.  This  agreement is voluntary and
temporary and may be revised or terminated at any time by PMC.
    

 ..

   
         Pursuant to the expense limitation  discussed above,  during the fiscal
years ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, the Trust's  management fees were
reduced by $264,316,  $331,265 and $155,511,  respectively,  resulting in actual
management  fees paid during  these  periods to PMC of  $543,776,  $489,986  and
$692,136 respectively. See the Notes to the Financial Statements in the December
31, 1996 Annual Report (incorporated herein by reference) for more information.
    

         In  an  attempt  to  avoid  any  potential   conflict  with   portfolio
transactions  for the Trust,  the Adviser and the Trust have  adopted  extensive
restrictions on personal  securities trading by personnel of the Adviser and its
affiliates. These restrictions include: pre-clearance of all personal securities
transactions  and a  prohibition  of  purchasing  initial  public  offerings  of
securities.  These  restrictions  are a continuation of the basic principle that
the  interests  of the  Trust  and its  shareholders  come  before  those of the
Adviser, its affiliates and their employees.

4.       PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

   
         PFD, 60 State Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts,  serves as the principal
underwriter  for the Trust in  connection  with the  continuous  offering of the
shares of the Trust pursuant to an  Underwriting  Agreement dated July 10, 1990.
The  Trustees  who are not,  and were not at the  time  they  voted,  interested
persons of the Trust,  as defined  in the 1940 Act,  approved  the  Underwriting
Agreement.  The Underwriting Agreement will continue in effect from year to year
if annually  approved by the  Trustees.  During the Trust's  fiscal  years ended
December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994 net underwriting  commissions  retained by PFD
in  connection  with the offering of Trust shares were  approximately  $ 34,997,
$44,343, and $76,256 , respectively.  Commissions reallowed to dealers by PFD in
those periods were approximately $246,139, $636,642, and $543,725, respectively.
    

                                       10
<PAGE>

         PFD  bears all  expenses  it incurs  in  providing  services  under the
Underwriting Agreement.  Such expenses include compensation to its employees and
representatives and to securities dealers for distribution related services. PFD
also pays certain  expenses in connection  with the  distribution of the Trust's
shares,  including the cost of preparing,  printing and distributing advertising
or promotional materials, and the cost of printing and distributing prospectuses
and  supplements  to  prospective  shareholders.  The  Trust  bears  the cost of
registering its shares under federal and state securities law. The Trust and PFD
have agreed to  indemnify  each other  against  certain  liabilities,  including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Under the Underwriting
Agreement, PFD will use its best efforts in rendering services to the Trust.

   
         The Trust will not generally issue Trust shares for consideration other
than cash. At the Trust's sole  discretion,  however,  it may issue Trust shares
for consideration other than cash in connection with a reorganization, statutory
merger or other acquisition of portfolio securities.
    

5.       DISTRIBUTION PLANS

         The Trust has  adopted  plans of  distribution  pursuant  to Rule 12b-1
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under the 1940 Act
with  respect  to Class A, Class B and Class C shares  (the  "Class A Plan," the
"Class B Plan" and the "Class C Plan") (together, the "Plans").

Class A Plan

         Pursuant  to the  Class  A  Plan,  the  Trust  reimburses  PFD  for its
expenditures in financing certain activities primarily intended to result in the
sale of the Class A shares.  Certain  categories of such  expenditures have been
approved  by the  Board of  Trustees  and are set forth in the  Prospectus.  See
"Distribution  Plans" in the  Prospectus.  The expenses of the Trust pursuant to
the Class A Plan are  accrued  daily at a rate  which may not  exceed the annual
rate of 0.25% of the Trust's  average daily net assets  attributable  to Class A
shares.  The Class A Plan became effective on October 15, 1990. The Class A Plan
does not provide for the carryover of reimbursable expenses beyond twelve months
from the time they are incurred.



                                       11
<PAGE>



Class B Plan

         The Class B Plan  provides that the Trust shall pay PFD, as the Trust's
distributor for its Class B shares, a daily  distribution fee equal on an annual
basis to 0.75% of the Trust's  average daily net assets  attributable to Class B
shares  and will pay PFD a  service  fee equal to 0.25% of the  Trust's  average
daily net assets  attributable  to Class B shares (which PFD will in turn pay to
securities  dealers which enter into a sales  agreement with PFD at a rate of up
to 0.25% of the Trust's average daily net assets  attributable to Class B shares
owned by investors  for whom that  securities  dealer is the holder or dealer of
record).  This service fee is intended to be consideration for personal services
and/or account maintenance services rendered by the dealer with respect to Class
B shares.  PFD will  advance to dealers the first  year's  service fee at a rate
equal to 0.25% of the amount invested. As compensation  therefor, PFD may retain
the service fee paid by the Trust with respect to such shares for the first year
after purchase.  Dealers will become  eligible for additional  service fees with
respect to such shares  commencing in the thirteenth  month following  purchase.
Dealers  may from time to time be  required to meet  certain  other  criteria in
order to receive  service fees. PFD or its affiliates are entitled to retain all
service  fees  payable  under the  Class B Plan for which  there is no dealer of
record  or for  which  qualification  standards  have not  been  met as  partial
consideration  for  personal  services  and/or  account   maintenance   services
performed by PFD or its affiliates for shareholder accounts.

   
   The  purpose  of  distribution  payments  to PFD under the Class B Plan is to
compensate PFD for its distribution  services to the Trust. PFD pays commissions
to dealers as well as  expenses of printing  prospectuses  and reports  used for
sales  purposes,  expenses with respect to the preparation and printing of sales
literature  and  other   distribution-related   expenses,   including,   without
limitation,  the cost  necessary  to provide  distribution-related  services  or
personnel, travel, office expenses and equipment. The Class B Plan also provides
that  PFD  will  receive  all  contingent   deferred  sales  charges   ("CDSCs")
attributable to Class B shares.  (See  "Distribution  Plans" in the Prospectus.)
When a broker-dealer  sells Class B shares and elects,  with PFD's approval,  to
waive its right to receive the commission normally paid at the time of the sale,
PFD may cause all or a portion of the  distribution  fees described  above to be
paid to the broker-dealer.
    


                                       12
<PAGE>

Class C Plan

         The Class C Plan  provides  that the Trust will pay PFD, as the Trust's
distributor  for its Class C shares,  a distribution  fee accrued daily and paid
quarterly,  equal on an annual basis to 0.75% of the Trust's  average  daily net
assets  attributable  to Class C shares and will pay PFD a service  fee equal to
0.25% of the Trust's  average daily net assets  attributable  to Class C shares.
PFD will in turn pay to securities  dealers  which enter into a sales  agreement
with PFD a distribution fee and a service fee at rates of up to 0.75% and 0.25%,
respectively,  of the Trust's  average daily net assets  attributable to Class C
shares  owned by  investors  for whom that  securities  dealer is the  holder or
dealer of record. The service fee is intended to be in consideration of personal
services and/or account maintenance services rendered by the dealer with respect
to Class C shares. PFD will advance to dealers the first year's service fee at a
rate equal to 0.25% of the current value of the amount invested. As compensation
therefor,  PFD may retain the service fee paid by the Trust with respect to such
shares for the first year after  purchase.  Commencing in the  thirteenth  month
following  a  purchase  of Class C shares,  dealers  will  become  eligible  for
additional  service  fees at a rate of up to 0.25% of the  amount  invested  and
additional  compensation at a rate of up to 0.75% of the net asset value of such
shares. Dealers may from time to time be required to meet certain other criteria
in order to receive  service fees.  PFD or its affiliates are entitled to retain
all service fees payable  under the Class C Plan for which there is no dealer of
record  or for  which  qualification  standards  have not  been  met as  partial
consideration  for  personal  services  and/or  account   maintenance   services
performed by PFD or its affiliates for shareholder accounts.

   
         The purpose of  distribution  payments to PFD under the Class C Plan is
to  compensate  PFD for its  distribution  services  with respect to the Class C
shares of the Trust.  PFD pays  commissions  to dealers as well as  expenses  of
printing prospectuses and reports used for sales purposes, expenses with respect
to   the   preparation   and   printing   of   sales    literature   and   other
distribution-related expenses, including, without limitation, the cost necessary
to provide  distribution-related  services, or personnel, travel office expenses
and  equipment.  The Class C Plan also  provides that PFD will receive all CDSCs
attributable to Class C shares. (See  "Distributions  Plans" in the Prospectus.)
When a broker-dealer  sells Class C shares and elects,  with PFD's approval,  to
waive its right to receive the commission normally paid at the time of the sale,
PFD may cause all or a portion of the  distribution  fees described  above to be
paid to the broker-dealer.
    


                                       13
<PAGE>


General

   
         In  accordance  with the terms of the Plans,  PFD provides to the Trust
for review by the Trustees a quarterly  written  report of the amounts  expended
under the  respective  Plan and the  purposes for which such  expenditures  were
made. In the  Trustees'  quarterly  review of the Plans,  they will consider the
continued  appropriateness  and the level of  reimbursement  or compensation the
Plans provide.
    

         No interested  person of the Trust, nor any Trustee of the Trust who is
not an  interested  person of the Trust,  has any direct or  indirect  financial
interest in the operation of the Plans except to the extent that PFD and certain
of its employees may be deemed to have such an interest as a result of receiving
a portion of the amounts expended under the Plans by the Trust and except to the
extent certain officers may have an interest in PFD's ultimate parent, PGI.

   
         The Plans were  adopted by a  majority  vote of the Board of  Trustees,
including  all of the Trustees who are not, and were not at the time they voted,
interested persons of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (none of whom has or
have any direct or indirect  financial  interest in the  operation of the Plans)
(the "Qualified  Trustees"),  cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose
of voting on the Plans.  In approving  the Plans,  the Trustees  identified  and
considered a number of potential benefits which the Plans may provide. The Board
of Trustees  believes that there is a reasonable  likelihood that the Plans will
benefit the Trust and its current and future  shareholders.  Under their  terms,
the Plans  remain  in effect  from year to year  provided  such  continuance  is
approved  annually by vote of the Trustees in the manner  described  above.  The
Plans may not be amended to increase materially the annual percentage limitation
of average  net assets  which may be spent for the  services  described  therein
without approval of the  shareholders of the Class or Classes affected  thereby,
and  material  amendments  of the Plans must also be approved by the Trustees in
the  manner  described  above.  A Plan may be  terminated  at any time,  without
payment of any penalty, by vote of the majority of the Qualified or by a vote of
a majority of the outstanding  voting  securities of the respective Class of the
Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act). A Plan will  automatically  terminate in the
event of its  assignment  (as  defined in the 1940 Act).  During the fiscal year
ended  December  31,  1996 the  Trust  incurred  distribution  fees of  $381,382
pursuant  to the Class A Plan,  $85,204  pursuant to the Class B Plan and $5,474
pursuant to the Class C Plan.

     Upon redemption, Class A shares may be subject to a 1% CDSC, Class B shares
that are  redeemed  within six years of purchase are subject to a CDSC at a rate
from a maximum of 4% based on the lower of the cost or market value of
shares and  redemptions  of Class C shares  within one year of purchase  are
subject to a 1% CDSC.  During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996,  CDSCs in
the amount of $25,142 were paid to PFD. 

6. SHAREHOLDER SERVICING/TRANSFER AGENT

         The  Trust  has   contracted   with  PSC,  60  State  Street,   Boston,
Massachusetts, to act as shareholder servicing and transfer agent for the Trust.
This contract  terminates if assigned and may be terminated  without  penalty by
either party by vote of its Board of Directors or Trustees,  as the case may be,
or a majority of the Trust's  outstanding  voting  securities  and the giving of
ninety days' written notice.
    

         Under  the  terms  of  its  contract  with  the  Trust,   PSC  services
shareholder accounts, and its duties include: (i) processing sales,  redemptions
and exchanges of shares of the Trust;  (ii)  distributing  dividends and capital
gains associated with Trust portfolio  accounts;  and (iii) maintaining  account
records and responding to shareholder inquiries.

   
         PSC  receives  an annual fee of $30.00 per Class A, Class B and Class C
shareholder  account from the Trust as compensation  for the services  described
above. PSC is also reimbursed by the Trust for its out-of-pocket expenditures.
    
  This fee is set at an amount  determined by vote of a majority of the Trustees
(including a majority of the  Trustees who are not parties to the contract  with
PSC or interested persons of any such parties) to be comparable to fees for such
services being paid by other investment companies.

   
The  Trust  may  compensate  entities  which  have  agreed  to  provide  certain
sub-accounting   services,   such  as  specific   transaction   processing   and
recordkeeping  services.  Any such payments by the Trust would be in lieu of the
per account fee which would otherwise be paid by the Trust to PSC.
    




7.       CUSTODIAN

   
         Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.. 40 Water Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts
02109 (the "Custodian"), is the custodian of the Trust's assets. The Custodian's
responsibilities  include  safekeeping  and  controlling  the  Trust's  cash and
securities,  handling  the receipt and  delivery of  securities  and  collecting
interest  and  dividends  on the Trust's  investments.  The  Custodian  does not
determine the  investment  policies of the Trust or decide which  securities the
Trust will buy or sell. The Trust may, however, invest in securities,  including
repurchase  agreements,  issued by the Custodian and may deal with the Custodian
as principal in securities  transactions.  Portfolio securities may be deposited
into the Federal Reserve-Treasury Department Book Entry System or the Depository
Trust Company.
    




8.       INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

   
         Arthur Andersen LLP, 225 Franklin Street, Boston,  Massachusetts 02110,
are the Trust's  independent public accountants,  providing audit services,  tax
return review,  and assistance and consultation  with respect to the preparation
of filings with the SEC.
    

9.       PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

         The Trust  intends to fully manage its  portfolio by buying and selling
securities,  as  well  as  holding  securities  to  maturity.  In  managing  its
portfolio,  the Trust seeks to take advantage of market  developments  and yield
disparities, which may include use of the following strategies:

(1) shortening the average  maturity of its portfolio in  anticipation of a
rise  in  interest  rates  so as to  minimize  depreciation  of  principal;  

(2)lengthening  the average  maturity of its portfolio in anticipation of a
decline in interest rates so as to maximize yield; 

(3) selling one type of debt security and buying another when  disparities  
arise in the relative  values of each; and

(4) changing from one debt security to an essentially similar debt security when
their  respective  yields  appear  distorted  due to market  factors.  The Trust
engages in portfolio trading if it believes a transaction net
of costs  (including  taxes and  custodian  charges)  will help in achieving the
Trust's investment objective.

         Decisions  relating  to the  purchase  and sale of  securities  for the
Trust,  the  allocation of portfolio  transactions  and, where  applicable,  the
negotiation of commission rates are made by officers of PMC.

                                       14
<PAGE>

         The primary consideration in placing portfolio security transactions is
execution at the most favorable prices under the circumstances. PMC has complete
freedom as to the  markets in which and  broker-dealers  through  which it seeks
this result.  Debt  securities are traded  principally  in the  over-the-counter
market on a net basis  through  dealers  acting for their own account and not as
brokers.  The  cost  of  securities  purchased  from  underwriters  includes  an
underwriter's  commission or concession,  and the prices at which securities are
purchased  and sold from and to dealers  include a dealer's  markup or markdown.
PMC generally attempts to negotiate with underwriters to decrease the commission
or concession for the benefit of the Trust.  PMC normally seeks to deal directly
with the  primary  market  makers  unless,  in its  opinion,  better  prices are
available elsewhere.

         Subject to the  requirement of seeking  execution at the best available
price,  securities may, as authorized by PMC's  management  contract,  be bought
from or sold to dealers who furnish  statistical  research and other information
or  services  to PMC and the  Trust,  or who sell  shares of any of the  Pioneer
mutual funds.  Brokerage and research services may include advice concerning the
value of securities;  the  advisability  of investing in,  purchasing or selling
securities;  the  availability  of  securities  or the  purchasers or sellers of
securities;  and furnishing  analyses,  manuals and reports concerning  issuers,
industries,   securities,  economic  factors  and  trends,  portfolio  strategy,
performance of accounts,  comparative  fund statistics and credit rating service
information.  PMC  maintains a listing of dealers who provide such services on a
regular basis.  Management believes that no exact dollar value can be calculated
for such services.

   
         In addition to the Trust,  PMC acts as investment  adviser to the other
Pioneer mutual funds and certain  private  accounts with  investment  objectives
similar  to  those  of the  Trust.  As  such,  securities  may  meet  investment
objectives  of the Trust,  such other funds and such private  accounts.  In such
cases, the decision to recommend to purchase for one fund or account rather than
another is based on a number of factors.  The determining  factors in most cases
are the amount of securities of the issuer then outstanding,  the value of those
securities and the market for them.  Other factors  considered in the investment
recommendations  include other investments which each company presently has in a
particular  industry or country and the availability of investment funds in each
mutual fund or account.

                                       15
<PAGE>

         It is possible  that, at times,  identical  securities  will be held by
more than one mutual fund and/or  account.  However,  the position of any mutual
fund or  account  in the same  issue  may vary and the  length  of time that any
mutual fund or account may choose to hold its  investment  in the same issue may
likewise  vary. To the extent that the Trust,  another  Pioneer mutual fund or a
private  account  managed by PMC seeks to acquire the same security at about the
same time,  the Trust may not be able to  acquire  as large a  position  in such
security  as it desires or it may have to pay a higher  price for the  security.
Similarly, the Trust may not be able to obtain as large an execution of an order
to sell or as high a price for any particular  portfolio security if PMC decides
to sell on behalf of another  account  the same  portfolio  security at the same
time. On the other hand, if the same  securities  are bought or sold at the same
time  by  more  than  one  account,   the  resulting   participation  in  volume
transactions could produce better executions for the Trust or other account.  In
the event that more than one account  purchases or sells the same  security on a
given  date,  the  purchases  and  sales  will  normally  be made as  nearly  as
practicable  on a pro rata  basis in  proportion  to the  amounts  desired to be
purchased or sold by each.
    

         The   Trustees   periodically   review   PMC's   performance   of   its
responsibilities  in connection with the placement of portfolio  transactions on
behalf of the Trust.

   
         During the fiscal years ended December 31,  1994, 1995 and 1996, 
the Trust did not pay any brokerage commissions.
    

10.      TAX STATUS


   
It is the  Trust's  policy  to meet  the  requirements  of  Subchapter  M of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),  for  qualification as a
regulated  investment  company.  These requirements relate to the sources of the
Trust's income,  the  diversification  of its assets and the distribution of its
income to shareholders. If the Trust meets all such requirements and distributes
to its  shareholders,  in accordance  with the Code's timing  requirements,  all
investment  company taxable income and net capital gain, if any, which it earns,
the Trust will be relieved of the necessity of paying federal income tax.

                                       16
<PAGE>

In order to qualify as a regulated  investment  company under  Subchapter M, the
Trust must,  among other things,  derive at least 90% of its annual gross income
from  interest,  gains  from the sale or other  disposition  of  securities  and
certain other income (the "90% income  test"),  limit its gains from the sale of
securities  and certain other  positions held for less than three months to less
than 30% of its annual gross income (the "30% test") and satisfy  certain annual
distribution and quarterly diversification requirements.

Dividends from investment company taxable income,  which includes net investment
income and net short-term  capital gain in excess of net long-term capital loss,
are taxable as  ordinary  income,  whether  received  in cash or  reinvested  in
additional  shares.  Dividends from net long-term  capital gain in excess of net
short-term  capital  loss,  if any,  whether  received in cash or  reinvested in
additional shares, are taxable to the Trust's  shareholders as long-term capital
gains for  federal  income  tax  purposes  without  regard to the length of time
shares of the  Trust  have been  held.  The  federal  income  tax  status of all
distributions will be reported to shareholders annually.

Any  dividend  declared  by the Trust in  October,  November or December as of a
record  date in such a month  and paid  during  the  following  January  will be
treated for federal income tax purposes as received by  shareholders on December
31 of the calendar year in which it is declared.

If the Trust invests in securities  with original issue discount (or with market
discount if the Trust elects to include  market  discount in income  currently),
the Trust must accrue income on such  investments  for each taxable year,  which
generally  will be prior to the  receipt  of the  corresponding  cash  payments.
However, the Trust must distribute,  at least annually, all or substantially all
of its net income,  including such accrued income, to shareholders to qualify as
a  regulated  investment  company  under the Code and avoid  Federal  income and
excise  taxes.  Therefore,  the  Trust  may  have to  dispose  of its  portfolio
securities under disadvantageous  circumstances to generate cash, or may have to
leverage itself by borrowing the cash, to satisfy distribution requirements.

For federal  income tax purposes,  the Trust is permitted to carry forward a net
capital loss for any year to offset its capital gains,  if any, during the eight
years following the year of the loss. To the extent subsequent capital gains are
offset by such losses,  they would not result in federal income tax liability to
the  Trust  and  therefore  are  not  expected  to be  distributed  as  such  to
shareholders.  At  December  31,  1996,  the Trust had  aggregate  capital  loss
carryforwards  of  $8,034,239,  which will expire  between  2001 and 2004 if not
utilized.

                                       17
<PAGE>

At the time of an investor's purchase of Trust shares, a portion of the purchase
price may be attributable to realized or unrealized  appreciation in the Trust's
portfolio.  Consequently,  subsequent  distributions  on these  shares from such
appreciation  may be taxable to such investor even if the net asset value of the
investor's  shares  is,  as a result  of the  distributions,  reduced  below the
investor's cost for such shares and the distributions  economically  represent a
return of a portion of the investment.

Redemptions and exchanges are taxable events. Any loss realized by a shareholder
upon the redemption,  exchange or other disposition of shares with a tax holding
period of six months or less will be treated as a long-term  capital loss to the
extent of any amounts treated as  distributions  of long-term  capital gain with
respect to such shares.

In addition,  if Class A shares  redeemed or  exchanged  have been held for less
than 91 days, (1) in the case of a  reinvestment  at net asset value pursuant to
the reinvestment privilege, the sales charge paid on such shares is not included
in their tax basis under the Code, and (2) in the case of an exchange,  all or a
portion of the sales  charge  paid on such  shares is not  included in their tax
basis under the Code, to the extent a sales charge that would otherwise apply to
the shares  received is reduced  pursuant to the exchange  privilege.  In either
case,  the  portion  of the sales  charge not  included  in the tax basis of the
shares  redeemed or  surrendered  in an exchange is included in the tax basis of
the shares acquired in the  reinvestment  or exchange.  Losses on redemptions or
other  dispositions  of shares may be disallowed  under "wash sale" rules in the
event of other  investments  in the Trust  (including  those  made  pursuant  to
reinvestment of dividends and/or capital gain distributions)  within a period of
61 days  beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after a redemption or other
disposition of shares. In such a case, the disallowed  portion of any loss would
be  included  in the  federal  tax  basis of the  shares  acquired  in the other
investments.

The   Trust's   dividends   and   distributions   will  not   qualify   for  any
dividends-received  deduction  that might  otherwise  be  available  for certain
dividends received by shareholders that are corporations.

Different tax treatment, including penalties on certain excess contributions and
deferrals, certain pre-retirement and post-retirement distributions, and certain
prohibited  transactions,  is  accorded  to  accounts  maintained  as  qualified
retirement plans.
Shareholders should consult their tax advisers for more information.

A state  income (and  possibly  local income  and/or  intangible  property)  tax
exemption is generally  available  to the extent the Trust's  distributions  are
derived from  interest on (or, in the case of  intangible  property  taxes,  the
value of its assets is  attributable  to) certain U.S.  Government  obligations,
provided in some states that certain thresholds for holdings of such obligations
and/or reporting requirements are satisfied.  The Trust will not seek to satisfy
any  threshold or reporting  requirements  that may apply in  particular  taxing
jurisdictions,  although the Trust may in its sole discretion  provide  relevant
information to shareholders.

Federal law requires that the Trust  withhold (as "backup  withholding")  31% of
reportable  payments,  including  dividends,  capital  gain  dividends  and  the
proceeds of redemptions  (including  exchanges) and  repurchases to shareholders
who have not complied with Internal  Revenue  Service  ("IRS")  regulations.  In
order to avoid this withholding requirement,  shareholders must certify on their
Account  Applications,  or on separate IRS Forms W-9,  that the Social  Security
Number or other  Taxpayer  Identification  Number they provide is their  correct
number and that they are not currently  subject to backup  withholding,  or that
they are exempt from backup withholding.  The Trust may nevertheless be required
to  withhold  if it  receives  notice  from the IRS or a broker  that the number
provided  is  incorrect  or  backup  withholding  is  applicable  as a result of
previous underreporting of interest or dividend income.

If, as anticipated,  the Trust qualifies as a regulated investment company under
the Code,  it will not be required to pay any  Massachusetts  income,  corporate
excise or franchise taxes.

The  description of certain  federal tax  provisions  above relates only to U.S.
federal income tax consequences for shareholders who are U.S. persons, i.e. U.S.
citizens or residents or U.S. corporations, partnerships, trusts or estates, and
who are subject to U.S.  federal income tax. This  description  does not address
the special tax rules that may be applicable  to particular  types of investors,
such as financial  institutions,  insurance  companies,  securities  dealers, or
tax-exempt or  tax-deferred  plans,  accounts or entities.  Investors other than
U.S.  persons  may be subject to  different  U.S.  tax  treatment,  including  a
possible 30%  non-resident  alien U.S.  withholding tax (or  non-resident  alien
withholding tax at a lower treaty rate) on amounts treated as ordinary dividends
from the Trust and,  unless an effective IRS Form W-8 or  authorized  substitute
for Form W-8 is on file, to 31% backup  withholding  on certain  other  payments
from the Trust.  Shareholders  should  consult  their own tax  advisers on these
matters and on state, local and other applicable tax laws.
    





<PAGE>


11.      DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

         The  Trust's  Declaration  of Trust  permits  the Board of  Trustees to
authorize the issuance of an unlimited  number of full and fractional  shares of
beneficial  interest (without par value) which may be divided into such separate
series as the Trustees may establish.  Currently, the Trust consists of only one
series. The Trustees may, however,  establish additional series of shares in the
future,  and may divide or combine the shares into a greater or lesser number of
shares without thereby changing the  proportionate  beneficial  interests in the
Trust.  The Declaration of Trust further  authorizes the Trustees to classify or
reclassify any series of the shares into one or more classes.  Pursuant thereto,
the Trustees  have  authorized  the  issuance of three  classes of shares of the
Trust, Class A shares,  Class B shares and Class C shares. Each share of a class
of the Trust  represents  an equal  proportionate  interest in the assets of the
Trust allocable to that class.  Upon  liquidation of the Trust,  shareholders of
each class of the Trust are entitled to share pro rata in the Trust's net assets
allocable to such class available for  distribution to  shareholders.  The Trust
reserves the right to create and issue  additional  series or classes of shares,
in which case the shares of each class of a series would participate  equally in
the  earnings,  dividends and assets  allocable to that class of the  particular
series.  Prior to July 1,  1994,  the Trust was named  Pioneer  U.S.  Government
Trust.

         Shareholders  are entitled to one vote for each share held and may vote
in the  election  of  Trustees  and on other  matters  submitted  to meetings of
shareholders.  Although  Trustees are not elected annually by the  shareholders,
shareholders have, under certain circumstances,  the right to remove one or more
Trustees.  No amendment  adversely  affecting the rights of shareholders  may be
made to the  Trust's  Declaration  of Trust  without the  affirmative  vote of a
majority of its shares.  Shares have no preemptive or conversion rights.  Shares
are fully paid and  non-assessable  by the Trust,  except as stated  below.  See
"Certain Liabilities."

12.      CERTAIN LIABILITIES

   
         As a Massachusetts  business trust, the Trust's operations are governed
by its Amended and Restated  Declaration of Trust dated December 7, 1993, a copy
of  which  is on  file  with  the  Office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  of The
Commonwealth of  Massachusetts.  Shareholders of a Massachusetts  business trust
may, under certain circumstances,  be held personally liable for the obligations
of the trust.  However,  the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer
of  shareholder  liability for acts or obligations of the Trust or any series of
the Trust and  provides  that  notice  of such  disclaimer  may be given in each
agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Trust or its
Trustees.  Moreover,  the Declaration of Trust provides for the  indemnification
out of  Trust  property  of any  shareholders  held  personally  liable  for any
obligations  of the Trust or any series of the Trust.  The  Declaration of Trust
also  provides  that the Trust shall,  upon  request,  assume the defense of any
claim made against any  shareholder  for any act or  obligation of the Trust and
satisfy  any  judgment  thereon.  Thus,  the  risk  of a  shareholder  incurring
financial  loss beyond his or her investment  because of  shareholder  liability
would be limited to  circumstances  in which the Trust  itself will be unable to
meet its  obligations.  In light of the nature of the Trust's  business  and the
nature and amount of its assets,  the  possibility  of the  Trust's  liabilities
exceeding its assets, and therefore a shareholder's risk of personal  liability,
is remote.
    

                                       18
<PAGE>

         The  Declaration  of  Trust  further  provides  that  the  Trust  shall
indemnify  each of its Trustees and officers  against  liabilities  and expenses
reasonably  incurred by them, in connection with, or arising out of, any action,
suit or proceeding,  threatened  against or otherwise  involving such Trustee or
officer,  directly or indirectly, by reason of being or having been a Trustee or
officer of the Trust.  The  Declaration of Trust does not authorize the Trust to
indemnify any Trustee or officer  against any liability to which he or she would
otherwise be subject by reason of or for willful  misfeasance,  bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of such person's duties.




   
13.      LETTER OF INTENT (Class A only)

A Letter of Intent ("LOI") may be established by completing the LOI 
section of the Account Application.  When you sign the Account Application,  you
agree  to  irrevocably  appoint  PSC  your  attorney-in-fact  to  surrender  for
redemption any or all shares held in escrow with full power of  substitution. 
An LOI is not a binding  obligation upon the investor to purchase,  or
the Trust to sell, the full amount indicated.

If the total purchases, less redemptions,  exceed the amount specified under the
LOI and are in an amount which would qualify for a further quantity
discount,  all  transactions  will be recomputed on the  expiration  date of the
LOI to effect the lower sales charge.  Any  difference in the sales
charge resulting from such recomputation will be either delivered to you in cash
or  invested in  additional  shares at the lower sales  charge.  The dealer,  by
signing  the  Account  Application,  agrees to  return  to PFD,  as part of such
retroactive  adjustment,  the excess of the commission  previously  reallowed or
paid to the dealer  over that which is  applicable  to the actual  amount of the
total purchases under the LOI.

If the total  purchases,  less  redemptions,  are less than the amount specified
under the LOI,  you must remit to PFD any  difference  between  the
sales  charge  on the  amount  actually  purchased  and  the  amount  originally
specified in the LOI section of the Account  Application.  When the
difference is paid, the shares held in escrow will be deposited to your account.
If you do not pay the  difference  in sales charge  within 20 days after written
request from PFD or your dealer,  PSC, after  receiving  instructions  from PFD,
will  redeem the  appropriate  number of shares  held in escrow to  realize  the
difference and release any excess. See "How to Purchase Trust Shares - Letter of
Intent" in the Prospectus for more information.
    



14.      SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN

   
         The  Systematic  Withdrawal  Plan  ("SWP")  is  designed  to  provide a
convenient  method of receiving fixed payments at regular  intervals from shares
of the Trust deposited by the applicant under this SWP.  Withdrawals pursuant to
the SWP are  limited to 10% of the value of the  account at the time the plan is
implemented if a CDSC applies (see the Prospectus).  (You may, of course, redeem
your shares without limit outside the SWP.) In order to be eligible for the SWP,
your account must have a total value of not less than $10,000. Periodic payments
of $50 or more will be  deposited  monthly  or  quarterly  directly  into a bank
account  designated  by you,  or will be sent by  check  to you,  or any  person
designated by you. A designation of a third party to receive checks  requires an
acceptable  signature  guarantee.  Withdrawals  from  Class B and  Class C share
accounts  are  limited to 10% of the value of the account at the time the SWP is
implemented.  See "Waiver or Reduction of Contingent  Deferred  Sales Charge" in
the Prospectus.
    

                                       19
<PAGE>

         Any income dividends or capital gains distributions on shares under the
SWP  will be  credited  to the  SWP  account  on the  payment  date in full  and
fractional shares at the net asset value per share in effect on the record date.

         Payments  under the SWP are made from the proceeds of the redemption of
shares deposited under the SWP in your SWP account. Such redemptions are taxable
transactions.  To the extent  that such  redemptions  for  periodic  withdrawals
exceed  dividend income  reinvested in the SWP account,  such  redemptions  will
reduce and may  ultimately  exhaust  the number of shares  deposited  in the SWP
account. In addition, the amounts received by a shareholder cannot be considered
as an  actual  yield or  income on his or her  investment  because  part of such
payments may be a return of his or her capital.

         The SWP may be terminated  at any time (1) by written  notice to PSC or
from PSC to the shareholder;  (2) upon receipt by PSC of appropriate evidence of
the  shareholder's  death;  or (3)  when all  shares  under  the SWP  have  been
redeemed.

15.      DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

         The net asset value per share of each Class of the Trust is  determined
as of the  close  of  regular  trading  on the  New  York  Stock  Exchange  (the
"Exchange") (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day on which the Exchange
is  open  for  business.  As  of  the  date  of  this  Statement  of  Additional
Information,  the  Exchange is open for  trading  every  weekday  except for the
following holidays: New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday,  Memorial Day,
Independence  Day, Labor Day,  Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The net asset
value per share of each Class of the Trust is also  determined  on any other day
in which the level of trading in its portfolio  securities is sufficiently  high
that the  current  net asset  value per share  might be  materially  affected by
changes in the value of its portfolio  securities.  The Trust is not required to
determine  its net asset value per share on any day in which no purchase  orders
for the shares of the Trust  become  effective  and no shares are  tendered  for
redemption.

         The net asset value per share of each class of the Trust is computed by
taking the amount of the value of all the Trust's  assets  attributable  to that
Class, less the Trust's liabilities  attributable to that Class, and dividing it
by the number of outstanding  shares of that Class.  For purposes of determining
net asset  value,  expenses of the  Classes of the Trust are  accrued  daily and
taken into account.





16.      INVESTMENT RESULTS

         The Trust's yield quotations and average annual total return quotations
for each Class of its shares as that  information  may appear in the Prospectus,
this Statement of Additional  Information  or in  advertising  are calculated by
standard methods prescribed by the SEC.

                                       20
<PAGE>

Standardized Yield Quotations

         Yield  quotations  for Class A, Class B and Class C shares are computed
by dividing the net investment income per share attributable to a Class during a
base period of 30 days, or one month, by the maximum offering price per share of
that class of the Trust on the last day of such base period in  accordance  with
the following formula:

                                            a-b
                  YIELD=     2[      (------- +1)6-1]
                                             cd

Where:                       a      =       interest earned during the period

                             b      =       net expenses accrued for the period

                             c      =       the average daily number of shares 
                                            outstanding during the period 
                                            that were entitled to receive 
                                            dividends

                             d      =       the maximum offering price per share
                                            on the last day of the period

For purposes of calculating  interest earned on debt  obligations as provided in
item "a" above:

        (i) The  yield  to  maturity  of each  obligation  held by the  Trust is
computed based on the market value of the obligation  (including  actual accrued
interest,  if any) at the close of  business  each day during  the  30-day  base
period, or, with respect to obligations purchased during the month, the purchase
price (plus  actual  accrued  interest,  if any) on  settlement  date,  and with
respect to obligations sold during the month the sale price (plus actual accrued
interest, if any) between the trade and settlement dates.

       (ii) The yield to maturity of each  obligation is then divided by 360 and
the  resulting  quotient is  multiplied  by the market  value of the  obligation
(including actual accrued interest,  if any) to determine the interest income on
the obligation for each day. The yield to maturity  calculation has been made on
each obligation during the 30 day base period.

      (iii)       Interest earned on all debt obligations during the 30-day or 
                  one month period is then totaled.

       (iv) The maturity of an obligation  with a call  provision(s) is the next
call date on which the obligation reasonably may be expected to be called or, if
none, the maturity date.

                                       21
<PAGE>

         With  respect to the  treatment  of discount and premium on mortgage or
other receivables-backed obligations which are expected to be subject to monthly
payments of principal and interest ("pay downs"), the Trust accounts for gain or
loss  attributable  to actual  monthly  pay downs as an  increase or decrease to
interest  income  during the  period.  In  addition,  the Trust may elect (i) to
amortize the discount or premium  remaining on a security,  based on the cost of
the security,  to the weighted  average  maturity  date, if such  information is
available,  or to the remaining  term of the security,  if the weighted  average
maturity date is not available,  or (ii) not to amortize the discount or premium
remaining on a security.

   
         The Trust's yield for the 30 days ended  December 31, 1996,  determined
in  accordance  with the formula  above was 6.15% for Class A shares,  5.46% for
Class B shares  and  5.17%  for  Class C  shares,  except  that  absent  expense
limitations,  the Trust's yield would have been 5.99% for Class A shares,  5.32%
for Class B shares and 5.03% for Class C shares.
    

Standardized Average Annual Total Return Quotations

         One of the primary  methods used to measure the  performance of a class
of the Trust is "total  return."  "Total  return" will  normally  represent  the
percentage change in value of an account,  or of a hypothetical  investment in a
class of the  Trust,  over any  period up to the  lifetime  of that class of the
Trust.  Total return  calculations  will usually assume the  reinvestment of all
dividends and capital gains  distributions and will be expressed as a percentage
increase or decrease from an initial value,  for the entire period or for one or
more specified  periods within the entire period.  Total return  percentages for
periods  of less  than  one  year  will  usually  be  annualized;  total  return
percentages  for periods  longer than one year will  usually be  accompanied  by
total return  percentages  for each year within the period and/or by the average
annual compounded total return for the period. The income and capital components
of a given return may be separated  and  portrayed in a variety of ways in order
to illustrate their relative significance.  Performance may also be portrayed in
terms of cash or investment values, without percentages. Past performance cannot
guarantee any particular future result.

         Average  annual total return  quotations for each Class of Trust shares
are computed by finding the average annual compounded rates of return that would
cause a  hypothetical  investment  in that  class  made  on the  first  day of a
designated  period (assuming all dividends and  distributions are reinvested) to
equal the ending  redeemable value of such  hypothetical  investment on the last
day of the designated period in accordance with the following formula:

                            P(1+T)n  =  ERV

Where:                              P =a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000,
                                    less the  maximum  sales  load  for  Class A
                                    shares   or  the   deduction   of  any  CDSC
                                    applicable  to Class B or Class C shares  at
                                    the end of the period.

                  T        =        average annual total return

                  n        =        number of years

                  ERV      =        ending redeemable value of the hypothetical 
                                    $1,000 initial payment made at the
                                    beginning of the designated period 
                                    (or fractional portion thereof)

For  purposes of the above  computation,  it is assumed  that the maximum  sales
charge was  deducted  from the initial  investment  and that all  dividends  and
distributions  made by the Trust are  reinvested  at net asset value  during the
designated  period.  The average annual total return  quotation is determined to
the nearest 1/100 of 1%.

                                       22
<PAGE>

         In determining the average annual total return  (calculated as provided
above),  recurring fees, if any, that are charged to all shareholder accounts of
a particular class are taken into consideration.  For any account fees that vary
with the size of the  account,  the account  fee used for  purposes of the above
computation  is assumed  to be the fee that would be charged to the class'  mean
account size.

   
         The average annual total return of the Trust for periods ended December
31, 1996:
    

                     1 Year        5 Years       Commencement
                     ------       -------        ------------

   
Class A Shares       (2.30)%        4.84%          7.02% *
Class B Shares       (2.25)%        N/A            4.76% **
Class C Shares       N/A            N/A            0.08%***
    

- -----------
   
           *      Commencement of operations, June 1, 1988.
          **      Class B shares first offered on April 29, 1994.
    
         ***      Class C shares first offered on January 31, 1996.

   
         Class A share results  reflect the maximum sales charge of 4.50% at the
beginning of the period and assumes  reinvestment of  distributions at net asset
value. Class B share results reflect thededuction of the maximum applicable CDSC
at the end of the period and assumes reinvestment of distributions.  The maximum
CDSC of 4% declines over six years.  Class C share results reflect  deduction of
1% CDSC at the end of the period and assumes  reinvestment of distributions.  If
PMC's voluntary fee and expense reduction agreement had not been in place, total
return would have been lower.
    

Other Quotations, Comparisons, and General Information

         From  time to  time,  in  advertisements,  in sales  literature,  or in
reports to  shareholders,  the past  performance of the Trust may be illustrated
and/or  compared  with  that of  other  mutual  funds  with  similar  investment
objectives,  and to other relevant  indices.  For example,  yield of the Trust's
classes may be compared to the Shearson  Lehman  Hutton  Government  Index,  U.S
Government bond rates, or other comparable indices or investment vehicles.

         In  addition,  the  performance  of the  classes  of the  Trust  may be
compared to  alternative  investment  or savings  vehicles  and/or to indexes or
indicators of economic activity,  e.g., inflation or interest rates. Performance
rankings and listings  reported in newspapers or national business and financial
publications,  such as Barron's,  Business  Week,  Consumer's  Digest,  Consumer
Reports, Financial World, Forbes, Fortune, Investors Business Daily, Kiplinger's
Personal Finance Magazine,  Money Magazine, the New York Times, Smart Money, USA
Today, U.S. News and World Report, The Wall Street Journal and Worth may also be
cited (if the Trust is listed in any such  publication)  or used for comparison,
as  well as  performance  listings  and  rankings  from  various  other  sources
including Bloomberg  Financial Systems,  CDA/Wiesenberger  Investment  Companies
Service,   Donoghue's  Mutual  Fund  Almanac,  Investment  Company  Data,  Inc.,
Johnson's Charts, Kanon Bloch Carre & Co., Micropal,  Inc.,  Morningstar,  Inc.,
Schabacker Investment Management and Towers Data Systems.

         In addition, from time to time, quotations from articles from financial
publications,  such as those listed  above,  may be used in  advertisements,  in
sales literature or in reports to shareholders of the Trust.

         The Trust may also present, from time to time,  historical  information
depicting  the value of a  hypothetical  account  in one or more  classes of the
Trust since the Trust's inception.

         In presenting investment results, the Trust may also include references
to certain  financial  planning  concepts,  including (a) an investor's  need to
evaluate his financial  assets and  obligations to determine how much to invest;
(b) his need to analyze the objectives of various investments to determine where
to invest;  and (c) his need to analyze his time frame for future  capital needs
to determine how long to invest. The investor controls these three factors,  all
of which affect the use of investments in building assets.

                                       23
<PAGE>

Automated Information Line

         FactFoneSM,   Pioneer's  24-hour  automated  information  line,  allows
shareholders   to  dial   toll-free   1-800-225-4321   and  hear  recorded  fund
information, including:

         o        net asset value prices for all Pioneer mutual funds;

         o        annualized 30-day yields on Pioneer's fixed-income funds;

         o        annualized 7-day yields and 7-day effective (compound)
                   yields for Pioneer's money market fund; and

         o        dividends and capital gains distributions on all Pioneer 
                  mutual funds.

         Yields  are  calculated  in  accordance  with  SEC  mandated   standard
formulas.

     In  addition,   by  using  a  personal   identification   number   ("PIN"),
shareholders  may enter  purchases,  exchanges  and  redemptions,  access  their
account balance and last three transactions and may order a duplicate statement.
See "FactFoneSM" in the Prospectus for more information.
   
         All performance numbers  communicated through FactFoneSM represent past
performance,  and  figures  for  all  quoted  bond  funds  include  the  maximum
applicable sales charge. A shareholder's actual yield and total return will vary
with  changing  market  conditions.  The  value of Class A,  Class B and Class C
shares (except for Pioneer's money market fund, which seeks a stable $1.00 share
price)  will also vary and may be worth  more or less at  redemption  than their
original cost.
    



17.      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
         The Trust's  Annual Report dated December 31, 1996 is  incorporated  by
reference into and is attached to this Statement of Additional Information.  The
Trust's  Annual  Report to  Shareholders  is so  incorporated  and  attached  in
reliance upon the report of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants,
as experts in accounting  and auditing.  A copy of the Trust's Annual Report may
also  be   obtained   without   charge  by  calling   Shareholder   Services  at
1-800-225-6292  or by written  request to the Trust at 60 State Street,  Boston,
Massachusetts 02109
    


                                       24
<PAGE>

                                   APPENDIX A

                         Description of Bond Ratings(1)

                       Moody's Investor's Service, Inc.(2)

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

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

   
A: Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are
to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors givingsecurity to
principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which
suggest susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

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

                                       25
<PAGE>

                        Standard & Poor's Corporation(3)


AAA: Bonds rated AAA are highest grade obligations. This rating indicates an
extremely strong capacity to pay principal and interest.

AA: Bonds rated AA also qualify as high-quality obligations. Capacity to pay
principal and interest is very strong, and in the majority of instances they
differ from AAA issues only in small degree.

A: Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay principal and interest, although
they are more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and
economic conditions.

BBB: Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
principal and interest. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay principal and interest for bonds in
this category than for bonds in the A category.



- ------------
(1)      The ratings described below are believed to be the most recent ratings
available at the date of this Prospectus for the securities listed. Ratings are
generally given to securities at the time of issuance. While the rating agencies
may from time to time revise such ratings, they undertake no obligation to do
so, and the ratings indicated do not necessarily represent ratings which will be
given to these securities on the date of the Trust's fiscal year-end. 
(2)      Rates bonds of issuers which have $600,000 or more of debt, except 
bonds of educational institutions, projects under construction, enterprises 
without established earnings records and situations where current financial data
is unavailable. 
(3)      Rates all governmental bodies having $1,000,000 or more of debt
outstanding, unless adequate information is not available.

                                       26
<PAGE>


   
                      Pioneer America Income Trust Class A
    
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                 <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>              <C>            <C>

   Date        Initial     Offering Price    Sales Charge         Shares        Net Asset     Initial Net
             Investment                                          Purchased        Value          Asset
                                               Included                         Per Share        Value
  6/1/88       $10,000         $10.47            4.50%            955.110        $10.0000       $9,550


                     Dividends and Capital Gains Reinvested

                                 Value of Shares

   Date         From         From Cap.      From Dividends      Total Value
             Investment        Gains          Reinvested
                             Reinvested
 12/31/88      $9,418            $0              $492             $9,910
 12/31/89      $9,589            $0             $1,460            $11,049
 12/31/90      $9,580            $0             $2,463            $12,043
 12/31/91      $9,885            $0             $3,620            $13,505
 12/31/92      $9,809            $0             $4,597            $14,406
 12/31/93      $10,009          $52             $5,652            $15,713
 12/31/94      $8,987           $47             $6,055            $15,089
 12/31/95      $9,741           $51             $7,721            $17,513
   
 12/31/96         $9,331        $49             $8,535             $17,915
    





                                       27
<PAGE>





   
                      Pioneer America Income Trust Class B
    

<S>                 <C>            <C>             <C>                <C>       <C>                 <C>
   Date        Initial     Offering Price    Sales Charge         Shares        Net Asset     Initial Net
             Investment                                          Purchased        Value          Asset
                                               Included                         Per Share        Value
 4/29/94       $10,000        $9.8500            4.00%           1,015.228       $9.8500        $10,000



                     Dividends and Capital Gains Reinvested

                                 Value of Shares

   
   Date         From         From Cap.      From Dividends      Contingent      Total Value             CDSC
             Investment        Gains          Reinvested      Deferred Sales                      Percentage
                                    Charge if
                                    Redeemed
    
                             Reinvested
   
 12/31/94      $9,543            $0              $400              $382           $9,943          4.00%
 12/31/95      $10,324           $0             $1,118             $400           $11,042         4.00%
 12/31/96      $9,898            $0             $1,726             $297           $11,327         3.00%
    

 

                                       28
<PAGE>


   
                      Pioneer America Income Trust Class C

<S>                <C>          <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>   

   Date        Initial     Offering Price     Shares        Net Asset     Initial Net
             Investment                      Purchased        Value          Asset
                                                            Per Share        Value
 1/31/96       $10,000        $10.1600        984.252        $10.1600       $10,000







   Date         From         From Cap.    From Dividends    Contingent      Total Value            CDSC
             Investment        Gains        Reinvested       Deferred                        Percentage
                             Reinvested                    Sales Charge
                                   if Redeemed

 12/31/96      $9,587            $0            $517             $96           $10,008         1.00%
    
</TABLE>


                                       29
<PAGE>


 COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE
                               INDEX DESCRIPTIONS

The following securities indices are well-known, unmanaged measures of market
performance. Advertisements and sales literature for the Fund may refer to these
indices or may present comparisons between the performance of the Fund and one
or more of the indices. Other indices may be used, if appropriate. The indices
are not available for direct investment. The data presented is not meant to be
indicative of the performance of the Fund, reflects past performance and does
not guarantee future results.

S&P 500

This index is a readily available, carefully constructed, market value weighted
benchmark of common stock performance. Currently, the S&P Composite Index
includes 500 of the largest stocks (in terms of stock market value) in the
United States; prior to March 1957 it consisted of 90 of the largest stocks.

DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE

This is a total return index based on the performance of 30 blue chip stocks.

U.S. SMALL STOCK INDEX

This index is a market value weighted index of the ninth and tenth deciles of
the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), plus stocks listed on the American Stock
Exchange (AMEX) and over-the-counter (OTC) with the same or less capitalization
as the upper bound of the NYSE ninth decile.

U.S. INFLATION

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), not seasonally
adjusted, is used to measure inflation, which is the rate of change of consumer
goods prices. Unfortunately, the inflation rate as derived by the CPI is not
measured over the same period as the other asset returns. All of the security
returns are measured from one month-end to the next month-end. CPI commodity
prices are collected during the month. Thus, measured inflation rates lag the
other series by about one-half month. Prior to January 1978, the CPI (as
compared with CPI-U) was used. Both inflation measures are constructed by the
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, DC.

S&P/BARRA INDEXES

The S&P/BARRA Growth and Value Indexes are constructed by dividing the stocks in
the S&P 500 Index according to price-to-book ratios. The Growth Index contains
stocks with higher price-to-book ratios, and the Value Index contains stocks
with lower price-to-book ratios. Both indexes are market capitalization
weighted.

                                      

                                       30
<PAGE>

                             COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE
                               INDEX DESCRIPTIONS


LONG-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT BONDS

The total returns on long-term government bonds from 1977 to 1991 are
constructed with data from The Wall Street Journal. Over 1926-1976, data are
obtained from the Government bond file at the Center for Research in Security
Prices (CRSP), Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago. Each year, a
one-bond portfolio with a term of approximately 20 years and a reasonably
current coupon was used, and whose returns did not reflect potential tax
benefits, impaired negotiability, or special redemption or call privileges.
Where callable bonds had to be used, the term of the bond was assumed to be a
simple average of the maturity and first call dates minus the current date. The
bond was "held" for the calendar year and returns were computed. Total returns
for 1977-1991 are calculated as the change in the flat price or and-interest
price.

INTERMEDIATE-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT BONDS

Total returns of the intermediate-term government bonds for 1977-1991 are
calculated from The Wall Street Journal prices, using the change in flat price.
Returns from 1934-1986 are obtained from the CRSP Government Bond File.

Each year, one-bond portfolios are formed, the bond chosen is the shortest
noncallable bond with a maturity not less than 5 years, and this bond is "held"
for the calendar year. Monthly returns are computed. (Bonds with impaired
negotiability or special redemption privileges are omitted, as are partially or
fully tax-exempt bonds starting with 1943.) From 1934-1942, almost all bonds
with maturities near 5 years were partially or full tax-exempt and were selected
using the rules described above. Personal tax rates were generally low in that
period, so that yields on tax-exempt bonds were similar to yields on taxable
bonds. From 1926-1933, there are few bonds suitable for construction of a series
with a 5-year maturity. For this period, five year bond yield estimates are
used.

MSCI

Morgan Stanley Capital International Indices, developed by the Capital
International S.A., are based on share prices of some 1470 companies listed on
the stock exchanges around the world.

Countries in the MSCI EAFE Portfolio are:

Australia; Austria; Belgium; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Hong Kong;
Italy; Japan; Netherlands; N. Zealand; Norway; Singapore/Malaysia; Spain;
Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom.

   
Countries in the MSCI EMERGING MARKET FREE INDEX are: Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
China, Czech Republic, Colombia, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel,
Jordan, Korea Free (at 50%), Malaysia, Mexico Free, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines
Free, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey,
Venezuela Free
    

                                      

                                       31
<PAGE>

                             COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE
                               INDEX DESCRIPTIONS

6 MONTH CDs 

Data sources include the Federal Reserve Bulletin and The Wall Street Journal.

LONG-TERM U.S. CORPORATE BONDS

For 1969-1991, corporate bond total returns are represented by the Salomon
Brothers Long-Term High-Grade Corporate Bond Index. Since most large corporate
bond transactions take place over the counter, a major dealer is the natural
source of these data. The index includes nearly all Aaa- and Aa-rated bonds. If
a bond is downgraded during a particular month, its return for the month is
included in the index before removing the bond from future portfolios.

Over 1926-1968 the total returns were calculated by summing the capital
appreciation returns and the income returns. For the period 1946-1968, Ibbotson
and Sinquefield backdated the Salomon Brothers' index, using Salomon Brothers'
monthly yield data with a methodology similar to that used by Salomon for
1969-1991. Capital appreciation returns were calculated from yields assuming (at
the beginning of each monthly holding period) a 20-year maturity, a bond price
equal to par, and a coupon equal to the beginning-of-period yield. For the
period 1926-1945, the Standard and Poor's monthly High-Grade Corporate Composite
yield data were used, assuming a 4 percent coupon and a 20-year maturity. The
conventional present-value formula for bond price for the beginning and
end-of-month prices was used. (This formula is presented in Ross, Stephen A.,
and Randolph W. Westerfield, Corporate Finance, Times Mirror/Mosby, St. Louis,
1990, p. 97 ["Level-Coupon Bonds"].) The monthly income return was assumed to be
one-twelfth the coupon.

U.S. (30 DAY) TREASURY BILLS

For the U.S. Treasury bill index, data from The Wall Street Journal are used for
1977-1991; the CRSP U.S. Government Bond File is the source until 1976. Each
month a one-bill portfolio containing the shortest-term bill having not less
than one month to maturity is constructed. (The bill's original term to maturity
is not relevant.) To measure holding period returns for the one-bill portfolio,
the bill is priced as of the last trading day of the previous month-end and as
of the last trading day of the current month.

NAREIT-EQUITY INDEX

All of the data is based upon the last closing price of the month for all
tax-qualified REITs listed on the NYSE, AMSE and the NASDAQ. The data is
market-value-weighted. Prior to 1987 REITs were added to the index the January
following their listing. Since 1987 Newly formed or listed REITs are added to
the total shares outstanding figure in the month that the shares are issued.
Only common shares issued by the REIT are included in the index. The total
return calculation is based upon the weighing at the beginning of the period.
Only those REITs listed for the entire period are


                                      

                                       32
<PAGE>

                             COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE
                               INDEX DESCRIPTIONS

used in the total return calculation. Dividends are included in the month based
upon their payment date. There is no smoothing of income. Liquidating dividends,
whether full or partial, are treated as income.

RUSSELL 2000 SMALL STOCK INDEX

Index of the 2,000 smallest stocks in the Russell 3000 Index (TM); the smallest
company has a market capitalization of approximately $13 million. The Russell
3000 is comprised of the 3,000 largest US companies as determined by market
capitalization representing approximately 98% of the US equity market. The
largest company in the index has a market capitalization of $67 billion. The
Russell Indexes (TM) are reconstituted annually as of June 1st, based on May 31
market capitalization rankings.

WILSHIRE REAL ESTATE SECURITIES INDEX

The Wilshire Real Estate Securities Index is a market capitalization-weighted
index which measures the performance of more than 85 securities.

The index contains performance data on five major categories of property;
office, retail, industrial, apartment and miscellaneous. Additionally, the Index
has real estate portfolio encumbered by 16% third party mortgages. The companies
in the WRESEC are 79% equity and hybrid REIT's and 21% real estate operating
companies. The capitalization is 47% NYSE, 33% AMEX and 20% OTC."

STANDARD & POOR'S MIDCAP 400 INDEX

The Standard and Poor's MidCap 400 Index is a market-value-weighted index. The
performance data for the MidCap 400 Index were calculated by taking the stocks
presently in the MidCap 400 Index and tracking them backwards in time as long as
there were prices reported. No attempt was made to determine what stocks "might
have been" in the MidCap 400 Index five or ten years ago had it existed.
Dividends are reinvested on a monthly basis prior to June 30, 1991, and are
reinvested daily thereafter.

The S&P MidCap 400 Index and the S&P 500 together represent approximately 85% of
the total market capitalization of stocks traded in the United States.

   
LIPPER BALANCED FUNDS INDEX

Equally-weighted performance indices, adjusted for capital gains distributions
and income dividends of approximately 30 of the largest funds with a primary
objective of conserving principal by maintaining at all times a balanced
portfolio of stocks and bonds. Typically, the stock/bond ratio ranges around
60%/40%.
    

                                      

                                       33
<PAGE>

                             COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE
                               INDEX DESCRIPTIONS

BANK SAVINGS ACCOUNT

Data sources include the U.S. League of Savings Institutions Sourcebook; average
annual yield on savings deposits in FSLIC [FDIC] insured savings institutions
for the years 1963-1987 and The Wall Street Journal for the years 1988-1994.






Source:           Ibbotson Associates



                                       34
<PAGE>


                  PERFORMANCE STATISTICS - TOTAL RETURN PERCENT


          S&P 500       Dow      U.S. Small                  S&P/     S&P/
                       Jones       Stock         U.S.       BARRA    BARRA
                    Industrials    Index      Inflation    Growth    Value
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
Dec 1928   43.61       55.38       39.69       -0.97         N/A      N/A
Dec 1929   -8.42      -13.64      -51.36        0.20         N/A      N/A
Dec 1930  -24.90      -30.22      -38.15       -6.03         N/A      N/A
Dec 1931  -43.34      -49.03      -49.75       -9.52         N/A      N/A
Dec 1932   -8.19      -16.88       -5.39      -10.30         N/A      N/A
Dec 1933   53.99       73.71      142.87        0.51         N/A      N/A
Dec 1934   -1.44        8.07       24.22        2.03         N/A      N/A
Dec 1935   47.67       43.77       40.19        2.99         N/A      N/A
Dec 1936   33.92       30.23       64.80        1.21         N/A      N/A
Dec 1937  -35.03      -28.88      -58.01        3.10         N/A      N/A
Dec 1938   31.12       33.16       32.80       -2.78         N/A      N/A
Dec 1939   -0.41        1.31        0.35       -0.48         N/A      N/A
Dec 1940   -9.78       -7.96       -5.16        0.96         N/A      N/A
Dec 1941  -11.59       -9.88       -9.00        9.72         N/A      N/A
Dec 1942   20.34       14.12       44.51        9.29         N/A      N/A
Dec 1943   25.90       19.06       88.37        3.16         N/A      N/A
Dec 1944   19.75       17.19       53.72        2.11         N/A      N/A
Dec 1945   36.44       31.60       73.61        2.25         N/A      N/A
Dec 1946   -8.07       -4.40      -11.63       18.16         N/A      N/A
Dec 1947    5.71        7.61        0.92        9.01         N/A      N/A
Dec 1948    5.50        4.27       -2.11        2.71         N/A      N/A
Dec 1949   18.79       20.92       19.75       -1.80         N/A      N/A
Dec 1950   31.71       26.40       38.75        5.79         N/A      N/A
Dec 1951   24.02       21.77        7.80        5.87         N/A      N/A
Dec 1952   18.37       14.58        3.03        0.88         N/A      N/A
Dec 1953   -0.99        2.02       -6.49        0.62         N/A      N/A
Dec 1954   52.62       51.25       60.58       -0.50         N/A      N/A
Dec 1955   31.56       26.58       20.44        0.37         N/A      N/A
Dec 1956    6.56        7.10        4.28        2.86         N/A      N/A
Dec 1957  -10.78       -8.63      -14.57        3.02         N/A      N/A
Dec 1958   43.36       39.31       64.89        1.76         N/A      N/A
Dec 1959   11.96       20.21       16.40        1.50         N/A      N/A
Dec 1960    0.47       -6.14       -3.29        1.48         N/A      N/A
Dec 1961   26.89       22.60       32.09        0.67         N/A      N/A
Dec 1962   -8.73       -7.43      -11.90        1.22         N/A      N/A
Dec 1963   22.80       20.83       23.57        1.65         N/A      N/A
Dec 1964   16.48       18.85       23.52        1.19         N/A      N/A
Dec 1965   12.45       14.39       41.75        1.92         N/A      N/A
Dec 1966  -10.06      -15.78       -7.01        3.35         N/A      N/A
Dec 1967   23.98       19.16       83.57        3.04         N/A      N/A
Dec 1968   11.06        7.93       35.97        4.72         N/A      N/A
    



                                       35
<PAGE>


                  PERFORMANCE STATISTICS - TOTAL RETURN PERCENT


          S&P 500       Dow      U.S. Small                  S&P/     S&P/
                       Jones       Stock         U.S.       BARRA    BARRA
                    Industrials    Index      Inflation    Growth    Value
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
Dec 1969   -8.50      -11.78      -25.05        6.11        N/A      N/A
Dec 1970    4.01        9.21      -17.43        5.49        N/A      N/A
Dec 1971   14.31        9.83       16.50        3.36        N/A      N/A
Dec 1972   18.98       18.48        4.43        3.41        N/A      N/A
Dec 1973  -14.66      -13.28      -30.90        8.80        N/A      N/A
Dec 1974  -26.47      -23.58      -19.95       12.20        N/A      N/A
Dec 1975   37.20       44.75       52.82        7.01       31.72    43.38
Dec 1976   23.84       22.82       57.38        4.81       13.84    34.93
Dec 1977   -7.18      -12.84       25.38        6.77      -11.82    -2.57
Dec 1978    6.56        2.79       23.46        9.03        6.78     6.16
Dec 1979   18.44       10.55       43.46       13.31       15.72    21.16
Dec 1980   32.42       22.17       39.88       12.40       39.40    23.59
Dec 1981   -4.91       -3.57       13.88        8.94       -9.81     0.02
Dec 1982   21.41       27.11       28.01        3.87       22.03    21.04
Dec 1983   22.51       25.97       39.67        3.80       16.24    28.89
Dec 1984    6.27        1.31       -6.67        3.95        2.33    10.52
Dec 1985   32.16       33.55       24.66        3.77       33.31    29.68
Dec 1986   18.47       27.10        6.85        1.13       14.50    21.67
Dec 1987    5.23        5.48       -9.30        4.41        6.50     3.68
Dec 1988   16.81       16.14       22.87        4.42       11.95    21.67
Dec 1989   31.49       32.19       10.18        4.65       36.40    26.13
Dec 1990   -3.17       -0.56      -21.56        6.11        0.20    -6.85
Dec 1991   30.55       24.19       44.63        3.06       38.37    22.56
Dec 1992    7.67        7.41       23.35        2.90        5.07    10.53
Dec 1993    9.99       16.94       20.98        2.75        1.68    18.60
Dec 1994    1.31        5.06        3.11        2.78        3.13    -0.64
Dec 1995   37.43       36.84       34.46        2.74       38.13    36.99
Dec 1996   23.07       28.84       17.62        3.58       23.96    21.99
    


                                       36
<PAGE>


                  PERFORMANCE STATISTICS - TOTAL RETURN PERCENT



                         Intermediate      MSCI               Long-
          Long-Term       -Term U.S.       EAFE        6     Term U.S.    U.S.
          U.S. Gov't      Government     - Net of    MONTH   Corporate  (30 Day)
            Bonds           Bonds          Taxes      CDs      Bonds    T- Bill
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
Dec 1925     N/A              N/A           N/A       N/A      N/A      N/A
Dec 1926     7.77             5.38          N/A       N/A      7.37     3.27
Dec 1927     8.93             4.52          N/A       N/A      7.44     3.12
Dec 1928     0.1              0.92          N/A       N/A      2.84     3.56
Dec 1929     3.42             6.01          N/A       N/A      3.27     4.75
Dec 1930     4.66             6.72          N/A       N/A      7.98     2.41
Dec 1931    -5.31            -2.32          N/A       N/A      -1.85    1.07
Dec 1932    16.84             8.81          N/A       N/A      10.82    0.96
Dec 1933    -0.07             1.83          N/A       N/A      10.38    0.30
Dec 1934    10.03             9.00          N/A       N/A      13.84    0.16
Dec 1935     4.98             7.01          N/A       N/A      9.61     0.17
Dec 1936     7.52             3.06          N/A       N/A      6.74     0.18
Dec 1937     0.23             1.56          N/A       N/A      2.75     0.31
Dec 1938     5.53             6.23          N/A       N/A      6.13    -0.02
Dec 1939     5.94             4.52          N/A       N/A      3.97     0.02
Dec 1940     6.09             2.96          N/A       N/A      3.39     0.00
Dec 1941     0.93             0.50          N/A       N/A      2.73     0.06
Dec 1942     3.22             1.94          N/A       N/A      2.60     0.27
Dec 1943     2.08             2.81          N/A       N/A      2.83     0.35
Dec 1944     2.81             1.80          N/A       N/A      4.73     0.33
Dec 1945    10.73             2.22          N/A       N/A      4.08     0.33
Dec 1946    -0.10             1.00          N/A       N/A      1.72     0.35
Dec 1947    -2.62             0.91          N/A       N/A     -2.34     0.50
Dec 1948     3.40             1.85          N/A       N/A      4.14     0.81
Dec 1949     6.45             2.32          N/A       N/A      3.31     1.10
Dec 1950     0.06             0.70          N/A       N/A      2.12     1.20
Dec 1951    -3.93             0.36          N/A       N/A     -2.69     1.49
Dec 1952     1.16             1.63          N/A       N/A      3.52     1.66
Dec 1953     3.64             3.23          N/A       N/A      3.41     1.82
Dec 1954     7.19             2.68          N/A       N/A      5.39     0.86
Dec 1955    -1.29            -0.65          N/A       N/A      0.48     1.57
Dec 1956    -5.59            -0.42          N/A       N/A     -6.81     2.46
Dec 1957     7.46             7.84          N/A       N/A      8.71     3.14
Dec 1958    -6.09            -1.29          N/A       N/A     -2.22     1.54
Dec 1959    -2.26            -0.39          N/A       N/A     -0.97     2.95
Dec 1960    13.78            11.76          N/A       N/A      9.07     2.66
Dec 1961     0.97             1.85          N/A       N/A      4.82     2.13
Dec 1962     6.89             5.56          N/A       N/A      7.95     2.73
Dec 1963     1.21             1.64          N/A       N/A      2.19     3.12
Dec 1964     3.51             4.04          N/A      4.18      4.77     3.54
Dec 1965     0.71             1.02          N/A      4.68     -0.46     3.93
    



                                       37
<PAGE>


                  PERFORMANCE STATISTICS - TOTAL RETURN PERCENT


                         Intermediate      MSCI               Long-
          Long-Term       -Term U.S.       EAFE        6     Term U.S.    U.S.
          U.S. Gov't      Government     - Net of    MONTH   Corporate  (30 Day)
            Bonds           Bonds          Taxes      CDs      Bonds    T- Bill
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
Dec 1966     3.65           4.69            N/A       5.75     0.20       4.76
Dec 1967    -9.18           1.01            N/A       5.48    -4.95       4.21
Dec 1968    -0.26           4.54            N/A       6.44     2.57       5.21
Dec 1969    -5.07          -0.74            N/A       8.71    -8.09       6.58
Dec 1970    12.11          16.86          -11.66      7.06    18.37       6.52
Dec 1971    13.23           8.72           29.59      5.36    11.01       4.39
Dec 1972     5.69           5.16           36.35      5.38     7.26       3.84
Dec 1973    -1.11           4.61          -14.92      8.60     1.14       6.93
Dec 1974     4.35           5.69          -23.16     10.20    -3.06       8.00
Dec 1975     9.20           7.83           35.39      6.51    14.64       5.80
Dec 1976    16.75          12.87            2.54      5.22    18.65       5.08
Dec 1977    -0.69           1.41           18.06      6.12     1.71       5.12
Dec 1978    -1.18           3.49           32.62     10.21    -0.07       7.18
Dec 1979    -1.23           4.09            4.75     11.90    -4.18      10.38
Dec 1980    -3.95           3.91           22.58     12.33    -2.76      11.24
Dec 1981     1.86           9.45           -2.28     15.50    -1.24      14.71
Dec 1982    40.36          29.1            -1.86     12.18    42.56      10.54
Dec 1983     0.65           7.41           23.69      9.65     6.26       8.80
Dec 1984    15.48          14.02            7.38     10.65    16.86       9.85
Dec 1985    30.97          20.33           56.16      7.82    30.09       7.72
Dec 1986    24.53          15.14           69.44      6.30    19.85       6.16
Dec 1987    -2.71           2.90           24.63      6.58    -0.27       5.47
Dec 1988     9.67           6.10           28.27      8.15    10.70       6.35
Dec 1989    18.11          13.29           10.54      8.27    16.23       8.37
Dec 1990     6.18           9.73          -23.45      7.85     6.78       7.81
Dec 1991    19.3           15.46           12.13      4.95    19.89       5.60
Dec 1992     8.05           7.19          -12.17      3.27     9.39       3.51
Dec 1993    18.24          11.24           32.56      2.88    13.19       2.90
Dec 1994    -7.77          -5.14            7.78      5.40    -5.76       3.90
Dec 1995    31.67          16.8            11.21      5.21    26.39       5.60
Dec 1996    -0.93           2.10            6.05      5.21     1.40       5.21
    



                                       38
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             RUSSELL                                      LIPPER      MSCI EMERGING
                              2000       WILSHIRE REAL    S&P MIDCAP     BALANCED     MARKETS FREE         BANK
              NAREIT-EQUITY   INDEX         ESTATE           400           FUND           INDEX       SAVINGS ACCOUNT
                                          SECURITIES        INDEX          INDEX
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>               <C>          <C>           <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>                    
   
Dec 1925          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A              N/A
Dec 1926          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A              N/A
Dec 1927          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A              N/A
Dec 1928          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A              N/A
Dec 1929          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A              N/A
Dec 1930          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             5.30
Dec 1931          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             5.10
Dec 1932          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             4.10
Dec 1933          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             3.40
Dec 1934          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             3.50
Dec 1935          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             3.10
Dec 1936          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             3.20
Dec 1937          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             3.50
Dec 1938          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             3.50
Dec 1939          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             3.40
Dec 1940          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             3.30
Dec 1941          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             3.10
Dec 1942          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             3.00
Dec 1943          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             2.90
Dec 1944          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             2.80
Dec 1945          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             2.50
Dec 1946          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             2.20
Dec 1947          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             2.30
Dec 1948          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             2.30
Dec 1949          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             2.40
Dec 1950          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             2.50
Dec 1951          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             2.60
Dec 1952          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             2.70
Dec 1953          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             2.80
Dec 1954          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             2.90
Dec 1955          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             2.90
Dec 1956          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             3.00
Dec 1957          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             3.30
Dec 1958          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             3.38
Dec 1959          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A            N/A             3.53
Dec 1960          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A           5.77            N/A             3.86
Dec 1961          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A           20.59           N/A             3.90
Dec 1962          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A           -6.80           N/A             4.08
Dec 1963          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A           13.10           N/A             4.17
Dec 1964          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A           12.36           N/A             4.19
Dec 1965          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A           9.80            N/A             4.23
Dec 1966          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A           -5.86           N/A             4.45
Dec 1967          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A           15.09           N/A             4.67
Dec 1968          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A           13.97           N/A             4.68
Dec 1969          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A           -9.01           N/A             4.80
Dec 1970          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A           5.62            N/A             5.14
Dec 1971          N/A          N/A           N/A             N/A           13.90           N/A             5.30
    



                                       39
<PAGE>




                             RUSSELL                                      LIPPER      MSCI EMERGING
                              2000       WILSHIRE REAL    S&P MIDCAP     BALANCED     MARKETS FREE         BANK
              NAREIT-EQUITY   INDEX         ESTATE           400           FUND           INDEX       SAVINGS ACCOUNT
                                          SECURITIES        INDEX          INDEX
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>               <C>          <C>           <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>                  
   
Dec 1972         8.01          N/A           N/A             N/A           11.13           N/A             5.37
Dec 1973        -15.52         N/A           N/A             N/A          -12.24           N/A             5.51
Dec 1974        -21.40         N/A           N/A             N/A          -18.71           N/A             5.96
Dec 1975         19.30         N/A           N/A             N/A           27.10           N/A             6.21
Dec 1976         47.59         N/A           N/A             N/A           26.03           N/A             6.23
Dec 1977         22.42         N/A           N/A             N/A           -0.72           N/A             6.39
Dec 1978         10.34         N/A          13.04            N/A           4.80            N/A             6.56
Dec 1979         35.86        43.09         70.81            N/A           14.67           N/A             7.29
Dec 1980         24.37        38.58         22.08            N/A           19.70           N/A             8.78
Dec 1981         6.00         2.03           7.18            N/A           1.86            N/A             10.71
Dec 1982         21.60        24.95         24.47           22.68          30.63           N/A             11.19
Dec 1983         30.64        29.13         27.61           26.10          17.44           N/A             9.71
Dec 1984         20.93        -7.30         20.64           1.18           7.46            N/A             9.92
Dec 1985         19.10        31.05         22.20           35.58          29.83           N/A             9.02
Dec 1986         19.16        5.68          20.30           16.21          18.43           N/A             7.84
Dec 1987         -3.64        -8.77         -7.86           -2.03          4.13            N/A             6.92
Dec 1988         13.49        24.89         24.18           20.87          11.18          40.43            7.20
Dec 1989         8.84         16.24          2.37           35.54          19.70          64.96            7.91
Dec 1990        -15.35       -19.51         -33.46          -5.12          0.66           10.55            7.80
Dec 1991         35.70        46.05         20.03           50.10          25.83          59.91            4.61
Dec 1992         14.59        18.41          7.36           11.91          7.46           11.40            2.89
Dec 1993         19.65        18.91         15.24           13.96          11.95          74.83            2.73
Dec 1994         3.17         -1.82          1.64           -3.57          -2.05          7.32             4.96
Dec 1995         15.27        28.44         13.65           30.94          24.89          5.21             5.24
Dec 1996         35.26        16.53         36.87           19.20          13.01          6.03             4.95
    

</TABLE>



Source:  Lipper



                                       40
<PAGE>


                                   APPENDIX C


                         ADDITIONAL PIONEER INFORMATION


         The Pioneer group of mutual funds was established in 1928 with the
creation of Pioneer Fund. Pioneer is one of the oldest and most experienced
money managers in the United States.

   
         As of December 31, 1996, PMC employed a professional investment staff
of 53, with a combined average of twelve years' experience in the financial
services industry.

         Total assets of all Pioneer mutual funds at December 31, 1996, were
approximately $15.8 billion representing 1,086,554 shareholder accounts, 722,661
non-retirement accounts and 363,893 retirement accounts.
    



                                       41
<PAGE>





                          PIONEER AMERICA INCOME TRUST

                            PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

   

Item 24.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

   (a)      Financial Statements:

            The  financial   statements  of  the  Registrant  are
            incorporated by reference from the 1996 Annual Report
            to Shareholders which is attached to and incorporated
            by reference into Part B, the Statement of Additional
            Information (Accession Number 0000831120-97-000003).

   (b)      Exhibits:

  1.       Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated December 7, 1993.*

  1.2      Establishment and Designation of Classes.*

  1.3      Establishment and Designation of Class C Shares.*

  2.       By-Laws.*

  3.       None.

  4.       None.

  5.       Management Contract with Pioneering Management Corporation,
          dated January 1, 1994.*

  6.1      Underwriting Agreement with Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc.*

  6.2      Form of Dealer Sales Agreement.*

  7.       None.

  8.       Custodian Agreement with Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.*

  9.       Investment Company Service Agreement with Pioneering Services
          Corporation._

  10.      Opinion and Consent of Counsel.*

  11.      Consent of Independent Public Accountants._

  12.      None.

  13.      Stock Purchase Agreement.*

  14.      None.

  15.1     Class A Shares Distribution Plan.*

  15.2     Class B Shares Distribution Plan.*

  15.3     Class C Shares Distribution Plan.*

  16.      Description of Average Annual Total Return and Yield Calculation.*

  17.      Financial Data Schedule._

  18.1     Multiple Class Plan for Class A and Class B Shares*

  18.2     Multiple Class Plan for Class A, Class B and Class C Shares*

  19.      Powers of Attorney.*

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

_ Filed herewith.

* Previously  filed.  Incorporated by reference from the exhibits filed with the
Registration  Statement,  as  amended,  of the  Registrant  (File Nos.  2-20795;
811-5516).


Item 25. Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control With Registrant


                                                      Percent     State/Country
                                                        of               of
         Company                          Owned By    Shares      Incorporation


Pioneering Management Corp. (PMC)             PGI     100%          DE
Pioneering Services Corp. (PSC)               PGI     100%          MA
Pioneer Capital Corp. (PCC)                   PGI     100%          MA
Pioneer Fonds Marketing GmbH (GmbH)           PGI     100%          MA
Pioneer SBIC Corp. (SBIC)                     PGI     100%          MA
Pioneer Associates, Inc. (PAI)                PGI     100%          MA
Pioneer International Corp. (Pint)            PGI     100%          MA
Pioneer Plans Corp. (PPC)                     PGI     100%          MA
Pioneer Goldfields Ltd (PGL)                  PGI     100%          MA
Pioneer Investments Corp. (PIC)               PGI     100%          MA
Pioneer Metals and Technology, Inc. (PMT)     PGI     100%          DE
Pioneer First Polish Trust Fund
  Joint Stock Co. (First Polish)              PGI     100%      Poland
Teberebie Goldfields Ltd. (TGL)               PGI      90%       Ghana
Pioneer Funds Distributor, Inc. (PFD)         PMC     100%          MA
SBIC's outstanding capital stock              PCC     100%          MA

THE FUNDS:  All are parties to management contracts with PMC.

                                      BUSINESS
        FUND                          TRUST

Pioneer International Growth Fund         MA
Pioneer Europe Fund                       MA
Pioneer World Equity Fund                 DE
Pioneer Emerging Markets Fund             DE
Pioneer India Fund                        DE
Pioneer Mid-Cap Fund                      DE
Pioneer Growth Shares                     DE
Pioneer Growth Trust                      MA
Pioneer Micro-Cap Fund                    DE
Pioneer Fund                              DE
Pioneer II                                DE
Pioneer Real Estate Shares                DE
Pioneer Short-Term Income Fund            MA
Pioneer America Income Trust              MA
Pioneer Bond Fund                         MA
Pioneer Balanced Fund                     DE
Pioneer Intermediate Tax-Free Fund        MA
Pioneer Tax-Free Income Fund              DE
Pioneer Money Market Trust                DE
Pioneer Variable Contracts Trust          DE
Pioneer Interest Shares                   DE

OTHER:

 . SBIC is the sole general partner of Pioneer  Ventures Limited  Partnership,  a
Massachusetts limited partnership.  . Kothari Pioneer AMC Ltd. (Kothari Pioneer)
(Indian  Corp.),  is a joint venture  between PMC and Investment  Trust of India
Ltd.  (ITI)  (Indian  Corp.)  . ITI  and  PMC own  approximately  54%  and  45%,
respectively, of the total equity capital of Kothari Pioneer.

                              JOHN F. COGAN, JR.

Owns approximately 14% of the outstanding shares of PGI.

    
                                                  TRUSTEE/
         ENTITY            CHAIRMAN  PRESIDENT   DIRECTOR    OTHER

Pioneer Family
  of Mutual Funds               X        X        X

PGL                             X        X        X

PGI                             X        X        X

PPC                                      X        X

PIC                                      X        X

Pintl                                    X        X

PMT                                      X        X

PCC                                               X

PSC                                               X

PMC                            X                  X

PFD                            X                  X

TGL                            X                  X

First Polish                   X                 Member of
                                                 Supervisory
                                                 Board

Hale and Dorr LLP                                Partner

GmbH                                             Chairman of Supervisory
                                                 Board



Item 26. Number of Holders of Securities

                  The  following  table  sets  forth the  approximate  number of
record  holders of each class of  securities  of the  Registrant as of March 31,
1997:



                             Class A         Class B          Class C

   
Number of Record Holders:     8,588            571               101
    

Item 27. Indemnification

                  Except for the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated
December 7, 1993 establishing the Registrant as a Trust under Massachusetts law,
there is no contract,  arrangement or statute under which any director, officer,
underwriter or affiliated  person of the  Registrant is insured or  indemnified.
The Declaration of Trust provides that no Trustee or officer will be indemnified
against any  liability  of which the  Registrant  would  otherwise be subject by
reason of or for willful  misfeasance,  bad faith,  gross negligence or reckless
disregard of such person's duties.

                  Insofar as  indemnification  for  liability  arising under the
Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),  may be available to directors,
officers and  controlling  persons of the  Registrant  pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of
the Securities and Exchange  Commission such  indemnification  is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event
that a claim  for  indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other  than the
payment of the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling  person of the Registrant in the  successful  defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless
in the  opinion  of its  counsel  the matter  has been  settled  by  controlling
precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction  the question whether
such  indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


Item 28. Business and other Connections of Investment Adviser

                  All of the  information  required by this item is set forth in
the Forms ADV, as amended, of Pioneering Management  Corporation.  The following
sections of such Forms ADV are incorporated herein by reference:

                  (a)      Items 1 and 2 of Part 2;

                  (b)      Section 6, Business Background, of each Schedule D.


Item 29. Principal Underwriter

                  (a)      See Item 25 above.

                  (b)      Directors and Officers of PFD:

                    Positions and Offices    Positions and Offices

Name                   with Underwriter         with Registrant
- ----                   ----------------         ---------------

John F. Cogan, Jr.     Director and Chairman     Chairman of the Board,
                                                 President and Trustee

Robert L. Butler       Director and President    None



David D. Tripple       Director                  Executive Vice President and
                                                 Trustee


Steven M. Graziano     Senior                     None
                       Vice President

Stephen W. Long        Senior                     None
                       Vice President

John W. Drachman       Vice President             None

Barry G. Knight        Vice President             None

William A. Misata      Vice President             None

Anne W. Patenaude      Vice President             None

Elizabeth B. Bennett   Vice President             None

Gail A. Smyth          Vice President             None

Constance D. Spiros    Vice President             None

Marcy L. Supovitz      Vice President             None

Mary Kleeman           Vice President             None

Steven R. Berke        Assistant                  None
                       Vice President

Mary Sue Hoban         Assistant                  None
                       Vice President

William H. Keough      Treasurer                  Treasurer

Roy P. Rossi           Assistant Treasurer        None

Joseph P. Barri        Clerk                      Secretary

Robert P. Nault        Assistant Clerk            Assistant Secretary



                  (c)      Not applicable.


Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records

                  The accounts and records are  maintained  at the  Registrant's
office at 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts; contact the Treasurer.

Item 31. Management Services

                  The  Registrant  is  not a  party  to  any  management-related
service  contract,  except as described in the  Prospectus  and the Statement of
Additional Information.

Item 32. Undertakings

                  (a)      Not applicable.

                  (b)      Not applicable.

                  (c) The Registrant hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to be
delivered with the Prospectus,  to each person to whom the Prospectus is sent or
given, a copy of the Registrant's  report to shareholders  furnished pursuant to
and meeting the requirements of Rule 30d-1 from which the specified  information
is incorporated by reference,  unless such person  currently holds securities of
the Registrant  and otherwise has received a copy of such report,  in which case
the  Registrant  shall state in the  Prospectus  that it will  furnish,  without
charge,  a copy of such report on request,  and the name,  address and telephone
number of the person to whom such a request should be directed.



<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


   
         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933 and the
Investment   Company  Act  of  1940,   the   Registrant  has  duly  caused  this
Post-Effective Amendment to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A (which meets
all the  requirements  for  effectiveness  pursuant  to Rule  485(b)  under  the
Securities Act of 1933) to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Boston and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the
16th day of April, 1997.
    

                                          PIONEER AMERICA INCOME TRUST




                                                     /s/ John F. Cogan, Jr.
                                                     John F. Cogan, Jr.
                                                     President

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Post-Effective Amendment to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A
has been signed  below by the  following  persons in the  capacities  and on the
dates indicated:

         Title and Signature                               Date

Principal Executive Officer:                                  )
                                                              )
                                                              )
John F. Cogan, Jr.*                                           )
- --------------------------------------------
John F. Cogan, Jr., President                                 )
                                                              )
                                                              )
Principal Financial and                                       )
Accounting Officer:                                           )
                                                              )
                                                              )
William H. Keough*                                            )
William H. Keough, Treasurer                                  )
                                                              )
                                                              )
Trustees:                                                     )
                                                              )
John F. Cogan, Jr.*                                           )
John F. Cogan, Jr.                                            )
                                                              )
                                                              )
Richard H. Egdahl, M.D.*                                      )
Richard H. Egdahl, M.D.                                       )
                                                              )
                                                              )
Margaret B. W. Graham*                                        )
Margaret B. W. Graham                                         )
                                                              )
                                                              )
John W. Kendrick*                                             )
John W. Kendrick                                              )
                                                              )
                                                              )
Marguerite A. Piret*                                          )
Marguerite A. Piret                                           )
                                                              )
                                                              )
David D. Tripple*                                             )
David D. Tripple                                              )
                                                              )
                                                              )
Stephen K. West*                                              )
Stephen K. West                                               )
                                                              )
                                                              )
John Winthrop*                                                )
John Winthrop                                                 )

- ---------


   
     *  By:  /s/ Joseph P. Barri                         April 16, 1997
      ---------------------
      Joseph P. Barri
      Attorney-in-fact
    


<PAGE>


                                  Exhibit Index

Exhibit
Number   Document Title


 9.               Investment Company Service Agreement with Pioneering
                  Services Corporation.

11.               Consent of Independent Public Accountants

17.               Financial Data Schedule


                                       


                      INVESTMENT COMPANY SERVICE AGREEMENT


                                  March 1, 1988


         Pioneer U.S. Government Trust, a Massachusetts  business trust with its
principal  place of business at 60 State  Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts  02109
("Customer") and Pioneering Services  Corporation,  a Massachusetts  corporation
("PSC"), hereby agree as follows:

         1. SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY PSC.  During the term of this  Agreement,
PSC will provide to each series of shares of beneficial  interest (the "Series")
of Customer, which may be established,  from time to time (the "Account"),  with
the services described in Exhibits A, B, C, and D (collectively, the "Exhibits")
that are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.  It is understood
that PSC may subcontract any of such services to one or more firms designated by
PSC,  provided  that PSC (i) shall be solely  responsible  for all  compensation
payable  to any such firm and (ii) shall be liable to  Customer  for the acts or
omissions of any such firm to the same extent as PSC would be liable to Customer
with respect to any such act or omission hereunder.

     2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Agreement shall become effective on the date hereof
(the  "Effective  Date") and shall  continue in effect until it is terminated in
accordance with Section 11 below.
     
     3. DELIVERY, VERIFICATION AND RECEIPT FOR DATA AND ASSETS. Prior to the
Effective Date, Customer agrees to deliver to PSC all such  documentation,  data
and  materials  as PSC may  reasonably  prescribe  to enable it to  perform  the
services contemplated by this Agreement. If PSC so requests,  Customer agrees to
confirm the accuracy of any starting  records of Customer's  assets and accounts
produced from PSC's computer or held in other  recording  systems.  In the event
Customer  does not,  prior to the Effective  Date,  comply fully with any of the
foregoing  provisions  of this  Section  3, the date for  commencement  of PSC's
services  hereunder  may be  postponed  by PSC until such  compliance  has taken
place.

                  Customer shall,  from time to time, while this Agreement is in
effect  deliver all such  materials and data as may be necessary or desirable to
enable PSC to perform its  services  hereunder,  including  without  limitation,
those described in Section 12 hereof.


<PAGE>

         4.  REPORTS  AND  MAINTENANCE  OF RECORDS BY PSC.  PSC will  furnish to
Customer and to properly authorized Auditors, examiners, distributors,  dealers,
underwriters, salesmen, insurance companies, investors, and others designated by
Customer in writing,  such books,  any and all records and reports at such times
as are prescribed  for each service in the Exhibits  attached  hereto.  Customer
agrees to examine or to ask any other authorized  recipient to examine each such
report or copy  promptly  and will report or cause to be reported  any errors or
discrepancies  therein of which Customer then has any knowledge.  PSC may at its
option at any time, and shall  forthwith upon  Customer's  demand,  turn over to
Customer and cease to retain in PSC's files,  any and all records and  documents
created and  maintained  by PSC pursuant to this  Agreement  which are no longer
needed by PSC in the performance of its services or for its protection.

                  If not so turned over to Customer,  such documents and reports
will be retained by PSC for six years from the year of the creation,  during the
first two of which the same will be in readily  accessible  form.  At the end of
six years,  such records and  documents,  will be turned over to Customer by PSC
unless Customer authorizes their destruction.

     5. PSC'S DUTY OF CARE. PSC shall at all time use reasonable care and act in
good faith in performing its duties  hereunder.  PSC shall incur no liability to
Customer in connection with its performance of services  hereunder except to the
extent that it does not comply with the foregoing standards.
                 
      PSC  shall at all  times  adhere  to  various  procedures  and
systems  consistent  with  industry  standards in order to safeguard  Customer's
checks,  records  and other  data from  loss or damage  attributable  to fire or
theft.  PSC shall maintain  insurance  adequate to protect  against the costs of
reconstructing  checks,  records  and  other  data in the event of such loss and
shall  notify  Customer  in the  event  of a  material  adverse  change  in such
insurance  coverage.  In the  event of damage or loss  occurring  to  Customer's
records or data such that PSC is unable to meet the terms of this Agreement, PSC
shall transfer all records and data to a transfer  agent of Customer's  choosing
upon Customer's written authorization to do so.

                  Without  limiting the generality of the  foregoing,  PSC shall
not be liable  or  responsible  for  delays  or  errors  occurring  by reason of
circumstances  beyond its control  including acts of civil,  military or banking
authority,  national  emergencies,  labor  difficulties,  fire,  flood  or other
catastrophes,  acts of God, insurrection, war, riots, failure of transportation,
communication or power supply.
<PAGE>

         6.  CONFIDENTIALITY.   PSC  will  keep  confidential  all  records  and
information  provided by Customer or by the  shareholders of the Account to PSC,
except to the extent disclosures are required by this Agreement, are required by
the  Customer's  Prospectus  and  Statement of  Additional  Information,  or are
required  by a  valid  subpoena  or  warrant  issued  by a  court  of  competent
jurisdiction or by a state or federal agency or governmental authority.

         7. CUSTOMER  INSPECTION.  Upon reasonable  notice, in writing signed by
Customer,  PSC shall make available,  during regular business hours, all records
and other data created and maintained  pursuant to this Agreement for reasonable
audit and  inspection by Customer or  Customer's  agents,  including  reasonable
visitation by Customer or Customer's agent, including inspecting PSC's operation
facilities.  PSC shall not be liable for injury to or responsible in any way for
the safety of any individual  visiting PSC's  facilities  under the authority of
this  section.   Customer  will  keep   confidential  and  will  cause  to  keep
confidential all confidential information obtained by its employees or agents or
any other individual representing Customer while on PSC's premises. Confidential
information shall include (1) any information of whatever nature regarding PSC's
operations, security procedures, and data processing capabilities, (2) financial
information  regarding  PSC,  its  affiliates,  or  subsidiaries,  and  (3)  any
information of whatever kind or  description  regarding any customer of PSC, its
affiliates or subsidiaries.

         8. RELIANCE BY PSC ON INSTRUCTIONS AND ADVICE;  INDEMNITY. PSC shall be
entitled  to seek  advice of  Customer's  legal  counsel  with  respect to PSC's
responsibilities  and  duties  hereunder  and  shall in no event  be  liable  to
Customer for any action taken pursuant to such advice, except to the extent that
Customer's legal counsel determines in its sole discretion that the rendering of
advice to PSC would result in a conflict of interest.

                  Whenever PSC is authorized to take action  hereunder  pursuant
to proper  instructions  from  Customer,  PSC shall be entitled to rely upon any
certificate, letter or other instrument or telephone call reasonably believed by
PSC to be  genuine  and to have been  properly  made or signed by an  officer or
other  authorized  agent of  Customer,  and  shall be  entitled  to  receive  as
conclusive  proof  of any  fact  or  matter  required  to be  ascertained  by it
hereunder a  certificate  signed by an officer of  Customer or any other  person
authorized by Customer's Board of Trustees.

                  Subject to the  provisions  of  Section 13 of this  Agreement,
Customer  agrees to indemnify and hold PSC, its  employees,  agents and nominees
harmless from any and all claims, demands, actions and suits, whether groundless
or otherwise, and from and against any and all judgments,  liabilities,  losses,
damages,  costs,  charges,  counsel fees and other  expenses of every nature and
character  arising out of or in any way relating to PSC's  action or  non-action
upon information, instructions or requests given or made to PSC by Customer with
respect to the Account.
<PAGE>

                  Notwithstanding  the above,  whenever Customer may be asked to
indemnify or hold PSC harmless, Customer shall be advised of all pertinent facts
arising from the situation in question.  Additionally,  PSC will use  reasonable
care to identify and notify  Customer  promptly  concerning any situation  which
presents, actually or potentially, a claim for indemnification against Customer.
Customer  shall have the option to defend PSC against any claim for which PSC is
entitled to  indemnification  from Customer  under the terms hereof,  and in the
event Customer so elects, it will notify PSC and, thereupon, Customer shall take
over  complete  defense of the claim and PSC shall  sustain no further  legal or
other expenses in such a situation for which  indemnification shall be sought or
entitled.  PSC may in no event  confess any claim or make any  compromise in any
case in which  Customer  will be asked to indemnify  PSC except with  Customer's
prior written consent.

     9.  MAINTENANCE  OF  DEPOSIT  ACCOUNTS.  PSC  shall  maintain  on behalf of
Customer such deposit  accounts as are necessary or desirable  from time to time
to enable PSC to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.

         10. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT TO PSC. For the services rendered by
PSC under  this  Agreement,  Customer  agrees to pay an annual fee of $22.00 per
account  to PSC,  such fee to be  payable  in  equal  monthly  installments.  In
addition,  Customer shall reimburse PSC monthly for out-of-pocket  expenses such
as postage, forms,  envelopes,  checks,  "outside" mailings,  telephone line and
other charges,  mailgrams,  mail insurance on  certificates  and data processing
file recovery insurance.

     11.  TERMINATION.  Either PSC or Customer  may at any time  terminate  this
Agreement by giving 90 days' prior written notice to the other.
                  
After  the  date  of  termination,  for so long as PSC in fact
continues  to  perform  any  one or more of the  services  contemplated  by this
Agreement or any exhibit  hereto,  the provisions of this  Agreement,  including
without  limitation  the  provisions of Section 8 dealing with  indemnification,
shall where applicable continue in full force and effect.


<PAGE>

         12.      REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.  Customer agrees to furnish to PSC prior 
                  to the Effective Date the following (to the extent not 
                  previously provided):

     A. Two (2)  copies  of the  Declaration  of Trust of  Customer,  and of any
amendments  thereto,  certified  by the proper  official  of the State where the
Declaration  of Trust is filed.  

     B. Two (2) copies of the  following  documents,
currently certified by the Secretary of Customer;  
          a. Customer's By-laws and any
amendment  thereto.  
          b. Certified  copies of resolutions of Customer's  Board of
Trustees covering the following matters. (1) Approval of this Agreement.

                           (2) Authorization of specified  officers of Customers
                          to instruct PSC  hereunder  (if  different  from other
                          officers of Customer previously  specified by Customer
                          as to other Customer accounts being serviced by PSC).

     C. List of all officers of Customer  together with  specimen  signatures of
those officers who are authorized to sign share certificates and to instruct PSC
in all other matters.
                  D.       Two (2) copies of the following;

                  a.       Prospectus
                  b.       Statement of Additional Information
                  c.       Management Agreement
                  d.       Registration Statement

                  E. Opinion of counsel for Customer as to the due authorization
                  by and  binding  effect of this  Agreement  on  Customer,  the
                  applicability  of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and
                  the  Investment  Company  Act of  1940,  as  amended,  and the
                  approval by such public  authorities as may be prerequisite to
                  lawful sale and delivery in the various states.

     F. Amendments to, and changes in, any of the foregoing  forthwith upon such
amendments and changes being available,  but in no case later than the effective
date.

         13.  INDEMNIFICATION.  The parties to this  Agreement  acknowledge  and
agree  that  all  liabilities  arising,  directly  or  indirectly,   under  this
Agreement,  of any and every nature  whatsoever,  including without  limitation,
liabilities arising in connection with any agreement of Customer or its Trustees
set forth herein to indemnify  any party to this  Agreement or any other person,
shall be satisfied  out of the assets of the Account  first and then of Customer
and that no  Trustee,  officer  or holder of shares of  beneficial  interest  of
Customer  shall  be  personally  liable  for any of the  foregoing  liabilities.
Customer's Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time, is on file in the
Office of the  Secretary of State of The  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts.  Such
Declaration  of Trust  describes in detail the respective  responsibilities  and
limitations  on liability of the  Trustees,  officers,  and holders of shares of
beneficial interest of Customer.
<PAGE>

         14. MISCELLANEOUS.  In connection with the operation of such Agreement,
PSC and Customer may agree from time to time on such  provisions  interpretative
of or in  addition to the  provisions  of this  Agreement  as may in their joint
opinion  be  consistent  with  the  general  tenor of this  Agreement.  Any such
interpretative  or  additional  provisions  are to be signed by both parties and
annexed hereto,  but no such provision shall  contravene any applicable  Federal
and  state law or  regulation,  and no such  provision  shall be deemed to be an
amendment of this Agreement.

                  This Agreement  shall be construed in accordance with the laws
of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Customer and PSC have caused this Agreement to be
executed in their respective names by their respective  officers  thereunto duly
authorized as of the date first written above.

                                   PIONEERING SERVICES CORPORATION


                                       By:  /s/ William H. Smith, Jr.
                                                William H. Smith, Jr.
                                                    President


                                         PIONEER U.S. GOVERNMENT TRUST


                                       By:     /s/  Joseph P. Barri 
                                                    Joseph P. Barri 
                                                    Secretary  




<PAGE>


               EXHIBIT A - TO INVESTMENT COMPANY SERVICE AGREEMENT



Shareholder Account Service:

As Servicing  Agent for fund accounts and in accordance  with the  provisions of
the standard fund application and Customer's prospectus, PSC will:

     1.       Open, maintain and close accounts.

     2.       Purchase shares for the shareholder.

     3.       Out of the money  received  in  payment  for  sales of  Customer's
              shares pay to the  Customer's  custodian  the net asset  value per
              share  and  pay  to  the  underwriter  and  to  the  dealer  their
              commission, if any, on a bimonthly basis.

     4.       Redeem shares by systematic withdrawal orders.  (See Exhibit B)

     5.       Issue  share  certificates,   upon  instruction,   resulting  from
              withdrawals  from share accounts (It is the policy of PSC to issue
              share certificates only upon request of the shareholder). Maintain
              records showing name,  address,  certificate numbers and number of
              shares.

     6.       Deposit certificates to shareholder accounts when furnished with 
              such documents as PSC deems necessary to authorize the deposit.

     7.       Reinvest or disburse dividends and other distributions upon
              direction of shareholder.

     8.       Establish the proper registration of ownership of shares.

     9.       Pass upon the adequacy of documents  submitted by a shareholder or
              his legal representative to substantiate the transfer of ownership
              of shares from the registered owner to transferees.

   10.        Make transfers from time to time upon the books of the Customer in
              accordance with properly executed transfer instructions  furnished
              to PSC.

   11.        Upon  receiving  appropriate  detailed  instructions  and  written
              materials prepared by Customer and, where applicable, proxy proofs
              checked by Customer, mail shareholder reports, proxies and related
              materials of suitable design for automatic enclosing,  receive and
              tabulate executed  proxies,  and furnish an annual meeting list of
              shareholders when required.
<PAGE>

   12.        Respond to shareholder inquiries in a timely manner.

   13.        Maintain dealer and salesperson records.

   14.        Maintain and furnish to Customer such  shareholder  information as
              Customer may  reasonably  request for the purpose of compliance by
              Customer with the  applicable  tax and  securities  law of various
              jurisdictions.

   15.        Mail confirmations of transactions to shareholders in a timely 
              fashion.

   16.        Provide Customer with such information regarding correspondence 
              as well as enable Customer to
              comply with related N-SAR requirements.

   17.        Maintain continuous proof of the outstanding shares of Customer.

   18.        Solicit taxpayer identification numbers.

   19.        Provide data to enable Customer to file abandoned property reports
              for those  accounts that have been indicated by the Post Office to
              be not at the address of record with no forwarding address.

   20.        Maintain bank accounts and reconcile same on a monthly basis.

   21.        Provide management information reports on a quarterly basis to 
              Customer's Board of Trustees/Directors outlining the level 
              of service provided.

   22.        Provide sale/statistical reporting for purposes of providing
              fund management with information to
              maximizing the return to shareholders.



<PAGE>



               EXHIBIT B - TO INVESTMENT COMPANY SERVICE AGREEMENT




Redemption Service:

In accordance  with the  provisions of the Customer's  Prospectus,  as servicing
agent for the redemptions, PSC will:

     1.       Where applicable,  establish accounts payable based on information
              furnished  to PSC on behalf  of  Customer  (i.e.,  copies of trade
              confirmations and other documents deemed necessary or desirable by
              PSC on the first business day following the trade date).

     2.       Receive for redemption either:

     a.  Share  certificates,  supported  by  appropriate  documentation;  or 
     b.  Written or telephone  authorization (where no share certificates are 
         issued). 
     3.   Verify  there are  sufficient  available  shares in an  account  
          to cover redemption requests.
     4. Transfer the redeemed or repurchased shares to Customer's treasury share
        account or, if applicable, cancel such shares for retirement.
     
     5.       Pay  the  applicable   redemption  or  repurchase   price  to  the
              shareholder   in  accordance   with   Customer's   Prospectus  and
              Declaration  of  Trust  on or  before  the  seventh  calendar  day
              succeeding any receipt of  certificates or requests for redemption
              or repurchase in "good order" as defined in the Prospectus.

     6.       Notify  Customer and the  underwriter on behalf of Customer of the
              total  number of shares  presented  and  covered by such  requests
              within a reasonable period of time following receipt.

     7.       Promptly notify the shareholder if any such certificate or request
              for redemption or repurchase is not in "good order"  together with
              notice of the  documents  required  to comply  with the good order
              standards.  Upon  receipt  of the  necessary  documents  PSC shall
              effect such  redemption  at the net asset value  applicable at the
              date and time of receipt of such documents.

     8.       Produce periodic reports of unsettled items, if any.

     9.       Adjust unsettled items, if any, relative to dividends and 
              distributions.

     10.      Report to Customer any late redemptions which must be included in
              Customer's N-SAR.




<PAGE>



               EXHIBIT C - TO INVESTMENT COMPANY SERVICE AGREEMENT




Exchange Service:

     1.       Receive and process  exchanges in accordance  with a duly executed
              exchange  authorization.  PSC will redeem  existing shares and use
              the proceeds to purchase new shares.  Shares of Customer purchased
              directly or acquired  through  reinvestment  of  dividends on such
              shares may be exchanged  for shares of other  Pioneer funds (which
              funds have sales charges) only by payment of the applicable  sales
              charge, if any, as described in Customer's  Prospectus.  Shares of
              Customer   acquired  by  exchange  and  through   reinvestment  of
              dividends on such shares may be  re-exchanged  to another  Pioneer
              fund at their respective net asset values.

     2.       Make authorized deductions of fees, if any.

     3.       Register new shares  identically  with the shares  surrendered for
              exchange.  Mail  new  shares  certificates,  if  requested,  or an
              account  statement  confirming the exchange by first class mail to
              the address of record.

     4.       Maintain a record of unprocessed exchanges and produce a periodic 
              report.



<PAGE>




                                                                       Exhibit 9

               EXHIBIT D - TO INVESTMENT COMPANY SERVICE AGREEMENT



Income Accrual and Disbursing Service:

     1.   Distribute income dividends and/or capital gain distributions,  either
          through  reinvestment  or in  cash,  in  accordance  with  shareholder
          instructions.

     2.   On the mailing date,  Customer  shall make  available to PSC collected
          funds to make such distribution.
     3.   Adjust  unsettled  items  relative to dividends and  distribution.  

     4.   Reconcile dividends and/or distributions with Customer. 

     5.   Prepare  and file  annual  Federal  and State  information  returns of
          distributions  and, in the case of Federal  returns,  mail information
          copies  to  shareholders  and  report  and pay  Federal  income  taxes
          withheld from distributions made to non-resident aliens.



                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the use of our report
dated  February 3, 1997 included in Pioneer  America  Income Trust's 1996 Annual
Report  (and to all  references  to our firm)  included in or made a part of the
Pioneer  America Income Trust  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 11 to  Registration
Statement File No. 33-20795 and Amendment No. 12 to Registration  Statement File
No. 811-5516.




                                                        ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP




Boston, Massachusetts
April 24, 1997



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000831120
<NAME> PIONEER AMERICA INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 001
   <NAME> PIONEER AMERICA INCOME TRUST CLASS A
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        153594655
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<TABLE> <S> <C>


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<CIK> 0000831120
<NAME> PIONEER AMERICA INCOME TRUST
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   <NAME> PIONEER AMERICA INCOME TRUST CLASS B
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>


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<CIK> 0000831120
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   <NUMBER> 003
   <NAME> PIONEER AMERICA INCOME TRUST CLASS C
       
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</TABLE>


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