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Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
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Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048
1-800-525-7048
Statement of Additional Information dated February 26, 1999
Revised May 20, 1999
This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus. This
document contains additional information about the Fund and supplements
information in the Prospectus dated February 26, 1999. It should be read
together with the Prospectus. You can obtain the Prospectus by writing to the
Fund's Transfer Agent, OppenheimerFunds Services, at P.O. Box 5270, Denver,
Colorado 80217, or by calling the Transfer Agent at the toll-free number shown
above, or by downloading it from the OppenheimerFunds Internet web site at
www.oppenheimerfunds.com.
Contents
Page
About the Fund
Additional Information About the Fund's Investment Policies and Risks.. 2
The Fund's Investment Policies..................................... 2
Other Investment Techniques and Strategies......................... 10
Investment Restrictions............................................ 30
How the Fund is Managed ............................................... 32
Organization and History........................................... 32
Trustees and Officers.............................................. 33
The Manager........................................................ 39
Brokerage Policies of the Fund......................................... 40
Distribution and Service Plans......................................... 43
Performance of the Fund................................................ 46
About Your Account
How To Buy Shares...................................................... 51
How To Sell Shares..................................................... 59
How To Exchange Shares................................................. 65
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes..................................... 67
Additional Information About the Fund.................................. 69
Financial Information About the Fund
Independent Auditors' Report........................................... 70
Financial Statements................................................... 71
Appendix A: Ratings Definitions........................................ A-1
Appendix B: Industry Classifications................................... B-1
Appendix C: Special Sales Charge Arrangements and Waivers.............. C-1
<PAGE>
112
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A B O U T T H E F U N D
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Additional Information About the Fund's Investment Policies and Risks
The investment objectives, the principal investment policies and the main
risks of the Fund are described in the Prospectus. This Statement of Additional
Information contains supplemental information about those policies and risks and
the types of securities that the Fund's investment Manager, OppenheimerFunds,
Inc., can select for the Fund. Additional information is also provided about the
strategies that the Fund may use to try to achieve its objectives.
The Fund's Investment Policies. The composition of the Fund's portfolio and the
techniques and strategies that the Manager may use in selecting portfolio
securities will vary over time. The Fund is not required to use all of the
investment techniques and strategies described below in seeking its goals. It
may use some of the special investment techniques and strategies at some times
or not at all.
In selecting securities for the Fund's portfolio, the Manager evaluates
the merits of particular securities primarily through the exercise of its own
investment analysis. In the case of non-governmental issues, that process may
include, among other things, evaluation of the issuer's historical operations,
prospects for the industry of which the issuer is part, the issuer's financial
condition, its pending product developments and business (and those of
competitors), the effect of general market and economic conditions on the
issuer's business, and legislative proposals that might affect the issuer. In
the case of foreign government issuers, the Manager may consider general
economic conditions, the conditions of a particular country's economy in
relation to the U.S. economy or other foreign economies, general political
conditions in a country or region, the effect of taxes, the efficiencies and
costs of particular markets (as well as their liquidity) and other factors.
n Foreign Securities. "Foreign securities" include equity and debt
securities of companies organized under the laws of countries other than the
United States and debt securities issued or guaranteed by governments other than
the U.S. government or by foreign supra-national entities, such as the World
Bank. "Foreign securities" also include securities of companies (including those
that are located in the U.S. or organized under U.S. law) that derive a
significant portion of their revenue or profits from foreign businesses,
investments or sales, or that have a significant portion of their assets abroad.
Those securities may be traded on foreign securities exchanges or in the foreign
over-the-counter markets. Securities denominated in foreign currencies issued by
U.S. companies are also considered to be "foreign securities." The Fund expects
to have substantial investments in foreign securities. For the most part, these
will be debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments, including
supra-national entities.
Securities of foreign issuers that are represented by American Depository
Receipts or that are listed on a U.S. securities exchange or traded in the U.S.
over-the-counter markets are not considered "foreign securities" for the purpose
of the Fund's investment allocations, because they are not subject to many of
the special considerations and risks, discussed below, that apply to foreign
securities traded and held abroad.
Investing in foreign securities offers potential benefits not available
from investing solely in securities of domestic issuers. They include the
opportunity to invest in foreign issuers that appear to offer growth potential,
or in foreign countries with economic policies or business cycles different from
those of the U.S., or to reduce fluctuations in portfolio value by taking
advantage of foreign stock markets that do not move in a manner parallel to U.S.
markets. The Fund will hold foreign currency only in connection with the
purchase or sale of foreign securities.
o Foreign Debt Obligations. The debt obligations of foreign
governments and their agencies and instrumentalities may or may not be supported
by the full faith and credit of the foreign government. The Fund can buy
securities issued by certain "supra-national" entities, which include entities
designated or supported by governments to promote economic reconstruction or
development, international banking organizations and related government
agencies. Examples are the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(commonly called the "World Bank"), the Asian Development bank and the
Inter-American Development Bank.
The governmental members of these supra-national entities are
"stockholders" that typically make capital contributions and may be committed to
make additional capital contributions if the entity is unable to repay its
borrowings. A supra-national entity's lending activities may be limited to a
percentage of its total capital, reserves and net income. There can be no
assurance that the constituent foreign governments will continue to be able or
willing to honor their capitalization commitments for those entities.
The Fund can invest in U.S. dollar-denominated "Brady Bonds." These
foreign debt obligations may be fixed-rate par bonds or floating-rate discount
bonds. They are generally collateralized in full as to repayment of principal at
maturity by U.S. Treasury zero-coupon obligations that have the same maturity as
the Brady Bonds. Brady Bonds can be viewed as having three or four valuation
components: (i) the collateralized repayment of principal at final maturity;
(ii) the collateralized interest payments; (iii) the uncollateralized interest
payments; and (iv) any uncollateralized repayment of principal at maturity.
Those uncollateralized amounts constitute what is called the "residual risk."
If there is a default on collateralized Brady Bonds resulting in
acceleration of the payment obligations of the issuer, the zero-coupon U.S.
Treasury securities held as collateral for the payment of principal will not be
distributed to investors, nor will those obligations be sold to distribute the
proceeds. The collateral will be held by the collateral agent to the scheduled
maturity of the defaulted Brady Bonds. The defaulted bonds will continue to
remain outstanding, and the face amount of the collateral will equal the
principal payments which would have then been due on the Brady Bonds in the
normal course. Because of the residual risk of Brady Bonds and the history of
defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities of
countries issuing Brady Bonds, Brady Bonds are considered speculative
investments.
Because the Fund can purchase securities denominated in foreign
currencies, a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar
could result in a change in the amount of income the Fund has available for
distribution. Because a portion of the Fund's investment income may be received
in foreign currencies, the Fund will be required to compute its income in U.S.
dollars for distribution to shareholders, and therefore the Fund will absorb the
cost of currency fluctuations. After the Fund has distributed income, subsequent
foreign currency losses may result in the Fund's having distributed more income
in a particular fiscal period than was available from investment income, which
could result in a return of capital to shareholders.
o Risks of Foreign Investing. Investments in foreign securities may
offer special opportunities for investing but also present special additional
risks and considerations not typically associated with investments in domestic
securities. Some of these additional risks are:
o reduction of income by foreign taxes;
o fluctuation in value of foreign investments due to changes in currency
rates or currency control regulations (for example, currency
blockage);
o transaction charges for currency exchange;
o lack of public information about foreign issuers;
o lack of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards
in foreign countries comparable to those applicable to
domestic issuers;
o less volume on foreign exchanges than on U.S. exchanges;
o greater volatility and less liquidity on foreign markets than in the
U.S.;
o less governmental regulation of foreign issuers, stock exchanges and
brokers than in the U.S.;
o greater difficulties in commencing lawsuits;
o higher brokerage commission rates than in the U.S.;
o increased risks of delays in settlement of portfolio transactions or
loss of certificates for portfolio securities;
o possibilities in some countries of expropriation, confiscatory
taxation, political, financial or social instability or
adverse diplomatic developments; and
o unfavorable differences between the U.S. economy and foreign economies.
In the past, U.S. government policies have discouraged certain
investments abroad by U.S. investors, through taxation or other restrictions,
and it is possible that such restrictions could be re-imposed.
o Special Risks of Emerging Markets. Emerging and developing markets
abroad may also offer special opportunities for investing but have greater risks
than more developed foreign markets, such as those in Europe, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand and Japan. There may be even less liquidity in their securities
markets, and settlements of purchases and sales of securities may be subject to
additional delays. They are subject to greater risks of limitations on the
repatriation of income and profits because of currency restrictions imposed by
local governments. Those countries may also be subject to the risk of greater
political and economic instability, which can greatly affect the volatility of
prices of securities in those countries. The Manager will consider these factors
when evaluating securities in these markets, because the selection of those
securities must be consistent with the Fund's primary goal of total return.
o Risks of Conversion to Euro. On January 1, 1999, eleven countries
in the European Union adopted the euro as their official currency. However,
their current currencies (for example, the franc, the mark, and the lira) will
also continue in use until January 1, 2002. After that date, it is expected that
only the euro will be used in those countries. A common currency is expected to
confer some benefits in those markets, by consolidating the government debt
market for those countries and reducing some currency risks and costs. But the
conversion to the new currency will affect the Fund operationally and also has
potential risks, some of which are listed below. Among other things, the
conversion will affect:
o issuers in which the Fund invests, because of changes in the
competitive environment from a consolidated currency market and
greater operational costs from converting to the new currency.
This might depress securities values. o vendors the Fund depends
on to carry out its business, such as its custodian bank (which
holds the foreign securities the Fund buys), the Manager (which
must price the Fund's investments to deal with the conversion to
the euro) and brokers, foreign markets and securities
depositories. If they are not prepared, there could be delays in
settlements and additional costs to the Fund. o exchange
contracts and derivatives that are outstanding during the
transition to the euro. The lack of currency rate calculations
between the affected currencies and the need to update the Fund's
contracts could pose extra costs to the Fund.
The Manager is upgrading (at its expense) its computer and bookkeeping
systems to deal with the conversion. The Fund's custodian bank has advised the
Manager of its plans to deal with the conversion, including how it will update
its record keeping systems and handle the redenomination of outstanding foreign
debt. The Fund's portfolio manager will also monitor the effects of the
conversion on the issuers in which the Fund invests. The possible effect of
these factors on the Fund's investments cannot be determined with certainty at
this time, but they may reduce the value of some of the Fund's holdings and
increase its operational costs.
n Debt Securities. The Fund can invest in a variety of debt securities to
seek its objectives. Foreign debt securities are subject to the risks of foreign
securities described above. In general, debt securities are also subject to two
additional types of risk: credit risk and interest rate risk.
|_| Credit Risk. Credit risk relates to the ability of the issuer to
meet interest or principal payments or both as they become due. In general,
lower-grade, higher-yield bonds are subject to credit risk to a greater extent
that lower-yield, higher-quality bonds.
The Fund's debt investments can include investment-grade and
non-investment-grade bonds (commonly referred to as "junk bonds").
Investment-grade bonds are bonds rated at least "Baa" by Moody's Investors
Service, Inc., or at least "BBB" by Standard & Poor's Rating Service or Duff &
Phelps, Inc., or that have comparable ratings by another nationally-recognized
rating organization.
In making investments in debt securities, the Manager may rely to some
extent on the ratings of ratings organizations or it may use its own research to
evaluate a security's credit-worthiness. If securities the Fund buys are
unrated, to be considered part of the Fund's holdings of investment-grade
securities, they must be judged by the Manager to be of comparable quality to
bonds rated as investment grade by a rating organization.
o Interest Rate Risk. Interest rate risk refers to the fluctuations
in value of fixed-income securities resulting from the inverse relationship
between price and yield. For example, an increase in general interest rates will
tend to reduce the market value of already-issued fixed-income investments, and
a decline in general interest rates will tend to increase their value. In
addition, debt securities with longer maturities, which tend to have higher
yields, are subject to potentially greater fluctuations in value from changes in
interest rates than obligations with shorter maturities.
Fluctuations in the market value of fixed-income securities after the Fund
buys them will not affect the interest income payable on those securities
(unless the security pays interest at a variable rate pegged to interest rate
changes). However, those price fluctuations will be reflected in the valuations
of the securities, and therefore the Fund's net asset values will be affected by
those fluctuations.
o Special Risks of Lower-Grade Securities. The Fund can invest in
lower-grade debt securities if the Manager believes it is consistent with the
Fund's objectives. Because lower-grade securities tend to offer higher yields
than investment-grade securities, the Fund might invest in lower-grade
securities if the Manager is trying to achieve higher income. In some cases, the
appreciation possibilities of lower-grade securities may be a reason they are
selected for the Fund's portfolio.
"Lower-grade" debt securities are those rated below "investment grade,"
which means they have a rating lower than "Baa" by Moody's or lower than "BBB"
by Standard & Poor's or Duff & Phelps, or similar ratings by other rating
organizations. If they are unrated, and are determined by the Manager to be of
comparable quality to debt securities rated below investment grade, they are
considered part of the Fund's portfolio of lower-grade securities. The Fund can
invest in securities rated as low as "C" or "D" or which may be in default at
the time the Fund buys them.
Some of the special credit risks of lower-grade securities are discussed
below. There is a greater risk that the issuer may default on its obligation to
pay interest or to repay principal than in the case of investment-grade
securities. The issuer's low creditworthiness may increase the potential for its
insolvency. An overall decline in values in the high-yield bond market is also
more likely during a period of a general economic downturn. An economic downturn
or an increase in interest rates could severely disrupt the market for
high-yield bonds, adversely affecting the values of outstanding bonds as well as
the ability of issuers to pay interest or repay principal. In the case of
foreign high-yield bonds, these risks are in addition to the special risk of
foreign investing discussed in the Prospectus and in this Statement of
Additional Information.
To the extent they can be converted into stock, convertible securities may
be less subject to some of these risks than non-convertible high-yield bonds,
since stock may be more liquid and less affected by some of these risk factors.
While securities rated "Baa" by Moody's or "BBB" by Standard & Poor's or
Duff & Phelps are investment grade and are not regarded as junk bonds, those
securities may be subject to special risks, and have some speculative
characteristics. Definitions of the debt security ratings categories of Moody's,
Standard & Poor's, Fitch/IBCA and Duff & Phelps are included in Appendix A to
this Statement of Additional Information.
|X| Mortgage-Related Securities. Mortgage-related securities are a form of
derivative investment collateralized by pools of commercial or residential
mortgages. Pools of mortgage loans are assembled as securities for sale to
investors by government agencies or entities or by private issuers. These
securities include collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"), mortgage
pass-through securities, stripped mortgage pass-through securities, interests in
real estate mortgage investment conduits ("REMICs") and other real-estate
related securities.
Mortgage-related securities that are issued or guaranteed by agencies or
instrumentalities of the U.S. government have relatively little credit risk
(depending on the nature of the issuer) but are subject to interest rate risks
and prepayment risks, as described in the Prospectus.
As with other debt securities, the prices of mortgage-related
securities tend to move inversely to changes in interest rates. The Fund can buy
mortgage-related securities that have interest rates that move inversely to
changes in general interest rates, based on a multiple of a specific index.
Although the value of a mortgage-related security may decline when interest
rates rise, the converse is not always the case.
In periods of declining interest rates, mortgages are more likely to be
prepaid. Therefore, a mortgage-related security's maturity can be shortened by
unscheduled prepayments on the underlying mortgages. Therefore, it is not
possible to predict accurately the security's yield. The principal that is
returned earlier than expected may have to be reinvested in other investments
having a lower yield than the prepaid security. Therefore, these securities may
be less effective as a means of "locking in" attractive long-term interest
rates, and they may have less potential for appreciation during periods of
declining interest rates, than conventional bonds with comparable stated
maturities.
Prepayment risks can lead to substantial fluctuations in the value of a
mortgage-related security. In turn, this can affect the value of the Fund's
shares. If a mortgage-related security has been purchased at a premium, all or
part of the premium the Fund paid may be lost if there is a decline in the
market value of the security, whether that results from interest rate changes or
prepayments on the underlying mortgages. In the case of stripped
mortgage-related securities, if they experience greater rates of prepayment than
were anticipated, the Fund may fail to recoup its initial investment on the
security.
During periods of rapidly rising interest rates, prepayments of
mortgage-related securities may occur at slower than expected rates. Slower
prepayments effectively may lengthen a mortgage-related security's expected
maturity. Generally, that would cause the value of the security to fluctuate
more widely in responses to changes in interest rates. If the prepayments on the
Fund's mortgage-related securities were to decrease broadly, the Fund's
effective duration, and therefore its sensitivity to interest rate changes,
would increase.
As with other debt securities, the values of mortgage-related securities
may be affected by changes in the market's perception of the creditworthiness of
the entity issuing the securities or guaranteeing them. Their values may also be
affected by changes in government regulations and tax policies.
o Collateralized Mortgage Obligations. CMOs are multi-class bonds
that are backed by pools of mortgage loans or mortgage pass-through
certificates. They may be collateralized by: (1) pass-through certificates
issued or guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, Fannie
Mae, or Freddie Mac,
(2) unsecuritized mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing
Administration or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans'
Affairs,
(3) unsecuritized conventional mortgages, (4) other mortgage-related securities,
or (5) any combination of these.
Each class of CMO, referred to as a "tranche," is issued at a specific
coupon rate and has a stated maturity or final distribution date. Principal
prepayments on the underlying mortgages may cause the CMO to be retired much
earlier than the stated maturity or final distribution date. The principal and
interest on the underlying mortgages may be allocated among the several classes
of a series of a CMO in different ways. One or more tranches may have coupon
rates that reset periodically at a specified increase over an index. These are
floating rate CMOs, and typically have a cap on the coupon rate. Inverse
floating rate CMOs have a coupon rate that moves in the reverse direction to an
applicable index. The coupon rate on these CMOs will increase as general
interest rates decrease. These are usually much more volatile than fixed rate
CMOs or floating rate CMOs.
n U.S. Government Securities. These are securities issued or guaranteed by
the U.S. Treasury or other U.S. government agencies or federally-chartered
corporate entities referred to as "instrumentalities." The obligations of U.S.
government agencies or instrumentalities in which the Fund can invest may or may
not be guaranteed or supported by the "full faith and credit" of the United
States. "Full faith and credit" means generally that the taxing power of the
U.S. government is pledged to the payment of interest and repayment of principal
on a security. If a security is not backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States, the owner of the security must look principally to the agency
issuing the obligation for repayment. The owner might not be able to assert a
claim against the United States if the issuing agency or instrumentality does
not meet its commitment. The Fund will invest in securities of U.S. government
agencies and instrumentalities only if the Manager is satisfied that the credit
risk with respect to the agency or instrumentality is minimal.
|_|U.S. Treasury Obligations. These include Treasury bills (which
have maturities of one year or less when issued), Treasury notes (which have
maturities of one to ten years when issued), and Treasury bonds (which have
maturities of more than ten years when issued). Treasury securities are backed
by the full faith and credit of the United States as to timely payments of
interest and repayments of principal. They also can include U. S. Treasury
securities that have been "stripped" by a Federal Reserve Bank, zero-coupon U.S.
Treasury securities described below, and Treasury Inflation-Protection
Securities ("TIPS").
|_|Obligations Issued or Guaranteed by U.S. Government Agencies or
Instrumentalities. These include direct obligations and mortgage-related
securities that have different levels of credit support from the government.
Some are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, such as
Government National Mortgage Association pass-through mortgage certificates
(called "Ginnie Maes"). Some are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow
from the U.S. Treasury under certain circumstances, such as Federal National
Mortgage Association bonds ("Fannie Maes"). Others are supported only by the
credit of the entity that issued them, such as Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation obligations ("Freddie Macs").
|_|Mortgage-Related U.S. Government Securities. These include
interests in pools of residential or commercial mortgages, in the form of
collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs") and other "pass-through"
mortgage securities. CMOs that are U.S. government securities have collateral
to secure payment of interest and principal. They may be issued in different
series with different interest rates and maturities. The collateral is either
in the form of mortgage pass-through certificates issued or guaranteed by a
U.S. agency or instrumentality or mortgage loans insured by a U.S. government
agency. The Fund can have significant amounts of its assets invested in
mortgage-related U.S. government securities.
The prices and yields of CMOs are determined, in part, by assumptions
about the cash flows from the rate of payments of the underlying mortgages.
Changes in interest rates may cause the rate of expected prepayments of those
mortgages to change. In general, prepayments increase when general interest
rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise.
If prepayments of mortgages underlying a CMO occur faster than expected
when interest rates fall, the market value and yield of the CMO will be reduced.
Additionally, the Fund may have to reinvest the prepayment proceeds in other
securities paying interest at lower rates, which could reduce the Fund's yield.
When interest rates rise rapidly, if prepayments occur more slowly than
expected, a short- or medium-term CMO can in effect become a long-term security,
subject to greater fluctuations in value. These are the prepayment risks
described above and can make the prices of CMOs very volatile when interest
rates change. The prices of longer-term debt securities tend to fluctuate more
than those of shorter-term debt securities. That volatility will affect the
Fund's share prices.
n Commercial (Privately-Issued) Mortgage-Related Securities. The Fund may
invest in commercial mortgage-related securities issued by private entities.
Generally these are multi-class debt or pass-through certificates secured by
mortgage loans on commercial properties. They are subject to the credit risk of
the issuer. These securities typically are structured to provide protection to
investors in senior classes from possible losses on the underlying loans. They
do so by having holders of subordinated classes take the first loss if there are
defaults on the underlying loans. They may also be protected to some extent by
guarantees, reserve funds or additional collateralization mechanisms.
n Participation Interests. The Fund can invest in participation interests,
subject to the Fund's limitation on investments in illiquid investments. A
participation interest is an undivided interest in a loan made by the issuing
financial institution in the proportion that the buyer's participation interest
bears to the total principal amount of the loan. Not more than 5% of the Fund's
net assets can be invested in participation interests of the same borrower. The
issuing financial institution may have no obligation to the Fund other than to
pay the Fund the proportionate amount of the principal and interest payments it
receives.
Participation interests are primarily dependent upon the creditworthiness
of the borrowing corporation, which is obligated to make payments of principal
and interest on the loan. There is a risk that a borrower may have difficulty
making payments. If a borrower fails to pay scheduled interest or principal
payments, the Fund could experience a reduction in its income. The value of that
participation interest might also decline, which could affect the net asset
value of the Fund's shares. If the issuing financial institution fails to
perform its obligations under the participation agreement, the Fund might incur
costs and delays in realizing payment and suffer a loss of principal and/or
interest.
n Portfolio Turnover. "Portfolio turnover" describes the rate at which the
Fund traded its portfolio securities during its last fiscal year. For example,
if a fund sold all of its securities during the year, its portfolio turnover
rate would have been 100%. The Fund's portfolio turnover rate will fluctuate
from year to year, and the Fund expects to have a portfolio turnover rate of
more than 100% annually.
Increased portfolio turnover creates higher brokerage and transaction
costs for the Fund, which may reduce its overall performance. Additionally, the
realization of capital gains from selling portfolio securities may result in
distributions of taxable long-term capital gains to shareholders, since the Fund
will normally distribute all of its capital gains realized each year, to avoid
excise taxes under the Internal Revenue Code.
Other Investment Techniques and Strategies. In seeking its objective, the Fund
may from time to time use the types of investment strategies and investments
described below. It is not required to use all of these strategies at all times,
and at times may not use them.
n Zero-Coupon Securities. The Fund can buy zero-coupon and
delayed-interest securities, and "stripped" securities. Stripped securities are
debt securities whose interest coupons are separated from the security and sold
separately. The Fund can buy different types of zero-coupon or stripped
securities, including, among others, foreign debt securities and U.S. Treasury
notes or bonds that have been stripped of their interest coupons, U.S. Treasury
bills issued without interest coupons, and certificates representing interests
in stripped securities.
Zero-coupon securities do not make periodic interest payments and are sold
at a deep discount from their face value. The buyer recognizes a rate of return
determined by the gradual appreciation of the security, which is redeemed at
face value on a specified maturity date. This discount depends on the time
remaining until maturity, as well as prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of
the security and the credit quality of the issuer. In the absence of threats to
the issuer's credit quality, the discount typically decreases as the maturity
date approaches. Some zero-coupon securities are convertible, in that they are
zero-coupon securities until a predetermined date, at which time they convert to
a security with a specified coupon rate.
Because zero-coupon securities pay no interest and compound semi-annually
at the rate fixed at the time of their issuance, their value is generally more
volatile than the value of other debt securities. Their value may fall more
dramatically than the value of interest-bearing securities when interest rates
rise. When prevailing interest rates fall, zero-coupon securities tend to rise
more rapidly in value because they have a fixed rate of return.
The Fund's investment in zero-coupon securities may cause the Fund to
recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any
cash payments on the zero-coupon investment. To generate cash to satisfy those
distribution requirements, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities that
it otherwise might have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other
sources such as the sale of Fund shares.
n "Stripped" Mortgage-Related Securities. The Fund can invest in stripped
mortgage-related securities that are created by segregating the cash flows from
underlying mortgage loans or mortgage securities to create two or more new
securities. Each has a specified percentage of the underlying security's
principal or interest payments. These are a form of derivative investment.
Mortgage securities may be partially stripped so that each class receives
some interest and some principal. However, they may be completely stripped. In
that case all of the interest is distributed to holders of one type of security,
known as an "interest-only" security, or "I/O," and all of the principal is
distributed to holders of another type of security, known as a "principal-only"
security or "P/O." Strips can be created for pass through certificates or CMOs.
The yields to maturity of I/Os and P/Os are very sensitive to principal
repayments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgages. If the
underlying mortgages experience greater than anticipated prepayments of
principal, the Fund might not fully recoup its investment in an I/O based on
those assets. If underlying mortgages experience less than anticipated
prepayments of principal, the yield on the P/Os based on them could decline
substantially.
|X| Floating Rate and Variable Rate Demand Obligations. Variable rate
demand obligations have a demand feature that allows the Fund to tender the
obligation to the issuer or a third party prior to its maturity. The tender may
be at par value plus accrued interest, according to the terms of the
obligations.
The interest rate on a floating rate demand note is adjusted automatically
according to a stated prevailing market rate, such as a bank's prime rate, the
91-day U.S. Treasury Bill rate, or some other standard. The instrument's rate is
adjusted automatically each time the base rate is adjusted. The interest rate on
a variable rate note is also based on a stated prevailing market rate but is
adjusted automatically at specified intervals. Generally, the changes in the
interest rate on such securities reduce the fluctuation in their market value.
As interest rates decrease or increase, the potential for capital appreciation
or depreciation is less than that for fixed-rate obligations of the same
maturity. The Manager may determine that an unrated floating rate or variable
rate demand obligation meets the Fund's quality standards by reason of being
backed by a letter of credit or guarantee issued by a bank that meets those
quality standards.
Floating rate and variable rate demand notes that have a stated maturity
in excess of one year may have features that permit the holder to recover the
principal amount of the underlying security at specified intervals not exceeding
one year and upon no more than 30 days' notice. The issuer of that type of note
normally has a corresponding right in its discretion, after a given period, to
prepay the outstanding principal amount of the note plus accrued interest.
Generally the issuer must provide a specified number of days' notice to the
holder.
Step-coupon bonds have a coupon interest rate that changes periodically
during the life of the security on predetermined dates that are set when the
security is issued.
n "When-Issued" and "Delayed-Delivery" Transactions. The Fund may invest
in securities on a "when-issued" basis and may purchase or sell securities on a
"delayed-delivery" basis. When-issued and delayed-delivery are terms that refer
to securities whose terms and indenture are available and for which a market
exists, but which are not available for immediate delivery.
When such transactions are negotiated, the price (which is generally
expressed in yield terms) is fixed at the time the commitment is made. Delivery
and payment for the securities take place at a later date (generally within 45
days of the date the offer is accepted). The securities are subject to change in
value from market fluctuations during the period until settlement. The value at
delivery may be less than the purchase price. For example, changes in interest
rates in a direction other than that expected by the Manager before settlement
will affect the value of such securities and may cause a loss to the Fund.
During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the
Fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the Fund from the investment.
The Fund will engage in when-issued transactions to secure what the
Manager considers to be an advantageous price and yield at the time of entering
into the obligation. When the Fund enters into a when-issued or delayed-delivery
transaction, it relies on the other party to complete the transaction. Its
failure to do so may cause the Fund to lose the opportunity to obtain the
security at a price and yield the Manager considers to be advantageous.
When the Fund engages in when-issued and delayed-delivery transactions, it
does so for the purpose of acquiring or selling securities consistent with its
investment objective and policies or for delivery pursuant to options contracts
it has entered into, and not for the purpose of investment leverage. Although
the Fund will enter into delayed-delivery or when-issued purchase transactions
to acquire securities, it may dispose of a commitment prior to settlement. If
the Fund chooses to dispose of the right to acquire a when-issued security prior
to its acquisition or to dispose of its right to delivery or receive against a
forward commitment, it may incur a gain or loss.
At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase or sell a security
on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, it records the transaction on its
books and reflects the value of the security purchased in determining the Fund's
net asset value. In a sale transaction, it records the proceeds to be received.
The Fund will identify on its books liquid assets at least equal in value to the
value of the Fund's purchase commitments until the Fund pays for the investment.
When-issued and delayed-delivery transactions can be used by the Fund as a
defensive technique to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates and
prices. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and falling prices,
the Fund might sell securities in its portfolio on a forward commitment basis to
attempt to limit its exposure to anticipated falling prices. In periods of
falling interest rates and rising prices, the Fund might sell portfolio
securities and purchase the same or similar securities on a when-issued or
delayed-delivery basis to obtain the benefit of currently higher cash yields.
n Repurchase Agreements. The Fund can acquire securities subject to
repurchase agreements. It might do so for liquidity purposes to meet anticipated
redemptions of Fund shares, or pending the investment of the proceeds from sales
of Fund shares, or pending the settlement of portfolio securities transactions,
or for temporary defensive purposes, as described below.
In a repurchase transaction, the Fund buys a security from, and
simultaneously resells it to, an approved vendor for delivery on an agreed-upon
future date. The resale price exceeds the purchase price by an amount that
reflects an agreed-upon interest rate effective for the period during which the
repurchase agreement is in effect. Approved vendors include U.S. commercial
banks, U.S. branches of foreign banks, or broker-dealers that have been
designated as primary dealers in government securities. They must meet credit
requirements set by the Fund's Board of Trustees from time to time.
The majority of these transactions run from day to day, and delivery
pursuant to the resale typically occurs within one to five days of the purchase.
Repurchase agreements having a maturity beyond seven days are subject to the
Fund's limits on holding illiquid investments. The Fund will not enter into a
repurchase agreement that causes more than 10% of its net assets to be subject
to repurchase agreements having a maturity beyond seven days. There is no limit
on the amount of the Fund's net assets that may be subject to repurchase
agreements having maturities of seven days or less.
Repurchase agreements, considered "loans" under the Investment Company
Act, are collateralized by the underlying security. The Fund's repurchase
agreements require that at all times while the repurchase agreement is in
effect, the value of the collateral must equal or exceed the repurchase price to
fully collateralize the repayment obligation. However, if the vendor fails to
pay the resale price on the delivery date, the Fund may incur costs in disposing
of the collateral and may experience losses if there is any delay in its ability
to do so. The Manager will monitor the vendor's creditworthiness to confirm that
the vendor is financially sound and will continuously monitor the collateral's
value.
n Illiquid and Restricted Securities. Under the policies and procedures
established by the Fund's Board of Trustees, the Manager determines the
liquidity of certain of the Fund's investments. To enable the Fund to sell its
holdings of a restricted security not registered under the Securities Act of
1933, the Fund may have to cause those securities to be registered. The expenses
of registering restricted securities may be negotiated by the Fund with the
issuer at the time the Fund buys the securities. When the Fund must arrange
registration because the Fund wishes to sell the security, a considerable period
may elapse between the time the decision is made to sell the security and the
time the security is registered so that the Fund could sell it. The Fund would
bear the risks of any downward price fluctuation during that period.
The Fund may also acquire restricted securities through private
placements. Those securities have contractual restrictions on their public
resale. Those restrictions might limit the Fund's ability to dispose of the
securities and might lower the amount the Fund could realize upon the sale.
The Fund has limitations that apply to purchases of restricted securities,
as stated in the Prospectus. Those percentage restrictions do not limit
purchases of restricted securities that are eligible for sale to qualified
institutional purchasers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, if those
securities have been determined to be liquid by the Manager under Board-approved
guidelines. Those guidelines take into account the trading activity for such
securities and the availability of reliable pricing information, among other
factors. If there is a lack of trading interest in a particular Rule 144A
security, the Fund's holdings of that security may be considered to be illiquid.
Illiquid securities include repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven
days and participation interests that do not have puts exercisable within seven
days.
n Forward Rolls. The Fund can enter into "forward roll" transactions with
respect to mortgage-related securities. In this type of transaction, the Fund
sells a mortgage-related security to a buyer and simultaneously agrees to
repurchase a similar security (the same type of security, and having the same
coupon and maturity) at a later date at a set price. The securities that are
repurchased will have the same interest rate as the securities that are sold,
but typically will be collateralized by different pools of mortgages (with
different prepayment histories) than the securities that have been sold.
Proceeds from the sale are invested in short-term instruments, such as
repurchase agreements. The income from those investments, plus the fees from the
forward roll transaction, are expected to generate income to the Fund in excess
of the yield on the securities that have been sold.
The Fund will only enter into "covered" rolls. To assure its future
payment of the purchase price, the Fund will identify on its books liquid assets
in an amount equal to the payment obligation under the roll.
These transactions have risks. During the period between the sale and the
repurchase, the Fund will not be entitled to receive interest and principal
payments on the securities that have been sold. It is possible that the market
value of the securities the Fund sells might decline below the price at which
the Fund is obligated to repurchase securities.
n Investments in Equity Securities. Under normal market conditions the
Fund can invest up to 35% of its total assets in securities other than debt
securities, including equity securities of foreign and U.S. companies. However,
it does not currently anticipate investing significant amounts of its assets in
these securities as part of its normal investment strategy. Equity securities
include common stocks, preferred stocks, rights and warrants, and securities
convertible into common stock. The Fund's investments can include stocks of
companies in any market capitalization range, if the Manager believes the
investment is consistent with the Fund's objectives of total return and income.
Certain equity securities may be selected not only for their appreciation
possibilities but because they may provide dividend income.
|_| Risks of Investing in Stocks. Stocks fluctuate in price, and
their short-term volatility at times may be great. To the extent that the Fund
invests in equity securities, the value of the Fund's portfolio will be affected
by changes in the stock markets. Market risk can affect the Fund's net asset
value per share, which will fluctuate as the values of the Fund's portfolio
securities change. The prices of individual stocks do not all move in the same
direction uniformly or at the same time. Different stock markets may behave
differently from each other.
Other factors can affect a particular stock's price, such as poor earnings
reports by the issuer, loss of major customers, major litigation against the
issuer, or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or its
industry. The Fund can invest in securities of large companies and mid-size
companies, but may also buy stocks of small companies, which may have more
volatile stock prices than large companies.
|_| Convertible Securities. While convertible securities are a form
of debt security, in many cases their conversion feature (allowing conversion
into equity securities) causes them to be regarded more as "equity equivalents."
As a result, the rating assigned to the security has less impact on the
Manager's investment decision with respect to convertible securities than in the
case of non-convertible fixed income securities. Convertible securities are
subject to the credit risks and interest rate risks described above in "Debt
Securities."
To determine whether convertible securities should be regarded as "equity
equivalents," the Manager examines the following factors: (1) whether, at the
option of the investor, the convertible security can be
exchanged for a fixed number of shares of common stock of the
issuer,
(2) whether the issuer of the convertible securities has restated its
earnings per share of common stock on a fully diluted basis
(considering the effect of conversion of the convertible securities),
and
(3) the extent to which the convertible security may be a defensive "equity
substitute," providing the ability to participate in any appreciation
in the price of the issuer's common stock.
|_| Preferred Stocks. Preferred stock, unlike common stock, has a
stated dividend rate payable from the corporation's earnings. Preferred stock
dividends may be cumulative or non-cumulative, participating, or auction rate.
"Cumulative" dividend provisions require all or a portion of prior unpaid
dividends to be paid before dividends can be paid on the issuer's common stock.
If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less
attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline. Preferred stock
may have mandatory sinking fund provisions, as well as provisions allowing calls
or redemptions prior to maturity, which also have a negative impact on prices
when interest rates decline. The rights of preferred stock on distribution of a
corporation's assets in the event of a liquidation are generally subordinate to
the rights associated with a corporation's debt securities. Preferred stock
generally has a preference over common stock on the distribution of a
corporation's assets in the event of liquidation of the corporation. Preferred
stock may be "participating" stock, which means that it may be entitled to a
dividend exceeding the stated dividend in certain cases.
n Loans of Portfolio Securities. To raise cash for liquidity purposes, the
Fund can lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other types of
financial institutions approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. These loans are
limited to not more than 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets. The Fund
currently does not intend to engage in loans of securities in the coming year,
but if it does so, such loans will not likely exceed 5% of the Fund's total
assets.
There are some risks in connection with securities lending. The Fund might
experience a delay in receiving additional collateral to secure a loan, or a
delay in recovery of the loaned securities if the borrower defaults. The Fund
must receive collateral for a loan. Under current applicable regulatory
requirements (which are subject to change), on each business day the loan
collateral must be at least equal the value of the loaned securities. It must
consist of cash, bank letters of credit or securities of the U.S. government or
its agencies or instrumentalities, or other cash equivalents in which the Fund
is permitted to invest. To be acceptable as collateral, letters of credit must
obligate a bank to pay amounts demanded by the Fund if the demand meets the
terms of the letter. The terms of the letter of credit and the issuing bank both
must be satisfactory to the Fund.
When it lends securities, the Fund receives amounts equal to the dividends
or interest on loaned securities. It also receives one or more of (a) negotiated
loan fees, (b) interest on securities used as collateral, and (c) interest on
any short-term debt securities purchased with such loan collateral. Either type
of interest may be shared with the borrower. The Fund may also pay reasonable
finder's, custodian and administrative fees in connection with these loans. The
terms of the Fund's loans must meet applicable tests under the Internal Revenue
Code and must permit the Fund to reacquire loaned securities on five days'
notice or in time to vote on any important matter.
n Borrowing Money. Under its fundamental policies, the Fund has the
ability to borrow up to one third of the value of its total assets from banks on
an unsecured basis to invest the borrowed funds in portfolio securities. This
speculative technique is known as "leverage." It may subject the Fund to greater
risks than funds that do not use leverage. The Fund may borrow only from banks.
Under current regulatory requirements, borrowings can be made only to the extent
that the value of the Fund's assets, less its liabilities other than borrowings,
is equal to at least 300% of all borrowings (including the proposed borrowing).
If the value of the Fund's assets fails to meet this 300% asset coverage
requirement, the Fund will reduce its bank debt within three days to meet the
requirement. To do so, the Fund might have to sell a portion of its investments
at a disadvantageous time.
The Fund will pay interest on these loans, and that interest expense will
raise the overall expenses of the Fund and reduce its returns. If it does
borrow, its expenses will be greater than comparable funds that do not borrow
for leverage. Additionally, the Fund's net asset value per share might fluctuate
more than that of funds that do not borrow. Currently, the Fund does not
contemplate using this technique in the next year but if it does so, it will not
likely be to a substantial degree.
Under its fundamental policy on borrowing, the Fund can also borrow money
for temporary, emergency purposes or under other unusual circumstances, subject
to any limitation on that type of borrowing under the Investment Company Act.
n Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities are fractional
interests in pools of assets, typically accounts receivable or consumer loans.
They are issued by trusts or special-purpose corporations. They are similar to
mortgage-backed securities, described above, and are backed by a pool of assets
that consist of obligations of individual borrowers. The income from the pool is
passed through to the holders of participation interest in the pools. The pools
may offer a credit enhancement, such as a bank letter of credit, to try to
reduce the risks that the underlying debtors will not pay their obligations when
due.
The value of an asset-backed security is affected by changes in the
market's perception of the asset backing the security, the creditworthiness of
the servicing agent for the loan pool, the originator of the loans, or the
financial institution providing any credit enhancement, and is also affected if
any credit enhancement has been exhausted. The risks of investing in
asset-backed securities are ultimately related to payment of consumer loans by
the individual borrowers. As a purchaser of an asset-backed security, the Fund
would generally have no recourse to the entity that originated the loans in the
event of default by a borrower. The underlying loans are subject to prepayments,
which may shorten the weighted average life of asset-backed securities and may
lower their return, in the same manner as in the case of mortgage-backed
securities and CMOs, described above.
|X| Money Market Instruments. The following is a brief description of
the types of the U.S. dollar denominated money market securities the Fund can
invest in. Money market securities are high-quality, short-term debt
instruments that may be issued by the U.S. government, corporations, banks or
other entities. They may have fixed, variable or floating interest rates.
|_| U.S. Government Securities. These include obligations
issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities, described above.
|_| Bank Obligations. The Fund can buy time deposits,
certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances. They must be :
o obligations issued or guaranteed by a domestic bank (including
a foreign branch of a domestic bank) having total assets of at
least U.S. $1 billion, or
o U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of a foreign bank with total assets
of at least U.S. $1 billion
"Banks" include commercial banks, savings banks and savings and loan
associations, which may or may not be members of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation.
|_| Commercial Paper. The Fund can invest in commercial paper if it
is rated within the top three rating categories of Standard & Poor's and
Moody's. If the paper is not rated, it may be purchased if issued by a company
having a credit rating of at least "A" by Standard & Poor's or by Moody's.
The Fund can buy commercial paper, including U.S. dollar-denominated
securities of foreign branches of U.S. banks, issued by other entities if the
commercial paper is guaranteed as to principal and interest by a bank,
government or corporation whose certificates of deposit or commercial paper may
otherwise be purchased by the Fund.
|_| Variable Amount Master Demand Notes. Master demand notes are
corporate obligations that permit the investment of fluctuating amounts by the
Fund at varying rates of interest under direct arrangements between the Fund, as
lender, and the borrower. They permit daily changes in the amounts borrowed. The
Fund has the right to increase the amount under the note at any time up to the
full amount provided by the note agreement, or to decrease the amount. The
borrower may prepay up to the full amount of the note without penalty. These
notes may or may not be backed by bank letters of credit.
Because these notes are direct lending arrangements between the lender and
borrower, it is not expected that there will be a trading market for them. There
is no secondary market for these notes, although they are redeemable (and thus
are immediately repayable by the borrower) at principal amount, plus accrued
interest, at any time. Accordingly, the Fund's right to redeem such notes is
dependent upon the ability of the borrower to pay principal and interest on
demand.
The Fund has no limitations on the type of issuer from whom these notes
will be purchased. However, in connection with such purchases and on an ongoing
basis, the Manager will consider the earning power, cash flow and other
liquidity ratios of the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and interest on
demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes made demand
simultaneously. Investments in master demand notes are subject to the limitation
on investments by the Fund in illiquid securities, described in the Prospectus.
Currently, the Fund does not intend that its investments in variable amount
master demand notes will exceed 5% of its total assets.
n Derivatives. The Fund can invest in a variety of derivative investments
to seek income or for hedging purposes. Some derivative investments the Fund can
use are the hedging instruments described below in this Statement of Additional
Information.
Among the derivative investments the Fund can invest in are "index-linked"
or "currency-linked" notes. Principal and/or interest payments on index-linked
notes depend on the performance of an underlying index. Currency-indexed
securities are typically short-term or intermediate-term debt securities. Their
value at maturity or the rates at which they pay income are determined by the
change in value of the U.S. dollar against one or more foreign currencies or an
index. In some cases, these securities may pay an amount at maturity based on a
multiple of the amount of the relative currency movements. This type of index
security offers the potential for increased income or principal payments but at
a greater risk of loss than a typical debt security of the same maturity and
credit quality.
Other derivative investments the Fund can use include "debt exchangeable
for common stock" of an issuer or "equity-linked debt securities" of an issuer.
At maturity, the debt security is exchanged for common stock of the issuer or it
is payable in an amount based on the price of the issuer's common stock at the
time of maturity. Both alternatives present a risk that the amount payable at
maturity will be less than the principal amount of the debt because the price of
the issuer's common stock might not be as high as the Manager expected.
|X| Hedging. The Fund can use hedging instruments although it is not
obligated to use them in seeking its objectives. To attempt to protect against
declines in the market value of the Fund's portfolio, to permit the Fund to
retain unrealized gains in the value of portfolio securities which have
appreciated, or to facilitate selling securities for investment reasons, the
Fund could:
o sell futures contracts,
|_| buy puts on such futures or on securities, or
o write covered calls on securities or futures. Covered calls may
also be used to increase the Fund's income, but the Manager does not
expect to engage extensively in that practice.
The Fund can use hedging to establish a position in the securities market
as a temporary substitute for purchasing particular securities. In that case,
the Fund would normally seek to purchase the securities and then terminate that
hedging position. The Fund might also use this type of hedge to attempt to
protect against the possibility that its portfolio securities would not be fully
included in a rise in value of the market. To do so the Fund could:
o buy futures, or
o buy calls on such futures or on securities.
The Fund is not obligated to use hedging instruments, even though it is
permitted to use them in the Manager's discretion, as described below. The
Fund's strategy of hedging with futures and options on futures will be
incidental to the Fund's activities in the underlying cash market. The
particular hedging instruments the Fund can use are described below. The Fund
may employ new hedging instruments and strategies when they are developed, if
those investment methods are consistent with the Fund's investment objective and
are permissible under applicable regulations governing the Fund.
|_| Futures. The Fund can buy and sell futures contracts that relate
to (1) broadly-based bond or stock indices (these are referred to as "financial
futures"), (2) commodities (these are referred to as "commodity futures"), (3)
debt securities (these are referred to as "interest rate futures"), and (4)
foreign currencies (these are referred to as "forward contracts").
A broadly-based stock index is used as the basis for trading stock index
futures. In some cases, these futures may be based on stocks of issuers in a
particular industry or group of industries. A stock index assigns relative
values to the securities included in the index and its value fluctuates in
response to the changes in value of the underlying securities. A stock index
cannot be purchased or sold directly. Bond index futures are similar contracts
based on the future value of the basket of securities that comprise the index.
These contracts obligate the seller to deliver, and the purchaser to take, cash
to settle the futures transaction. There is no delivery made of the underlying
securities to settle the futures obligation. Either party may also settle the
transaction by entering into an offsetting contract.
An interest rate future obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser
to take) cash or a specified type of debt security to settle the futures
transaction. Either party could also enter into an offsetting contract to close
out the position.
The Fund can invest a portion of its assets in commodity futures
contracts. Commodity futures may be based upon commodities within five main
commodity groups: (1) energy, which includes crude oil, natural gas, gasoline
and heating oil; (2) livestock, which includes cattle and hogs; (3) agriculture,
which includes wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, coffee, sugar and cocoa; (4)
industrial metals, which includes aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin and zinc;
and (5) precious metals, which includes gold, platinum and silver. The Fund may
purchase and sell commodity futures contracts, options on futures contracts and
options and futures on commodity indices with respect to these five main
commodity groups and the individual commodities within each group, as well as
other types of commodities.
No money is paid or received by the Fund on the purchase or sale of a
future. Upon entering into a futures transaction, the Fund will be required to
deposit an initial margin payment with the futures commission merchant (the
"futures broker"). Initial margin payments will be deposited with the Fund's
custodian bank in an account registered in the futures broker's name. However,
the futures broker can gain access to that account only under specified
conditions. As the future is marked to market (that is, its value on the Fund's
books is changed) to reflect changes in its market value, subsequent margin
payments, called variation margin, will be paid to or by the futures broker
daily.
At any time prior to expiration of the future, the Fund may elect to close
out its position by taking an opposite position, at which time a final
determination of variation margin is made and any additional cash must be paid
by or released to the Fund. Any loss or gain on the future is then realized by
the Fund for tax purposes. All futures transactions, except forward contracts,
are effected through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange on which the
contracts are traded.
o Put and Call Options. The Fund can buy and sell certain kinds of
put options ("puts") and call options ("calls"). The Fund can buy and sell
exchange-traded and over-the-counter put and call options, including index
options, securities options, currency options, commodities options, and options
on the other types of futures described above.
o Writing Covered Call Options. The Fund can write (that is,
sell) covered calls. If the Fund sells a call option, it must be covered. That
means the Fund must own the security subject to the call while the call is
outstanding, or, for calls on futures and indices, the call may be covered by
segregating liquid assets to enable the Fund to satisfy its obligations if the
call is exercised.
When the Fund writes a call on a security, it receives cash (a premium).
The Fund agrees to sell the underlying security to a purchaser of a
corresponding call on the same security during the call period at a fixed
exercise price regardless of market price changes during the call period. The
call period is usually not more than nine months. The exercise price may differ
from the market price of the underlying security. The Fund has the risk of loss
that the price of the underlying security may decline during the call period.
That risk may be offset to some extent by the premium the Fund receives. If the
value of the investment does not rise above the call price, it is likely that
the call will lapse without being exercised. In that case the Fund would keep
the cash premium and the investment.
When the Fund writes a call on an index, it receives cash (a premium). If
the buyer of the call exercises it, the Fund will pay an amount of cash equal to
the difference between the closing price of the call and the exercise price,
multiplied by a specified multiple that determines the total value of the call
for each point of difference. If the value of the underlying investment does not
rise above the call price, it is likely that the call will lapse without being
exercised. In that case the Fund would keep the cash premium.
The Fund's custodian bank, or a securities depository acting for the
custodian, will act as the Fund's escrow agent, through the facilities of the
Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC"), as to the investments on which the Fund
has written calls traded on exchanges or as to other acceptable escrow
securities. In that way, no margin will be required for such transactions. OCC
will release the securities on the expiration of the option or when the Fund
enters into a closing transaction.
When the Fund writes an over-the-counter ("OTC") option, it will enter
into an arrangement with a primary U.S. government securities dealer which will
establish a formula price at which the Fund will have the absolute right to
repurchase that OTC option. The formula price will generally be based on a
multiple of the premium received for the option, plus the amount by which the
option is exercisable below the market price of the underlying security (that
is, the option is "in the money"). When the Fund writes an OTC option, it will
treat as illiquid (for purposes of its restriction on holding illiquid
securities) the mark-to-market value of any OTC option it holds, unless the
option is subject to a buy-back agreement by the executing broker.
To terminate its obligation on a call it has written, the Fund may
purchase a corresponding call in a "closing purchase transaction." The Fund will
then realize a profit or loss, depending upon whether the net of the amount of
the option transaction costs and the premium received on the call the Fund wrote
is more or less than the price of the call the Fund purchases to close out the
transaction. The Fund may realize a profit if the call expires unexercised,
because the Fund will retain the underlying security and the premium it received
when it wrote the call. Any such profits are considered short-term capital gains
for Federal income tax purposes, as are the premiums on lapsed calls. When
distributed by the Fund they are taxable as ordinary income. If the Fund cannot
effect a closing purchase transaction due to the lack of a market, it will have
to hold the callable securities until the call expires or is exercised.
The Fund may also write calls on a futures contract without owning the
futures contract or securities deliverable under the contract. To do so, at the
time the call is written, the Fund must cover the call by identifying on it
books an equivalent dollar amount of liquid assets. The Fund will segregate
additional liquid assets if the value of the segregated assets drops below 100%
of the current value of the future. Because of this segregation requirement, in
no circumstances would the Fund's receipt of an exercise notice as to that
future require the Fund to deliver a futures contract. It would simply put the
Fund in a short futures position, which is permitted by the Fund's hedging
policies.
o Writing Put Options. The Fund can sell put options on
securities, broadly-based securities indices, foreign currencies and futures. A
put option on securities gives the purchaser the right to sell, and the writer
the obligation to buy, the underlying investment at the exercise price during
the option period. The Fund will not write puts if, as a result, more than 50%
of the Fund's net assets would be required to be segregated to cover such put
options.
If the Fund writes a put, the put must be covered by liquid assets
identified on the Fund's books. The premium the Fund receives from writing a put
represents a profit, as long as the price of the underlying investment remains
equal to or above the exercise price of the put. However, the Fund also assumes
the obligation during the option period to buy the underlying investment from
the buyer of the put at the exercise price, even if the value of the investment
falls below the exercise price.
If a put the Fund has written expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a
gain in the amount of the premium less the transaction costs incurred. If the
put is exercised, the Fund must fulfill its obligation to purchase the
underlying investment at the exercise price. That price will usually exceed the
market value of the investment at that time. In that case, the Fund may incur a
loss if it sells the underlying investment. That loss will be equal to the sum
of the sale price of the underlying investment and the premium received minus
the sum of the exercise price and any transaction costs the Fund incurred.
When writing a put option on a security, to secure its obligation to pay
for the underlying security the Fund will deposit in escrow liquid assets with a
value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the underlying securities.
The Fund therefore forgoes the opportunity of investing the segregated assets or
writing calls against those assets.
As long as the Fund's obligation as the put writer continues, it may be
assigned an exercise notice by the broker-dealer through which the put was sold.
That notice will require the Fund to take delivery of the underlying security
and pay the exercise price. The Fund has no control over when it may be required
to purchase the underlying security, since it may be assigned an exercise notice
at any time prior to the termination of its obligation as the writer of the put.
That obligation terminates upon expiration of the put. It may also terminate if,
before it receives an exercise notice, the Fund effects a closing purchase
transaction by purchasing a put of the same series as it sold. Once the Fund has
been assigned an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase
transaction.
The Fund may decide to effect a closing purchase transaction to realize a
profit on an outstanding put option it has written or to prevent the underlying
security from being put. Effecting a closing purchase transaction will also
permit the Fund to write another put option on the security, or to sell the
security and use the proceeds from the sale for other investments. The Fund will
realize a profit or loss from a closing purchase transaction depending on
whether the cost of the transaction is less or more than the premium received
from writing the put option. Any profits from writing puts are considered
short-term capital gains for Federal tax purposes, and when distributed by the
Fund, are taxable as ordinary income.
|_| Purchasing Calls and Puts. The Fund can purchase calls on
securities, broadly-based securities indices, foreign currencies and futures. It
may do so to protect against the possibility that the Fund's portfolio will not
participate in an anticipated rise in the securities market. When the Fund buys
a call (other than in a closing purchase transaction), it pays a premium. The
Fund then has the right to buy the underlying investment from a seller of a
corresponding call on the same investment during the call period at a fixed
exercise price.
The Fund benefits only if it sells the call at a profit or if, during the
call period, the market price of the underlying investment is above the sum of
the call price plus the transaction costs and the premium paid for the call and
the Fund exercises the call. If the Fund does not exercise the call or sell it
(whether or not at a profit), the call will become worthless at its expiration
date. In that case the Fund will have paid the premium but lost the right to
purchase the underlying investment.
The Fund can buy puts on securities, broadly-based securities indices,
foreign currencies and futures, whether or not it owns the underlying
investment. When the Fund purchases a put, it pays a premium and, except as to
puts on indices, has the right to sell the underlying investment to a seller of
a put on a corresponding investment during the put period at a fixed exercise
price.
Buying a put on securities or futures the Fund owns enables the Fund to
attempt to protect itself during the put period against a decline in the value
of the underlying investment below the exercise price by selling the underlying
investment at the exercise price to a seller of a corresponding put. If the
market price of the underlying investment is equal to or above the exercise
price and, as a result, the put is not exercised or resold, the put will become
worthless at its expiration date. In that case the Fund will have paid the
premium but lost the right to sell the underlying investment. However, the Fund
may sell the put prior to its expiration. That sale may or may not be at a
profit.
Buying a put on an investment the Fund does not own (such as an index or
future) permits the Fund either to resell the put or to buy the underlying
investment and sell it at the exercise price. The resale price will vary
inversely to the price of the underlying investment. If the market price of the
underlying investment is above the exercise price and, as a result, the put is
not exercised, the put will become worthless on its expiration date.
When the Fund purchases a call or put on an index or future, it pays a
premium, but settlement is in cash rather than by delivery of the underlying
investment to the Fund. Gain or loss depends on changes in the index in question
(and thus on price movements in the securities market generally) rather than on
price movements in individual securities or futures contracts.
The Fund may buy a call or put only if, after the purchase, the value of
all call and put options held by the Fund will not exceed 5% of the Fund's total
assets.
|_| Buying and Selling Options on Foreign Currencies. The Fund can
buy and sell calls and puts on foreign currencies. They include puts and calls
that trade on a securities or commodities exchange or in the over-the-counter
markets or are quoted by major recognized dealers in such options. The Fund
could use these calls and puts to try to protect against declines in the dollar
value of foreign securities and increases in the dollar cost of foreign
securities the Fund wants to acquire.
If the Manager anticipates a rise in the dollar value of a foreign
currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated, the increased cost
of those securities may be partially offset by purchasing calls or writing puts
on that foreign currency. If the Manager anticipates a decline in the dollar
value of a foreign currency, the decline in the dollar value of portfolio
securities denominated in that currency might be partially offset by writing
calls or purchasing puts on that foreign currency. However, the currency rates
could fluctuate in a direction adverse to the Fund's position. The Fund will
then have incurred option premium payments and transaction costs without a
corresponding benefit.
A call the Fund writes on a foreign currency is "covered" if the Fund owns
the underlying foreign currency covered by the call or has an absolute and
immediate right to acquire that foreign currency without additional cash
consideration (or it can do so for additional cash consideration held in a
segregated account by its custodian bank) upon conversion or exchange of other
foreign currency held in its portfolio.
The Fund could write a call on a foreign currency to provide a hedge
against a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a security which the Fund owns or
has the right to acquire and which is denominated in the currency underlying the
option. That decline might be one that occurs due to an expected adverse change
in the exchange rate. This is known as a "cross-hedging" strategy. In those
circumstances, the Fund covers the option by maintaining cash, U.S. government
securities or other liquid, high grade debt securities in an amount equal to the
exercise price of the option, in a segregated account with the Fund's custodian
bank.
o Risks of Hedging with Options and Futures. The use of hedging
instruments requires special skills and knowledge of investment techniques that
are different than what is required for normal portfolio management. If the
Manager uses a hedging instrument at the wrong time or judges market conditions
incorrectly, hedging strategies may reduce the Fund's return. The Fund could
also experience losses if the prices of its futures and options positions were
not correlated with its other investments.
The Fund's option activities could affect its portfolio turnover rate and
brokerage commissions. The exercise of calls written by the Fund might cause the
Fund to sell related portfolio securities, thus increasing its turnover rate.
The exercise by the Fund of puts on securities will cause the sale of underlying
investments, increasing portfolio turnover. Although the decision whether to
exercise a put it holds is within the Fund's control, holding a put might cause
the Fund to sell the related investments for reasons that would not exist in the
absence of the put.
The Fund could pay a brokerage commission each time it buys a call or put,
sells a call or put, or buys or sells an underlying investment in connection
with the exercise of a call or put. Those commissions could be higher on a
relative basis than the commissions for direct purchases or sales of the
underlying investments. Premiums paid for options are small in relation to the
market value of the underlying investments. Consequently, put and call options
offer large amounts of leverage. The leverage offered by trading in options
could result in the Fund's net asset value being more sensitive to changes in
the value of the underlying investment.
If a covered call written by the Fund is exercised on an investment that
has increased in value, the Fund will be required to sell the investment at the
call price. It will not be able to realize any profit if the investment has
increased in value above the call price.
An option position may be closed out only on a market that provides
secondary trading for options of the same series, and there is no assurance that
a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option. The Fund might
experience losses if it could not close out a position because of an illiquid
market for the future or option.
There is a risk in using short hedging by selling futures or purchasing
puts on broadly-based indices or futures to attempt to protect against declines
in the value of the Fund's portfolio securities. The risk is that the prices of
the futures or the applicable index will correlate imperfectly with the behavior
of the cash prices of the Fund's securities. For example, it is possible that
while the Fund has used hedging instruments in a short hedge, the market might
advance and the value of the securities held in the Fund's portfolio might
decline. If that occurred, the Fund would lose money on the hedging instruments
and also experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities. However,
while this could occur for a very brief period or to a very small degree, over
time the value of a diversified portfolio of securities will tend to move in the
same direction as the indices upon which the hedging instruments are based.
The risk of imperfect correlation increases as the composition of the
Fund's portfolio diverges from the securities included in the applicable index.
To compensate for the imperfect correlation of movements in the price of the
portfolio securities being hedged and movements in the price of the hedging
instruments, the Fund might use hedging instruments in a greater dollar amount
than the dollar amount of portfolio securities being hedged. It might do so if
the historical volatility of the prices of the portfolio securities being hedged
is more than the historical volatility of the applicable index.
The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets are
subject to distortions, due to differences in the nature of those markets.
First, all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and
maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit
requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting
transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the cash and
futures markets. Second, the liquidity of the futures market depends on
participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking
delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity
in the futures market could be reduced, thus producing distortion. Third, from
the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements in the futures market
are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities markets. Therefore,
increased participation by speculators in the futures market may cause temporary
price distortions.
The Fund can use hedging instruments to establish a position in the
securities markets as a temporary substitute for the purchase of individual
securities (long hedging) by buying futures and/or calls on such futures,
broadly-based indices or on securities. It is possible that when the Fund does
so the market might decline. If the Fund then concludes not to invest in
securities because of concerns that the market might decline further or for
other reasons, the Fund will realize a loss on the hedging instruments that is
not offset by a reduction in the price of the securities purchased.
o Forward Contracts. Forward contracts are foreign currency exchange
contracts. They are used to buy or sell foreign currency for future delivery at
a fixed price. The Fund uses them to "lock in" the U.S. dollar price of a
security denominated in a foreign currency that the Fund has bought or sold, or
to protect against possible losses from changes in the relative values of the
U.S. dollar and a foreign currency. The Fund limits its exposure in foreign
currency exchange contracts in a particular foreign currency to the amount of
its assets denominated in that currency or a closely-correlated currency. The
Fund may also use "cross-hedging" where the Fund hedges against changes in
currencies other than the currency in which a security it holds is denominated.
Under a forward contract, one party agrees to purchase, and another party
agrees to sell, a specific currency at a future date. That date may be any fixed
number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties. The
transaction price is set at the time the contract is entered into. These
contracts are traded in the inter-bank market conducted directly among currency
traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers.
The Fund may use forward contracts to protect against uncertainty in the
level of future exchange rates. The use of forward contracts does not eliminate
the risk of fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities the Fund
owns or intends to acquire, but it does fix a rate of exchange in advance.
Although forward contracts may reduce the risk of loss from a decline in the
value of the hedged currency, at the same time they limit any potential gain if
the value of the hedged currency increases.
When the Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a
security denominated in a foreign currency, or when it anticipates receiving
dividend payments in a foreign currency, the Fund might desire to "lock-in" the
U.S. dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of the dividend
payments. To do so, the Fund could enter into a forward contract for the
purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying
transaction, in a fixed amount of U.S. dollars per unit of the foreign currency.
This is called a "transaction hedge." The transaction hedge will protect the
Fund against a loss from an adverse change in the currency exchange rates during
the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold or on
which the payment is declared, and the date on which the payments are made or
received.
The Fund could also use forward contracts to lock in the U.S. dollar value
of portfolio positions. This is called a "position hedge." When the Fund
believes that foreign currency might suffer a substantial decline against the
U.S. dollar, it could enter into a forward contract to sell an amount of that
foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the Fund's portfolio
securities denominated in that foreign currency. When the Fund believes that the
U.S. dollar might suffer a substantial decline against a foreign currency, it
could enter into a forward contract to buy that foreign currency for a fixed
dollar amount. Alternatively, the Fund could enter into a forward contract to
sell a different foreign currency for a fixed U.S. dollar amount if the Fund
believes that the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency to be sold pursuant
to its forward contract will fall whenever there is a decline in the U.S. dollar
value of the currency in which portfolio securities of the Fund are denominated.
That is referred to as a "cross hedge."
The Fund will cover its short positions in these cases by identifying to
its custodian bank assets having a value equal to the aggregate amount of the
Fund's commitment under forward contracts. The Fund will not enter into forward
contracts or maintain a net exposure to such contracts if the consummation of
the contracts would obligate the Fund to deliver an amount of foreign currency
in excess of the value of the Fund's portfolio securities or other assets
denominated in that currency or another currency that is the subject of the
hedge.
However, to avoid excess transactions and transaction costs, the Fund may
maintain a net exposure to forward contracts in excess of the value of the
Fund's portfolio securities or other assets denominated in foreign currencies if
the excess amount is "covered" by liquid securities denominated in any currency.
The cover must be at least equal at all times to the amount of that excess. As
one alternative, the Fund may purchase a call option permitting the Fund to
purchase the amount of foreign currency being hedged by a forward sale contract
at a price no higher than the forward contract price. As another alternative,
the Fund may purchase a put option permitting the Fund to sell the amount of
foreign currency subject to a forward purchase contract at a price as high or
higher than the forward contact price.
The precise matching of the amounts under forward contracts and the value
of the securities involved generally will not be possible because the future
value of securities denominated in foreign currencies will change as a
consequence of market movements between the date the forward contract is entered
into and the date it is sold. In some cases the Manager might decide to sell the
security and deliver foreign currency to settle the original purchase
obligation. If the market value of the security is less than the amount of
foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver, the Fund might have to
purchase additional foreign currency on the "spot" (that is, cash) market to
settle the security trade. If the market value of the security instead exceeds
the amount of foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver to settle the
trade, the Fund might have to sell on the spot market some of the foreign
currency received upon the sale of the security. There will be additional
transaction costs on the spot market in those cases.
The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely
difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is
highly uncertain. Forward contracts involve the risk that anticipated currency
movements will not be accurately predicted, causing the Fund to sustain losses
on these contracts and to pay additional transactions costs. The use of forward
contracts in this manner might reduce the Fund's performance if there are
unanticipated changes in currency prices to a greater degree than if the Fund
had not entered into such contracts.
At or before the maturity of a forward contract requiring the Fund to sell
a currency, the Fund might sell a portfolio security and use the sale proceeds
to make delivery of the currency. In the alternative the Fund might retain the
security and offset its contractual obligation to deliver the currency by
purchasing a second contract. Under that contract the Fund will obtain, on the
same maturity date, the same amount of the currency that it is obligated to
deliver. Similarly, the Fund might close out a forward contract requiring it to
purchase a specified currency by entering into a second contract entitling it to
sell the same amount of the same currency on the maturity date of the first
contract. The Fund would realize a gain or loss as a result of entering into
such an offsetting forward contract under either circumstance. The gain or loss
will depend on the extent to which the exchange rate or rates between the
currencies involved moved between the execution dates of the first contract and
offsetting contract.
The costs to the Fund of engaging in forward contracts varies with factors
such as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period and the
market conditions then prevailing. Because forward contracts are usually entered
into on a principal basis, no brokerage fees or commissions are involved.
Because these contracts are not traded on an exchange, the Fund must evaluate
the credit and performance risk of the counterparty under each forward contract.
Although the Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, it
does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars
on a daily basis. The Fund may convert foreign currency from time to time, and
will incur costs in doing so. Foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for
conversion, but they do seek to realize a profit based on the difference between
the prices at which they buy and sell various currencies. Thus, a dealer might
offer to sell a foreign currency to the Fund at one rate, while offering a
lesser rate of exchange if the Fund desires to resell that currency to the
dealer.
o Interest Rate Swap Transactions. The Fund can enter into interest
rate swap agreements. In an interest rate swap, the Fund and another party
exchange their right to receive or their obligation to pay interest on a
security. For example, they might swap the right to receive floating rate
payments for fixed rate payments. The Fund can enter into swaps only on
securities that it owns. The Fund will not enter into swaps with respect to more
than 25% of its total assets. Also, the Fund will segregate liquid assets (such
as cash or U.S. government securities) to cover any amounts it could owe under
swaps that exceed the amounts it is entitled to receive, and it will adjust that
amount daily, as needed.
Swap agreements entail both interest rate risk and credit risk. There is a
risk that, based on movements of interest rates in the future, the payments made
by the Fund under a swap agreement will be greater than the payments it
received. Credit risk arises from the possibility that the counterparty will
default. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund's loss will consist of the net
amount of contractual interest payments that the Fund has not yet received. The
Manager will monitor the creditworthiness of counterparties to the Fund's
interest rate swap transactions on an ongoing basis.
The Fund can enter into swap transactions with certain counterparties
pursuant to master netting agreements. A master netting agreement provides that
all swaps done between the Fund and that counterparty shall be regarded as parts
of an integral agreement. If amounts are payable on a particular date in the
same currency in respect of one or more swap transactions, the amount payable on
that date in that currency shall be the net amount. In addition, the master
netting agreement may provide that if one party defaults generally or on one
swap, the counterparty may terminate all of the swaps with that party. Under
these agreements, if a default results in a loss to one party, the measure of
that party's damages is calculated by reference to the average cost of a
replacement swap for each swap. It is measured by the mark-to-market value at
the time of the termination of each swap. The gains and losses on all swaps are
then netted, and the result is the counterparty's gain or loss on termination.
The termination of all swaps and the netting of gains and losses on termination
is generally referred to as "aggregation."
o Regulatory Aspects of Hedging Instruments. When using futures and
options on futures, the Fund is required to operate within certain guidelines
and restrictions with respect to the use of futures as established by the
Commodities Futures Trading Commission (the "CFTC"). In particular, the Fund is
exempted from registration with the CFTC as a "commodity pool operator" if the
Fund complies with the requirements of Rule 4.5 adopted by the CFTC. The Rule
does not limit the percentage of the Fund's assets that may be used for futures
margin and related options premiums for a bona fide hedging position. However,
under the Rule, the Fund must limit its aggregate initial futures margin and
related options premiums to not more than 5% of the Fund's net assets for
hedging strategies that are not considered bona fide hedging strategies under
the Rule. Under the Rule, the Fund must also use short futures and options on
futures solely for bona fide hedging purposes within the meaning and intent of
the applicable provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act.
Transactions in options by the Fund are subject to limitations established
by the option exchanges. The exchanges limit the maximum number of options that
may be written or held by a single investor or group of investors acting in
concert. Those limits apply regardless of whether the options were written or
purchased on the same or different exchanges or are held in one or more accounts
or through one or more different exchanges or through one or more brokers. Thus,
the number of options that the Fund may write or hold may be affected by options
written or held by other entities, including other investment companies having
the same adviser as the Fund (or an adviser that is an affiliate of the Fund's
adviser). The exchanges also impose position limits on futures transactions. An
exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in violation of
those limits and may impose certain other sanctions.
Under the Investment Company Act, when the Fund purchases a future, it
must maintain liquid assets in an amount equal to the market value of the
securities underlying the future, less the margin deposit applicable to it.
o Tax Aspects of Certain Hedging Instruments. Certain foreign
currency exchange contracts in which the Fund may invest are treated as "Section
1256 contracts" under the Internal Revenue Code. In general, gains or losses
relating to Section 1256 contracts are characterized as 60% long-term and 40%
short-term capital gains or losses under the Code. However, foreign currency
gains or losses arising from Section 1256 contracts that are forward contracts
generally are treated as ordinary income or loss. In addition, Section 1256
contracts held by the Fund at the end of each taxable year are
"marked-to-market," and unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they
were realized. These contracts also may be marked-to-market for purposes of
determining the excise tax applicable to investment company distributions and
for other purposes under rules prescribed pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.
An election can be made by the Fund to exempt those transactions from this
marked-to-market treatment.
Certain forward contracts the Fund enters into may result in "straddles"
for Federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules may affect the character and
timing of gains (or losses) recognized by the Fund on straddle positions.
Generally, a loss sustained on the disposition of a position making up a
straddle is allowed only to the extent that the loss exceeds any unrecognized
gain in the offsetting positions making up the straddle. Disallowed loss is
generally allowed at the point where there is no unrecognized gain in the
offsetting positions making up the straddle, or the offsetting position is
disposed of.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, the following gains or losses are treated
as ordinary income or loss:
(1) ains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates
that occur between the time the Fund accrues interest or other
receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a
foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects such
receivables or pays such liabilities, and
(2) gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in the value of a foreign
currency between the date of acquisition of a debt security denominated
in a foreign currency or foreign currency forward contracts and the
date of disposition.
Currency gains and losses are offset against market gains and losses on
each trade before determining a net "Section 988" gain or loss under the
Internal Revenue Code for that trade, which may increase or decrease the amount
of the Fund's investment income available for distribution to its shareholders.
n Temporary Defensive Investments. When market conditions are unstable, or
the Manager believes it is otherwise appropriate to reduce holdings in stocks,
the Fund can invest in a variety of debt securities for defensive purposes. The
Fund can also purchase these securities for liquidity purposes to meet cash
needs due to the redemption of Fund shares, or to hold while waiting to reinvest
cash received from the sale of other portfolio securities. The Fund can buy: o
obligations issued or guaranteed by the U. S. government or its
instrumentalities or agencies,
o commercial paper (short-term, unsecured, promissory notes of domestic
or foreign companies) rated in the three top rating categories of a
nationally recognized rating organization,
o short-term debt obligations of corporate issuers, rated investment
grade (rated at least Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or at
least BBB by Standard & Poor's Corporation, or a comparable rating by
another rating organization), or unrated securities judge by the
Manager to have a comparable quality to rated securities in those
categories,
o certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances of domestic and
foreign banks having total assets in excess of $1 billion, and
o repurchase agreements.
Short-term debt securities would normally be selected for defensive or
cash management purposes because they can normally be disposed of quickly, are
not generally subject to significant fluctuations in principal value and their
value will be less subject to interest rate risk than longer-term debt
securities.
Investment Restrictions
n What Are "Fundamental Policies?" Fundamental policies are those policies
that the Fund has adopted to govern its investments that can be changed only by
the vote of a "majority" of the Fund's outstanding voting securities. Under the
Investment Company Act, a "majority" vote is defined as the vote of the holders
of the lesser of:
o 67% or more of the shares present or represented by proxy at a
shareholder meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding
shares are present or represented by proxy, or o more than 50% of the
outstanding shares.
The Fund's investment objectives are fundamental policies. Other policies
described in the Prospectus or this Statement of Additional Information are
"fundamental" only if they are identified as such. The Fund's Board of Trustees
can change non-fundamental policies without shareholder approval. However,
significant changes to investment policies will be described in supplements or
updates to the Prospectus or this Statement of Additional Information, as
appropriate. The Fund's most significant investment policies are described in
the Prospectus.
n Does the Fund Have Additional Fundamental Policies? The following
investment restrictions are fundamental policies of the Fund.
o The Fund cannot buy securities issued or guaranteed by any one issuer if
more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in securities of that issuer
or if it would then own more than 10% of that issuer's voting securities. That
restriction applies to 75% of the Fund's total assets. The limit does not apply
to securities issued by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or
instrumentalities.
|_| The Fund cannot make loans. However, it can invest in debt securities
and enter into repurchase agreements, delayed-delivery and when-issued
transactions and similar securities transactions. The Fund may also lend its
portfolio securities.
|_| The Fund cannot buy or sell real estate. However, the Fund can
purchase and sell debt securities of companies that deal in real estate or
interests in real estate.
|_| The Fund cannot underwrite securities. A permitted exception is in
case it is deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933 when
reselling any securities held in its own portfolio.
|_| The Fund cannot invest in any company for the purpose of exercising
control or management of that company.
|_| The Fund cannot invest in or hold securities of any issuer if officers
and Directors or Trustees of the Fund or the Manager individually beneficially
own more than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of that issuer and together own more
than 5% of the securities of that issuer.
|_| The Fund cannot mortgage, pledge or otherwise hypothecate any of its
assets. However, this does not prohibit the Fund from escrow, collateral or
margin arrangements in connection with any of its investments.
|_| The Fund cannot buy securities on margin. However, the Fund can make
margin deposits in connection with any other of its investments.
|_| The Fund cannot invest in interests in oil, gas or other mineral
exploration or development programs.
o The Fund may borrow money from banks on an unsecured basis to buy securities,
and may borrow for temporary, emergency purposes or under other unusual
circumstances, subject to the limits set forth in the Investment company Act.
o The Fund cannot invest in physical commodities or physical commodity
contracts. However, the Fund may buy and sell hedging instruments permitted by
any of its other investment policies. It can also buy and sell options, futures,
securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities, or whose
investment return is linked to changes in the price of, physical commodities.
o The Fund cannot issue "senior securities." However, this restriction does not
prohibit it from borrowing money as described in the Prospectus or this
Statement of Additional Information, or entering into margin, collateral,
segregation or escrow arrangements, or options, futures, hedging transactions or
purchasing and selling other investments as permitted by its other investment
policies.
o The Fund cannot make short sales of securities or maintain a short position
unless it owns an equal amount of the applicable securities while the short
position is open, or has the right to acquire an equal amount of those
securities without payment of any further amount of consideration. These
permitted short transactions are referred to as "short-sales-against-the-box,"
and because changes in Federal income tax laws would not enable the Fund to
defer realization of gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes, they
therefore would not be used by the Fund.
|_| The Fund cannot invest more than 25% of its total assets in securities
of issuers in any one industry. the Fund, as an operating policy, will not
invest 25% or more of its total assets in securities of issuers in any one
industry. That limitation does not apply to obligations of the U.S.
government, its agencies and instrumentalities.
For purposes of the Fund's policy not to concentrate its investments, the
Fund has adopted the industry classifications set forth in Appendix B to this
Statement of Additional Information. This is not a fundamental policy.
Unless the Prospectus or this Statement of Additional Information states
that a percentage restriction applies on an ongoing basis, it applies only at
the time the Fund makes an investment. The Fund need not sell securities to meet
the percentage limits if the value of the investment increases in proportion to
the size of the Fund.
How the Fund is Managed
Organization and History. The Fund was originally a closed-end diversified
management company organized on October 5, 1988 as a Massachusetts business
trust named "Oppenheimer Multi-Government Trust." The Fund commenced operations
on November 23, 1988 and on July 26, 1996 the Fund's name was changed to
Oppenheimer World Bond Fund. On April 24, 1998, the Fund was converted to an
open-end diversified management investment company, with an unlimited number of
authorized shares of beneficial interest.
The Fund is governed by a Board of Trustees, which is responsible for
protecting the interests of shareholders under Massachusetts law. The Trustees
meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Fund's activities, review
its performance, and review the actions of the Manager. Although the Fund will
not normally hold annual meetings of its shareholders, it may hold shareholder
meetings from time to time on important matters, and shareholders have the right
to call a meeting to remove a Trustee or to take other action described in the
Fund's Declaration of Trust.
|X| Classes of Shares. The Board of Trustees has the power, without
shareholder approval, to divide unissued shares of the Fund into two or more
classes. The Board has done so, and the Fund currently has three classes of
shares: Class A, Class B, and Class C. All classes invest in the same investment
portfolio. Each class of shares: o has its own dividends and distributions, o
pays certain expenses which may be different for the different classes, o may
have a different net asset value, o may have separate voting rights on matters
in which interests of one
class are different from interests of another class, and o votes as
a class on matters that affect that class alone.
Shares are freely transferable, and each share of each class has one vote
at shareholder meetings, with fractional shares voting proportionally on matters
submitted to the vote of shareholders. Each share of the Fund represents an
interest in the Fund proportionately equal to the interest of each other share
of the same class.
The Trustees are authorized to create new series and classes of shares.
The Trustees may reclassify unissued shares of the Fund into additional series
or classes of shares. The Trustees also may divide or combine the shares of a
class into a greater or lesser number of shares without changing the
proportionate beneficial interest of a shareholder in the Fund. Shares do not
have cumulative voting rights or preemptive or subscription rights. Shares may
be voted in person or by proxy at shareholder meetings.
|X| Meetings of Shareholders. As a Massachusetts business trust, the Fund
is not required to hold, and does not plan to hold, regular annual meetings of
shareholders. The Fund will hold meetings when required to do so by the
Investment Company Act or other applicable law. It will also do so when a
shareholder meeting is called by the Trustees or upon proper request of the
shareholders.
Shareholders have the right, upon the declaration in writing or vote of
two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Fund, to remove a Trustee. The
Trustees will call a meeting of shareholders to vote on the removal of a Trustee
upon the written request of the record holders of 10% of its outstanding shares.
If the Trustees receive a request from at least 10 shareholders stating that
they wish to communicate with other shareholders to request a meeting to remove
a Trustee, the Trustees will then either make the Fund's shareholder list
available to the applicants or mail their communication to all other
shareholders at the applicants' expense. The shareholders making the request
must have been shareholders for at least six months and must hold shares of the
Fund valued at $25,000 or more or constituting at least 1% of the Fund's
outstanding shares, whichever is less. The Trustees may also take other action
as permitted by the Investment Company Act.
|X| Shareholder and Trustee Liability. The Fund's Declaration of Trust
contains an express disclaimer of shareholder or Trustee liability for the
Fund's obligations. It also provides for indemnification and reimbursement of
expenses out of the Fund's property for any shareholder held personally liable
for its obligations. The Declaration of Trust also states that upon request, the
Fund shall assume the defense of any claim made against a shareholder for any
act or obligation of the Fund and shall satisfy any judgment on that claim.
Massachusetts law permits a shareholder of a business trust (such as the Fund)
to be held personally liable as a "partner" under certain circumstances.
However, the risk that a Fund shareholder will incur financial loss from being
held liable as a "partner" of the Fund is limited to the relatively remote
circumstances in which the Fund would be unable to meet its obligations.
The Fund's contractual arrangements state that any person doing business
with the Fund (and each shareholder of the Fund) agrees under its Declaration of
Trust to look solely to the assets of the Fund for satisfaction of any claim or
demand that may arise out of any dealings with the Fund. The contracts further
state that the Trustees shall have no personal liability to any such person, to
the extent permitted by law.
Trustees and Officers of the Fund. The Fund's Trustees and officers and their
principal occupations and business affiliations during the past five years are
listed below. Trustees denoted with an asterisk (*) below are deemed to be
"interested persons" of the Fund under the Investment Company Act. All of the
Trustees are Trustees or Directors of the following New York-based Oppenheimer
funds1:
<PAGE>
Oppenheimer California Municipal Fund Oppenheimer International Small Company
Fund
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund Oppenheimer Large Cap Growth Fund
Oppenheimer Developing Markets Fund Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer Discovery Fund Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies Fund
Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund Oppenheimer Multi-Sector Income Trust
Oppenheimer Europe Fund Oppenheimer Multi-State Municipal Trust
Oppenheimer Global Fund Oppenheimer Municipal Bond Fund
Oppenheimer Global Growth & Income Fund Oppenheimer New York Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals Oppenheimer Series Fund, Inc.
Fund
Oppenheimer Growth Fund Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
Ms. Macaskill and Messrs. Spiro, Donohue, Wixted, Zack, Bishop and Farrar
respectively hold the same offices with the other New York-based Oppenheimer
funds as with the Fund. As of January 1, 1999, the Trustees and officers of the
Fund as a group owned of record or beneficially less than 1% of each class of
shares of the Fund. The foregoing statement does not reflect ownership of shares
of the Fund held of record by an employee benefit plan for employees of the
Manager, other than the shares beneficially owned under the plan by the officers
of the Fund listed above. Ms. Macaskill and Mr. Donohue are trustees of that
plan.
1 Ms. Macaskill is not a Director of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc.
Leon Levy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Age: 73
General Partner of Odyssey Partners, L.P. (investment partnership) (since
1982) and Chairman of Avatar Holdings, Inc. (real estate development).
Robert G. Galli, Trustee, Age: 65
19750 Beach Road, Jupiter Island, FL 33469
A Trustee or Director of other Oppenheimer funds. Formerly he held the following
positions: Vice Chairman of the Manager, OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (October 1995 to
December 1997); Vice President (June 1990 to March 1994) and General Counsel of
Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., the Manager's parent holding company; Executive
Vice President (December 1977 to October 1995), General Counsel and a director
(December 1975 to October 1993) of the Manager; Executive Vice President and a
director (July 1978 to October 1993) and General Counsel of the Distributor,
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.; Executive Vice President and a director
(April 1986 to October 1995) of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation; Vice
President and a director (October 1988 to October 1993) of Centennial Asset
Management Corporation, (HarbourView and Centennial are investment adviser
subsidiaries of the Manager); and an officer of other Oppenheimer funds.
Benjamin Lipstein, Trustee, Age: 75
591 Breezy Hill Road, Hillsdale, N.Y. 12529
Professor Emeritus of Marketing, Stern Graduate School of Business
Administration, New York University.
Bridget A. Macaskill,* President and Trustee, Age: 50
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10048-0203
President (since June 1991), Chief Executive Officer (since September 1995) and
a Director (since December 1994) of the Manager; President and director (since
June 1991) of HarbourView Asset Management Corp., an investment adviser
subsidiary of the Manager; Chairman and a director of Shareholder Services, Inc.
(since August 1994) and Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. (since September
1995), transfer agent subsidiaries of the Manager; President (since September
1995) and a director (since October 1990) of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., the
Manager's parent holding company; President (since September 1995) and a
director (since November 1989) of Oppenheimer Partnership Holdings, Inc., a
holding company subsidiary of the Manager; a director of Oppenheimer Real Asset
Management, Inc. (since July 1996); President and a director (since October
1997) of OppenheimerFunds International Ltd., an offshore fund management
subsidiary of the Manager and of Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc; President and
a director of other Oppenheimer funds; a director of Hillsdown Holdings plc (a
U.K. food company), formerly (until October 1998) a director of NASDAQ Stock
Market, Inc.
Elizabeth B. Moynihan, Trustee, Age: 69
801 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004
Author and architectural historian; a trustee of the Freer Gallery of Art
(Smithsonian Institute), Executive Committee of Board of Trustees of the
National Building Museum; a member of the Trustees Council, Preservation League
of New York State.
Kenneth A. Randall, Trustee, Age: 71
6 Whittaker's Mill, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
A director of Dominion Resources, Inc. (electric utility holding company),
Dominion Energy, Inc. (electric power and oil & gas producer), and Prime Retail,
Inc. (real estate investment trust); formerly President and Chief Executive
Officer of The Conference Board, Inc. (international economic and business
research) and a director of Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company, American
Motorists Insurance Company and American Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Company.
Edward V. Regan, Trustee, Age: 68
40 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10016
Chairman of Municipal Assistance Corporation for the City of New York; Senior
Fellow of Jerome Levy Economics Institute, Bard College; a director of RBAsset
(real estate manager); a director of OffitBank; Trustee, Financial Accounting
Foundation (FASB and GASB); formerly New York State Comptroller and trustee, New
York State and Local Retirement Fund.
Russell S. Reynolds, Jr., Trustee, Age: 67
8 Sound Shore Drive, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
Retired Founder Chairman of Russell Reynolds Associates, Inc. (executive
recruiting); Chairman of Directorship Inc. (corporate governance consulting);
a director of Professional Staff Limited (U.K); a trustee of Mystic Seaport
Museum, International House, and Greenwich Historical Society.
Donald W. Spiro,* Vice Chairman and Trustee, Age: 73
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10048-0203
Chairman Emeritus (since August 1991) and a director (since January 1969) of the
Manager; formerly Chairman of the Manager and the Distributor.
Pauline Trigere, Trustee, Age: 86
498 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10018
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of P.T. Concept (design and sale of
women's fashions).
Clayton K. Yeutter, Trustee, Age: 68
10475 E. Laurel Lane, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259
Of Counsel, Hogan & Hartson (a law firm); a director of Zurich Financial
Services (financial services), Caterpillar, Inc. (machinery), ConAgra, Inc.
(food and agricultural products), Farmers Insurance Company (insurance), FMC
Corp. (chemicals and machinery) and Texas Instruments, Inc. (electronics);
formerly (in descending chronological order), Counselor to the President
(Bush) for Domestic Policy, Chairman of the Republican National Committee,
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Trade Representative;
formerly a director of B.A.T. Industries, Ltd. (tobacco and financial
services), IMC Global (fertilizer) and Lindsay Mfg. Co. (irrigation
equipment).
Arthur P. Steinmetz, Portfolio Manager, Age 40
Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048-0203
Senior Vice President of the Manager (since March 1993); an officer of other
Oppenheimer funds.
Andrew J. Donohue, Secretary, Age: 48
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048-0203 Executive Vice
President (since January 1993), General Counsel (since October 1991) and a
Director (since September 1995) of the Manager; Executive Vice President and
General Counsel (since September 1993), and a director (since January 1992) of
the Distributor; Executive Vice President, General Counsel and a director of
HarbourView, SSI, SFSI and Oppenheimer Partnership Holdings, Inc. (since
September 1995); President and a director of Centennial (since September 1995);
President, General Counsel and a director of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management,
Inc. (since July 1996); General Counsel (since May 1996) and Secretary (since
April 1997) of OAC; Vice President and a director of OFIL and Oppenheimer
Millennium Funds plc (since October 1997); an officer of other Oppenheimer
funds.
Brian W. Wixted, Treasurer; Age: 39.
6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112
Senior Vice President and Treasurer (since April 1999) of the Manager; formerly
Principal and Chief Operating Officer, Bankers Trust Company Mutual Fund
Services Division (1995-1999); Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CS
First Boston Investment Management Corp. (1991-1995); and Vice President and
Accounting Manager, Merrill Lynch Asset Management (1987-1991).
Robert G. Zack, Assistant Secretary, Age: 50
Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048-0203 Senior Vice
President (since May 1985) and Associate General Counsel (since May 1981) of the
Manager, Assistant Secretary of SSI (since May 1985), and SFSI (since November
1989); Assistant Secretary of Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc and OFIL (since
October 1997); an officer of other Oppenheimer funds.
Robert J. Bishop, Assistant Treasurer, Age:40
6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112
Vice President of the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (since May 1996); an
officer of other Oppenheimer funds; formerly an Assistant Vice President of the
Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (April 1994-May 1996), and a Fund
Controller for the Manager.
Scott T. Farrar, Assistant Treasurer, Age:33
6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112
Vice President of the Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (since May 1996); Assistant
Treasurer of Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc (since October 1997); an officer
of other Oppenheimer Funds; formerly an Assistant Vice President of the
Manager/Mutual Fund Accounting (April 1994-May 1996), and a Fund Controller for
the Manager.
|X| Remuneration of Trustees. The officers of the Fund and certain
Trustees of the Fund (Ms. Macaskill and Mr. Spiro) who are affiliated with the
Manager receive no salary or fee from the Fund. The remaining Trustees of the
Fund received the compensation shown below. The compensation from the Fund was
paid during its fiscal year ended October 31, 1998. The compensation from all of
the New York-based Oppenheimer funds (including the Fund) was received as a
director, trustee or member of a committee of the boards of those funds during
the calendar year 1998.
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
Compensation
Retirement From all
Benefits New York based
Aggregate Accrued as Part Oppenheimer
Trustee's Name Compensation of Fund Funds (21
and Other Positions from Fund1 Expenses Funds)2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leon Levy $15,295 $10,924 $162,600
Chairman
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert G. Galli $1,651 None $113,383
Study Committee Member3
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benjamin Lipstein
Study Committee Chairman, $19,106 $15,328 $140,550
Audit Committee Member
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth B. Moynihan $2,661 None $99,000
Study Committee Member
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenneth A. Randall $9,662 $7,221 $90,800
Audit Committee Member
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edward V. Regan
Proxy Committee Chairman, $2,414 None $89,800
Audit Committee Member
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russell S. Reynolds, Jr. $3,788 $1,982 $67,200
Proxy Committee Member
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pauline Trigere $6,722 $5,110 $60,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clayton K. Yeutter $1,8064 None $67,200
Proxy Committee Member
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
1. Aggregate compensation includes fees, deferred compensation, in any, and
retirement plan benefits accrued for a trustee.
2. For the 1998 calendar year.
3. Aggregate compensation from the Fund reflects fees from 1/1/98 to 12/31/98.
Total compensation for the 1998 calendar year includes amounts received for
serving as a Trustee or Director of 11 other Oppenheimer funds.
4. Includes $297 deferred under Deferred Compensation Plan described below.
|X| Retirement Plan for Trustees. The Fund has adopted a retirement plan
that provides for payments to retired Trustees. Payments are up to 80% of the
average compensation paid during a Trustee's five years of service in which the
highest compensation was received. A Trustee must serve as trustee for any of
the New York-based Oppenheimer funds for at least 15 years to be eligible for
the maximum payment. Each Trustee's retirement benefits will depend on the
amount of the Trustee's future compensation and length of service. Therefore the
amount of those benefits cannot be determined at this time, nor can we estimate
the number of years of credited service that will be used to determine those
benefits.
|X| Deferred Compensation Plan for Trustees. The Board of Trustees has
adopted a Deferred Compensation Plan for disinterested trustees that enables
them to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of the annual fees they are
entitled to receive from the Fund. Under the plan, the compensation deferred by
a Trustee is periodically adjusted as though an equivalent amount had been
invested in shares of one or more Oppenheimer funds selected by the Trustee. The
amount paid to the Trustee under the plan will be determined based upon the
performance of the selected funds.
Deferral of Trustees' fees under the plan will not materially affect the
Fund's assets, liabilities or net income per share. The plan will not obligate
the Fund to retain the services of any Trustee or to pay any particular level of
compensation to any Trustee. Pursuant to an Order issued by the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Fund may invest in the funds selected by the Trustee
under the plan without shareholder approval for the limited purpose of
determining the value of the Trustee's deferred fee account.
n Major Shareholders. As of February 1, 1999, the only persons who owned
of record or were known by the Fund to own beneficially 5% or more of any class
of the Fund's outstanding securities were:
LEWCO Securities Corp, 34 Exchange Place 4th Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07311,
which owned 4,810.249 Class B shares (representing approximately 9.60% of
the Fund's then-outstanding Class B shares), for the benefit of its
customers.
AG Edwards & Sons Custodian For Donna R Gustafson, IRA, 568 Sterling Point
Dr., Medford, OR 97504, who owned 11,660.000 Class B shares (representing
approximately 7.55% of the Fund's then-outstanding Class B shares).
Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette Securities Corporation, Inc., PO Box 2052,
Jersey City, NJ 07303-9998, which owned 45,558.016 Class C shares
(representing approximately 30.88% of the Fund's then-outstanding Class C
shares).
NFSC FEBO Diana Schult, 1700 East Brookhaven Circle, Ft. Collins, CO
80525, who owned 10,810.618 Class C shares (representing approximately
7.83% of the Fund's then-outstanding Class C shares).
Karl Bickel & Linda Bickel, JT TEN WROS NOT TC, 3 Briar Patch Ct., O
Fallon, MO 63366, who owned 13,272.231 Class C shares (representing
approximately 9.62% of the Fund's then-outstanding Class C shares). RPSS
TR Rollover IRA FBO Carol Hart, 6885 Old National Hwy College Park, GA
30349, who owned 12,496.496 Class B shares (representing approximately
8.10% of the Fund's then-outstanding Class B shares).
RPSS TR Rollover IRA FBO Richard O Tasa, 11734 Quam Dr., Northglenn, CO
80233, who owned 8,183.960 Class C shares (representing approximately
5.93% of the Fund's then-outstanding Class C shares).
RPSS TR Rollover IRA FBO Mike Barros, 2181 Valley View Dr., Denver, CO
80221, who owned 7,109.727 Class C shares (representing approximately
5.15% of the Fund's then-outstanding Class C shares).
The Manager. The Manager is wholly-owned by Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., a
holding company controlled by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. The
Manager and the Fund have a Code of Ethics. It is designed to detect and prevent
improper personal trading by certain employees, including portfolio managers,
that would compete with or take advantage of the Fund's portfolio transactions.
Compliance with the Code of Ethics is carefully monitored and enforced by the
Manager.
n The Investment Advisory Agreement. The Manager provides investment
advisory and management services to the Fund under an investment advisory
agreement between the Manager and the Fund. The Manager selects securities for
the Fund's portfolio and handles its day-to-day business. The portfolio manager
of the Fund is employed by the Manager and is the person who is principally
responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio. Other members
of the Manager's Fixed-Income Portfolio Team provide the portfolio manager with
counsel and support in managing the Fund's portfolio.
The agreement requires the Manager, at its expense, to provide the Fund
with adequate office space, facilities and equipment. It also requires the
Manager to provide and supervise the activities of all administrative and
clerical personnel required to provide effective administration for the Fund.
Those responsibilities include the compilation and maintenance of records with
respect to its operations, the preparation and filing of specified reports, and
composition of proxy materials and registration statements for continuous public
sale of shares of the Fund.
The Fund pays expenses not expressly assumed by the Manager under the
advisory agreement. The advisory agreement lists examples of expenses paid by
the Fund. The major categories relate to interest, taxes, brokerage commissions,
fees to certain Trustees, legal and audit expenses, custodian and transfer agent
expenses, share issuance costs, certain printing and registration costs and
non-recurring expenses, including litigation costs. The management fees paid by
the Fund to the Manager are calculated at the rates described in the Prospectus,
which are applied to the assets of the Fund as a whole. The fees are allocated
to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of the Fund's net
assets represented by that class.
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year ended 10/31: Management Fees Paid to OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 $346,262
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $359,532
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $341,0291
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. During the fiscal year ended 10/31/98, the Manager received a separate fee of
$18,000 plus out-of-pocket costs and expenses, for acting as the accounting
agent of the Fund. That additional fee has been discontinued, effective with
the fiscal year commencing November 1, 1998.
The investment advisory agreement states that in the absence of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence in the performance of its duties or
reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the investment advisory
agreement, the Manager is not liable for any loss resulting from a good faith
error or omission on its part with respect to any of its duties under the
agreement.
The agreement permits the Manager to act as investment adviser for any
other person, firm or corporation and to use the name "Oppenheimer" in
connection with other investment companies for which it may act as investment
adviser or general distributor. If the Manager shall no longer act as investment
adviser to the Fund, the Manager may withdraw the right of the Fund to use the
name "Oppenheimer" as part of its name.
Brokerage Policies of the Fund
Brokerage Provisions of the Investment Advisory Agreement. One of the duties of
the Manager under the investment advisory agreement is to arrange the portfolio
transactions for the Fund. The advisory agreement contains provisions relating
to the employment of broker-dealers to effect the Fund's portfolio transactions.
The Manager is authorized by the advisory agreement to employ broker-dealers,
including "affiliated" brokers, as that term is defined in the Investment
Company Act. The Manager may employ broker-dealers that the Manager thinks, in
its best judgment based on all relevant factors, will implement the policy of
the Fund to obtain, at reasonable expense, the "best execution" of the Fund's
portfolio transactions. "Best execution" means prompt and reliable execution at
the most favorable price obtainable. The Manager need not seek competitive
commission bidding. However, it is expected to be aware of the current rates of
eligible brokers and to minimize the commissions paid to the extent consistent
with the interests and policies of the Fund as established by its Board of
Trustees.
Under the investment advisory agreement, the Manager may select brokers
(other than affiliates) that provide brokerage and/or research services for the
Fund and/or the other accounts over which the Manager or its affiliates have
investment discretion. The commissions paid to such brokers may be higher than
another qualified broker would charge, if the Manager makes a good faith
determination that the commission is fair and reasonable in relation to the
services provided. Subject to those considerations, as a factor in selecting
brokers for the Fund's portfolio transactions, the Manager may also consider
sales of shares of the Fund and other investment companies for which the Manager
or an affiliate serves as investment adviser.
Brokerage Practices Followed by the Manager. The Manager allocates brokerage for
the Fund subject to the provisions of the investment advisory agreement and the
procedures and rules described above. Generally, the Manager's portfolio traders
allocate brokerage based upon recommendations from the Manager's portfolio
managers. In certain instances, portfolio managers may directly place trades and
allocate brokerage. In either case, the Manager's executive officers supervise
the allocation of brokerage.
Transactions in securities other than those for which an exchange is the
primary market are generally done with principals or market makers. In
transactions on foreign exchanges, the Fund may be required to pay fixed
brokerage commissions and therefore would not have the benefit of negotiated
commissions available in U.S. markets. Brokerage commissions are paid primarily
for effecting transactions in listed securities or for certain fixed-income
agency transactions in the secondary market. Otherwise brokerage commissions are
paid only if it appears likely that a better price or execution can be obtained
by doing so. In an option transaction, the Fund ordinarily uses the same broker
for the purchase or sale of the option and any transaction in the securities to
which the option relates.
Other funds advised by the Manager have investment policies similar to
those of the Fund. Those other funds may purchase or sell the same securities as
the Fund at the same time as the Fund, which could affect the supply and price
of the securities. If two or more funds advised by the Manager purchase the same
security on the same day from the same dealer, the transactions under those
combined orders are averaged as to price and allocated in accordance with the
purchase or sale orders actually placed for each account.
Most purchases of debt obligations are principal transactions at net
prices. Instead of using a broker for those transactions, the Fund normally
deals directly with the selling or purchasing principal or market maker unless
the Manager determines that a better price or execution can be obtained by using
the services of a broker. Purchases of portfolio securities from underwriters
include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter.
Purchases from dealers include a spread between the bid and asked prices. The
Fund seeks to obtain prompt execution of these orders at the most favorable net
price.
The investment advisory agreement permits the Manager to allocate
brokerage for research services. The research services provided by a particular
broker may be useful only to one or more of the advisory accounts of the Manager
and its affiliates. The investment research received for the commissions of
those other accounts may be useful both to the Fund and one or more of the
Manager's other accounts. Investment research may be supplied to the Manager by
a third party at the instance of a broker through which trades are placed.
Investment research services include information and analysis on
particular companies and industries as well as market or economic trends and
portfolio strategy, market quotations for portfolio evaluations, information
systems, computer hardware and similar products and services. If a research
service also assists the Manager in a non-research capacity (such as bookkeeping
or other administrative functions), then only the percentage or component that
provides assistance to the Manager in the investment decision-making process may
be paid in commission dollars.
The Board of Trustees permits the Manager to use stated commissions on
secondary fixed-income agency trades to obtain research if the broker represents
to the Manager that: (i) the trade is not from or for the broker's own
inventory, (ii) the trade was executed by the broker on an agency basis at the
stated commission, and (iii) the trade is not a riskless principal transaction.
The Board of Trustees permits the Manager to use concessions on fixed-price
offerings to obtain research, in the same manner as is permitted for agency
transactions.
The research services provided by brokers broadens the scope and
supplements the research activities of the Manager. That research provides
additional views and comparisons for consideration, and helps the Manager to
obtain market information for the valuation of securities that are either held
in the Fund's portfolio or are being considered for purchase. The Manager
provides information to the Board about the commissions paid to brokers
furnishing such services, together with the Manager's representation that the
amount of such commissions was reasonably related to the value or benefit of
such services.
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year Ended 10/31: Total Brokerage Commissions Paid by the Fund1
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 $4,239
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 $5,477
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 $9,915
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Amounts do not include spreads or concessions on principal transactions on a
net trade basis.
Distribution and Service Plans
The Distributor. Under its General Distributor's Agreement with the Fund, the
Distributor acts as the Fund's principal underwriter in the continuous public
offering of the different classes of shares of the Fund. The Distributor is not
obligated to sell a specific number of shares. Expenses normally attributable to
sales are borne by the Distributor.
The compensation paid to (or retained by) the Distributor from the sale of
shares or on the redemption of shares during the Fund's most recent fiscal year
is shown in the table below.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aggregate Class A
Front-End Front-End Commissions Commissions Commissions
Fiscal Sales Sales on Class A on Class B on Class C
Year Charges on Charges Shares Shares Shares
Ended Class A Retained by Advanced by Advanced by Advanced by
10/31: Shares Distributor Distributor1 Distributor1 Distributor1
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19962 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19972 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19983 $23,884 $6,486 None $22,555 $4,345
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. The Distributor advances commission payments to dealers for certain sales of
Class A shares and for sales of Class B and Class C shares from its own
resources at the time of sale.
2. During the fiscal years ended 10/31/96 and 10/31/97, while the Fund operated
as a closed-end investment company, the Fund's shares were not sold through
the Distributor and there were no sales charges on purchases of shares.
3. For the period from 4/24/98 (conversion to open-end fund) through 10/31/98.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A Contingent Class B Contingent Class C Contingent
Fiscal Deferred Sales Deferred Sales Deferred Sales
Year Ended Charges Retained by Charges Retained by Charges Retained by
10/31 Distributor Distributor Distributor
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19981 None None None
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. For the period from 4/24/98 (conversion to open-end fund) through 10/31/98.
Distribution and Service Plans. The Fund has adopted a Service Plan for Class A
shares and Distribution and Service Plans for Class B and Class C shares under
Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act. Under those plans the Fund pays the
Distributor for all or a portion of its costs incurred in connection with the
distribution and/or servicing of the shares of the particular class.
Each plan has been approved by a vote of the Board of Trustees, including
a majority of the Independent Trustees2, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on that plan. Each plan has also been approved by the
holders of a "majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the shares
of the applicable class. The shareholder votes for the plans for Class B and
Class C shares were cast by the Manager as the sole initial holder of those
classes of shares of the Fund.
2. In accordance with Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act, the term
"Independent Trustees" in this Statement of Additional Information refers to
those Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Fund and who do not have
any direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the distribution
plan or any agreement under the plan.
Under the plans, the Manager and the Distributor, in their sole
discretion, from time to time, may use their own resources (at no direct cost to
the Fund) to make payments to brokers, dealers or other financial institutions
for distribution and administrative services they perform. The Manager may use
its profits from the advisory fee it receives from the Fund. In their sole
discretion, the Distributor and the Manager may increase or decrease the amount
of payments they make from their own resources to plan recipients.
Unless a plan is terminated as described below, the plan continues in
effect from year to year but only if the Fund's Board of Trustees and its
Independent Trustees specifically vote annually to approve its continuance.
Approval must be by a vote cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on continuing the plan. A plan may be terminated at any time by the vote
of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by the vote of the holders of a
"majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the outstanding shares
of that class.
The Board of Trustees and the Independent Trustees must approve all
material amendments to a plan. An amendment to increase materially the amount of
payments to be made under a plan must be approved by shareholders of the class
affected by the amendment. Because Class B shares of the Fund automatically
convert into Class A shares after six years, the Fund must obtain the approval
of both Class A and Class B shareholders for a proposed material amendment to
the Class A Plan that would materially increase payments under the Plan. That
approval must be by a "majority" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of
the shares of each class, voting separately by class.
While the Plans are in effect, the Treasurer of the Fund shall provide
separate written reports on the plans to the Board of Trustees at least
quarterly for its review. The Reports shall detail the amount of all payments
made under a plan and the purpose for which the payments were made. The reports
on the Class B Plan and Class C Plan shall also include the Distributor's
distribution costs for that quarter. Those reports are subject to the review and
approval of the Independent Trustees.
Each plan states that while it is in effect, the selection and nomination
of those Trustees of the Fund who are not "interested persons" of the Fund is
committed to the discretion of the Independent Trustees. This does not prevent
the involvement of others in the selection and nomination process as long as the
final decision as to selection or nomination is approved by a majority of the
Independent Trustees.
Under the plan for a class, no payment will be made to any recipient in
any quarter in which the aggregate net asset value of all Fund shares of that
class held by the recipient for itself and its customers does not exceed a
minimum amount, if any, that may be set from time to time by a majority of the
Independent Trustees. The Board of Trustees has set no minimum amount of assets
to qualify for payments under the plans.
|X| Class A Service Plan. Under the Class A service plan, the Distributor
currently uses the fees it receives from the Fund to pay brokers, dealers and
other financial institutions (they are referred to as "recipients") for personal
services and account maintenance services they provide for their customers who
hold Class A shares. The services include, among others, answering customer
inquiries about the Fund, assisting in establishing and maintaining accounts in
the Fund, making the Fund's investment plans available and providing other
services at the request of the Fund or the Distributor. While the plan permits
the Board to authorize payments to the Distributor to reimburse itself for
services under the plan, the Board has not yet done so. The Distributor makes
payments to plan recipients quarterly at an annual rate not to exceed 0.25% of
the average annual net assets consisting of Class A shares held in the accounts
of the recipients or their customers.
For the fiscal period of April 24, 1998 through October 31, 1998, payments
under the Class A Plan totaled $55,413, all of which was paid by the Distributor
to recipients. Any unreimbursed expenses the Distributor incurs with respect to
Class A shares in any fiscal year cannot be recovered in subsequent years. The
Distributor may not use payments received under the Class A Plan to pay any of
its interest expenses, carrying charges, or other financial costs, or allocation
of overhead.
|X| Class B and Class C Service and Distribution Plan. Under each plan,
service fees and distribution fees are computed on the average of the net asset
value of shares in the respective class, determined as of the close of each
regular business day during the period. The Class B and Class C plans provide
for the Distributor to be compensated at a flat rate, whether the Distributor's
distribution expenses are more or less than the amounts paid by the Fund under
the plan during the period for which the fee is paid. The types of services that
recipients provide are similar to the services provided under the Class A
service plan, described above.
The Class B and the Class C plans permit the Distributor to retain both
the asset-based sales charges and the service fees or to pay recipients the
service fee on a quarterly basis, without payment in advance. However, the
Distributor currently intends to pay the service fee to recipients in advance
for the first year after the shares are purchased. After the first year shares
are outstanding, the Distributor makes service fee payments quarterly on those
shares. The advance payment is based on the net asset value of shares sold.
Shares purchased by exchange do not qualify for the advance service fee payment.
If Class B or Class C shares are redeemed during the first year after their
purchase, the recipient of the service fees on those shares will be obligated to
repay the Distributor a pro rata portion of the advance payment of the service
fee made on those shares.
The Distributor retains the asset-based sales charge on Class B shares.
The Distributor retains the asset-based sales charge on Class C shares during
the first year the shares are outstanding. It pays the asset-based sales charge
as an ongoing commission to the recipient on Class C shares outstanding for a
year or more. If a dealer has a special agreement with the Distributor, the
Distributor will pay the Class B and/or Class C service fee and the asset-based
sales charge to the dealer quarterly in lieu of paying the sales commissions and
service fee in advance at the time of purchase.
The asset-based sales charges on Class B and Class C shares allow
investors to buy shares without a front-end sales charge while allowing the
Distributor to compensate dealers that sell those shares. The Fund pays the
asset-based sales charges to the Distributor for its services rendered in
distributing Class B and Class C shares. The payments are made to the
Distributor in recognition that the Distributor: o pays sales commissions to
authorized brokers and dealers at the time of
sale and pays service fees as described above,
o may finance payment of sales commissions and/or the advance of the service
fee payment to recipients under the plans, or may provide such financing
from its own resources or from the resources of an affiliate,
o employs personnel to support distribution of Class B and Class C
shares, and
o bears the costs of sales literature, advertising and prospectuses (other
than those furnished to current shareholders) and state "blue sky"
registration fees and certain other distribution expenses.
For the fiscal period of April 24, 1998 through October 31, 1998, payments
under the Class B plan totaled $1,728. The Distributor retained $1,344 of the
total amount. For the fiscal period of April 24, 1998 through October 31, 1998,
payments under the Class C plan totaled $1,287.
The Distributor's actual expenses in selling Class B and Class C shares
may be more than the payments it receives from the contingent deferred sales
charges collected on redeemed shares and from the Fund under the plans. As of
October 31, 1998, the Distributor had incurred unreimbursed expenses under the
Class B plan in the amount of $27,180 (equal to 2.91% of the Fund's net assets
represented by Class B shares on that date) and unreimbursed expenses under the
Class C plan of $7,246 (equal to 1.23% of the Fund's net assets represented by
Class C shares on that date). If either the Class B or the Class C plan is
terminated by the Fund, the Board of Trustees may allow the Fund to continue
payments of the asset-based sales charge to the Distributor to compensate it for
its expenses incurred for distributing shares before the plan was terminated.
All payments under the Class B and the Class C plans are subject to the
limitations imposed by the Conduct Rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. on payments of asset-based sales charges and service
fees. Performance of the Fund
Explanation of Performance Terminology. The Fund uses a variety of terms to
illustrate its performance. These terms include "standardized yield," "dividend
yield," "average annual total return," "cumulative total return," "average
annual total return at net asset value" and "total return at net asset value."
An explanation of how yields and total returns are calculated is set forth
below. The charts below show the Fund's performance as of the Fund's most recent
fiscal year end. You can obtain current performance information by calling the
Fund's Transfer Agent at 1-800-525-7048 or by visiting the OppenheimerFunds
Internet web site at http://www.oppenheimerfunds.com.
The Fund's illustrations of its performance data in advertisements must
comply with rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Those rules
describe the types of performance data that may be used and how it is to be
calculated. In general, any advertisement by the Fund of its performance data
must include the average annual total returns for the advertised class of shares
of the Fund. Those returns must be shown for the 1- 5 and 10-year periods (or
the life of the class, if less) ending as of the most recently ended calendar
quarter prior to the publication of the advertisement (or its submission for
publication). Certain types of yields may also be shown, provided that they are
accompanied by standardized average annual total returns.
Use of standardized performance calculations enables an investor to
compare the Fund's performance to the performance of other funds for the same
periods. However, a number of factors should be considered before using the
Fund's performance information as a basis for comparison with other investments:
|_| Yields and total returns measure the performance of a hypothetical
account in the Fund over various periods and do not show the performance of each
shareholder's account. Your account's performance will vary from the model
performance data if your dividends are received in cash, or you buy or sell
shares during the period, or you bought your shares at a different time and
price than the shares used in the model.
o The Fund's performance returns do not reflect the effect of taxes on
dividends and capital gains distributions.
|_| An investment in the Fund is not insured by the FDIC or any other
government agency.
|_| The principal value of the Fund's shares, and its yields and total
returns are not guaranteed and normally will fluctuate on a daily basis.
|_| When an investor's shares are redeemed, they may be worth more or less
than their original cost.
|_| Yields and total returns for any given past period represent
historical performance information and are not, and should not be considered, a
prediction of future yields or returns.
The performance of each class of shares is shown separately, because the
performance of each class of shares will usually be different. That is because
of the different kinds of expenses each class bears. The yields and total
returns of each class of shares of the Fund are affected by market conditions,
the quality of the Fund's investments, the maturity of those investments, the
types of investments the Fund holds, and its operating expenses that are
allocated to the particular class.
|X| Yields. The Fund uses a variety of different yields to illustrate its
current returns. Each class of shares calculates its yield separately because of
the different expenses that affect each class.
|_| Standardized Yield. The "standardized yield" (sometimes referred
to just as "yield") is shown for a class of shares for a stated 30-day period.
It is not based on actual distributions paid by the Fund to shareholders in the
30-day period, but is a hypothetical yield based upon the net investment income
from the Fund's portfolio investments for that period. It may therefore differ
from the "dividend yield" for the same class of shares, described below.
Standardized yield is calculated using the following formula set forth in
rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, designed to assure
uniformity in the way that all funds calculate their yields:
(a-b) 6
Standardized Yield = 2 ((--- + 1) - 1)
( cd)
The symbols above represent the following factors:
a = dividends and interest earned during the 30-day period.
b = expenses accrued for the period (net of any expense assumptions).
c = the average daily number of shares of that class outstanding
during the 30-day period that were entitled to receive dividends.
d = the maximum offering price per share of that class on the last day
of the period, adjusted for undistributed net investment income.
The standardized yield for a particular 30-day period may differ from the
yield for other periods. The SEC formula assumes that the standardized yield for
a 30-day period occurs at a constant rate for a six-month period and is
annualized at the end of the six-month period. Additionally, because each class
of shares is subject to different expenses, it is likely that the standardized
yields of the Fund's classes of shares will differ for any 30-day period.
|_| Dividend Yield. The Fund may quote a "dividend yield" for each
class of its shares. Dividend yield is based on the dividends paid on a class of
shares during the actual dividend period. To calculate dividend yield, the
dividends of a class declared during a stated period are added together, and the
sum is multiplied by 12 (to annualize the yield) and divided by the maximum
offering price on the last day of the dividend period. The formula is shown
below:
Dividend Yield = dividends paid x 12/maximum offering price (payment date)
The maximum offering price for Class A shares includes the current maximum
initial sales charge. The maximum offering price for Class B and Class C shares
is the net asset value per share, without considering the effect of contingent
deferred sales charges. The Class A dividend yield may also be quoted without
deducting the maximum initial sales charge.
<PAGE>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund's Yields for the 30-Day Periods Ended 10/31/98
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class of
Shares Standardized Yield Dividend Yield
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Without After Without After
Sales Sales Sales Sales
Charge Charge Charge Charge
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A 9.73% 9.25% 11.38% 10.83%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B 8.82% N/A 10.16% N/A
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C 8.27% N/A 10.21% N/A
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|X| Total Return Information. There are different types of "total returns"
to measure the Fund's performance. Total return is the change in value of a
hypothetical investment in the Fund over a given period, assuming that all
dividends and capital gains distributions are reinvested in additional shares
and that the investment is redeemed at the end of the period. Because of
differences in expenses for each class of shares, the total returns for each
class are separately measured. The cumulative total return measures the change
in value over the entire period (for example, ten years). An average annual
total return shows the average rate of return for each year in a period that
would produce the cumulative total return over the entire period. However,
average annual total returns do not show actual year-by-year performance. The
Fund uses standardized calculations for its total returns as prescribed by the
SEC. The methodology is discussed below.
In calculating total returns for Class A shares, the current maximum sales
charge of 4.75% (as a percentage of the offering price) is deducted from the
initial investment ("P") (unless the return is shown without sales charge, as
described below). For Class B shares, payment of the applicable contingent
deferred sales charge is applied, depending on the period for which the return
is shown: 5.0% in the first year, 4.0% in the second year, 3.0% in the third and
fourth years, 2.0% in the fifth year, 1.0% in the sixth year and none
thereafter. For Class C shares, the 1% contingent deferred sales charge is
deducted for returns for the 1-year period.
|_| Average Annual Total Return. The "average annual total return"
of each class is an average annual compounded rate of return for each year in a
specified number of years. It is the rate of return based on the change in value
of a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000 ("P" in the formula below) held
for a number of years ("n" in the formula) to achieve an Ending Redeemable Value
("ERV" in the formula) of that investment, according to the following formula:
1/n
(ERV)
(---) -1 = Average Annual Total Return
( P )
|_| Cumulative Total Return. The "cumulative total return" calculation
measures the change in value of a hypothetical investment of $1,000 over an
entire period of years. Its calculation uses some of the same factors as average
annual total return, but it does not average the rate of return on an annual
basis. Cumulative total return is determined as follows:
ERV - P
------- = Total Return
P
|_| Total Returns at Net Asset Value. From time to time the Fund may also
quote a cumulative or an average annual total return "at net asset value"
(without deducting sales charges) for Class A, Class B or Class C shares. Each
is based on the difference in net asset value per share at the beginning and the
end of the period for a hypothetical investment in that class of shares (without
considering front-end or contingent deferred sales charges) and takes into
consideration the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund's Total Returns for the Periods Ended 10/31/98
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cumulative Total
Class Returns (10
of years or Life of
Shares Class) Average Annual Total Returns
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-Year 5-Year 10-Year
(or (or (or
life-of-class) life-of-class) life-of-class)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After Without After Without After Without After Without
Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales Sales
Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge Charge
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A 93.04% 102.66% -7.85% -3.25% 4.52% 5.54% 6.84%1 7.37%1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B -10.44% -5.93% N/A2 N/A2 N/A N/A N/A N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C -6.99% -6.09% N/A3 N/A3 N/A N/A N/A N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Inception of Class A: 11/23/88. Returns for periods during which the Fund
operated as a closed-end investment company are adjusted to reflect the
current maximum sales charge rate of 4.75% on Class A shares.
2. Inception of Class B: 4/27/98 3. Inception of Class C: 4/27/98
Other Performance Comparisons. The Fund compares its performance annually to
that of an appropriate broadly-based market index in its Annual Report to
shareholders. You can obtain that information by contacting the Transfer Agent
at the addresses or telephone numbers shown on the cover of this Statement of
Additional Information. The Fund may also compare its performance to that of
other investments, including other mutual funds, or use rankings of its
performance by independent ranking entities. Examples of these performance
comparisons are set forth below.
|X| Lipper Rankings. From time to time the Fund may publish the ranking of
the performance of its classes of shares by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
Lipper is a widely-recognized independent mutual fund monitoring service. Lipper
monitors the performance of regulated investment companies, including the Fund,
and ranks their performance for various periods based on categories relating to
investment objectives. Lipper currently ranks the Fund's performance against all
other global income funds. The Lipper performance rankings are based on total
returns that include the reinvestment of capital gain distributions and income
dividends but do not take sales charges or taxes into consideration. Lipper also
publishes "peer-group" indices of the performance of all mutual funds in a
category that it monitors and averages of the performance of the funds in
particular categories.
<PAGE>
|X| Morningstar Rankings. From time to time the Fund may publish the star
ranking of the performance of its classes of shares by Morningstar, Inc., an
independent mutual fund monitoring service. Morningstar ranks mutual funds in
broad investment categories: domestic stock funds, international stock funds,
taxable bond funds and municipal bond funds. The Fund is ranked among taxable
bond funds.
Morningstar star rankings are based on risk-adjusted total investment
return. Investment return measures a fund's (or class's) one, three, five and
ten-year average annual total returns (depending on the inception of the fund or
class) in excess of 90-day U.S. Treasury bill returns after considering the
fund's sales charges and expenses. Risk measures a fund's (or class's)
performance below 90-day U.S. Treasury bill returns. Risk and investment return
are combined to produce star rankings reflecting performance relative to the
average fund in a fund's category. Five stars is the "highest" ranking (top 10%
of funds in a category), four stars is "above average" (next 22.5%), three stars
is "average" (next 35%), two stars is "below average" (next 22.5%) and one star
is "lowest" (bottom 10%). The current star ranking is the fund's (or class's)
3-year ranking or its combined 3- and 5-year ranking (weighted 60%/40%
respectively), or its combined 3-, 5-, and 10-year ranking (weighted 40%, 30%
and 30%, respectively), depending on the inception date of the fund (or class).
Rankings are subject to change monthly.
The Fund may also compare its performance to that of other funds in its
Morningstar category. In addition to its star rankings, Morningstar also
categorizes and compares a fund's 3-year performance based on Morningstar's
classification of the fund's investments and investment style, rather than how a
fund defines its investment objective. Morningstar's four broad categories
(domestic equity, international equity, municipal bond and taxable bond) are
each further subdivided into categories based on types of investments and
investment styles. Those comparisons by Morningstar are based on the same risk
and return measurements as its star rankings but do not consider the effect of
sales charges.
|X| Performance Rankings and Comparisons by Other Entities and
Publications. From time to time the Fund may include in its advertisements and
sales literature performance information about the Fund cited in newspapers and
other periodicals such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Barron's,
or similar publications. That information may include performance quotations
from other sources, including Lipper and Morningstar. The performance of the
Fund's classes of shares may be compared in publications to the performance of
various market indices or other investments, and averages, performance rankings
or other benchmarks prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services.
Investors may also wish to compare the returns on the Fund's share classes
to the return on fixed-income investments available from banks and thrift
institutions. Those include certificates of deposit, ordinary interest-paying
checking and savings accounts, and other forms of fixed or variable time
deposits, and various other instruments such as Treasury bills. However, the
Fund's returns and share price are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any
other agency and will fluctuate daily, while bank depository obligations may be
insured by the FDIC and may provide fixed rates of return. Repayment of
principal and payment of interest on Treasury securities is backed by the full
faith and credit of the U.S. government.
From time to time, the Fund may publish rankings or ratings of the Manager
or Transfer Agent, and of the investor services provided by them to shareholders
of the Oppenheimer funds, other than performance rankings of the Oppenheimer
funds themselves. Those ratings or rankings of shareholder and investor services
by third parties may include comparisons of their services to those provided by
other mutual fund families selected by the rating or ranking services. They may
be based upon the opinions of the rating or ranking service itself, using its
research or judgment, or based upon surveys of investors, brokers, shareholders
or others.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A B O U T Y O U R A C C O U N T
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Buy Shares
Additional information is presented below about the methods that can be
used to buy shares of the Fund. Appendix C contains more information about the
special sales charge arrangements offered by the Fund, and the circumstances in
which sales charges may be reduced or waived for certain classes of investors.
AccountLink. When shares are purchased through AccountLink, each purchase must
be at least $25. Shares will be purchased on the regular business day the
Distributor is instructed to initiate the Automated Clearing House (ACH)
transfer to buy the shares. Dividends will begin to accrue on shares purchased
with the proceeds of ACH transfers on the business day the Fund receives Federal
Funds for the purchase through the ACH system before the close of The New York
Stock Exchange. The Exchange normally closes at 4:00 P.M., but may close earlier
on certain days. If Federal Funds are received on a business day after the close
of the Exchange, the shares will be purchased and dividends will begin to accrue
on the next regular business day. The proceeds of ACH transfers are normally
received by the Fund three days after the transfers are initiated. The
Distributor and the Fund are not responsible for any delays in purchasing shares
resulting from delays in ACH transmissions.
Reduced Sales Charges. As discussed in the Prospectus, a reduced sales charge
rate may be obtained for Class A shares under Right of Accumulation and Letters
of Intent because of the economies of sales efforts and reduction in expenses
realized by the Distributor, dealers and brokers making such sales. No sales
charge is imposed in certain other circumstances described in Appendix C to this
Statement of Additional Information because the Distributor or dealer or broker
incurs little or no selling expenses.
n Right of Accumulation. To qualify for the lower sales charge rates that
apply to larger purchases of Class A shares, you and your spouse can add
together:
o Class A and Class B shares you purchase for your individual
accounts, or for your joint accounts, or for trust or custodial
accounts on behalf of your children who are minors, and
o current purchases of Class A and Class B shares of the Fund and
other Oppenheimer funds to reduce the sales charge rate that applies
to current purchases of Class A shares, and
o Class A and Class B shares of Oppenheimer funds you previously
purchased subject to an initial or contingent deferred sales charge
to reduce the sales charge rate for current purchases of Class A
shares, provided that you still hold your investment in one of the
Oppenheimer funds.
A fiduciary can count all shares purchased for a trust, estate or other
fiduciary account (including one or more employee benefit plans of the same
employer) that has multiple accounts. The Distributor will add the value, at
current offering price, of the shares you previously purchased and currently own
to the value of current purchases to determine the sales charge rate that
applies. The reduced sales charge will apply only to current purchases. You must
request it when you buy shares.
|X| The Oppenheimer Funds. The Oppenheimer funds are those mutual
funds for which the Distributor acts as the distributor or the
sub-distributor and currently include the following:
Oppenheimer Bond Fund Oppenheimer Large Cap Growth Fund
Oppenheimer California Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Limited-Term Government Fund
Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund Oppenheimer Main Street California
Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer Capital Income Fund Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income
Fund
Oppenheimer Champion Income Fund Oppenheimer MidCap Fund Oppenheimer Convertible
Securities Fund Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies Fund Oppenheimer Developing
Markets Fund Oppenheimer Municipal Bond Fund Oppenheimer Disciplined Allocation
Fund Oppenheimer New York Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Disciplined Value Fund
Oppenheimer New Jersey Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Discovery Fund Oppenheimer
Pennsylvania Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund Oppenheimer Quest
Balanced Value Fund Oppenheimer Europe Fund Oppenheimer Quest Capital Value
Fund,
Inc.
Oppenheimer Florida Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund,
Inc.
Oppenheimer Global Fund Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity Value Fund
Oppenheimer Global Growth & Income Fund Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value Fund
Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc.
Fund
Oppenheimer Growth Fund Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund
Oppenheimer High Yield Fund Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund
Oppenheimer Insured Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Total Return Fund, Inc.
Oppenheimer Intermediate Municipal Fund Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust
Oppenheimer International Bond Fund Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
Oppenheimer International Growth Fund Limited-Term New York Municipal Fund
Oppenheimer International Small Rochester Fund Municipals
Company Fund
and the following money market funds:
Centennial America Fund, L. P. Centennial New York Tax Exempt Trust
Centennial California Tax Exempt Trust Centennial Tax Exempt Trust
Centennial Government Trust Oppenheimer Cash Reserves
Centennial Money Market Trust Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc.
<PAGE>
There is an initial sales charge on the purchase of Class A shares of each
of the Oppenheimer funds except the money market funds. Under certain
circumstances described in this Statement of Additional Information, redemption
proceeds of certain money market fund shares may be subject to a contingent
deferred sales charge.
|X| Letters of Intent. Under a Letter of Intent, if you purchase Class A
shares or Class A and Class B shares of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds
during a 13-month period, you can reduce the sales charge rate that applies to
your purchases of Class A shares. The total amount of your intended purchases of
both Class A and Class B shares will determine the reduced sales charge rate for
the Class A shares purchased during that period. You can include purchases made
up to 90 days before the date of the Letter.
Letter of Intent is an investor's statement in writing to the Distributor
of the intention to purchase Class A shares or Class A and Class B shares of the
Fund (and other Oppenheimer funds) during a 13-month period (the "Letter of
Intent period"). At the investor's request, this may include purchases made up
to 90 days prior to the date of the Letter. The Letter states the investor's
intention to make the aggregate amount of purchases of shares which, when added
to the investor's holdings of shares of those funds, will equal or exceed the
amount specified in the Letter. Purchases made by reinvestment of dividends or
distributions of capital gains and purchases made at net asset value without
sales charge do not count toward satisfying the amount of the Letter.
A Letter enables an investor to count the Class A and Class B shares
purchased under the Letter to obtain the reduced sales charge rate on purchases
of Class A shares of the Fund (and other Oppenheimer funds) that applies under
the Right of Accumulation to current purchases of Class A shares. Each purchase
of Class A shares under the Letter will be made at the offering price (including
the sales charge) that applies to a single lump-sum purchase of shares in the
amount intended to be purchased under the Letter.
In submitting a Letter, the investor makes no commitment to purchase
shares. However, if the investor's purchases of shares within the Letter of
Intent period, when added to the value (at offering price) of the investor's
holdings of shares on the last day of that period, do not equal or exceed the
intended purchase amount, the investor agrees to pay the additional amount of
sales charge applicable to such purchases. That amount is described in "Terms of
Escrow," below (those terms may be amended by the Distributor from time to
time). The investor agrees that shares equal in value to 5% of the intended
purchase amount will be held in escrow by the Transfer Agent subject to the
Terms of Escrow. Also, the investor agrees to be bound by the terms of the
Prospectus, this Statement of Additional Information and the Application used
for a Letter of Intent. If those terms are amended, as they may be from time to
time by the Fund, the investor agrees to be bound by the amended terms and that
those amendments will apply automatically to existing Letters of Intent.
If the total eligible purchases made during the Letter of Intent period do
not equal or exceed the intended purchase amount, the commissions previously
paid to the dealer of record for the account and the amount of sales charge
retained by the Distributor will be adjusted to the rates applicable to actual
total purchases. If total eligible purchases during the Letter of Intent period
exceed the intended purchase amount and exceed the amount needed to qualify for
the next sales charge rate reduction set forth in the Prospectus, the sales
charges paid will be adjusted to the lower rate. That adjustment will be made
only if and when the dealer returns to the Distributor the excess of the amount
of commissions allowed or paid to the dealer over the amount of commissions that
apply to the actual amount of purchases. The excess commissions returned to the
Distributor will be used to purchase additional shares for the investor's
account at the net asset value per share in effect on the date of such purchase,
promptly after the Distributor's receipt thereof.
The Transfer Agent will not hold shares in escrow for purchases of shares
of the Fund and other Oppenheimer funds by OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k)
plans under a Letter of Intent. If the intended purchase amount under a Letter
of Intent entered into by an OppenheimerFunds prototype 401(k) plan is not
purchased by the plan by the end of the Letter of Intent period, there will be
no adjustment of commissions paid to the broker-dealer or financial institution
of record for accounts held in the name of that plan.
In determining the total amount of purchases made under a Letter, shares
redeemed by the investor prior to the termination of the Letter of Intent period
will be deducted. It is the responsibility of the dealer of record and/or the
investor to advise the Distributor about the Letter in placing any purchase
orders for the investor during the Letter of Intent period. All of such
purchases must be made through the Distributor.
o Terms of Escrow That Apply to Letters of Intent.
1. Out of the initial purchase (or subsequent purchases if necessary) made
pursuant to a Letter, shares of the Fund equal in value up to 5% of the intended
purchase amount specified in the Letter shall be held in escrow by the Transfer
Agent. For example, if the intended purchase amount is $50,000, the escrow shall
be shares valued in the amount of $2,500 (computed at the offering price
adjusted for a $50,000 purchase). Any dividends and capital gains distributions
on the escrowed shares will be credited to the investor's account.
2. If the total minimum investment specified under the Letter is completed
within the thirteen-month Letter of Intent period, the escrowed shares will be
promptly released to the investor.
3. If, at the end of the thirteen-month Letter of Intent period the total
purchases pursuant to the Letter are less than the intended purchase amount
specified in the Letter, the investor must remit to the Distributor an amount
equal to the difference between the dollar amount of sales charges actually paid
and the amount of sales charges which would have been paid if the total amount
purchased had been made at a single time. That sales charge adjustment will
apply to any shares redeemed prior to the completion of the Letter. If the
difference in sales charges is not paid within twenty days after a request from
the Distributor or the dealer, the Distributor will, within sixty days of the
expiration of the Letter, redeem the number of escrowed shares necessary to
realize such difference in sales charges. Full and fractional shares remaining
after such redemption will be released from escrow. If a request is received to
redeem escrowed shares prior to the payment of such additional sales charge, the
sales charge will be withheld from the redemption proceeds.
4. By signing the Letter, the investor irrevocably constitutes and
appoints the Transfer Agent as attorney-in-fact to surrender for redemption any
or all escrowed shares.
5. The shares eligible for purchase under the Letter (or the holding of
which may be counted toward completion of a Letter) include:
(a) Class A shares sold with a front-end sales charge or subject
to a Class A contingent deferred sales charge,
(b) Class B shares of other Oppenheimer funds acquired subject to a
contingent deferred sales charge, and
(c) Class A or Class B shares acquired by exchange of either (1) Class
A shares of one of the other Oppenheimer funds that were acquired
subject to a Class A initial or contingent deferred sales charge or
(2) Class B shares of one of the other Oppenheimer funds that were
acquired subject to a contingent deferred sales charge.
6. Shares held in escrow hereunder will automatically be exchanged for
shares of another fund to which an exchange is requested, as described in the
section of the Prospectus entitled "How to Exchange Shares" and the escrow will
be transferred to that other fund.
Asset Builder Plans. To establish an Asset Builder Plan to buy shares directly
from a bank account, you must enclose a check (minimum $25) for the initial
purchase with your application. Shares purchased by Asset Builder Plan payments
from bank accounts are subject to the redemption restrictions for recent
purchases described in the Prospectus. Asset Builder Plans also enable
shareholders of Oppenheimer Cash Reserves to use their fund account to make
monthly automatic purchases of shares of up to four other Oppenheimer funds.
If you make payments from your bank account to purchase shares of the
Fund, your bank account will be automatically debited, normally four to five
business days prior to the investment dates selected in the Application. Neither
the Distributor, the Transfer Agent nor the Fund shall be responsible for any
delays in purchasing shares resulting from delays in ACH transmissions.
Before initiating Asset Builder payments, obtain a prospectus of the
selected fund(s) from the Distributor or your financial advisor and request an
application from the Distributor, complete it and return it. The amount of the
Asset Builder investment may be changed or the automatic investments may be
terminated at any time by writing to the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent
requires a reasonable period (approximately 15 days) after receipt of such
instructions to implement them. The Fund reserves the right to amend, suspend,
or discontinue offering Asset Builder plans at any time without prior notice.
Retirement Plans. Certain types of Retirement Plans are entitled to purchase
shares of the Fund without sales charge or at reduced sales charge rates, as
described in Appendix C to this Statement of Additional Information. Certain
special sales charge arrangements described in that Appendix apply to retirement
plans whose records are maintained on a daily valuation basis by Merrill Lynch
Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc. or an independent record keeper that has a contract
or special arrangement with Merrill Lynch. If on the date the plan sponsor
signed the Merrill Lynch record keeping service agreement the Plan has less than
$3 million in assets (other than assets invested in money market funds) invested
in applicable investments, then the retirement plan may purchase only Class B
shares of the Oppenheimer funds. Any retirement plans in that category that
currently invest in Class B shares of the Fund will have their Class B shares
converted to Class A shares of the Fund when the Plan's applicable investments
reach $5 million. Cancellation of Purchase Orders. Cancellation of purchase
orders for the Fund's shares (for example, when a purchase check is returned to
the Fund unpaid) causes a loss to be incurred when the net asset value of the
Fund's shares on the cancellation date is less than on the purchase date. That
loss is equal to the amount of the decline in the net asset value per share
multiplied by the number of shares in the purchase order. The investor is
responsible for that loss. If the investor fails to compensate the Fund for the
loss, the Distributor will do so. The Fund may reimburse the Distributor for
that amount by redeeming shares from any account registered in that investor's
name, or the Fund or the Distributor may seek other redress.
Classes of Shares. Each class of shares of the Fund represents an interest in
the same portfolio of investments of the Fund. However, each class has different
shareholder privileges and features. The net income attributable to Class B or
Class C shares and the dividends payable on Class B or Class C shares will be
reduced by incremental expenses borne solely by that class. Those expenses
include the asset-based sales charges to which Class B and Class C are subject.
The availability of different classes of shares permits an investor to
choose the method of purchasing shares that is more appropriate for the
investor. That may depend on the amount of the purchase, the length of time the
investor expects to hold shares, and other relevant circumstances. Class A
shares normally are sold subject to an initial sales charge. While Class B and
Class C shares have no initial sales charge, the purpose of the deferred sales
charge and asset-based sales charge on Class B and Class C shares is the same as
that of the initial sales charge on Class A shares - to compensate the
Distributor and brokers, dealers and financial institutions that sell shares of
the Fund. A salesperson who is entitled to receive compensation from his or her
firm for selling Fund shares may receive different levels of compensation for
selling one class of shares than another.
The Distributor will not accept any order in the amount of $500,000 or
more for Class B shares or $1 million or more for Class C shares on behalf of a
single investor (not including dealer "street name" or omnibus accounts). That
is because generally it will be more advantageous for that investor to purchase
Class A shares of the Fund.
|X| Class B Conversion. The conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares
after six years is subject to the continuing availability of a private letter
ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or an opinion of counsel or tax
adviser, to the effect that the conversion of Class B shares does not constitute
a taxable event for the shareholder under Federal income tax law. If such a
revenue ruling or opinion is no longer available, the automatic conversion
feature may be suspended, in which event no further conversions of Class B
shares would occur while such suspension remained in effect. Although Class B
shares could then be exchanged for Class A shares on the basis of relative net
asset value of the two classes, without the imposition of a sales charge or fee,
such exchange could constitute a taxable event for the shareholder, and absent
such exchange, Class B shares might continue to be subject to the asset-based
sales charge for longer than six years.
|X| Allocation of Expenses. The Fund pays expenses related to its daily
operations, such as custodian fees, Trustees' fees, transfer agency fees, legal
fees and auditing costs. Those expenses are paid out of the Fund's assets and
are not paid directly by shareholders. However, those expenses reduce the net
asset value of shares, and therefore are indirectly borne by shareholders
through their investment.
The methodology for calculating the net asset value, dividends and
distributions of the Fund's share classes recognizes two types of expenses.
General expenses that do not pertain specifically to any one class are allocated
pro rata to the shares of all classes. The allocation is based on the percentage
of the Fund's total assets that is represented by the assets of each class, and
then equally to each outstanding share within a given class. Such general
expenses include management fees, legal, bookkeeping and audit fees, printing
and mailing costs of shareholder reports, Prospectuses, Statements of Additional
Information and other materials for current shareholders, fees to unaffiliated
Trustees, custodian expenses, share issuance costs, organization and start-up
costs, interest, taxes and brokerage commissions, and non-recurring expenses,
such as litigation costs.
Other expenses that are directly attributable to a particular class are
allocated equally to each outstanding share within that class. Examples of such
expenses include distribution and service plan (12b-1) fees, transfer and
shareholder servicing agent fees and expenses and shareholder meeting expenses
(to the extent that such expenses pertain only to a specific class).
Determination of Net Asset Values Per Share. The net asset values per share of
each class of shares of the Fund are determined as of the close of business of
The New York Stock Exchange on each day that the Exchange is open. The
calculation is done by dividing the value of the Fund's net assets attributable
to a class by the number of shares of that class that are outstanding. The
Exchange normally closes at 4:00 P.M., New York time, but may close earlier on
some other days (for example, in case of weather emergencies or on days falling
before a holiday). The Exchange's most recent annual announcement (which is
subject to change) states that it will close on New Year's Day, Presidents' Day,
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor
Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. It may also close on other days.
Dealers other than Exchange members may conduct trading in certain
securities on days on which the Exchange is closed (including weekends and
holidays) or after 4:00 P.M. on a regular business day. The Fund's net asset
values will not be calculated on those days and the values of some of the Fund's
portfolio securities may change significantly on those days, when shareholders
may not purchase or redeem shares. Additionally, trading on European and Asian
stock exchanges and over-the-counter markets normally is completed before the
close of The New York Stock Exchange.
Changes in the values of securities traded on foreign exchanges or markets
as a result of events that occur after the prices of those securities are
determined, but before the close of The New York Stock Exchange, will not be
reflected in the Fund's calculation of its net asset values that day unless the
Manager determines that the event is likely to effect a material change in the
value of the security. The Manager may make that determination, under procedures
established by the Board.
n Securities Valuation. The Fund's Board of Trustees has established
procedures for the valuation of the Fund's securities. In general those
procedures are as follows:
o Equity securities traded on a U.S. securities exchange or on NASDAQ
are valued as follows:
(1) if last sale information is regularly reported, they are valued at
the last reported sale price on the principal exchange on which they
are traded or on NASDAQ, as applicable, on that day, or
(2) if last sale information is not available on a valuation date, they
are valued at the last reported sale price preceding the valuation
date if it is within the spread of the closing "bid" and "asked"
prices on the valuation date or, if not, at the closing "bid" price
on the valuation date.
o Equity securities traded on a foreign securities exchange generally
are valued in one of the following ways:
(1) at the last sale price available to the pricing service approved
by the Board of Trustees, or
(2) at the last sale price obtained by the Manager from the report of
the principal exchange on which the security is traded at its last
trading session on or immediately before the valuation date, or
(3) at the mean between the "bid" and "asked" prices obtained from the
principal exchange on which the security is traded or, on the basis
of reasonable inquiry, from two market makers in the security.
o Long-term debt securities having a remaining maturity in excess of 60
days are valued based on the mean between the "bid" and "asked" prices
determined by a portfolio pricing service approved by the Fund's Board of
Trustees or obtained by the Manager from two active market makers in the
security on the basis of reasonable inquiry.
o The following securities are valued at the mean between the "bid" and
"asked" prices determined by a pricing service approved by the Fund's Board of
Trustees or obtained by the Manager from two active market makers in the
security on the basis of reasonable inquiry:
(1) debt instruments that have a maturity of more than 397 days when
issued,
(2) debt instruments that had a maturity of 397 days or less when issued
and have a remaining maturity of more than 60 days, and
(3) non-money market debt instruments that had a maturity of 397 days or
less when issued and which have a remaining maturity of 60 days or
less.
o The following securities are valued at cost, adjusted for
amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts:
(1) money market debt securities held by a non-money market fund that
had a maturity of less than 397 days when issued that have a remaining
maturity of 60 days or less, and
(2) debt instruments held by a money market fund that have a remaining
maturity of 397 days or less.
o Securities (including restricted securities) not having
readily-available market quotations are valued at fair value determined under
the Board's procedures. If the Manager is unable to locate two market makers
willing to give quotes, a security may be priced at the mean between the "bid"
and "asked" prices provided by a single active market maker (which in certain
cases may be the "bid" price if no "asked" price is available).
In the case of U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities,
corporate bonds and foreign government securities, when last sale information is
not generally available, the Manager may use pricing services approved by the
Board of Trustees. The pricing service may use "matrix" comparisons to the
prices for comparable instruments on the basis of quality, yield, maturity.
Other special factors may be involved (such as the tax-exempt status of the
interest paid by municipal securities). The Manager will monitor the accuracy of
the pricing services. That monitoring may include comparing prices used for
portfolio valuation to actual sales prices of selected securities.
The closing prices in the London foreign exchange market on a particular
business day that are provided to the Manager by a bank, dealer or pricing
service that the Manager has determined to be reliable are used to value foreign
currency, including forward contracts, and to convert to U.S. dollars securities
that are denominated in foreign currency.
Puts, calls, and futures are valued at the last sale price on the
principal exchange on which they are traded or on NASDAQ, as applicable, as
determined by a pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees or by the
Manager. If there were no sales that day, they shall be valued at the last sale
price on the preceding trading day if it is within the spread of the closing
"bid" and "asked" prices on the principal exchange or on NASDAQ on the valuation
date. If not, the value shall be the closing bid price on the principal exchange
or on NASDAQ on the valuation date. If the put, call or future is not traded on
an exchange or on NASDAQ, it shall be valued by the mean between "bid" and
"asked" prices obtained by the Manager from two active market makers. In certain
cases that may be at the "bid" price if no "asked" price is available.
When the Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received is
included in the Fund's Statement of Assets and Liabilities as an asset. An
equivalent credit is included in the liability section. The credit is adjusted
("marked-to-market") to reflect the current market value of the option. In
determining the Fund's gain on investments, if a call or put written by the Fund
is exercised, the proceeds are increased by the premium received. If a call or
put written by the Fund expires, the Fund has a gain in the amount of the
premium. If the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it will have a
gain or loss, depending on whether the premium received was more or less than
the cost of the closing transaction. If the Fund exercises a put it holds, the
amount the Fund receives on its sale of the underlying investment is reduced by
the amount of premium paid by the Fund.
How to Sell Shares
Information on how to sell shares of the Fund is stated in the Prospectus.
The information below provides additional information about the procedures and
conditions for redeeming shares.
Checkwriting. When a check is presented to the Bank for clearance, the Bank will
ask the Fund to redeem a sufficient number of full and fractional shares in the
shareholder's account to cover the amount of the check. This enables the
shareholder to continue receiving dividends on those shares until the check is
presented to the Fund. Checks may not be presented for payment at the offices of
the Bank or the Fund's custodian bank. This limitation does not affect the use
of checks for the payment of bills or to obtain cash at other banks. The Fund
reserves the right to amend, suspend or discontinue offering checkwriting
privileges at any time without prior notice.
In choosing to take advantage of the Checkwriting privilege, by signing
the Account Application or by completing a Checkwriting card, each individual
who signs: (1) for individual accounts, represents that they are the registered
owner(s) of the shares of the Fund in that account;
(2) for accounts for corporations, partnerships, trusts and other entities,
represents that they are an officer, general partner, trustee or other
fiduciary or agent, as applicable, duly authorized to act on behalf of
the registered owner(s);
(3) authorizes the Fund, its Transfer Agent and any bank through which the
Fund's drafts (checks) are payable to pay all checks drawn on the Fund
account of such person(s) and to redeem a sufficient amount of shares
from that account to cover payment of each check;
(4) specifically acknowledges that if they choose to permit checks to be
honored if there is a single signature on checks drawn against joint
accounts, or accounts for corporations, partnerships, trusts or other
entities, the signature of any one signatory on a check will be
sufficient to authorize payment of that check and redemption from the
account, even if that account is registered in the names of more than
one person or more than one authorized signature appears on the
Checkwriting card or the Application, as applicable;
(5) understands that the Checkwriting privilege may be terminated or
amended at any time by the Fund and/or the Fund's bank; and
(6) acknowledges and agrees that neither the Fund nor its bank shall incur
any liability for that amendment or termination of checkwriting
privileges or for redeeming shares to pay checks reasonably believed by
them to be genuine, or for returning or not paying checks that have not
been accepted for any reason.
Reinvestment Privilege. Within six months of a redemption, a shareholder may
reinvest all or part of the redemption proceeds of:
o Class A shares purchased subject to an initial sales charge or Class A
shares on which a contingent deferred sales charge was paid, or
o Class B shares that were subject to the Class B contingent deferred
sales charge when redeemed.
The reinvestment may be made without sales charge only in Class A shares
of the Fund or any of the other Oppenheimer funds into which shares of the Fund
are exchangeable as described in "How to Exchange Shares" below. Reinvestment
will be at the net asset value next computed after the Transfer Agent receives
the reinvestment order. The shareholder must ask the Transfer Agent for that
privilege at the time of reinvestment. This privilege does not apply to Class C
shares. The Fund may amend, suspend or cease offering this reinvestment
privilege at any time as to shares redeemed after the date of such amendment,
suspension or cessation.
Any capital gain that was realized when the shares were redeemed is
taxable, and reinvestment will not alter any capital gains tax payable on that
gain. If there has been a capital loss on the redemption, some or all of the
loss may not be tax deductible, depending on the timing and amount of the
reinvestment. Under the Internal Revenue Code, if the redemption proceeds of
Fund shares on which a sales charge was paid are reinvested in shares of the
Fund or another of the Oppenheimer funds within 90 days of payment of the sales
charge, the shareholder's basis in the shares of the Fund that were redeemed may
not include the amount of the sales charge paid. That would reduce the loss or
increase the gain recognized from the redemption. However, in that case the
sales charge would be added to the basis of the shares acquired by the
reinvestment of the redemption proceeds.
Payments "In Kind". The Prospectus states that payment for shares tendered for
redemption is ordinarily made in cash. However, the Board of Trustees of the
Fund may determine that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the
remaining shareholders of the Fund to make payment of a redemption order wholly
or partly in cash. In that case, the Fund may pay the redemption proceeds in
whole or in part by a distribution "in kind" of liquid securities from the
portfolio of the Fund, in lieu of cash.
The Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the Investment
Company Act. Under that rule, the Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely in
cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the Fund during any
90-day period for any one shareholder. If shares are redeemed in kind, the
redeeming shareholder might incur brokerage or other costs in selling the
securities for cash. The Fund will value securities used to pay redemptions in
kind using the same method the Fund uses to value its portfolio securities
described above under "Determination of Net Asset Values Per Share." That
valuation will be made as of the time the redemption price is determined.
Involuntary Redemptions. The Fund's Board of Trustees has the right to cause the
involuntary redemption of the shares held in any account if the aggregate net
asset value of those shares is less than $200 or such lesser amount as the Board
may fix. The Board will not cause the involuntary redemption of shares in an
account if the aggregate net asset value of such shares has fallen below the
stated minimum solely as a result of market fluctuations. If the Board exercises
this right, it may also fix the requirements for any notice to be given to the
shareholders in question (not less than 30 days). The Board may alternatively
set requirements for the shareholder to increase the investment, or set other
terms and conditions so that the shares would not be involuntarily redeemed.
Transfers of Shares. A transfer of shares to a different registration is not an
event that triggers the payment of sales charges. Therefore, shares are not
subject to the payment of a contingent deferred sales charge of any class at the
time of transfer to the name of another person or entity. It does not matter
whether the transfer occurs by absolute assignment, gift or bequest, as long as
it does not involve, directly or indirectly, a public sale of the shares. When
shares subject to a contingent deferred sales charge are transferred, the
transferred shares will remain subject to the contingent deferred sales charge.
It will be calculated as if the transferee shareholder had acquired the
transferred shares in the same manner and at the same time as the transferring
shareholder.
If less than all shares held in an account are transferred, and some but
not all shares in the account would be subject to a contingent deferred sales
charge if redeemed at the time of transfer, the priorities described in the
Prospectus under "How to Buy Shares" for the imposition of the Class B or Class
C contingent deferred sales charge will be followed in determining the order in
which shares are transferred.
Distributions From Retirement Plans. Requests for distributions from
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored IRAs, 403(b)(7) custodial plans, 401(k) plans or
pension or profit-sharing plans should be addressed to "Trustee,
OppenheimerFunds Retirement Plans," c/o the Transfer Agent at its address listed
in "How To Sell Shares" in the Prospectus or on the back cover of this Statement
of Additional Information. The request must
(1) state the reason for the distribution;
(2) state the owner's awareness of tax penalties if the distribution is
premature; and
(3) conform to the requirements of the plan and the Fund's other redemption
requirements.
Participants (other than self-employed persons) in
OppenheimerFunds-sponsored pension or profit-sharing plans with shares of the
Fund held in the name of the plan or its fiduciary may not directly request
redemption of their accounts. The plan administrator or fiduciary must sign the
request.
Distributions from pension and profit sharing plans are subject to special
requirements under the Internal Revenue Code and certain documents (available
from the Transfer Agent) must be completed and submitted to the Transfer Agent
before the distribution may be made. Distributions from retirement plans are
subject to withholding requirements under the Internal Revenue Code, and IRS
Form W-4P (available from the Transfer Agent) must be submitted to the Transfer
Agent with the distribution request, or the distribution may be delayed. Unless
the shareholder has provided the Transfer Agent with a certified tax
identification number, the Internal Revenue Code requires that tax be withheld
from any distribution even if the shareholder elects not to have tax withheld.
The Fund, the Manager, the Distributor, and the Transfer Agent assume no
responsibility to determine whether a distribution satisfies the conditions of
applicable tax laws and will not be responsible for any tax penalties assessed
in connection with a distribution.
Special Arrangements for Repurchase of Shares from Dealers and Brokers. The
Distributor is the Fund's agent to repurchase its shares from authorized dealers
or brokers on behalf of their customers. Shareholders should contact their
broker or dealer to arrange this type of redemption. The repurchase price per
share will be the net asset value next computed after the Distributor receives
an order placed by the dealer or broker. However, if the Distributor receives a
repurchase order from a dealer or broker after the close of The New York Stock
Exchange on a regular business day, it will be processed at that day's net asset
value if the order was received by the dealer or broker from its customers prior
to the time the Exchange closes. Normally, the Exchange closes at 4:00 P.M., but
may do so earlier on some days. Additionally, the order must have been
transmitted to and received by the Distributor prior to its close of business
that day (normally 5:00 P.M.).
Ordinarily, for accounts redeemed by a broker-dealer under this procedure,
payment will be made within three business days after the shares have been
redeemed upon the Distributor's receipt of the required redemption documents in
proper form. The signature(s) of the registered owners on the redemption
documents must be guaranteed as described in the Prospectus.
Automatic Withdrawal and Exchange Plans. Investors owning shares of the Fund
valued at $5,000 or more can authorize the Transfer Agent to redeem shares
(having a value of at least $50) automatically on a monthly, quarterly,
semi-annual or annual basis under an Automatic Withdrawal Plan. Shares will be
redeemed three business days prior to the date requested by the shareholder for
receipt of the payment. Automatic withdrawals of up to $1,500 per month may be
requested by telephone if payments are to be made by check payable to all
shareholders of record. Payments must also be sent to the address of record for
the account and the address must not have been changed within the prior 30 days.
Required minimum distributions from OppenheimerFunds-sponsored retirement plans
may not be arranged on this basis.
Payments are normally made by check, but shareholders having AccountLink
privileges (see "How To Buy Shares") may arrange to have Automatic Withdrawal
Plan payments transferred to the bank account designated on the Account
Application or by signature-guaranteed instructions sent to the Transfer Agent.
Shares are normally redeemed pursuant to an Automatic Withdrawal Plan three
business days before the payment transmittal date you select in the Account
Application. If a contingent deferred sales charge applies to the redemption,
the amount of the check or payment will be reduced accordingly.
The Fund cannot guarantee receipt of a payment on the date requested. The
Fund reserves the right to amend, suspend or discontinue offering these plans at
any time without prior notice. Because of the sales charge assessed on Class A
share purchases, shareholders should not make regular additional Class A share
purchases while participating in an Automatic Withdrawal Plan. Class B and Class
C shareholders should not establish withdrawal plans, because of the imposition
of the contingent deferred sales charge on such withdrawals (except where the
contingent deferred sales charge is waived as described in Appendix C to this
Statement of Additional Information.)
By requesting an Automatic Withdrawal or Exchange Plan, the shareholder
agrees to the terms and conditions that apply to such plans, as stated below.
These provisions may be amended from time to time by the Fund and/or the
Distributor. When adopted, any amendments will automatically apply to existing
Plans.
n Automatic Exchange Plans. Shareholders can authorize the Transfer Agent
to exchange a pre-determined amount of shares of the Fund for shares (of the
same class) of other Oppenheimer funds automatically on a monthly, quarterly,
semi-annual or annual basis under an Automatic Exchange Plan. The minimum amount
that may be exchanged to each other fund account is $25. Instructions should be
provided on the OppenheimerFunds Application or signature-guaranteed
instructions. Exchanges made under these plans are subject to the restrictions
that apply to exchanges as set forth in "How to Exchange Shares" in the
Prospectus and below in this Statement of Additional Information.
n Automatic Withdrawal Plans. Fund shares will be redeemed as necessary to
meet withdrawal payments. Shares acquired without a sales charge will be
redeemed first. Shares acquired with reinvested dividends and capital gains
distributions will be redeemed next, followed by shares acquired with a sales
charge, to the extent necessary to make withdrawal payments. Depending upon the
amount withdrawn, the investor's principal may be depleted. Payments made under
these plans should not be considered as a yield or income on your investment.
The Transfer Agent will administer the investor's Automatic Withdrawal
Plan as agent for the shareholder(s) (the "Planholder") who executed the Plan
authorization and application submitted to the Transfer Agent. Neither the Fund
nor the Transfer Agent shall incur any liability to the Planholder for any
action taken or not taken by the Transfer Agent in good faith to administer the
Plan. Share certificates will not be issued for shares of the Fund purchased for
and held under the Plan, but the Transfer Agent will credit all such shares to
the account of the Planholder on the records of the Fund. Any share certificates
held by a Planholder may be surrendered unendorsed to the Transfer Agent with
the Plan application so that the shares represented by the certificate may be
held under the Plan.
For accounts subject to Automatic Withdrawal Plans, distributions of
capital gains must be reinvested in shares of the Fund, which will be done at
net asset value without a sales charge. Dividends on shares held in the account
may be paid in cash or reinvested.
Shares will be redeemed to make withdrawal payments at the net asset value
per share determined on the redemption date. Checks or AccountLink payments
representing the proceeds of Plan withdrawals will normally be transmitted three
business days prior to the date selected for receipt of the payment, according
to the choice specified in writing by the Planholder. Receipt of payment on the
date selected cannot be guaranteed.
The amount and the interval of disbursement payments and the address to
which checks are to be mailed or AccountLink payments are to be sent may be
changed at any time by the Planholder by writing to the Transfer Agent. The
Planholder should allow at least two weeks' time after mailing such notification
for the requested change to be put in effect. The Planholder may, at any time,
instruct the Transfer Agent by written notice to redeem all, or any part of, the
shares held under the Plan. That notice must be in proper form in accordance
with the requirements of the then-current Prospectus of the Fund. In that case,
the Transfer Agent will redeem the number of shares requested at the net asset
value per share in effect and will mail a check for the proceeds to the
Planholder.
The Planholder may terminate a Plan at any time by writing to the Transfer
Agent. The Fund may also give directions to the Transfer Agent to terminate a
Plan. The Transfer Agent will also terminate a Plan upon its receipt of evidence
satisfactory to it that the Planholder has died or is legally incapacitated.
Upon termination of a Plan by the Transfer Agent or the Fund, shares that have
not been redeemed will be held in uncertificated form in the name of the
Planholder. The account will continue as a dividend-reinvestment, uncertificated
account unless and until proper instructions are received from the Planholder,
his or her executor or guardian, or another authorized person.
To use shares held under the Plan as collateral for a debt, the Planholder
may request issuance of a portion of the shares in certificated form. Upon
written request from the Planholder, the Transfer Agent will determine the
number of shares for which a certificate may be issued without causing the
withdrawal checks to stop. However, should such uncertificated shares become
exhausted, Plan withdrawals will terminate.
If the Transfer Agent ceases to act as transfer agent for the Fund, the
Planholder will be deemed to have appointed any successor transfer agent to act
as agent in administering the Plan.
<PAGE>
How to Exchange Shares
As stated in the Prospectus, shares of a particular class of Oppenheimer
funds having more than one class of shares may be exchanged only for shares of
the same class of other Oppenheimer funds. Shares of Oppenheimer funds that have
a single class without a class designation are deemed "Class A" shares for this
purpose. You can obtain a current list showing which funds offer which classes
by calling the Distributor at 1-800-525-7048.
o All of the Oppenheimer funds currently offer Class A, B and C shares
except Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc., Centennial Money Market Trust,
Centennial Tax Exempt Trust, Centennial Government Trust, Centennial New York
Tax Exempt Trust, Centennial California Tax Exempt Trust, and Centennial America
Fund, L.P., which only offer Class A shares.
o Oppenheimer Main Street California Municipal Fund currently offers only
Class A and Class B shares.
o Class B and Class C shares of Oppenheimer Cash Reserves are generally
available only by exchange from the same class of shares of other Oppenheimer
funds or through OppenheimerFunds-sponsored 401 (k) plans.
o Class Y shares of Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund may not be exchanged for
shares of any other Fund.
Class A shares of Oppenheimer funds may be exchanged at net asset value
for shares of any money market fund offered by the Distributor. Shares of any
money market fund purchased without a sales charge may be exchanged for shares
of Oppenheimer funds offered with a sales charge upon payment of the sales
charge. They may also be used to purchase shares of Oppenheimer funds subject to
a contingent deferred sales charge.
Shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. purchased with the
redemption proceeds of shares of other mutual funds (other than funds managed by
the Manager or its subsidiaries) redeemed within the 30 days prior to that
purchase may subsequently be exchanged for shares of other Oppenheimer funds
without being subject to an initial or contingent deferred sales charge. To
qualify for that privilege, the investor or the investor's dealer must notify
the Distributor of eligibility for this privilege at the time the shares of
Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. are purchased. If requested, they must
supply proof of entitlement to this privilege.
For accounts established on or before March 8, 1996 holding Class M shares
of Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund, Class M shares can be exchanged only
for Class A shares of other Oppenheimer funds. Exchanges to Class M shares of
Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund are permitted from Class A shares of
Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. or Oppenheimer Cash Reserves that were
acquired by exchange of Class M shares. No other exchanges may be made to Class
M shares.
Shares of the Fund acquired by reinvestment of dividends or distributions
from any of the other Oppenheimer funds or from any unit investment trust for
which reinvestment arrangements have been made with the Distributor may be
exchanged at net asset value for shares of any of the Oppenheimer funds.
|X| How Exchanges Affect Contingent Deferred Sales Charges. No contingent
deferred sales charge is imposed on exchanges of shares of any class purchased
subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. However, when Class A shares
acquired by exchange of Class A shares of other Oppenheimer funds purchased
subject to a Class A contingent deferred sales charge are redeemed within 18
months of the end of the calendar month of the initial purchase of the exchanged
Class A shares, the Class A contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on the
redeemed shares. The Class B contingent deferred sales charge is imposed on
Class B shares acquired by exchange if they are redeemed within 6 years of the
initial purchase of the exchanged Class B shares. The Class C contingent
deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C shares acquired by exchange if they
are redeemed within 12 months of the initial purchase of the exchanged Class C
shares.
When Class B or Class C shares are redeemed to effect an exchange, the
priorities described in "How To Buy Shares" in the Prospectus for the imposition
of the Class B or the Class C contingent deferred sales charge will be followed
in determining the order in which the shares are exchanged. Before exchanging
shares, shareholders should take into account how the exchange may affect any
contingent deferred sales charge that might be imposed in the subsequent
redemption of remaining shares. Shareholders owning shares of more than one
class must specify which class of shares they with to exchange.
|X| Limits on Multiple Exchange Orders. The Fund reserves the right to
reject telephone or written exchange requests submitted in bulk by anyone on
behalf of more than one account. The Fund may accept requests for exchanges of
up to 50 accounts per day from representatives of authorized dealers that
qualify for this privilege.
|X| Telephone Exchange Requests. When exchanging shares by telephone, a
shareholder must have an existing account in the fund to which the exchange is
to be made. Otherwise, the investors must obtain a Prospectus of that fund
before the exchange request may be submitted. For full or partial exchanges of
an account made by telephone, any special account features such as Asset Builder
Plans and Automatic Withdrawal Plans will be switched to the new account unless
the Transfer Agent is instructed otherwise. If all telephone lines are busy
(which might occur, for example, during periods of substantial market
fluctuations), shareholders might not be able to request exchanges by telephone
and would have to submit written exchange requests.
|X| Processing Exchange Requests. Shares to be exchanged are redeemed on
the regular business day the Transfer Agent receives an exchange request in
proper form (the "Redemption Date"). Normally, shares of the fund to be acquired
are purchased on the Redemption Date, but such purchases may be delayed by
either fund up to five business days if it determines that it would be
disadvantaged by an immediate transfer of the redemption proceeds. The Fund
reserves the right, in its discretion, to refuse any exchange request that may
disadvantage it. For example, if the receipt of multiple exchange requests from
a dealer might require the disposition of portfolio securities at a time or at a
price that might be disadvantageous to the Fund, the Fund may refuse the
request.
In connection with any exchange request, the number of shares exchanged
may be less than the number requested if the exchange or the number requested
would include shares subject to a restriction cited in the Prospectus or this
Statement of Additional Information, or would include shares covered by a share
certificate that is not tendered with the request. In those cases, only the
shares available for exchange without restriction will be exchanged.
The different Oppenheimer funds available for exchange have different
investment objectives, policies and risks. A shareholder should assure that the
fund selected is appropriate for his or her investment and should be aware of
the tax consequences of an exchange. For federal income tax purposes, an
exchange transaction is treated as a redemption of shares of one fund and a
purchase of shares of another. "Reinvestment Privilege," above, discusses some
of the tax consequences of reinvestment of redemption proceeds in such cases.
The Fund, the Distributor, and the Transfer Agent are unable to provide
investment, tax or legal advice to a shareholder in connection with an exchange
request or any other investment transaction.
Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes
Dividends and Distributions. The Fund has no fixed dividend and there can
be no assurance as to the payment of any dividends or the realization of any
capital gains. The dividends and distributions paid by a class of shares will
vary from time to time depending on market conditions, the composition of the
Fund's portfolio, and expenses borne by the Fund or borne separately by a class.
Dividends are calculated in the same manner, at the same time, and on the same
day for each class of shares. However, dividends on Class B and Class C shares
are expected to be lower than dividends on Class A shares. That is because of
the effect of the asset-based sales charge on Class B and Class C shares. Those
dividends will also differ in amount as a consequence of any difference in the
net asset values of the different classes of shares.
Dividends will be payable on shares held of record at the time of the
previous determination of net asset value, or as otherwise described in "How to
Buy Shares." Daily dividends will not be declared or paid on newly purchased
shares until such time as Federal Funds (funds credited to a member bank's
account at the Federal Reserve Bank) are available from the purchase payment for
such shares. Normally, purchase checks received from investors are converted to
Federal Funds on the next business day. Shares purchased through dealers or
brokers normally are paid for by the third business day following the placement
of the purchase order.
Shares redeemed through the regular redemption procedure will be paid
dividends through and including the day on which the redemption request is
received by the Transfer Agent in proper form. Dividends will be declared on
shares repurchased by a dealer or broker for three business days following the
trade date (that is, up to and including the day prior to settlement of the
repurchase). If all shares in an account are redeemed, all dividends accrued on
shares of the same class in the account will be paid together with the
redemption proceeds.
Dividends, distributions and proceeds of the redemption of Fund shares
represented by checks returned to the Transfer Agent by the Postal Service as
undeliverable will be invested in shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc.
Reinvestment will be made as promptly as possible after the return of such
checks to the Transfer Agent, to enable the investor to earn a return on
otherwise idle funds. Unclaimed accounts may be subject to state escheatment
laws, and the Fund and the Transfer Agent will not be liable to shareholders or
their representatives for compliance with those laws in good faith.
Tax Status of the Fund's Dividends and Distributions. The Federal tax treatment
of the Fund's dividends and capital gains distributions is briefly highlighted
in the Prospectus.
Special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code govern the eligibility of
the Fund's dividends for the dividends-received deduction for corporate
shareholders. Long-term capital gains distributions are not eligible for the
deduction. The amount of dividends paid by the Fund that may qualify for the
deduction is limited to the aggregate amount of qualifying dividends that the
Fund derives from portfolio investments that the Fund has held for a minimum
period, usually 46 days. A corporate shareholder will not be eligible for the
deduction on dividends paid on Fund shares held for 45 days or less. To the
extent the Fund's dividends are derived from gross income from option premiums,
interest income or short-term gains from the sale of securities or dividends
from foreign corporations, those dividends will not qualify for the deduction.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, by December 31 each year, the Fund must
distribute 98% of its taxable investment income earned from January 1 through
December 31 of that year and 98% of its capital gains realized in the period
from November 1 of the prior year through October 31 of the current year. If it
does not, the Fund must pay an excise tax on the amounts not distributed. It is
presently anticipated that the Fund will meet those requirements. However, the
Board of Trustees and the Manager might determine in a particular year that it
would be in the best interests of shareholders for the Fund not to make such
distributions at the required levels and to pay the excise tax on the
undistributed amounts. That would reduce the amount of income or capital gains
available for distribution to shareholders.
The Fund intends to qualify as a "regulated investment company" under the
Internal Revenue Code (although it reserves the right not to qualify). That
qualification enables the Fund to "pass through" its income and realized capital
gains to shareholders without having to pay tax on them. This avoids a double
tax on that income and capital gains, since shareholders normally will be taxed
on the dividends and capital gains they receive from the Fund (unless the Fund's
shares are held in a retirement account or the shareholder is otherwise exempt
from tax). If the Fund qualifies as a "regulated investment company" under the
Internal Revenue Code, it will not be liable for Federal income taxes on amounts
paid by it as dividends and distributions. The Fund qualified as a regulated
investment company in its last fiscal year. The Internal Revenue Code contains a
number of complex tests relating to qualification which the Fund might not meet
in any particular year. If it did not so qualify, the Fund would be treated for
tax purposes as an ordinary corporation and receive no tax deduction for
payments made to shareholders.
If prior distributions made by the Fund must be re-characterized as a
non-taxable return of capital at the end of the fiscal year as a result of the
effect of the Fund's investment policies, they will be identified as such in
notices sent to shareholders.
Dividend Reinvestment in Another Fund. Shareholders of the Fund may elect to
reinvest all dividends and/or capital gains distributions in shares of the same
class of any of the other Oppenheimer funds listed above. Reinvestment will be
made without sales charge at the net asset value per share in effect at the
close of business on the payable date of the dividend or distribution. To elect
this option, the shareholder must notify the Transfer Agent in writing and must
have an existing account in the fund selected for reinvestment. Otherwise the
shareholder first must obtain a prospectus for that fund and an application from
the Distributor to establish an account. Dividends and/or distributions from
shares of certain other Oppenheimer funds (other than Oppenheimer Cash Reserves)
may be invested in shares of this Fund on the same basis. Additional Information
About the Fund
The Distributor. The Fund's shares are sold through dealers, brokers and other
financial institutions that have a sales agreement with OppenheimerFunds
Distributor, Inc., a subsidiary of the Manager that acts as the Fund's
Distributor. The Distributor also distributes shares of the other Oppenheimer
funds and is sub-distributor for funds managed by a subsidiary of the Manager.
The Transfer Agent. OppenheimerFunds Services, the Fund's Transfer Agent, is a
division of the Manager. It is responsible for maintaining the Fund's
shareholder registry and shareholder accounting records, and for paying
dividends and distributions to shareholders. It also handles shareholder
servicing and administrative functions. It acts on an "at-cost" basis. It also
acts as shareholder servicing agent for the other Oppenheimer funds.
Shareholders should direct inquiries about their accounts to the Transfer Agent
at the address and toll-free numbers shown on the back cover.
The Custodian. The Bank of New York is the custodian of the Fund's assets. The
custodian's responsibilities include safeguarding and controlling the Fund's
portfolio securities and handling the delivery of such securities to and from
the Fund. It will be the practice of the Fund to deal with the custodian in a
manner uninfluenced by any banking relationship the custodian may have with the
Manager and its affiliates. The Fund's cash balances with the custodian in
excess of $100,000 are not protected by Federal deposit insurance. Those
uninsured balances at times may be substantial. Independent Auditors. KPMG are
the independent auditors of the Fund. They audit the Fund's financial statements
and perform other related audit services. They also act as auditors for certain
other funds advised by the Manager and its affiliates.
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Independent Auditors' Report
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
The Board of Trustees and Shareholders of
Oppenheimer World Bond Fund:
We have audited the accompanying statements of investments and assets and
liabilities of Oppenheimer World Bond Fund as of October 31, 1998, and the
related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of
changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended
and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then
ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the
responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our
audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and
financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities
owned as of October 31, 1998, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers;
and where confirmations were not received from brokers, we performed other
auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the
overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights
referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Oppenheimer World Bond Fund as of October 31, 1998, the results of
its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each
of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for
each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
KPMG LLP
Denver, Colorado
November 20, 1998
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of Investments October 31, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Face Market Value
Amount(1) See Note 1
=====================================================================================================
<S>
<C> <C>
Mortgage-Backed Obligations--17.3%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asset Securitization Corp., Commercial Mtg. Pass-Through
Certificates, Series 1996-MD6, Cl. A5, 6.955%, 11/13/26(2)
$ 200,000 $ 204,281
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commercial Mortgage Acceptance Corp., Interest-Only
Stripped Mtg.-Backed Security, Series 1996-C1, Cl. X-2,
1%, 12/25/20(3)(4)
6,208,300 128,046
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CS First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp., Mtg. Pass-Through
Certificates, Series 1997-C1, Cl. E, 7.50%,
3/1/11(4) 190,000 189,703
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., Collateralized Mtg
Obligations, Gtd. Multiclass Mtg. Participation Certificates,
Series 1343, Cl. LA, 8%,
8/15/22 229,000 250,970
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., Gtd. Real Estate Mtg
Investment Conduit Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2054,
Cl. TE, 6.25%,
4/15/24 109,000
110,771
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., Interest-Only Stripped
Mtg.-Backed Security:
Series 197, Cl. IO, 15.402%, 4/1/28(3)
1,480,216 344,382
Series 199, Cl. IO, 6.50%, 8/1/28(3)
1,426,245 311,768
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., Mtg.-Backed Certificates:
11.50%,
1/1/18
55,039 61,805
13%,
5/1/19
308,213 361,649
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.-Government National
Mortgage Assn., Gtd. Multiclass Mtg. Participation Certificates,
Series 26, Cl. B, 6%, 5/25/15
2,403,999 2,434,795
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal National Mortgage Assn., Gtd. Real Estate Mtg
Investment Conduit Pass-Through Certificates,
Trust 1992-162, Cl. C, 7%,
10/25/21 350,000 366,625
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal National Mortgage Assn., Principal-Only Stripped
Mtg.-Backed Security, Trust 294, Cl. 1, 5.536%,
2/1/28(5) 471,757 406,448
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Chicago/Lennar Trust 1, Commercial Mtg
Pass-Through Certificates, Series 1997-CHL1, 8.131%,
7/25/06(2)(4) 200,000 201,437
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Union-Lehman Brothers Commercial Mortgage Trust,
Interest-Only Stripped Mtg.-Backed Security, Series 1997-C1,
9.008%,
4/18/27(3)
872,766 57,906
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Government National Mortgage Assn.:
7.50%,
5/15/24-1/15/26
453,691 467,172
11%,
10/20/19
80,660 91,802
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morgan Stanley Capital I, Inc., Commercial Mtg. Pass-Through
Certificates, Series 1996-C1, Cl. E, 7.436%,
2/15/28(2)(4) 553,342 539,336
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mortgage Capital Funding, Inc., Multifamily Mtg. Pass-Through
Certificates, Series 1996-MC1, Cl. G, 7.15%,
6/15/06(6) 250,000 205,703
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resolution Trust Corp., Commercial Mtg. Pass-Through
Certificates, Series 1995-C1, Cl. F, 6.90%,
2/25/27 119,601 112,930
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salomon Brothers, Inc., Series 1997-TZH, Cl. D, 7.902%,
3/25/22(4) 50,000 51,313
</TABLE>
13 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of Investments (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Face Market Value
Amount(1) See Note 1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>
<C> <C>
Mortgage-Backed Obligations (continued)
Structured Asset Securities Corp., Multiclass Pass-Through
Certificates, Series 1995-C4, Cl. E, 8.713%, 6/25/26(2)(4)
$ 100,000 $ 98,000
- ----------
Total Mortgage-Backed Obligations (Cost
$6,681,702) 6,996,842
=====================================================================================================
U.S. Government Obligations--18.6%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Treasury Bonds, STRIPS, 6.80%,
8/15/22(7) 750,000 202,089
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Treasury Nts.:
5.875%, 2/15/04(8)
2,925,000 3,130,666
6.25%,
2/15/03(9)(10)
707,000 758,479
6.375%, 8/15/02(8)
1,481,000 1,582,357
6.50%, 5/15/05
1,500,000 1,669,219
7.50%,
10/31/99(9)
195,000 200,728
- ----------
Total U.S. Government Obligations (Cost
$7,120,657) 7,543,538
=====================================================================================================
Foreign Government Obligations--40.9%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argentina--0.3%
Buenos Aires (Province of) Bonds, Series PBA1, 3.048%,
4/1/07(2)ARP 235,108 126,720
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City of Buenos Aires Bonds, Series 3, 10.50%, 5/28/04
ARP 10,000 6,602
- ----------
133,322
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australia--0.8%
Australia (Government of) Bonds, Series 904, 9%,
9/15/04AUD 410,000 311,300
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brazil--1.7%
Banco Nac de Desen Econo Nts.:
10.30%,
6/16/08(2)(6)
140,000 98,350
10.80%,
6/16/08(2)
455,000 319,637
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brazil (Federal Republic of) Debt Conversion Bonds,
6.188%,
4/15/12(2)
530,000 261,025
- ----------
679,012
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bulgaria--1.0%
Bulgaria (Republic of) Front-Loaded Interest Reduction
Bearer Bonds, Tranche A, 2.56%,
7/28/12(11) 750,000 409,687
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada--1.2%
Canada (Government of) Bonds:
5.50%,
9/1/02CAD
175,000 116,595
10.25%,
12/1/98CAD
560,000 365,280
- ----------
481,875
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colombia--0.8%
Financiera Energetica Nacional SA Nts., 9.375%,
6/15/06 435,000 325,163
</TABLE>
14 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Face Market Value
Amount(1) See Note 1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>
<C> <C>
Costa Rica--0.2%
Banco Central Costa Rica Interest Claim Bonds, Series A,
6.568%, 5/21/05(2)
$ 105,218 $ 101,273
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Croatia--0.4%
Croatia (Republic of) Bonds, Series B, 6.563%,
7/31/06(2) 208,099 164,919
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Denmark--2.6%
Denmark (Kingdom of) Bonds:
7%, 12/15/04DKK
3,210,000 579,617
8%, 5/15/03DKK
2,680,000 490,779
- ----------
1,070,396
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
France--0.9%
France (Government of) Bonds, Obligations Assimilables du
Tresor, 5.50%, 4/25/29FRF
1,850,000 347,330
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Germany--1.2%
Germany (Republic of) Bonds, 6.25%,
4/26/06DEM 705,000 484,210
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Britain--2.9%
United Kingdom Treasury Bonds, 6.75%,
11/26/04GBP 250,000 456,775
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Kingdom Treasury Nts., 8%,
6/10/03GBP 385,000 721,874
- ----------
1,178,649
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indonesia--0.6%
PT Bank Negara Indonesia Sr. Nts., 7.625%,
2/15/07 440,000 236,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italy--3.7%
Italy (Republic of) Treasury Bonds, Buoni del Tesoro Poliennali,
8.50%, 1/1/04ITL
2,020,000,000 1,486,056
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ivory Coast--3.0%
Ivory Coast (Government of) Front Loaded Interest
Reduction Bonds, 2%,
3/29/18(11) 850,000 211,438
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ivory Coast (Government of) Past Due Interest Bonds:
2%, 3/29/18(2)(6)
1,708,375 516,783
Series 20 yr., 2%,
3/29/18(11) 474,000
143,385
Series F, 1.90%, 3/29/18(11)FRF
7,944,437 361,632
- ----------
1,233,238
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jordan--2.1%
Hashemite (Kingdom of Jordan) Bonds, Series DEF, 5%,
12/23/23(11)
1,240,000 660,300
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hashemite (Kingdom of Jordan) Disc. Bonds, 6.563%,
12/23/23(2)
300,000 171,750
- ----------
832,050
</TABLE>
15 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of Investments (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Face Market Value
Amount(1) See Note 1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>
<C> <C>
Korea, Republic of (South)--3.6%
Export-Import Bank of Korea Unsec. Unsub. Bonds, 7.125%, 9/20/01
$ 460,000 $ 363,400
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industrial Bank of Korea Unsec. Unsub. Nts., Series 1BR, 2.80%,
7/5/01JPY
49,700,000 341,210
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Korea (Republic of) Nts., 7.813%,
4/8/00(2)(4) 355,000 323,938
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Korea Electric Power Nts., 7%,
10/1/02 515,000 430,370
- ----------
1,458,918
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mexico--1.3%
Bonos de la Tesoreria de la Federacion, Zero Coupon,
34.13%, 11/26/98(7)MXP
1,780,000 171,726
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fideicomiso Petacalco Trust Nts., 10.16%,
12/23/09 200,000 161,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Petroleos Mexicanos Debs., 14.50%,
3/31/06GBP 100,000 187,567
- ----------
520,293
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morocco--0.7%
Morocco (Kingdom of) Loan Participation Agreement,
Tranche A, 2.418%, 1/1/09(2)JPY
41,250,000 266,382
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nigeria--1.4%
Central Bank of Nigeria Gtd. Bonds, Series WW, 6.25%,
11/15/20 500,000 314,375
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nigeria (Federal Republic of) Promissory Nts., Series RC,
5.092%,
1/5/10
456,887 244,816
- ----------
559,191
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norway--1.0%
Norway (Government of) Bonds, 9.50%, 10/31/02NOK
2,655,000 414,099
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peru--1.6%
Peru (Republic of) Front-Loaded Interest Reduction Bonds,
3.25%,
3/7/17(11)
220,000 112,200
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peru (Republic of) Sr. Nts., Zero Coupon, 4.53%, 2/28/16(7)
1,310,549 551,479
- ----------
663,679
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philippines--0.4%
Philippines (Republic of) Debs., 6.563%,
12/1/09(2) 230,000 163,875
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Poland--0.4%
Poland (Republic of) Treasury Bills, Series 26, Zero Coupon,
16.50%,
2/10/99(7)PLZ
530,000 147,660
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russia--0.3%
City of St. Petersburg Unsec. Nts., 9.50%,
6/18/02 170,000 33,575
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russia (Government of) Unsec. Unsub. Bonds, 8.75%,
10/3/02(4) 430,000 86,000
- ----------
119,575
</TABLE>
16 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Face Market Value
Amount(1) See Note 1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>
<C> <C>
South Africa--0.0%
South Africa (Republic of) Bonds, Series 150, 12%,
2/28/05ZAR 190 $ 29
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spain--4.5%
Spain (Kingdom of) Gtd. Bonds, Bonos y Obligacion del Estado:
6%, 1/31/29ESP
100,760,000 764,880
6.75%, 4/15/00ESP
48,600,000 360,551
10%, 2/28/05ESP
73,410,000 686,367
- ----------
1,811,798
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turkey--1.8%
Turkey (Republic of) Treasury Bills, Zero Coupon:
78.74%, 2/3/99(7)TRL
129,414,000,000 353,574
85%, 1/27/99(7)TRL
139,000,000,000 384,576
- ----------
738,150
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vietnam--0.5%
Vietnam (Government of) Bonds, 3%,
3/12/28(2) 815,000 201,713
- ----------
Total Foreign Government Obligations (Cost
$17,685,999) 16,540,342
=====================================================================================================
Loan Participations--4.5%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Algeria (Republic of) Reprofiled Debt Loan Participation Nts.:
Tranche 1, 6.375%, 9/4/06(2)
1,115,181 532,499
Tranche A, 7.188%,
3/4/00(2) 403,090
340,612
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Algeria (Republic of) Unrestructured Nts., 6.615%, 1/22/01(4)JPY
40,500,000 274,573
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colombia (Republic of) Sr. Nts., 6.875%,
10/26/03(2)(12) 425,000 242,250
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jamaica (Government of) 1990 Refinancing Agreement Nts.,
Tranche A, 6.188%,
10/16/00(2)(4) 58,333
53,375
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morocco (Kingdom of) Loan Participation Agreement,
Tranche B, 6.563%,
1/1/04(2)(4) 64,705
52,412
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trinidad & Tobago Loan Participation Agreement,
Tranche A, 1.497%, 9/30/00(2)(4)JPY
47,772,361 338,225
- ----------
Total Loan Participations (Cost
$2,138,361) 1,833,946
=====================================================================================================
Corporate Bonds and Notes--4.9%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bakrie Investindo, Zero Coupon Promissory Nts.,
3/16/99(4)(13)IDR
850,000,000 27,778
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Gaming International, Inc., 11.50% Promissory Nts.,
8/1/95(13)
2,000 --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cellular Communications International, Inc., 0%/9.50%
Bonds,
4/1/05(14)XEU
150,000 125,665
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Empresa Electric Del Norte, 10.50% Sr. Debs.,
6/15/05(4) 100,000 66,750
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
European Bank Reconstruction & Development, Zero Coupon
Sr. Unsub. Nts., Series EMTN, 13.60%, 12/31/18(7)ZAR
12,145,000 125,837
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal National Mortgage Assn., 6.875% Sr. Unsec. Nts.,
6/7/02GBP 290,000 505,090
</TABLE>
17 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of Investments (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Face Market Value
Amount(1) See Note 1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>
<C> <C>
Corporate Bonds and Notes (continued)
Industrial Finance Corp. (Thailand), 6.875% Sr. Nts., 4/1/03
$ 230,000 $ 182,486
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internacional de Ceramica SA, 9.75% Unsec. Unsub
Nts.,
8/1/02(6)
90,000 62,325
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moran Energy, Inc., 8.75% Cv. Sub. Debs.,
1/15/08 200,000 189,549
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Netia Holdings BV, 0%/11% Sr. Disc. Nts.,
11/1/07(14)DEM 200,000 58,267
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NTL, Inc., 9.50% Sr. Unsub. Nts., Series REGS,
4/1/08GBP 65,000 87,629
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ongko International Finance Co. BV, 10.50% Gtd. Nts.,
3/29/04(4)(13) 185,000 11,562
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PT Polysindo Eka Perkasa:
11% Nts.,
6/18/03
50,000 6,000
24% Nts., 6/19/03IDR
492,900,000 7,732
Zero Coupon Promissory Nts., 3/16/99(4)(13)IDR
1,000,000,000 15,686
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reliance Industries Ltd., 10.50% Bonds,
8/6/46(6) 235,000 188,226
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Snap Ltd., 11.50% Sec. Bonds,
1/29/09DEM 449,166 230,526
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tribasa Toll Road Trust, 10.50% Nts., Series 1993-A,
12/1/11(4) 195,659 110,059
- ----------
Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost
$2,894,510) 2,001,167
<CAPTION>
Shares
=====================================================================================================
<S>
<C> <C>
Common Stocks--0.1%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air New Zealand Ltd., Cl.
B 24,000 31,765
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Optel,
Inc.(15)
45 --
- ----------
Total Common Stocks (Cost
$65,398) 31,765
<CAPTION>
Units
=====================================================================================================
<C> <C>
Rights, Warrants and Certificates--0.0%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Telecasting, Inc. Wts., Exp.
6/99(4) 500 5
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Gaming International, Inc. Wts., Exp.
2/99 3,538 --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gothic Energy Corp. Wts., Exp.
1/03(6) 325 3
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gothic Energy Corp. Wts., Exp.
9/04(4) 350 394
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ICG Communications, Inc. Wts., Exp.
9/05(4) 495 7,385
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microcell Telecommunications, Inc. Wts., Exp.
6/06(4) 100 1,813
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Orion Network Systems, Inc. Wts., Exp.
1/07(4) 50 625
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price Communications Corp. Wts., Exp.
8/07(4) 172 5,160
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protection One, Inc. Wts., Exp.
6/05(4) 640 6,400
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venezuela (Republic of) Oil Linked Payment Obligation Wts.,
Exp.
4/20
1,785 --
- ----------
Total Rights, Warrants and Certificates (Cost
$17,968) 21,785
</TABLE>
18 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Face Market Value
Amount(1) See Note 1
=====================================================================================================
<S>
<C> <C>
Structured Instruments--7.6%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Citibank, Greek Drachma Linked Nts., 11.30%, 11/30/98
$ 175,000 $ 179,882
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, GKO Linked Nts., Zero Coupon,
5/19/99(4)(13)RUR
1,760,000 21,078
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Korea Development Bank, Industrial Bank Finance Linked Nts.,
Zero Coupon, 11.50%
3/5/99(4)(7) 150,000
160,695
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., Russian S-Account
Credit Linked Nts., Zero Coupon, 1/20/99(4)(13)RUR
1,400,000 16,767
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. of New York (Nassau Branch),
Turkish Lira Currency Linked Nts., 74.10%,
11/6/98 400,000 388,066
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salomon Smith Barney Holdings, Inc./Citigroup, Inc.,
Argentine Peso Linked Nts., Zero Coupon, 65.61%,
11/30/98(7) 525,000 520,800
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard Chartered Bank, Chinese Renminbi Currency Linked Nts.:
9.50%,
11/5/98
340,000 340,034
10%,
11/4/98
340,000 340,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard Chartered Bank, Philippines Peso Linked Nts.,
14.127%,
12/14/98
270,000 287,010
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard Chartered Bank, Philippines Peso/Japanese Yen
Currency Linked Nts.:
16.45%,
1/21/99
74,000 78,840
20.25%,
11/9/98
170,000 139,485
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard Chartered Bank, Philippines Peso/Japanese Yen
Linked Nts., 22.83%,
1/19/99 170,000 135,728
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard Chartered Bank, Thai Baht/Japanese Yen Linked Nts.:
21.70%,
11/9/98
180,000 154,728
23.80%,
11/4/98
170,000 149,447
27.30%,
11/13/98
170,000 148,750
- ----------
Total Structured Instruments (Cost
$3,447,389) 3,061,310
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Date Strike
Contracts
==============================================================================================
<S> <C> <C>
<C> <C>
Call Options Purchased--0.0%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russia (Government of)
Principal Loan Debs.,
Series 24 yr., 6.625%,
12/15/20 Call Opt 11/98 22.000%
340 --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russia (Government of)
Principal Loan Debs.,
Series 24 yr., 6.625%,
12/15/20 Call Opt 11/98 33.500
340 --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russia (Government of)
Principal Loan Debs.,
Series 24 yr., 6.625%,
12/15/20 Call Opt 11/98 38.875
690 --
- ---------
Total Call Options Purchased (Cost
$58,330) --
</TABLE>
19 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of Investments (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Market Value
Date Strike
Contracts See Note 1
================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C>
<C> <C>
Put Options Purchased--0.3%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argentina (Republic of) Bonds,
Series L, 6.188%, 3/31/05
Put Opt 12/98 77.56%
648 $ 8,873
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brazil (Federal Republic of)
Interest Due & Unpaid Bonds,
6.75%, 1/1/01 Put Opt 12/98 84.85
369 5,926
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brazilian Real Put Opt 12/98 1.24BRR
340,000 5,950
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brazilian Real Put Opt 4/99 1.285BRR
600,000 65,340
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Pound/German
Mark Put Opt 11/98 2.80GBP/DEM
405,000 17,456
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Pound/German
Mark Put Opt 11/98 2.80GBP/DEM
480,000 4,800
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Pound Put Opt 11/98 1.66GBP
405,000 4,792
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hong Kong Dollar Put Opt 3/99 7.96HKD
5,430,000 3,212
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japan (Government of)
10 yr. Bonds, Series 203,
1.80%, 6/20/08 Put Opt 1/99 107.82%JPY
35,300 2,817
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Yen Put Opt 12/98 137JPY
232,900,000 361
- -----------
Total Put Options Purchased (Cost
$180,249) 119,527
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Face
Amount(1)
===================================================================================================
<S>
<C> <C>
Repurchase
Agreements--5.1%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repurchase agreement with PaineWebber, Inc.,
5.35%,
dated 10/30/98, to be repurchased at $2,050,914 on
11/2/98,
collateralized by U.S. Treasury Nts.,
5.625%-6.625%,
5/31/99-2/15/03, with a value of $2,096,114 (Cost $2,050,000)
$2,050,000 2,050,000
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Investments, at Value (Cost $42,340,563)
99.3% 40,200,222
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Assets Net of
Liabilities 0.7
269,618
- ---------- -----------
Net Assets
100.0% $40,469,840
========== ===========
</TABLE>
20 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution of investments by country of issue, as a percentage of total
investments at value, is as follows:
Country Market Value
Percent
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States $17,634,993
43.8%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spain 1,811,798
4.4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Korea, Republic of (South) 1,619,612
4.0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italy 1,486,056
3.7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ivory Coast 1,233,238
3.1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Britain 1,178,649
2.9
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Algeria 1,147,684
2.9
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turkey 1,126,216
2.8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Denmark 1,070,397
2.7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jordan 832,050
2.1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philippines 804,938
2.0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mexico 692,677
1.7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
China 680,034
1.7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brazil 679,013
1.7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peru 663,679
1.7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argentina 654,122
1.6
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thailand 635,411
1.6
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colombia 567,413
1.4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nigeria 559,191
1.4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morocco 549,320
1.4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Germany 484,210
1.2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada 483,687
1.2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norway 414,099
1.0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bulgaria 409,688
1.0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
France 347,330
0.9
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trinidad & Tobago 338,225
0.8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australia 311,300
0.8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indonesia 305,258
0.8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other 1,479,934
3.7
-----------
- -----
Total $40,200,222
100.0%
===========
=====
21 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of Investments (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Face amount is reported in U.S. Dollars, except for those denoted in the
following currencies:
ARP--Argentine Peso IDR--Indonesian Rupiah
AUD--Australian Dollar ITL--Italian Lira
BRR--Brazilian Real JPY--Japanese Yen
CAD--Canadian Dollar MXP--Mexican Peso
DEM--German Mark NOK--Norwegian Krone
DKK--Danish Krone PLZ--Polish Zloty
ESP--Spanish Peseta RUR--Russian Ruble
FRF--French Franc TRL--Turkish Lira
GBP--British Pound ZEU--European Currency Units
HKD--Hong Kong Dollar ZAR--South African Rand
2. Represents the current interest rate for a variable rate security.
3. Interest-Only Strips represent the right to receive the monthly interest
payments on an underlying pool of mortgage loans. These securities typically
decline in price as interest rates decline. Most other fixed income securities
increase in price when interest rates decline. The principal amount of the
underlying pool represents the notional amount on which current interest is
calculated. The price of these securities is typically more sensitive to changes
in prepayment rates than traditional mortgage-backed securities (for example,
GNMA pass-throughs). Interest rates disclosed represent current yields based
upon the current cost basis and estimated timing and amount of future cash
flows.
4. Identifies issues considered to be illiquid or restricted--See Note 8 of
Notes to Financial Statements.
5. Principal-Only Strips represent the right to receive the monthly principal
payments on an underlying pool of mortgage loans. The value of these securities
generally increases as interest rates decline and prepayment rates rise. The
price of these securities is typically more volatile than that of coupon-bearing
bonds of the same maturity. Interest rates disclosed represent current yields
based upon the current cost basis and estimated timing of future cash flows.
6. Represents securities sold under Rule 144A, which are exempt from
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities have
been determined to be liquid under guidelines established by the Board of
Trustees. These securities amount to $1,071,390 or 2.65% of the Fund's net
assets as of October 31, 1998.
22 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. For zero coupon bonds, the interest rate shown is the effective yield on the
date of purchase.
8. A sufficient amount of liquid assets has been designated to cover outstanding
written options, as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Contracts Expiration Exercise
Premium Market Value
Subject to Call/Put Date Price
Received See Note 1
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
<C> <C>
Argentine Peso Put Opt. 649 12/7/98 64.563ARP $
15,891 $ 466
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brazilian Real Call Opt. 600,000 4/6/99
1.218BRR 6,600 6,390
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brazilian Real Put Opt. 600,000 4/6/99 1.414BRR
13,680 46,830
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Pound Call Opt. 400,000 12/30/98 1.700GBP
10,200 5,960
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Pound Call Opt. 480,000 11/3/98
1.702GBP 8,782 72
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Pound Call Opt. 405,000 11/25/98
1.710GBP 2,544 2,156
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British
Pound/German
Mark Call Opt. 405,000 11/13/98
2.900GBP/DEM 4,180 122
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Yen Call Opt. 214,625,000 12/18/98 126.250JPY
21,505 206,040
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Russian Ruble Put Opt. 340 11/9/98 29.500RUR
17,170 74,290
- -------- --------
$100,552 $342,326
======== ========
</TABLE>
9. Securities with an aggregate market value of $201,663 are held in
collateralized accounts to cover initial margin requirements on open futures
sales contracts. See Note 6 of Notes to Financial Statements.
10. A sufficient amount of securities has been designated to cover outstanding
forward foreign currency exchange contracts. See Note 5 of Notes to Financial
Statements.
11. Represents the current interest rate for an increasing rate security.
12. When-issued security to be delivered and settled after October 31, 1998.
13. Non-income producing--issuer is in default.
14. Denotes a step bond: a zero coupon bond that converts to a fixed or variable
interest rate at a designated future date.
15. Non-income producing security.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
23 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of Assets and Liabilities October 31, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===================================================================================
<S>
<C>
Assets
Investments, at value (cost $42,340,563)--see accompanying statement
$40,200,222
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash
28,816
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency
exchange contracts--Note 5
29,917
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Receivables and other assets:
Investments sold
1,609,261
Interest, dividends and principal paydowns 706,904 Closed forward foreign
currency exchange contracts 60,596 Shares of beneficial interest sold 36,768
Daily variation on futures contracts--Note 6 1,006 Other 7,620
- ------------
Total assets
42,681,110
===================================================================================
Liabilities
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency
exchange contracts--Note 5
127,254
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options written, at value (premiums received $100,552)--
see accompanying statement--Note 7
342,326
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payables and other liabilities:
Investments purchased (including $242,250 purchased on a when-issued
basis)--Note 1 1,242,299 Dividends 243,396 Trustees' fees--Note 1 78,126 Closed
forward foreign currency exchange contracts 70,270 Shares of beneficial interest
redeemed 41,912 Daily variation on futures contracts--Note 6 26,500 Distribution
and service plan fees 16,223 Shareholder reports 7,174 Other 15,790
- ------------
Total liabilities
2,211,270
====================================================================================
Net Assets
$40,469,840
============
===================================================================================
Composition of Net Assets
Par value of shares of capital stock $
55,194
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional paid-in capital
50,476,440
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Undistributed net investment income
56,324
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated net realized loss on investments and
foreign currency transactions
(7,700,278)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net unrealized depreciation on investments and translation of
assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies
(2,417,840)
- ------------
Net assets
$40,469,840
============
</TABLE>
24 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
Net Asset Value Per Share
Class A Shares:
Net asset value and redemption price per share (based on net assets of
$38,949,707 and 5,312,076 shares of beneficial interest outstanding) $7.33
Maximum offering price per share (net asset value plus sales charge of 4.75% of
offering price) $7.70
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B Shares:
Net asset value, redemption price (excludes applicable contingent deferred sales
charge) and offering price per share (based on net assets of $932,824 and
127,160 shares of beneficial interest outstanding) $7.34
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C Shares:
Net asset value, redemption price (excludes applicable contingent deferred sales
charge) and offering price per share (based on net assets of $587,309 and 80,130
shares of beneficial interest outstanding) $7.33
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
25 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of Operations For the Year Ended October 31, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
Investment Income
Interest (net of foreign withholding taxes of $60,881) $
5,130,024
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $196)
2,389
- -----------
Total income
5,132,413
================================================================================
Expenses
Management fees--Note 4
341,029
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholder reports
95,863
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trustees' fees and expenses--Note 1
63,106
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and service plan fees--Note 4:
Class A
55,413
Class B
1,728
Class C
1,287
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative fees--Note 4
52,776
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Custodian fees and expenses
28,903
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transfer and shareholder servicing agent fees--Note 4
24,943
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Legal, auditing and other professional fees
21,906
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Registration and filing fees:
Class A
17,783
Class B
306
Class C
191
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accounting service fees--Note 4
18,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Insurance expenses
4,997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other
35,826
- -----------
Net expenses
764,057
================================================================================
Net Investment Income
4,368,356
================================================================================
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss) on:
Investments
(3,257,168)
Closing of futures contracts
14,588
Closing and expiration of option contracts written--Note 7
188,603
- -----------
Net realized loss
(3,053,977)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on:
Investments
(2,738,173)
Translation of assets and liabilities denominated in
foreign currencies
257,315
- -----------
Net change
(2,480,858)
- -----------
Net realized and unrealized loss
(5,534,835)
================================================================================
Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations
$(1,166,479)
===========
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
26 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended October
31,
1998 1997
======================================================================================
<S> <C>
<C>
Operations
Net investment income $ 4,368,356 $
4,787,360
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain (loss) (3,053,977)
1,085,931
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation (2,480,858)
(1,609,166)
------------
- ------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting
from operations (1,166,479)
4,264,125
======================================================================================
Dividends to Shareholders Dividends from net investment income:
Class A (3,921,503)
(4,445,641)
Class B
(8,405) --
Class C
(6,104) --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax return of capital:
Class A
(313,635) --
Class B
(7,511) --
Class C
(4,729) --
======================================================================================
Beneficial Interest Transactions Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting
from beneficial interest transactions--Note 2:
Class A
(10,446,596) --
Class B
963,214 --
Class C
600,668 --
======================================================================================
Net Assets
Total decrease (14,311,080)
(181,516)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning of period 54,780,920
54,962,436
------------
- ------------
End of period (including undistributed net investment
income of $56,324 and $82,750, respectively) $ 40,469,840 $
54,780,920
============
============
</TABLE>
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
27 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Highlights
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class
A
- --------------------------
Year Ended October
31,
1998
1997
================================================================================
Per Share Operating Data
Net asset value, beginning of period $8.28
$8.31
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from investment operations:
Net investment income .72
.72
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) (.97)
(.08)
-----
- -----
Total income (loss) from investment operations (.25)
.64
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends and distributions to shareholders:
Dividends from net investment income (.64)
(.67)
Tax return of capital distribution (.06)
- --
-----
- -----
Total dividends and distributions to shareholders (.70)
(.67)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value, end of period $7.33
$8.28
=====
=====
Market value, end of period N/A
$8.06
=====
=====
================================================================================
Total Return, at Net Asset Value(2) (3.25)%
7.94%
================================================================================
Total Return, at Market Value(3) N/A
16.42%
================================================================================
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) $38,950
$54,781
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average net assets (in thousands) $48,542
$55,339
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratios to average net assets:
Net investment income 8.94%
8.65%
Expenses 1.56%
1.20%(6)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio turnover rate(7) 343.7%
289.2%
1. For the period from April 27, 1998 (inception of offering) to October 31,
1998.
2. Assumes a hypothetical initial investment on the business day before the
first day of the fiscal period (or inception of offering), with all dividends
and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the reinvestment date, and
redemption at the net asset value calculated on the last business day of the
fiscal period. Sales charges are not reflected in the total returns. Total
returns are not annualized for periods of less than one full year. Prior to
April 27, 1998, the Fund operated as a closed-end investment company and total
return was calculated based on market value.
3. Assumes a hypothetical purchase at the current market price on the business
day before the first day of the fiscal period (or inception of offering), with
all dividends and distributions reinvested in additional shares on the
reinvestment date, and a sale at the current market price on the last business
day of the period. Total return does not reflect sales charges or brokerage
commissions. Total returns are not annualized for periods of less than one full
year.
28 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B Class C
- ------------------------------------- ------- -------
Period Period
Ended Ended
Oct. 31, Oct. 31,
1996 1995 1994 1998(1) 1998(1)
==========================================================================
$7.91 $7.93 $8.54 $8.15 $8.15
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
.73 .71 .69 .25 .34
.34 (.05) (.61) (.73) (.83)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
1.07 .66 .08 (.48) (.49)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
(.67) (.68) (.68) (.27) (.27)
-- -- (.01) (.06) (.06)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
(.67) (.68) (.69) (.33) (.33)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
$8.31 $7.91 $7.93 $7.34 $7.33
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
$7.50 $7.00 $7.00 N/A N/A
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
==========================================================================
14.14% 8.81% 0.98% (5.93)% (6.09)%
==========================================================================
16.40% 9.09% (4.84)% N/A N/A
==========================================================================
$54,962 $52,340 $52,439 $933 $587
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
$53,309 $51,207 $54,380 $340 $253
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.04% 9.20% 8.90% 10.97%(4)(5)
9.24%(4)(5)
1.28% 1.24% 1.24% 2.74%(4)(5)
2.62%(4)(5)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
260.8% 344.2% 315.5% 343.7% 343.7%
4. This information may not be representative of future ratios.
5. Annualized.
6. The expense ratio reflects the effect of expenses paid indirectly by the
Fund.
7. The lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for a period,
divided by the monthly average of the market value of portfolio securities owned
during the period. Securities with a maturity or expiration date at the time of
acquisition of one year or less are excluded from the calculation. Purchases and
sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities and mortgage
dollar-rolls) for the period ended October 31, 1998, were $147,777,693 and
$174,181,562, respectively. Prior to the period ended October 31, 1996,
purchases and sales of investment securities included mortgage dollar-rolls.
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
29 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes to Financial Statements
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
1. Significant Accounting Policies
Oppenheimer World Bond Fund (the Fund) was initially registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified, closed-end
management investment company. Effective April 27, 1998, the Fund began
operating as an open-end fund. The Fund's investment objective is to seek high
current income consistent with preservation of capital through investments in
debt securities. The Fund's investment advisor is OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (the
Manager). The Fund offers Class A, Class B and Class C shares. Class A shares
are sold with a front-end sales charge. Class B and Class C shares may be
subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. All classes of shares have
identical rights to earnings, assets and voting privileges, except that each
class has its own distribution and/or service plan, expenses directly
attributable to that class and exclusive voting rights with respect to matters
affecting that class. Class B shares will automatically convert to Class A
shares six years after the date of purchase. The following is a summary of
significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Valuation. Portfolio securities are valued at the close of the New
York Stock Exchange on each trading day. Listed and unlisted securities for
which such information is regularly reported are valued at the last sale price
of the day or, in the absence of sales, at values based on the closing bid or
the last sale price on the prior trading day. Long-term and short-term
"non-money market" debt securities are valued by a portfolio pricing service
approved by the Board of Trustees. Such securities which cannot be valued by an
approved portfolio pricing service are valued using dealer-supplied valuations
provided the Manager is satisfied that the firm rendering the quotes is reliable
and that the quotes reflect current market value, or are valued under
consistently applied procedures established by the Board of Trustees to
determine fair value in good faith. Short-term "money market type" debt
securities having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at cost (or
last determined market value) adjusted for amortization to maturity of any
premium or discount. Forward foreign currency contracts are valued based on the
closing prices of the forward currency contract rates in the London foreign
exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer.
Options are valued based upon the last sale price on the principal exchange on
which the option is traded or, in the absence of any transactions that day, the
value is based upon the last sale price on the prior trading date if it is
within the spread between the closing bid and asked prices. If the last sale
price is outside the spread, the closing bid is used.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Structured Notes. The Fund invests in foreign currency-linked structured notes
whereby the market value and redemption price are linked to foreign currency
exchange rates. The structured notes may be leveraged, which increases the
notes' volatility relative to the face of the security. Fluctuations in values
of the securities are recorded as unrealized gains and losses in the
accompanying financial statements. During the year ended October 31, 1998, the
market value of these securities comprised an average of 13% of the Fund's net
assets, and resulted in realized and unrealized losses of $2,330,886.
30 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
Securities Purchased on a When-Issued Basis. Delivery and payment for securities
that have been purchased by the Fund on a forward commitment or when-issued
basis can take place a month or more after the transaction date. During this
period, such securities do not earn interest, are subject to market fluctuation
and may increase or decrease in value prior to their delivery. The Fund
maintains, in a segregated account with its custodian, assets with a market
value equal to the amount of its purchase commitments. The purchase of
securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis may increase the
volatility of the Fund's net asset value to the extent the Fund makes such
purchases while remaining substantially fully invested. As of October 31, 1998,
the Fund had entered into outstanding when-issued or forward commitments of
$242,250.
In connection with its ability to purchase securities on a
when-issued or forward commitment basis, the Fund may enter into mortgage
dollar-rolls in which the Fund sells securities for delivery in the current
month and simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase
similar (same type, coupon and maturity) but not identical securities on a
specified future date. The Fund records each dollar-roll as a sale and a new
purchase transaction.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Security Credit Risk. The Fund invests in high yield securities, which may be
subject to a greater degree of credit risk, greater market fluctuations and risk
of loss of income and principal, and may be more sensitive to economic
conditions than lower yielding, higher rated fixed income securities. The Fund
may acquire securities in default, and is not obligated to dispose of securities
whose issuers subsequently default. As of October 31, 1998, securities with an
aggregate market value of $92,869, representing 0. 23% of the Fund's net assets,
were in default.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign Currency Translation. The accounting records of the Fund are
maintained
in U.S. dollars. Prices of securities denominated in foreign currencies are
translated into U.S. dollars at the closing rates of exchange. Amounts related
to the purchase and sale of foreign securities and investment income are
translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such
transactions.
The effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on
investments is separately identified from the fluctuations arising from changes
in market values of securities held and reported with all other foreign currency
gains and losses in the Fund's Statement of Operations.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund requires the custodian to take possession, to
have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System or to have
segregated within the custodian's vault, all securities held as collateral for
repurchase agreements. The market value of the underlying securities is required
to be at least 102% of the resale price at the time of purchase. If the seller
of the agreement defaults and the value of the collateral declines, or if the
seller enters an insolvency proceeding, realization of the value of the
collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited.
31 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
1. Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Federal Taxes. The Fund intends to continue to comply with provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to
distribute all of its taxable income, including any net realized gain on
investments not offset by loss carryovers, to shareholders. Therefore, no
federal income or excise tax provision is required. As of October 31, 1998, the
Fund had available for federal income tax purposes an unused capital loss
carryover of approximately $7,574,000, which expires between 2002 and 2006.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trustees' Fees and Expenses. The Fund has adopted a nonfunded retirement plan
for the Fund's independent trustees. Benefits are based on years of service and
fees paid to each trustee during the years of service. During the year ended
October 31, 1998, a provision of $40,565 was made for the Fund's projected
benefit obligations and payments of $3,017 were made to retired trustees,
resulting in an accumulated liability of $78,126 as of October 31, 1998.
The Board of Trustees has adopted a deferred compensation plan for
independent Trustees that enables Trustees to elect to defer receipt of all or a
portion of annual fees they are entitled to receive from the Fund. Under the
plan, the compensation deferred is periodically adjusted as though an equivalent
amount had been invested for the Trustee in shares of one or more Oppenheimer
funds selected by the Trustee. The amount paid to the Trustee under the plan
will be determined based upon the performance of the selected funds. Deferral of
Trustees' fees under the plan will not affect the net assets of the Fund, and
will not materially affect the Fund's assets, liabilities or net income per
share.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distributions to Shareholders. The Fund intends to declare dividends separately
for Class A, Class B and Class C shares from net investment income each day the
New York Stock Exchange is open for business and pay such dividends monthly.
Distributions from net realized gains on investments, if any, will be declared
at least once each year.
32 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
Classification of Distributions to Shareholders. Net investment income (loss)
and net realized gain (loss) may differ for financial statement and tax purposes
primarily because of paydown gains and losses and the recognition of certain
foreign currency gains (losses) as ordinary income (loss) for tax purposes. The
character of the distributions made during the year from net investment income
or net realized gains may differ from its ultimate characterization for federal
income tax purposes. Also, due to timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal
year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the fiscal year that the
income or realized gain was recorded by the Fund.
The Fund adjusts the classification of distributions to shareholders
to reflect the differences between financial statement amounts and distributions
determined in accordance with income tax regulations. Accordingly, during the
year ended October 31, 1998, amounts have been reclassified to reflect a
decrease in additional paid-in capital of $325,875, a decrease in undistributed
net investment income of $132,895, and a decrease in accumulated net realized
loss on investments of $458,770.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other. Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the investments are
purchased or sold (trade date) and dividend income is recorded on the
ex-dividend date. Discount on securities purchased is amortized over the life of
the respective securities, in accordance with federal income tax requirements.
Realized gains and losses on investments and unrealized appreciation and
depreciation are determined on an identified cost basis, which is the same basis
used for federal income tax purposes. Dividends-in-kind are recognized as income
on the ex-dividend date, at the current market value of the underlying security.
Interest on payment-in-kind debt instruments is accrued as income at the coupon
rate and a market adjustment is made periodically.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
33 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
2. Shares of Beneficial Interest
The Fund has authorized an unlimited number of $.01 par value shares of
beneficial interest of each class. There were no transactions in shares of
beneficial interest for the year ended October 31, 1997, since the Fund operated
as a closed-end fund. Transactions in shares of beneficial interest for the year
ended October 31, 1998 were as follows:
Shares Amount
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A:
Sold 286,833 $
2,178,396
Dividends reinvested 74,607
566,615
Redeemed (1,664,869)
(13,191,607)
----------
- ------------
Net decrease (1,303,429)
$(10,446,596)
==========
============
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B:
Sold 131,607 $
995,498
Dividends reinvested 1,934
14,358
Redeemed (6,381)
(46,642)
----------
- ------------
Net increase 127,160 $
963,214
==========
============
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class C:
Sold 118,968 $
899,891
Dividends reinvested 738
5,675
Redeemed (39,576)
(304,898)
----------
- ------------
Net increase 80,130 $
600,668
==========
============
================================================================================
3. Unrealized Gains and Losses on Investments
As of October 31, 1998, net unrealized depreciation on investments and options
written of $2,382,115 was composed of gross appreciation of $1,643,667, and
gross depreciation of $4,025,782.
================================================================================
4. Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates
Management fees paid to the Manager were in accordance with the investment
advisory agreement with the Fund which provides for a fee of 0.75% of the first
$200 million of average annual net assets, 0.72% of the next $200 million,
0.69%
of the next $200 million, 0.66% of the next $200 million, 0.60% of the next $200
million and 0.58% of average annual net assets in excess of $1 billion. Prior to
April 27, 1998, when the Fund was still organized as a closed-end investment
company, management fees were paid to the Manager at an annual fee of 0.65% on
the Fund's average annual net assets. The Manager acts as the accounting agent
for the Fund at an annual fee of $18,000, plus out-of-pocket costs and expenses
reasonably incurred.
34 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
For the year ended October 31, 1998, commissions (sales charges paid by
investors) on sales of Class A shares totaled $23,884, of which $6,486 was
retained by OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. (OFDI), a subsidiary of the
Manager, as general distributor, and by an affiliated broker/dealer. Sales
charges advanced to broker/dealers by OFDI on sales of the Fund's Class B and
Class C shares totaled $22,555 and $4,345, respectively, of which $1,804 was
paid to an affiliated broker/dealer for Class B shares.
OppenheimerFunds Services (OFS), a division of the Manager, is the
transfer and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund and other Oppenheimer
funds. OFS's total costs of providing such services are allocated ratably to
these funds.
The Fund has adopted a Service Plan for Class A shares to reimburse
OFDI for a portion of its costs incurred in connection with the personal service
and maintenance of shareholder accounts that hold Class A shares. Reimbursement
is made quarterly at an annual rate that may not exceed 0.25% of the average
annual net assets of Class A shares of the Fund. OFDI uses the service fee to
reimburse brokers, dealers, banks and other financial institutions quarterly for
providing personal service and maintenance of accounts of their customers that
hold Class A shares.
The Fund has adopted Distribution and Service Plans for Class B and
Class C shares to compensate OFDI for its costs in distributing Class B and
Class C shares and servicing accounts. Under the Plans, the Fund pays OFDI an
annual asset-based sales charge of 0.75% per year on Class B and Class C shares,
for its services rendered in distributing Class B and Class C shares. OFDI also
receives a service fee of 0.25% per year to compensate dealers for providing
personal services for accounts that hold Class B and Class C shares. Each fee is
computed on the average annual net assets of Class B or Class C shares,
determined as of the close of each regular business day. During the year ended
October 31, 1998, OFDI retained $1,344 as compensation for Class B sales
commissions and service fee advances, as well as financing costs. If either Plan
is terminated by the Fund, the Board of Trustees may allow the Fund to continue
payments of the asset-based sales charge to OFDI for distributing shares before
the Plan was terminated. As of October 31, 1998, OFDI had incurred excess
distribution and servicing costs of $27,180 for Class B and $7,246 for Class C.
35 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
5. Forward Contracts
A forward foreign currency exchange contract (forward contract) is a commitment
to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date, at a negotiated rate.
The Fund uses forward contracts to seek to manage foreign currency
risks. They may also be used to tactically shift portfolio currency risk. The
Fund generally enters into forward contracts as a hedge upon the purchase or
sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency. In addition, the Fund may
enter into such contracts as a hedge against changes in foreign currency
exchange rates on portfolio positions.
Forward contracts are valued based on the closing prices of the
forward currency contract rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a
daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. The Fund will realize a
gain or loss upon the closing or settlement of the forward transaction.
Securities held in segregated accounts to cover net exposure on
outstanding forward contracts are noted in the Statement of Investments where
applicable. Unrealized appreciation or depreciation on forward contracts is
reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Realized gains and losses
are reported with all other foreign currency gains and losses in the Fund's
Statement of Operations.
Risks include the potential inability of the counterparty to meet
the terms of the contract and unanticipated movements in the value of a foreign
currency relative to the U.S. dollar.
As of October 31, 1998, the Fund had outstanding forward contracts as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Contract
Amount Valuation as of
Unrealized Unrealized
Contract Description Expiration Dates (000s) October 31, 1998
Appreciation Depreciation
=========================================================================================================
<S> <C> <C> <C>
<C> <C>
Contracts to
Purchase
French Franc (FRF) 11/3/98 2FRF $ 410
$ -- $ 3
German Mark (DEM) 11/17/98 1,615DEM
975,463 -- 5,205
Japanese Yen (JPY) 11/13/98 195,300JPY
1,678,845 28,732 --
- ------- ----------
28,732 5,208
- ------- ----------
Contracts to
Sell
Australian Dollar (AUD) 11/17/98 610AUD
380,907 215 --
Brazilian Real (BRR) 11/16/98-3/4/99 1,380BRR
1,096,665 -- 107,297
Canadian Dollar (CAD) 12/7/98 725CAD
470,033 -- 1,475
South African Rand (ZAR) 11/16/98 820ZAR
145,960 -- 13,274
Swedish Krona (SEK) 11/9/98 3,210SEK
410,860 970 --
- ------- ----------
1,185 122,046
- ------- ----------
Total Unrealized Appreciation and Depreciation
$29,917 $ 127,254
======= ==========
</TABLE>
36 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
6. Futures Contracts
The Fund may buy and sell interest rate futures contracts in order to gain
exposure to or protect against changes in interest rates. The Fund may also buy
or write put or call options on these futures contracts.
The Fund generally sells futures contracts to hedge against
increases in interest rates and the resulting negative effect on the value of
fixed rate portfolio securities. The Fund may also purchase futures contracts to
gain exposure to changes in interest rates as it may be more efficient or cost
effective than actually buying fixed income securities.
Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to
deposit either cash or securities (initial margin) in an amount equal to a
certain percentage of the contract value. Subsequent payments (variation margin)
are made or received by the Fund each day. The variation margin payments are
equal to the daily changes in the contract value and are recorded as unrealized
gains and losses. The Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract
is closed or expires.
Securities held in collateralized accounts to cover initial margin
requirements on open futures contracts are noted in the Statement of
Investments. The Statement of Assets and Liabilities reflects a receivable
and/or payable for the daily mark to market for variation margin.
Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options)
include the possibility that there may be an illiquid market and that a change
in the value of the contract or option may not correlate with changes in the
value of the underlying securities.
As of October 31, 1998, the Fund had outstanding futures contracts as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Unrealized
Number of Valuation as
of Appreciation
Contract Description Expiration Date Contracts October 31,
1998 (Depreciation)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
<C> <C>
Contracts to
Purchase
German Mark 12/14/98 10 $
757,000 $ 55,875
United Kingdom Gilt 12/29/98 1
191,971 4,287
U.S. Treasury Nts., 20 yr. 12/21/98 30
3,867,188 (4,602)
- ----------
$ 55,560
==========
</TABLE>
37 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
7. Option Activity
The Fund may buy and sell put and call options, or write put and covered call
options on portfolio securities in order to produce incremental earnings or
protect against changes in the value of portfolio securities.
The Fund generally purchases put options or writes covered call
options to hedge against adverse movements in the value of portfolio holdings.
When an option is written, the Fund receives a premium and becomes obligated to
sell or purchase the underlying security at a fixed price, upon exercise of the
option.
Options are valued daily based upon the last sale price on the
principal exchange on which the option is traded and unrealized appreciation or
depreciation is recorded. The Fund will realize a gain or loss upon the
expiration or closing of the option transaction. When an option is exercised,
the proceeds on sales for a written call option, the purchase cost for a written
put option, or the cost of the security for a purchased put or call option is
adjusted by the amount of premium received or paid.
Securities designated to cover outstanding call options are noted in
the Statement of Investments where applicable. Shares subject to call,
expiration date, exercise price, premium received and market value are detailed
in a footnote to the Statement of Investments. Options written are reported as a
liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Gains and losses are
reported in the Statement of Operations.
The risk in writing a call option is that the Fund gives up the
opportunity for profit if the market price of the security increases and the
option is exercised. The risk in writing a put option is that the Fund may incur
a loss if the market price of the security decreases and the option is
exercised. The risk in buying an option is that the Fund pays a premium whether
or not the option is exercised. The Fund also has the additional risk of not
being able to enter into a closing transaction if a liquid secondary market does
not exist.
Written option activity for the year ended October 31, 1998 was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Call Options Put Options
--------------------------
- --------------------------
Number of Amount of Number of
Amount of
Options Premiums Options
Premiums
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
<C>
Options outstanding as of
October 31, 1997 216,560,000 $ 25,776 296,705,175 $
51,903
Options written 744,924,275 200,116 549,616,063
192,139
Options closed or expired (744,058,775) (156,030) (534,735,249)
(169,657)
Options exercised (510,500) (16,050) (310,985,000)
(27,645)
------------ --------- ------------
- ---------
Options outstanding as of
October 31, 1998 216,915,000 $ 53,812 600,989 $
46,740
============ ========= ============
=========
</TABLE>
38 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================================================
8. Illiquid and Restricted Securities
As of October 31, 1998, investments in securities included issues that are
illiquid or restricted. Restricted securities are often purchased in private
placement transactions, are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, may
have contractual restrictions on resale, and are valued under methods approved
by the Board of Trustees as reflecting fair value. A security may be considered
illiquid if it lacks a readily available market or if its valuation has not
changed for a certain period of time. The Fund intends to invest no more than
10% of its net assets (determined at the time of purchase and reviewed
periodically) in illiquid or restricted securities. Certain restricted
securities, eligible for resale to qualified institutional investors, are not
subject to that limit. The aggregate value of illiquid or restricted securities
subject to this limitation at October 31, 1998 was $2,788,515, which represents
6.89% of the Fund's net assets.
================================================================================
9. Bank Borrowings
The Fund may borrow from a bank for temporary or emergency purposes including,
without limitation, funding of shareholder redemptions provided asset coverage
for borrowings exceeds 300%. The Fund has entered into an agreement which
enables it to participate with other Oppenheimer funds in an unsecured line of
credit with a bank, which permits borrowings up to $400 million, collectively.
Interest is charged to each fund, based on its borrowings, at a rate equal to
the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.35%. Borrowings are payable 30 days after such
loan is executed. The Fund also pays a commitment fee equal to its pro rata
share of the average unutilized amount of the credit facility at a rate of
0.0575% per annum.
The Fund had no borrowings outstanding during the period ended
October 31, 1998.
39 Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
A-1
Appendix A
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATINGS DEFINITIONS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below are summaries of the rating definitions used by the nationally-recognized
rating agencies listed below. Those ratings represent the opinion of the agency
as to the credit quality of issues that they rate. The summaries below are based
upon publicly-available information provided by the rating organizations.
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-Term (Taxable) Bond Ratings
Aaa: Bonds rated Aaa are judged to be the best quality. They carry the smallest
degree of investment risk. Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, the changes that can be expected are
most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa: Bonds rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together
with the Aaa group, they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds.
They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not
be as large as with Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be
of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the
long-term risks appear somewhat larger than those of Aaa securities.
A: Bonds rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be
considered as upper-medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to
principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which
suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa: Bonds rated Baa are considered medium grade obligations; that is, they are
neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal
security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be
lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time.
Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and have speculative
characteristics as well.
Ba: Bonds rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements. Their future cannot
be considered well-assured. Often the protection of interest and principal
payments may be very moderate and not well safeguarded during both good and bad
times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this
class.
B: Bonds rated B generally lack characteristics of desirable investment.
Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of
the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa: Bonds rated Caa are of poor standing and may be in default or there may
be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca: Bonds rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high
degree and are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C: Bonds rated C are the lowest class of rated bonds and can be regarded as
having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 in each generic rating
classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier "1" indicates that the
obligation ranks in the higher end of its category; the modifier "2" indicates a
mid-range ranking and the modifier "3" indicates a ranking in the lower end of
the category. Short-Term Ratings - Taxable Debt
These ratings apply to the ability of issuers to repay punctually senior debt
obligations having an original maturity not exceeding one year:
Prime-1: Issuer has a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt
obligations.
Prime-2: Issuer has a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt
obligations. Earnings trends and coverage, while sound, may be subject to
variation. Capitalization characteristics, while appropriate, may be more
affected by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
Prime-3: Issuer has an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term
obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market compositions may
be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result in
changes in the level of debt protection measurements and may require relatively
high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.
Not Prime: Issuer does not fall within any Prime rating category.
Standard & Poor's Rating Services
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-Term Credit Ratings
AAA: Bonds rated "AAA" have the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's.
The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is
extremely strong.
AA: Bonds rated "AA" differ from the highest rated obligations only in small
degree. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation is very strong.
A: Bonds rated "A" are somewhat more susceptible to adverse effects of changes
in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated
categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on
the obligation is still strong.
BBB: Bonds rated BBB exhibit adequate protection parameters. However, adverse
economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a
weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the
obligation.
Bonds rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C are regarded as having significant speculative
characteristics. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest.
While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective
characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major
exposures to adverse conditions.
BB: Bonds rated BB are less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative
issues. However, these face major uncertainties or exposure to adverse business,
financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor's inadequate
capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B: A bond rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than an obligation rated BB,
but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on
the obligation.
CCC: A bond rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent
upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to
meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse
business, financial or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have
the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CC: An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
C: The C rating may used where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or
similar action has been taken, but payments on this obligation are being
continued.
D: Bonds rated D are in default. Payments on the obligation are not being
made on the date due.
The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or
minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories. The
"r" symbol is attached to the ratings of instruments with significant noncredit
risks.
Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings
A-1: Rated in the highest category. The obligor's capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, a plus (+) sign
designation indicates the issuer's capacity to meet its financial obligation is
very strong.
A-2: Obligation is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes
in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating
categories. However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial commitment on
the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3: Exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic
conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened
capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B: Regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor
currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor's
inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
C: Currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable
business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its
financial commitment on the obligation.
D: In payment default. Payments on the obligation have not been made on the
due date. The rating may also be used if a bankruptcy petition has been filed
or similar actions jeopardize payments on the obligation.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fitch IBCA, Inc.
International Long-Term Credit Ratings
Investment Grade:
AAA: Highest Credit Quality. "AAA" ratings denote the lowest expectation of
credit risk. They are assigned only in the case of exceptionally strong
capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly
unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA: Very High Credit Quality. "AA" ratings denote a very low expectation of
credit risk. They indicate a very strong capacity for timely payment of
financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to
foreseeable events.
A: High Credit Quality. "A" ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk.
The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered
strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in
circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB: Good Credit Quality. "BBB" ratings indicate that there is currently a
low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial
commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and
in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the
lowest investment-grade category.
Speculative Grade:
BB: Speculative. "BB" ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit
risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over
time. However, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow
financial commitments to be met.
B: Highly Speculative. "B" ratings indicate that significant credit risk is
present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are
currently being met. However, capacity for continued payment is contingent
upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
CCC, CC C: High Default Risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for
meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable
business or economic developments. A "CC" rating indicates that default of
some kind appears probable. "C" ratings signal imminent default.
DDD, DD, and D: Default. Securities are not meeting current obligations and
are extremely speculative. DDD" designates the highest potential for recovery
of amounts outstanding on any securities involved.
Plus (+) and minus (-) signs may be appended to a rating symbol to denote
relative status within the rating category. Plus and minus signs are not added
to the "AAA" category or to categories below "CCC."
International Short-Term Credit Ratings
F1: Highest credit quality. Strongest capacity for timely payment. May have an
added "+" to denote exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2: Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment, but the
margin of safety is not as great as in higher ratings.
F3: Fair credit quality. Capacity for timely payment is adequate. However,
near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.
B: Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment, plus vulnerability to
near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C: High default risk. Default is a real possibility, Capacity for
meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable
business and economic environment.
D: Default. Denotes actual or imminent payment default.
Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. Ratings
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-Term Debt and Preferred Stock
AAA: Highest credit quality. The risk factors are negligible, being only
slightly more than for risk-free U.S. Treasury debt.
AA+, AA, AA-: High credit quality. Protection factors are strong. Risk is modest
but may vary slightly from time to time because of economic conditions.
A+, A & A-: Protection factors are average but adequate. However, risk factors
are more variable in periods of greater economic stress.
BBB+, BBB & BBB-: Below average protection factors but still considered
sufficient for prudent investment. Considerable variability in risk during
economic cycles. BB+, BB & BB-: Below investment grade but deemed likely to meet
obligations when due. Present or prospective financial protection factors
fluctuate according to industry conditions. Overall quality may move up or down
frequently within the category.
B+, B & B-: Below investment grade and possessing risk that obligations will not
be met when due. Financial protection factors will fluctuate widely according to
economic cycles, industry conditions and/or company fortunes. Potential exists
for frequent changes in the rating within this category or into a higher of
lower rating grade.
CCC: Well below investment-grade securities. Considerable uncertainty exists as
to timely payment of principal, interest or preferred dividends. Protection
factors are narrow and risk can be substantial with unfavorable
economic/industry conditions, and/or with unfavorable company developments.
DD: Defaulted debt obligations. Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal
and/or interest payments.
DP: Preferred stock with dividend arrearages.
Short-Term Debt:
High Grade:
D-1+: Highest certainty of timely payment. Safety is just below risk-free
U.S. Treasury short-term debt.
D-1: Very high certainty of timely payment. Risk factors are minor.
D-1-: High certainty of timely payment. Risk factors are very small.
Good Grade:
D-2: Good certainty of timely payment. Risk factors are small.
Satisfactory Grade:
D-3: Satisfactory liquidity and other protection factors qualify issues as to
investment grade. Risk factors are larger and subject to more variation.
Nevertheless, timely payment is expected.
Non-Investment Grade:
D-4: Speculative investment characteristics. Liquidity is not sufficient to
insure against disruption in debt service.
Default:
D-5: Issuer failed to meet scheduled principal and/or interest payments.
<PAGE>
B-1
Appendix B
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry Classifications
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aerospace/Defense Food and Drug Retailers
Air Transportation Gas Utilities
Asset-Backed Health Care/Drugs
Auto Parts and Equipment Health Care/Supplies & Services
Automotive Homebuilders/Real Estate
Bank Holding Companies Hotel/Gaming
Banks Industrial Services
Beverages Information Technology
Broadcasting Insurance
Broker-Dealers Leasing & Factoring
Building Materials Leisure
Cable Television Manufacturing
Chemicals Metals/Mining
Commercial Finance Nondurable Household Goods
Communication Equipment Office Equipment
Computer Hardware Oil - Domestic
Computer Software Oil - International
Conglomerates Paper
Consumer Finance Photography
Consumer Services Publishing
Containers Railroads & Truckers
Convenience Stores Restaurants
Department Stores Savings & Loans
Diversified Financial Shipping
Diversified Media Special Purpose Financial
Drug Wholesalers Specialty Printing
Durable Household Goods Specialty Retailing
Education Steel
Electric Utilities Telecommunications - Long Distance
Electrical Equipment Telephone - Utility
Electronics Textile, Apparel & Home Furnishings
Energy Services Tobacco
Entertainment/Film Trucks and Parts
Environmental Wireless Services
Food
<PAGE>
C-11
Appendix C
OppenheimerFunds Special Sales Charge Arrangements and Waivers
In certain cases, the initial sales charge that applies to purchases of
Class A shares1 of the Oppenheimer funds or the contingent deferred sales charge
that may apply to Class A, Class B or Class C shares may be waived. That is
because of the economies of sales efforts realized by OppenheimerFunds
Distributor, Inc., (referred to in this document as the "Distributor"), or by
dealers or other financial institutions that offer those shares to certain
classes of investors.
Not all waivers apply to all funds. For example, waivers relating to
Retirement Plans do not apply to Oppenheimer municipal funds, because shares of
those funds are not available for purchase by or on behalf of retirement plans.
Other waivers apply only to shareholders of certain funds that were merged into
or became Oppenheimer funds.
For the purposes of some of the waivers described below and in the
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the applicable Oppenheimer
funds, the term "Retirement Plan" refers to the following types of plans: (1)
plans qualified under Sections 401(a) or 401(k) of the Internal
Revenue Code,
(2) non-qualified deferred compensation plans, (3) employee benefit plans2 (4)
Group Retirement Plans3 (5) 403(b)(7) custodial plan accounts (6) Individual
Retirement Accounts ("IRAs"), including traditional IRAs,
Roth IRAs, SEP-IRAs, SARSEPs or SIMPLE plans
The interpretation of these provisions as to the applicability of a
special arrangement or waiver in a particular case is in the sole discretion of
the Distributor or the transfer agent (referred to in this document as the
"Transfer Agent") of the particular Oppenheimer fund. These waivers and special
arrangements may be amended or terminated at any time by a particular fund, the
Distributor, and/or OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (referred to in this document as the
"Manager").
Waivers that apply at the time shares are redeemed must be requested by the
shareholder and/or dealer in the redemption request.
- --------------
1. Certain waivers also apply to Class M. shares of Oppenheimer
Convertible Securities Fund.
2. An "employee benefit plan" means any plan or arrangement, whether or not it
is "qualified" under the Internal Revenue Code, under which Class A shares of
an Oppenheimer fund or funds are purchased by a fiduciary or other
administrator for the account of participants who are employees of a single
employer or of affiliated employers. These may include, for example, medical
savings accounts, payroll deduction plans or similar plans. The fund accounts
must be registered in the name of the fiduciary or administrator purchasing
the shares for the benefit of participants in the plan.
3. The term "Group Retirement Plan" means any qualified or non-qualified
retirement plan for employees of a corporation or sole proprietorship,
members and employees of a partnership or association or other organized
group of persons (the members of which may include other groups), if the
group has made special arrangements with the Distributor and all members of
the group participating in (or who are eligible to participate in) the plan
purchase Class A shares of an Oppenheimer fund or funds through a single
investment dealer, broker or other financial institution designated by the
group. Such plans include 457 plans, SEP-IRAs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE plans and
403(b) plans other than plans for public school employees. The term "Group
Retirement Plan" also includes qualified retirement plans and non-qualified
deferred compensation plans and IRAs that purchase Class A shares of an
Oppenheimer fund or funds through a single investment dealer, broker or other
financial institution that has made special arrangements with the Distributor
enabling those plans to purchase Class A shares at net asset value but
subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales charge.
I. Applicability of Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charges in Certain Cases
Purchases of Class A Shares of Oppenheimer Funds That Are Not Subject to Initial
Sales Charge but May Be Subject to the Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
(unless a waiver applies).
There is no initial sales charge on purchases of Class A shares of any of
the Oppenheimer funds in the cases listed below. However, these purchases may be
subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales charge if redeemed within 18
months of the end of the calendar month of their purchase, as described in the
Prospectus (unless a waiver described elsewhere in this Appendix applies to the
redemption). Additionally, on shares purchased under these waivers that are
subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales charge, the Distributor will
pay the applicable commission described in the Prospectus under "Class A
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge."1 This waiver provision applies to:
1 However, that commission will not be paid on purchases of shares in amounts of
$1 million or more (including any right of accumulation) by a Retirement Plan
that pays for the purchase with the redemption proceeds of Class C shares of one
or more Oppenheimer funds held by the Plan for more than one year.
o Purchases of Class A shares aggregating $1 million or more.
o Purchases by a Retirement Plan (other than an IRA or 403(b)(7) custodial plan)
that:
(1) buys shares costing $500,000 or more, or
(2) has, at the time of purchase, 100 or more eligible employees or
total plan assets of $500,000 or more, or
(3) certifies to the Distributor that it projects to have annual plan
purchases of $200,000 or more.
o Purchases by an OppenheimerFunds-sponsored Rollover IRA, if the
purchases are made:
(1) through a broker, dealer, bank or registered investment adviser that
has made special arrangements with the Distributor for those
purchases, or
(2) by a direct rollover of a distribution from a qualified Retirement
Plan if the administrator of that Plan has made special arrangements
with the Distributor for those purchases.
o Purchases of Class A shares by Retirement Plans that have any of the
following record-keeping arrangements:
(1) The record keeping is performed by Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith,
Inc. ("Merrill Lynch") on a daily valuation basis for the
Retirement Plan. On the date the plan sponsor signs the
record-keeping service agreement with Merrill Lynch, the Plan
must have $3 million or more of its assets invested in (a) mutual
funds, other than those advised or managed by Merrill Lynch Asset
Management, L.P. ("MLAM"), that are made available under a
Service Agreement between Merrill Lynch and the mutual fund's
principal underwriter or distributor, and (b) funds advised or
managed by MLAM (the funds described in (a) and (b) are referred
to as "Applicable Investments").
(2) The record keeping for the Retirement Plan is performed on a daily
valuation basis by a record keeper whose services are provided
under a contract or arrangement between the Retirement Plan and
Merrill Lynch. On the date the plan sponsor signs the record
keeping service agreement with Merrill Lynch, the Plan must have
$3 million or more of its assets (excluding assets invested in
money market funds) invested in Applicable Investments.
(3) The record keeping for a Retirement Plan is handled under a service
agreement with Merrill Lynch and on the date the plan sponsor signs
that agreement, the Plan has 500 or more eligible employees (as
determined by the Merrill Lynch plan conversion manager).
o Purchases by a Retirement Plan whose record keeper had a
cost-allocation agreement with the Transfer Agent on or before May 1,
1999.
<PAGE>
II. Waivers of Class A Sales Charges of Oppenheimer Funds
A. Waivers of Initial and Contingent Deferred Sales Charges for Certain
Purchasers.
Class A shares purchased by the following investors are not subject to any
Class A sales charges (and no commissions are paid by the Distributor on such
purchases):
o The Manager or its affiliates.
o Present or former officers, directors, trustees and employees (and
their "immediate families") of the Fund, the Manager and its
affiliates, and retirement plans established by them for their
employees. The term "immediate family" refers to one's spouse,
children, grandchildren, grandparents, parents, parents-in-law,
brothers and sisters, sons- and daughters-in-law, a sibling's spouse, a
spouse's siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews; relatives by
virtue of a remarriage (step-children, step-parents, etc.) are
included.
o Registered management investment companies, or separate accounts of
insurance companies having an agreement with the Manager or the
Distributor for that purpose.
o Dealers or brokers that have a sales agreement with the Distributor, if
they purchase shares for their own accounts or for retirement plans for
their employees.
o Employees and registered representatives (and their spouses) of dealers
or brokers described above or financial institutions that have
entered into sales arrangements with such dealers or brokers (and
which are identified as such to the Distributor) or with the
Distributor. The purchaser must certify to the Distributor at the
time of purchase that the purchase is for the purchaser's own
account (or for the benefit of such employee's spouse or minor
children).
o Dealers, brokers, banks or registered investment advisors that have
entered into an agreement with the Distributor providing specifically
for the use of shares of the Fund in particular investment products
made available to their clients. Those clients may be charged a
transaction fee by their dealer, broker, bank or advisor for the
purchase or sale of Fund shares.
o Investment advisors and financial planners who have entered into an
agreement for this purpose with the Distributor and who charge an
advisory, consulting or other fee for their services and buy shares for
their own accounts or the accounts of their clients.
o "Rabbi trusts" that buy shares for their own accounts, if the purchases
are made through a broker or agent or other financial intermediary that
has made special arrangements with the Distributor for those purchases.
o Clients of investment advisors or financial planners (that have entered
into an agreement for this purpose with the Distributor) who buy
shares for their own accounts may also purchase shares without sales
charge but only if their accounts are linked to a master account of
their investment advisor or financial planner on the books and
records of the broker, agent or financial intermediary with which
the Distributor has made such special arrangements . Each of these
investors may be charged a fee by the broker, agent or financial
intermediary for purchasing shares.
o Directors, trustees, officers or full-time employees of OpCap Advisors
or its affiliates, their relatives or any trust, pension, profit
sharing or other benefit plan which beneficially owns shares for those
persons.
o Accounts for which Oppenheimer Capital (or its successor) is the
investment advisor (the Distributor must be advised of this
arrangement) and persons who are directors or trustees of the company
or trust which is the beneficial owner of such accounts.
o A unit investment trust that has entered into an appropriate agreement
with the Distributor.
o Dealers, brokers, banks, or registered investment advisers that have
entered into an agreement with the Distributor to sell shares to
defined contribution employee retirement plans for which the dealer,
broker or investment adviser provides administration services.
o
<PAGE>
Retirement Plans and deferred compensation plans and trusts used to fund
those plans (including, for example, plans qualified or created under
sections 401(a), 401(k), 403(b) or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code),
in each case if those purchases are made through a broker, agent or
other financial intermediary that has made special arrangements with
the Distributor for those purchases.
o A TRAC-2000 401(k) plan (sponsored by the former Quest for Value
Advisors) whose Class B or Class C shares of a Former Quest for Value
Fund were exchanged for Class A shares of that Fund due to the
termination of the Class B and Class C TRAC-2000 program on November
24, 1995.
o A qualified Retirement Plan that had agreed with the former Quest for
Value Advisors to purchase shares of any of the Former Quest for Value
Funds at net asset value, with such shares to be held through
DCXchange, a sub-transfer agency mutual fund clearinghouse, if that
arrangement was consummated and share purchases commenced by December
31, 1996.
B. Waivers of Initial and Contingent Deferred Sales Charges in Certain
Transactions.
Class A shares issued or purchased in the following transactions are not subject
to sales charges (and no commissions are paid by the Distributor on such
purchases): o Shares issued in plans of reorganization, such as mergers, asset
acquisitions and exchange offers, to which the Fund is a party.
o Shares purchased by the reinvestment of dividends or other
distributions reinvested from the Fund or other Oppenheimer funds
(other than Oppenheimer Cash Reserves) or unit investment trusts for
which reinvestment arrangements have been made with the Distributor.
o Shares purchased through a broker-dealer that has entered into a
special agreement with the Distributor to allow the broker's
customers to purchase and pay for shares of Oppenheimer funds using
the proceeds of shares redeemed in the prior 30 days from a mutual
fund (other than a fund managed by the Manager or any of its
subsidiaries) on which an initial sales charge or contingent
deferred sales charge was paid. This waiver also applies to shares
purchased by exchange of shares of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund,
Inc. that were purchased and paid for in this manner. This waiver
must be requested when the purchase order is placed for shares of
the Fund, and the Distributor may require evidence of qualification
for this waiver.
o Shares purchased with the proceeds of maturing principal units of any
Qualified Unit Investment Liquid Trust Series.
o Shares purchased by the reinvestment of loan repayments by a
participant in a Retirement Plan for which the Manager or an affiliate
acts as sponsor.
C. Waivers of the Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge for Certain
Redemptions.
The Class A contingent deferred sales charge is also waived if shares that would
otherwise be subject to the contingent deferred sales charge are redeemed in the
following cases: o To make Automatic Withdrawal Plan payments that are limited
annually to
no more than 12% of the account value measured at the time the Plan is
established, adjusted annually.
o Involuntary redemptions of shares by operation of law or involuntary
redemptions of small accounts (please refer to "Shareholder Account
Rules and Policies," in the applicable fund Prospectus).
o For distributions from Retirement Plans, deferred compensation plans or
other employee benefit plans for any of the following purposes:
(1) Following the death or disability (as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code) of the participant or beneficiary. The death or
disability must occur after the participant's account was
established.
(2) To return excess contributions.
(3) To return contributions made due to a mistake of fact.
(4) Hardship withdrawals, as defined in the plan.2
2 This provision does not apply to IRAs.
(5) Under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, as defined in the
Internal Revenue Code, or, in the case of an IRA, a divorce or
separation agreement described in Section 71(b) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
(6) To meet the minimum distribution requirements of the Internal
Revenue Code.
(7) To make "substantially equal periodic payments" as described in
Section 72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(8) For loans to participants or beneficiaries.
(9) Separation from service.3
3 This provision does not apply to 403(b)(7) custodial plans if the participant
is less than age 55, nor to IRAs.
(10) Participant-directed redemptions to purchase shares of a mutual
fund (other than a fund managed by the Manager or a subsidiary of the
Manager) if the plan has made special arrangements with the
Distributor.
(11) Plan termination or "in-service distributions," if the redemption
proceeds are rolled over directly to an OppenheimerFunds-sponsored
IRA.
o For distributions from Retirement Plans having 500 or more eligible
employees, except distributions due to termination of all of the
Oppenheimer funds as an investment option under the Plan.
o For distributions from 401(k) plans sponsored by broker-dealers that
have entered into a special agreement with the Distributor allowing
this waiver.
III. Waivers of Class B and Class C Sales Charges of Oppenheimer Funds
The Class B and Class C contingent deferred sales charges will not be applied to
shares purchased in certain types of transactions or redeemed in certain
circumstances described below.
A. Waivers for Redemptions in Certain Cases.
The Class B and Class C contingent deferred sales charges will be waived for
redemptions of shares in the following cases: o Shares redeemed involuntarily,
as described in "Shareholder Account
Rules and Policies," in the applicable Prospectus.
o Redemptions from accounts other than Retirement Plans following the
death or disability of the last surviving shareholder, including a
trustee of a grantor trust or revocable living trust for which the
trustee is also the sole beneficiary. The death or disability must have
occurred after the account was established, and for disability you must
provide evidence of a determination of disability by the Social
Security Administration.
o Distributions from accounts for which the broker-dealer of record has
entered into a special agreement with the Distributor allowing this
waiver.
o Redemptions of Class B shares held by Retirement Plans whose records
are maintained on a daily valuation basis by Merrill Lynch or an
independent record keeper under a contract with Merrill Lynch.
o Redemptions of Class C shares of Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust from
accounts of clients of financial institutions that have entered into a
special arrangement with the Distributor for this purpose.
o Redemptions requested in writing by a Retirement Plan sponsor of Class
C shares of an Oppenheimer fund in amounts of $1 million or more held
by the Retirement Plan for more than one year, if the redemption
proceeds are invested in Class A shares of one or more Oppenheimer
funds.
o Distributions from Retirement Plans or other employee benefit plans for
any of the following purposes:
(1) Following the death or disability (as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code) of the participant or beneficiary. The death or
disability must occur after the participant's account was
established in an Oppenheimer fund.
(2) To return excess contributions made to a participant's
account.
(3) To return contributions made due to a mistake of fact.
(4) To make hardship withdrawals, as defined in the plan.4
4 This provision does not apply to IRAs.
(5) To make distributions required under a Qualified Domestic
Relations Order or, in the case of an IRA, a divorce or
separation agreement described in Section 71(b) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
(6) To meet the minimum distribution requirements of the Internal
Revenue Code.
(7) To make "substantially equal periodic payments" as described in
Section 72(t) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(8) For loans to participants or beneficiaries.5
5 This provision does not apply to loans from 403(b)(7) custodial plans.
(9) On account of the participant's separation from service.6
6 This provision does not apply to 403(b)(7) custodial plans if the participant
is less than age 55, nor to IRAs.
(10) Participant-directed redemptions to purchase shares of a
mutual fund (other than a fund managed by the Manager or a
subsidiary of the Manager) offered as an investment option in a
Retirement Plan if the plan has made special arrangements with
the Distributor.
(11) Distributions made on account of a plan termination or
"in-service" distributions," if the redemption proceeds are
rolled over directly to an OppenheimerFunds-sponsored IRA.
(12) Distributions from Retirement Plans having 500 or more eligible
employees, but excluding distributions made because of the
Plan's elimination as investment options under the Plan of all
of the Oppenheimer funds that had been offered.
(13) For distributions from a participant's account under an
Automatic Withdrawal Plan after the participant reaches age
59 1/2, as long as the aggregate value of the distributions
does not exceed 10% of the account's value annually (measured
from the establishment of the Automatic Withdrawal Plan).
B. Waivers for Shares Sold or Issued in Certain Transactions.
The contingent deferred sales charge is also waived on Class B and Class C
shares sold or issued in the following cases:
o Shares sold to the Manager or its affiliates.
o Shares sold to registered management investment companies or separate
accounts of insurance companies having an agreement with the Manager or
the Distributor for that purpose.
o Shares issued in plans of reorganization to which the Fund is a party.
<PAGE>
IV. Special Sales Charge Arrangements for Shareholders of Certain Oppenheimer
Funds Who Were Shareholders of Former Quest for Value Funds
The initial and contingent deferred sales charge rates and waivers for Class A,
Class B and Class C shares described in the Prospectus or Statement of
Additional Information of the Oppenheimer funds are modified as described below
for certain persons who were shareholders of the former Quest for Value Funds.
To be eligible, those persons must have been shareholders on November 24, 1995,
when OppenheimerFunds, Inc. became the investment advisor to those former Quest
for Value Funds. Those funds include:
Oppenheimer Quest Value Fund, Inc. Oppenheimer Quest Small Cap Value
Fund
Oppenheimer Quest Balanced Value Oppenheimer Quest Global Value Fund
Fund
Oppenheimer Quest Opportunity
Value Fund
These arrangements also apply to shareholders of the following funds when
they merged (were reorganized) into various Oppenheimer funds on November 24,
1995:
Quest for Value U.S. Government Income Quest for Value New York Tax-Exempt
Fund Fund
Quest for Value Investment Quality Quest for Value National Tax-Exempt
Income Fund Fund
Quest for Value Global Income Fund Quest for Value California Tax-Exempt
Fund
All of the funds listed above are referred to in this Appendix as the
"Former Quest for Value Funds." The waivers of initial and contingent deferred
sales charges described in this Appendix apply to shares of an Oppenheimer fund
that are either: o acquired by such shareholder pursuant to an exchange of
shares of an
Oppenheimer fund that was one of the Former Quest for Value Funds or
o purchased by such shareholder by exchange of shares of another
Oppenheimer fund that were acquired pursuant to the merger of any of
the Former Quest for Value Funds into that other Oppenheimer fund on
November 24, 1995.
A. Reductions or Waivers of Class A Sales Charges.
|X| Reduced Class A Initial Sales Charge Rates for Certain Former Quest
for Value Funds Shareholders.
Purchases by Groups and Associations. The following table sets forth the initial
sales charge rates for Class A shares purchased by members of "Associations"
formed for any purpose other than the purchase of securities. The rates in the
table apply if that Association purchased shares of any of the Former Quest for
Value Funds or received a proposal to purchase such shares from OCC Distributors
prior to November 24, 1995.
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Initial Sales Initial Sales
Number of Eligible Charge as a % of Charge as a % of Commission as %
Employees or Members Offering Price Net Amount Invested of Offering Price
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 or Fewer 2.50% 2.56% 2.00%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At least 10 but not 2.00% 2.04% 1.60%
more than 49
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For purchases by Associations having 50 or more eligible employees or
members, there is no initial sales charge on purchases of Class A shares, but
those shares are subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales charge
described in the applicable fund's Prospectus.
Purchases made under this arrangement qualify for the lower of either the
sales charge rate in the table based on the number of members of an Association,
or the sales charge rate that applies under the Right of Accumulation described
in the applicable fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
Individuals who qualify under this arrangement for reduced sales charge rates as
members of Associations also may purchase shares for their individual or
custodial accounts at these reduced sales charge rates, upon request to the
Distributor.
|X| Waiver of Class A Sales Charges for Certain Shareholders. Class A
shares purchased by the following investors are not subject to any Class A
initial or contingent deferred sales charges:
o Shareholders who were shareholders of the AMA Family of Funds on
February 28, 1991 and who acquired shares of any of the Former Quest
for Value Funds by merger of a portfolio of the AMA Family of Funds.
o Shareholders who acquired shares of any Former Quest for Value Fund by
merger of any of the portfolios of the Unified Funds.
|X| Waiver of Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge in Certain
Transactions. The Class A contingent deferred sales charge will not apply to
redemptions of Class A shares purchased by the following investors who were
shareholders of any Former Quest for Value Fund:
Investors who purchased Class A shares from a dealer that is or was not
permitted to receive a sales load or redemption fee imposed on a shareholder
with whom that dealer has a fiduciary relationship, under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and regulations adopted under that law.
B. Class A, Class B and Class C Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Waivers.
|X| Waivers for Redemptions of Shares Purchased Prior to March 6, 1995. In
the following cases, the contingent deferred sales charge will be waived for
redemptions of Class A, Class B or Class C shares of an Oppenheimer fund. The
shares must have been acquired by the merger of a Former Quest for Value Fund
into the fund or by exchange from an Oppenheimer fund that was a Former Quest
for Value Fund or into which such fund merged. Those shares must have been
purchased prior to March 6, 1995 in connection with: o withdrawals under an
automatic withdrawal plan holding only either
Class B or Class C shares if the annual withdrawal does not exceed 10%
of the initial value of the account, and
o liquidation of a shareholder's account if the aggregate net asset value
of shares held in the account is less than the required minimum value
of such accounts.
|X| Waivers for Redemptions of Shares Purchased on or After March 6, 1995
but Prior to November 24, 1995. In the following cases, the contingent deferred
sales charge will be waived for redemptions of Class A, Class B or Class C
shares of an Oppenheimer fund. The shares must have been acquired by the merger
of a Former Quest for Value Fund into the fund or by exchange from an
Oppenheimer fund that was a Former Quest For Value Fund or into which such
Former Quest for Value Fund merged. Those shares must have been purchased on or
after March 6, 1995, but prior to November 24, 1995: o redemptions following the
death or disability of the shareholder(s) (as
evidenced by a determination of total disability by the U.S. Social
Security Administration);
o withdrawals under an automatic withdrawal plan (but only for Class B or
Class C shares) where the annual withdrawals do not exceed 10% of the
initial value of the account; and
o liquidation of a shareholder's account if the aggregate net asset value
of shares held in the account is less than the required minimum account
value.
A shareholder's account will be credited with the amount of any contingent
deferred sales charge paid on the redemption of any Class A, Class B or Class C
shares of the Oppenheimer fund described in this section if the proceeds are
invested in the same Class of shares in that fund or another Oppenheimer fund
within 90 days after redemption.
V. Special Sales Charge Arrangements for Shareholders of Certain
Oppenheimer Funds Who Were Shareholders of Connecticut Mutual Investment
Accounts, Inc.
The initial and contingent deferred sale charge rates and waivers for Class A
and Class B shares described in the respective Prospectus (or this Appendix) of
the following Oppenheimer funds (each is referred to as a "Fund" in this
section): o Oppenheimer U. S. Government Trust, o Oppenheimer Bond Fund, o
Oppenheimer Disciplined Value Fund and o Oppenheimer Disciplined Allocation Fund
are modified as described below for those Fund shareholders who were
shareholders of the following funds (referred to as the "Former Connecticut
Mutual Funds") on March 1, 1996, when OppenheimerFunds, Inc. became the
investment adviser to the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds:
Connecticut Mutual Liquid Account Connecticut Mutual Total Return
Account
Connecticut Mutual Government Securities CMIA LifeSpan Capital Appreciation
Account Account
Connecticut Mutual Income Account CMIA LifeSpan Balanced Account
Connecticut Mutual Growth Account CMIA Diversified Income Account
A. Prior Class A CDSC and Class A Sales Charge Waivers.
n Class A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Certain shareholders of a Fund
and the other Former Connecticut Mutual Funds are entitled to continue to make
additional purchases of Class A shares at net asset value without a Class A
initial sales charge, but subject to the Class A contingent deferred sales
charge that was in effect prior to March 18, 1996 (the "prior Class A CDSC").
Under the prior Class A CDSC, if any of those shares are redeemed within one
year of purchase, they will be assessed a 1% contingent deferred sales charge on
an amount equal to the current market value or the original purchase price of
the shares sold, whichever is smaller (in such redemptions, any shares not
subject to the prior Class A CDSC will be redeemed first).
Those shareholders who are eligible for the prior Class A CDSC are: (1)
persons whose purchases of Class A shares of a Fund and other Former
Connecticut Mutual Funds were $500,000 prior to March 18, 1996, as a
result of direct purchases or purchases pursuant to the Fund's policies
on Combined Purchases or Rights of Accumulation, who still hold those
shares in that Fund or other Former Connecticut Mutual Funds, and
(2) persons whose intended purchases under a Statement of Intention entered
into prior to March 18, 1996, with the former general distributor of
the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds to purchase shares valued at
$500,000 or more over a 13-month period entitled those persons to
purchase shares at net asset value without being subject to the Class A
initial sales charge.
Any of the Class A shares of a Fund and the other Former Connecticut Mutual
Funds that were purchased at net asset value prior to March 18, 1996, remain
subject to the prior Class A CDSC, or if any additional shares are purchased
by those shareholders at net asset value pursuant to this arrangement they
will be subject to the prior Class A CDSC.
n Class A Sales Charge Waivers. Additional Class A shares of a Fund may be
purchased without a sales charge, by a person who was in one (or more) of the
categories below and acquired Class A shares prior to March 18, 1996, and still
holds Class A shares:
<PAGE>
(1) anypurchaser, provided the total initial amount invested in the
Fund or any one or more of the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds totaled
$500,000 or more, including investments made pursuant to the Combined
Purchases, Statement of Intention and Rights of Accumulation features
available at the time of the initial purchase and such investment is
still held in one or more of the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds or a
Fund into which such Fund merged;
(2) any participant in a qualified plan, provided that the total initial
amount invested by the plan in the Fund or any one or more of the
Former Connecticut Mutual Funds totaled $500,000 or more;
(3) Directors of the Fund or any one or more of the Former Connecticut
Mutual Funds and members of their immediate families;
(4) employee benefit plans sponsored by Connecticut Mutual Financial
Services, L.L.C. ("CMFS"), the prior distributor of the Former
Connecticut Mutual Funds, and its affiliated companies;
(5) one or more members of a group of at least 1,000 persons (and persons
who are retirees from such group) engaged in a common business,
profession, civic or charitable endeavor or other activity, and the
spouses and minor dependent children of such persons, pursuant to a
marketing program between CMFS and such group; and
(6) an institution acting as a fiduciary on behalf of an individual or
individuals, if such institution was directly compensated by the
individual(s) for recommending the purchase of the shares of the Fund
or any one or more of the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds, provided the
institution had an agreement with CMFS.
Purchases of Class A shares made pursuant to (1) and (2) above may be
subject to the Class A CDSC of the Former Connecticut Mutual Funds described
above.
Additionally, Class A shares of a Fund may be purchased without a sales
charge by any holder of a variable annuity contract issued in New York State by
Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company through the Panorama Separate Account
which is beyond the applicable surrender charge period and which was used to
fund a qualified plan, if that holder exchanges the variable annuity contract
proceeds to buy Class A shares of the Fund.
B. Class A and Class B Contingent Deferred Sales Charge Waivers.
In addition to the waivers set forth in the Prospectus and in this Appendix,
above, the contingent deferred sales charge will be waived for redemptions of
Class A and Class B shares of a Fund and exchanges of Class A or Class B shares
of a Fund into Class A or Class B shares of a Former Connecticut Mutual Fund
provided that the Class A or Class B shares of the Fund to be redeemed or
exchanged were (i) acquired prior to March 18, 1996 or (ii) were acquired by
exchange from an Oppenheimer fund that was a Former Connecticut Mutual Fund.
Additionally, the shares of such Former Connecticut Mutual Fund must have been
purchased prior to March 18, 1996: (1) by the estate of a deceased shareholder;
(2) upon the disability of a shareholder, as defined in Section 72(m)(7) of
the Internal Revenue Code;
(3) for retirement distributions (or loans) to participants or
beneficiaries from retirement plans qualified under Sections 401(a) or
403(b)(7)of the Code, or from IRAs, deferred compensation plans created
under Section 457 of the Code, or other employee benefit plans;
(4) as tax-free returns of excess contributions to such retirement or
employee benefit plans;
(5) in whole or in part, in connection with shares sold to any state,
county, or city, or any instrumentality, department, authority, or
agency thereof, that is prohibited by applicable investment laws from
paying a sales charge or commission in connection with the purchase of
shares of any registered investment management company;
(6) in connection with the redemption of shares of the Fund due to a
combination with another investment company by virtue of a merger,
acquisition or similar reorganization transaction;
(7) in connection with the Fund's right to involuntarily redeem or
liquidate the Fund;
<PAGE>
(8) in connection with automatic redemptions of Class A shares and
Class B shares in certain retirement plan accounts pursuant to an
Automatic Withdrawal Plan but limited to no more than 12% of the
original value annually; or
(9) as involuntary redemptions of shares by operation of law, or under
procedures set forth in the Fund's Articles of Incorporation, or as
adopted by the Board of Directors of the Fund.
VI. Special Reduced Sales Charge for Former Shareholders of Advance America
Funds, Inc.
Shareholders of Oppenheimer Municipal Bond Fund, Oppenheimer U.S. Government
Trust, Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund and Oppenheimer Equity Income Fund who
acquired (and still hold) shares of those funds as a result of the
reorganization of series of Advance America Funds, Inc. into those Oppenheimer
funds on October 18, 1991, and who held shares of Advance America Funds, Inc. on
March 30, 1990, may purchase Class A shares of those four Oppenheimer funds at a
maximum sales charge rate of 4.50%.
VII. Sales Charge Waivers on Purchases of Class M Shares of Oppenheimer
Convertible Securities Fund
Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund (referred to as the "Fund" in this
section) may sell Class M shares at net asset value without any initial sales
charge to the classes of investors listed below who, prior to March 11, 1996,
owned shares of the Fund's then-existing Class A and were permitted to purchase
those shares at net asset value without sales charge:
o the Manager and its affiliates,
o present or former officers, directors, trustees and employees (and
their "immediate families" as defined in the Fund's Statement of
Additional Information) of the Fund, the Manager and its affiliates,
and retirement plans established by them or the prior investment
advisor of the Fund for their employees,
o registered management investment companies or separate accounts of
insurance companies that had an agreement with the Fund's prior
investment advisor or distributor for that purpose,
o dealers or brokers that have a sales agreement with the Distributor, if
they purchase shares for their own accounts or for retirement plans for
their employees,
o employees and registered representatives (and their spouses) of dealers
or brokers described in the preceding section or financial institutions
that have entered into sales arrangements with those dealers or brokers
(and whose identity is made known to the Distributor) or with the
Distributor, but only if the purchaser certifies to the Distributor at
the time of purchase that the purchaser meets these qualifications,
o dealers, brokers, or registered investment advisors that had entered
into an agreement with the Distributor or the prior distributor of the
Fund specifically providing for the use of Class M shares of the Fund
in specific investment products made available to their clients, and
o dealers, brokers or registered investment advisors that had entered
into an agreement with the Distributor or prior distributor of the
Fund's shares to sell shares to defined contribution employee
retirement plans for which the dealer, broker, or investment advisor
provides administrative services.
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<PAGE>
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- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer World Bond Fund
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Web Site:
www.oppenheimerfunds.com
Investment Adviser
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
Distributor
OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048-0203
Transfer Agent
OppenheimerFunds Services
P.O. Box 5270
Denver, Colorado 80217
1-800-525-7048
Custodian Bank
The Bank of New York
One Wall Street
New York, New York 10015
Independent Auditors
KPMG LLP
707 Seventeenth Street
Denver, Colorado 80202
Legal Counsel
Gordon Altman Butowsky Weitzen
Shalov & Wein
114 West 47th Street
New York, New York 10036
67890
PX705.0299 (Rev. 5/20/99)
<PAGE>
OPPENHEIMER WORLD BOND FUND
Supplement dated May 20, 1999 to the
Prospectus dated February 26, 1999
The Prospectus is changed by replacing the third paragraph of the section
entitled "How the Fund is Managed" on page 15 with the following:
|X| Portfolio Manager. The portfolio manager of the Fund is
Arthur P. Steinmetz. He became the portfolio manager on May 20,
1999, and is the person principally responsible for the
day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio. He is a Vice
President of the Fund and Senior Vice President of the Manager.
He is an officer and portfolio manager for other Oppenheimer
funds. Mr. Steinmetz has been employed by the Manager since 1986.
May 20, 1999 PS0705.003
