AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND INC
N-30D, 1998-10-22
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<PAGE>
Financial Statements
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS  For the Period Ended August 28, 1998*
 ................................................................................
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
INCOME:
Interest (net of interest expense of $302,905) .............     $ 6,705,352
Fee income (note 2) ........................................         113,181
                                                              -----------------
 
  Total investment income ..................................       6,818,533
                                                              -----------------
 
EXPENSES (NOTE 3):
Investment management fee ..................................         502,627
Administrative fee .........................................         195,793
Custodian and accounting fees ..............................          82,272
Transfer agent fees ........................................          15,101
Registration fees ..........................................          24,260
Reports to shareholders ....................................          93,353
Directors' fees ............................................          12,091
Audit and legal fees .......................................          49,491
Other expenses .............................................           6,326
                                                              -----------------
  Total expenses ...........................................         981,314
    Less expenses paid indirectly ..........................            (956)
                                                              -----------------
 
  Total net expenses .......................................         980,358
                                                              -----------------
 
  Net investment income ....................................       5,838,175
                                                              -----------------
 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS:
Net realized gain on investments (note 4) ..................       1,856,460
Net realized loss on closed futures contracts ..............         (43,571)
                                                              -----------------
 
  Net realized gain on investments .........................       1,812,889
Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of
  investments ..............................................        (383,631)
                                                              -----------------
 
  Net gain on investments ..................................       1,429,258
                                                              -----------------
 
    Net increase in net assets resulting from operations ...     $ 7,267,433
                                                              -----------------
                                                              -----------------
 
* DATE FUND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS DUE TO MERGER. SEE NOTE 1 IN THE NOTES TO
  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</TABLE>
 
SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  1  American Opportunity Income Fund
<PAGE>
Financial Statements  (continued)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS  For the Period Ended August 28, 1998*
 ................................................................................
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Interest and fee income ....................................     $ 6,818,533
Net expenses ...............................................        (980,358)
                                                              -----------------
  Net investment income ....................................       5,838,175
                                                              -----------------
 
Adjustments to reconcile net investment income to net cash
  provided by operating activities:
  Change in accrued interest receivable and principal
    receivable on mortgage securities ......................         558,599
  Net amortization of bond discount and premium ............         (49,386)
  Change in accrued fees and expenses ......................        (271,914)
                                                              -----------------
    Total adjustments ......................................         237,299
                                                              -----------------
 
    Net cash provided by operating activities ..............       6,075,474
                                                              -----------------
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sales of investments .........................     107,623,896
Purchases of investments ...................................     (49,281,810)
Net sales of short-term securities .........................         565,000
Net variation margin paid for futures contracts ............         (43,571)
                                                              -----------------
 
    Net cash provided by investing activities ..............      58,863,515
                                                              -----------------
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net payments for reverse repurchase agreements .............     (21,000,000)
Retirement of fund shares tendered (note 7) ................     (37,781,694)
Distributions paid to shareholders .........................      (6,187,720)
                                                              -----------------
 
    Net cash used by financing activities ..................     (64,969,414)
                                                              -----------------
Cash overdraft transferred in conjunction with merger (note
  1) .......................................................           4,493
 
Net decrease in cash .......................................         (25,932)
Cash at beginning of period ................................          25,932
                                                              -----------------
 
    Cash at end of period ..................................     $        --
                                                              -----------------
                                                              -----------------
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
  Cash paid for interest on reverse repurchase
    agreements .............................................     $   483,897
                                                              -----------------
                                                              -----------------
 
* DATE FUND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS DUE TO MERGER. SEE NOTE 1 IN THE NOTES TO
  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</TABLE>
 
SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  2  American Opportunity Income Fund
<PAGE>
Financial Statements  (continued)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
 ................................................................................
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                PERIOD ENDED         YEAR ENDED
                                                                  8/28/98*            10/31/97
                                                              -----------------   -----------------
<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>
OPERATIONS:
Net investment income ......................................     $ 5,838,175         $ 9,549,757
Net realized gain (loss) on investments ....................       1,812,889            (870,592)
Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation of
  investments ..............................................        (383,631)          5,150,515
                                                              -----------------   -----------------
 
  Net increase in net assets resulting from operations .....       7,267,433          13,829,680
                                                              -----------------   -----------------
 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS:
From net investment income .................................      (6,071,540)        (10,062,582)
Tax return of capital ......................................        (116,180)                 --
                                                              -----------------   -----------------
  Total distributions ......................................      (6,187,720)        (10,062,582)
                                                              -----------------   -----------------
 
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
Decrease in net assets from capital share transactions (note
  6) .......................................................    (152,772,472)                 --
                                                              -----------------   -----------------
  Total increase (decrease) in net assets ..................    (151,692,759)          3,767,098
 
Net assets at beginning of period ..........................     151,692,759         147,925,661
                                                              -----------------   -----------------
 
Net assets at end of period ................................     $        --         $151,692,759
                                                              -----------------   -----------------
                                                              -----------------   -----------------
 
Undistributed net investment income ........................     $        --         $   233,801
                                                              -----------------   -----------------
                                                              -----------------   -----------------
 
* DATE FUND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS DUE TO MERGER. SEE NOTE 1 IN THE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</TABLE>
 
SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  3  American Opportunity Income Fund
<PAGE>
               Notes to Financial Statements
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
(1) ORGANIZATION
 ................................
               American Opportunity Income Fund Inc. (the fund) is registered
               under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (as amended) as a
               diversified, closed-end management investment company. The fund
               invested principally in mortgage-backed securities including U.S.
               government agency securities and privately issued securities. The
               fund entered into dollar-roll transactions. In addition, the fund
               borrowed through the use of reverse repurchase agreements. Fund
               shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
               symbol OIF.
 
               On May 1, 1998, Piper Jaffray Companies Inc., the parent company
               of the fund's investment advisor, was acquired by U.S. Bancorp.
               U.S. Bancorp is a multi-state bank holding company headquartered
               in Minneapolis, Minnesota with a geographic service area spanning
               17 states. As of June 30, 1998, U.S. Bancorp was the 14th largest
               U.S. commercial bank holding company, with assets of nearly $73.8
               billion. U.S. Bank National Association ("U.S. Bank"), a wholly
               owned subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp, currently acts as the
               investment advisor to 32 mutual funds (the "First American
               Funds"). As of June 30, 1998, U.S. Bank, acting through its First
               American Asset Management group, managed more than $77.5 billion
               in assets, including approximately $28.4 billion in assets of the
               First American Funds.
 
               As discussed in note 8, all of the fund's net assets were
               acquired by First American Investment Funds, Inc. - Fixed Income
               Fund effective at the close of business on August 28, 1998. It is
               anticipated that the fund will be dissolved under Minnesota law
               as soon as practicable.
 
(2) SUMMARY OF
    SIGNIFICANT
    ACCOUNTING
    POLICIES
 ................................
                  INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES
               Portfolio securities for which market quotations were readily
               available were valued at current market value. If market
               quotations or valuations were not readily available, or if such
               quotations or valuations were believed to be inaccurate,
               unreliable or not reflective of market value, portfolio
               securities were valued according to procedures adopted by the
               fund's board of directors in
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  4  American Opportunity Income Fund
<PAGE>
               Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               good faith at "fair value", that is, a price that the fund might
               have reasonably expected to receive for the security or other
               asset upon its current sale.
 
               The current market value of certain fixed income securities was
               provided by an independent pricing service. Fixed income
               securities for which prices were not available from an
               independent pricing service but where an active market existed
               were valued using market quotations obtained from one or more
               dealers that make markets in the securities or from a widely-used
               quotation system. Short-term securities with maturities of 60
               days or less were valued at amortized cost, which approximates
               market value.
 
               Exchange-traded options were valued at the last sales price on
               the exchange prior to the time when assets were valued. If no
               sales were reported that day, the options were valued at the mean
               between the current closing bid and asked prices.
               Over-the-counter options were valued using market quotations
               obtained from broker-dealers. Financial futures were valued at
               the last settlement price established each day by the board of
               trade or exchange on which they were traded.
 
               Securities transactions were accounted for on the date securities
               were purchased or sold. Realized gains and losses were calculated
               on the identified-cost basis. Interest income, including
               amortization of bond discount and premium, was recorded on an
               accrual basis.
 
                  FUTURES TRANSACTIONS
               In order to gain exposure to or protect against changes in the
               market, the fund bought and sold financial futures contracts and
               related options. Risks of entering into futures contracts and
               related options included the possibility there may have been an
               illiquid market and that a change in the value of the contract or
               option may not have correlated with changes in the value of the
               underlying securities.
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  5  American Opportunity Income Fund
<PAGE>
               Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
               Upon entering into a futures contract, the fund was required to
               deposit either cash or securities in an amount (initial margin)
               equal to a certain percentage of the contract value. Subsequent
               payments (variation margin) were made or received by the fund
               each day. The variation margin payments were equal to the daily
               changes in the contract value and were recorded as unrealized
               gains and losses. The fund recognized a realized gain or loss
               when the contract was closed or expired.
 
                  SECURITIES PURCHASED ON A WHEN-ISSUED BASIS
               Delivery and payment for securities that were purchased by the
               fund on a when-issued or forward-commitment basis could take
               place a month or more after the transaction date. During this
               period, such securities did not earn interest, were subject to
               market fluctuation and may have increased or decreased in value
               prior to their delivery. The fund segregated, 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 have increased the volatility of the
               fund's net asset value if the fund made such purchases while
               remaining substantially fully invested.
 
               In connection with its ability to purchase securities on a when-
               issued or forward-commitment basis, the fund entered into
               mortgage dollar rolls in which the fund sold securities purchased
               on a forward commitment basis and simultaneously contracted with
               a counterparty to repurchase similar (same type, coupon and
               maturity) but not identical securities on a specified future
               date. As an inducement to "roll over" its purchase commitments,
               the fund received negotiated fees. For the period ended August
               28, 1998, such fees earned by the fund amounted to $113,181.
 
                  FEDERAL TAXES
               Prior to the merger, the fund complied with the requirements of
               the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  6  American Opportunity Income Fund
<PAGE>
               Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               companies in order to avoid payment of federal income tax. The
               fund distributed its taxable net investment income and realized
               gains to avoid the payment of any federal excise taxes.
 
               Net investment income and net realized gains (losses) differed
               for financial statement and tax purposes primarily because of the
               timing of recognition of income on certain collateralized
               mortgage-backed securities. The character of distributions made
               during the year from net investment income or net realized gains
               may have differed from its ultimate characterization for federal
               income tax purposes. Distributions that exceeded the net
               investment income or net realized gains recorded on a tax basis
               are presented as a "tax return of capital" in the statement of
               changes in net assets and the financial highlights. In addition,
               due to the timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal year in
               which amounts were distributed may have differed from the year
               that the income or realized gains or losses were recorded by the
               fund.
 
               As a result of permanent book-to-tax differences, a
               reclassification adjustment was made to decrease undistributed
               net investment income and decrease accumulated net realized loss
               on investments by $436.
 
                  DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
               Distributions from net investment income were made monthly and
               realized capital gains, if any, were distributed at least
               annually. These distributions were recorded as of the close of
               business on the ex-dividend date. Such distributions were payable
               in cash or, pursuant to the fund's dividend reinvestment plan,
               reinvested in additional shares of the fund's capital stock.
               Under the plan, fund shares were purchased in the open market
               unless the market price plus commissions exceeded the net asset
               value by 10% or more. If, at the close of business on the
               dividend payment date, the shares purchased in the open market
               were insufficient to satisfy the dividend reinvestment
               requirement, the fund issued new shares at a discount of up to 5%
               from the current market price.
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  7  American Opportunity Income Fund
<PAGE>
               Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
               For repurchase agreements entered into with certain
               broker-dealers, the fund, along with other affiliated registered
               investment companies, transferred uninvested cash balances into a
               joint trading account, the daily aggregate of which was invested
               in repurchase agreements secured by U.S. government or agency
               obligations. Securities pledged as collateral for all individual
               and joint repurchase agreements were held by the fund's custodian
               bank until maturity of the repurchase agreement. Provisions for
               all agreements ensured that the daily market value of the
               collateral was in excess of the repurchase amount, including
               accrued interest, to protect the fund in the event of a default.
 
                  USE OF ESTIMATES
               The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
               generally accepted accounting principles required management to
               make estimates and assumptions that affected the reported amounts
               in the financial statements. Actual results could have differed
               from these estimates.
 
(3) EXPENSES
 ................................
                  INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEES
               The fund entered into an investment advisory agreement with Piper
               Capital Management Incorporated. In addition, Piper Capital
               provided services under an administration agreement through April
               30, 1998. Effective May 1, 1998, the fund entered into an
               administration agreement with U.S. Bank, an affiliate of the
               advisor.
 
               The investment advisory agreement provided the advisor with a
               monthly investment management fee in an amount equal to an
               annualized rate of 0.20% of the fund's average weekly net assets
               and 4.50% of the daily gross income (i.e., income, including
               amortization of discount and premium, other than gains from the
               sale of securities or gains from options and futures contracts
               less interest on money borrowed by the fund) accrued by the fund
               during the month. The monthly investment management fee
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  8  American Opportunity Income Fund
<PAGE>
               Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               could not exceed in the aggregate 1/12th of 0.725% of the fund's
               average weekly net assets during the month (approximately 0.725%
               on an annual basis). For the period ended August 28, 1998, the
               effective investment management fee incurred by the fund was
               0.51%. For its fee, the advisor provided investment advice and
               conducted the management and investment activity of the fund.
 
               The administration agreement provided the administrator with a
               monthly fee in an amount equal to an annualized rate of 0.20% of
               the fund's average weekly net assets. For its fee, the
               administrator provided reporting, regulatory and record-keeping
               services for the fund.
 
                  OTHER FEES AND EXPENSES
               In addition to the investment management and administrative fees,
               the fund was responsible for paying most other operating expenses
               including: outside directors' fees and expenses; custodian fees;
               registration fees; printing and shareholder reports; transfer
               agent fees and expenses; legal, auditing and accounting services;
               insurance; interest; taxes and other miscellaneous expenses.
 
               Expenses paid indirectly represent a reduction of custodian fees
               for earnings on miscellaneous cash balances maintained by the
               fund.
 
(4) INVESTMENT
    SECURITY
    TRANSACTIONS
 ................................
               Cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities, other
               than temporary investments in short-term securities and dollar
               roll transactions, for the period ended August 28, 1998,
               aggregated $44,216,509 and $107,623,896, respectively. Including
               dollar rolls, such purchases and sales aggregated $137,512,036
               and $200,919,423, respectively.
 
(5) CAPITAL LOSS
    CARRYOVER
 ................................
               For federal income tax purposes, the fund had capital loss
               carryovers at August 28, 1998, which, if not offset by subsequent
               capital gains, will expire on the fund's fiscal year-ends as
               indicated below. As a result of the acquisition of the fund's net
               assets by Fixed Income Fund, these capital loss carryovers will
               be available to Fixed
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  9  American Opportunity Income Fund
<PAGE>
               Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Income Fund, subject to certain limitations. It is unlikely the
               board of Fixed Income Fund will authorize a distribution of any
               net realized capital gains by such fund until the available
               capital loss carryovers have been offset or expire. Utilization
               of these capital loss carryovers by Fixed Income Fund in the year
               ended September 30, 1998 is limited to $482,757. In subsequent
               years, utilization of these capital loss carryovers is limited to
               $5,873,544 per year.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          CAPITAL LOSS
                                            CARRYOVER     EXPIRATION
                                          -------------   ----------
<S>                                       <C>             <C>
                                           $  3,403,553      2001
                                             27,202,478      2002
                                             25,520,417      2003
                                              4,873,784      2004
                                                886,073      2005
                                          -------------
                                           $ 61,886,305
                                          -------------
                                          -------------
</TABLE>
 
(6) CAPITAL SHARE
    TRANSACTIONS
 ................................
               Capital share transactions for the fund were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              PERIOD FROM
                                           NOVEMBER 1, 1997        YEAR ENDED
                                          TO AUGUST 28, 1998    OCTOBER 31, 1997
                                          -------------------   -----------------
<S>                                       <C>                   <C>
Shares tendered (5,672,927 and 0 shares,
  respectively) (note 7) ...............      $ 37,781,694              $--
Merger into First American Fixed Income
  Fund (16,990,546 and 0 shares,
  respectively) (note 8) ...............       114,990,778              --
                                          -------------------          ---
                                              $152,772,472              $--
                                          -------------------          ---
                                          -------------------          ---
</TABLE>
 
(7) REPURCHASE
    OFFER
 ................................
               The fund's board of directors concluded that an offer to
               repurchase up to 25% of the fund's outstanding shares was in the
               best interests of shareholders. Accordingly, the board authorized
               such an offer as part of a settlement agreement reached in
               connection with class action litigation involving the fund and
               seven other closed-end management investment companies managed by
               Piper Capital Management Incorporated.
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  10  American Opportunity Income Fund
<PAGE>
               Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
               The repurchase offer was sent to shareholders in October 1997,
               and the deadline for submitting shares for repurchase was 5 p.m.
               Central Time on November 17, 1997. The repurchase price was
               determined on December 1, 1997 at the close of regular trading on
               the New York Stock Exchange (4 p.m. Eastern Time). The percentage
               of outstanding shares tendered, the number of shares tendered,
               the repurchase price per share and proceeds paid by the fund were
               as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          PERCENTAGE      SHARES       REPURCHASE       PROCEEDS
                                           TENDERED      TENDERED         PRICE           PAID
                                          ----------   -------------   -----------   --------------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>             <C>           <C>
                                              25%          5,672,927      $6.66      $   37,781,694
</TABLE>
 
(8) MERGER
 ................................
               At a special meeting held August 10, 1998, shareholders of
               American Opportunity Income Fund approved a plan under which the
               fund's net assets were acquired by Fixed Income Fund, which is a
               diversified series of an open-end investment management company,
               in exchange for Class A shares of Fixed Income Fund. This
               tax-free reorganization was effective August 28, 1998.
 
               The following table presents the composition of the net assets of
               the fund immediately prior to the merger.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY
                                               INCOME FUND
                                          ---------------------
<S>                                       <C>
Capital stock and additional paid-in
  capital ..............................       $171,725,569
Accumulated net realized loss on
  investments ..........................        (61,953,235)
Unrealized appreciation of
  investments ..........................          5,218,444
                                          ---------------------
  Total - representing net assets
    applicable to capital stock ........       $114,990,778
                                          ---------------------
                                          ---------------------
Shares outstanding .....................         16,990,546
Net asset value ........................       $      6.768
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  11  American Opportunity Income Fund
<PAGE>
           Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
(9) FINANCIAL
    HIGHLIGHTS
 ................................
               Per-share data for a share of capital stock outstanding
               throughout each period and selected information for each period
               are as follows:
 
AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                              Two
                                              Period         Year        Year        Year        Year       Months
                                              Ended          Ended       Ended       Ended       Ended       Ended
                                            8/28/98(f)     10/31/97    10/31/96    10/31/95    10/31/94    10/31/93
                                          --------------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
<S>                                       <C>              <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
PER-SHARE DATA
Net asset value, beginning of period ...      $ 6.69         $ 6.53      $ 6.66      $ 6.42     $ 10.68      $10.88
                                             -------       ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Operations:
  Net investment income ................        0.34           0.42        0.43        0.49        0.85        0.34
  Net realized and unrealized gains
    (losses) on investments ............        0.09           0.18        0.07        0.75       (3.53)      (0.37)
                                             -------       ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
    Total from operations ..............        0.43           0.60        0.50        1.24       (2.68)      (0.03)
                                             -------       ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Distributions to shareholders:
  From net investment income ...........       (0.34)         (0.44)      (0.63)      (1.00)      (1.48)      (0.17)
  In excess of net realized gains ......          --             --          --          --       (0.10)         --
  Tax return of capital ................       (0.01)            --          --          --          --          --
                                             -------       ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
    Total distributions to
      shareholders .....................       (0.35)         (0.44)      (0.63)      (1.00)      (1.58)      (0.17)
                                             -------       ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Net asset value, date of merger
  (8/28/98) ............................       (6.77)            --          --          --          --          --
                                             -------       ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Net asset value, end of period .........      $   --         $ 6.69      $ 6.53      $ 6.66     $  6.42      $10.68
                                             -------       ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                             -------       ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Market value, end of period ............      $   --(h)      $6 .31      $ 5.88      $ 6.13     $  7.00      $11.63
                                             -------       ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                             -------       ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
SELECTED INFORMATION
Total return, net asset value (a) ......        6.63%          9.64%       7.98%      20.98%     (27.61)%     (0.29)%
Total return, market value (b) .........       13.25%         15.58%       6.85%       2.16%     (28.77)%      1.43%
Net assets at end of period (in
  millions) ............................          --         $  152      $  148      $  153     $   146      $  232
Ratio of expenses to average weekly net
  assets excluding interest expense
  (c) ..................................        1.00%          0.92%       1.01%       1.29%       1.39%       1.10%(g)
Ratio of expenses to average weekly net
  assets including interest expense
  (c) ..................................        1.31%          1.71%       1.42%       1.29%       2.58%       1.62%(g)
Ratio of net investment income to
  average weekly net assets ............        5.96%          6.48%       6.72%       7.74%      10.73%      19.11%(g)
Portfolio turnover rate (excluding
  short-term securities and dollar roll
  transactions) ........................          32%            59%        118%        139%        169%         21%
Amount of borrowings outstanding at end
  of period (in millions) (d) ..........          --         $   21      $   21          --          --      $   87
Per-share amount of borrowings
  outstanding at end of period .........          --         $ 0.93      $ 0.92          --          --      $ 4.01
Per-share amount of net assets,
  excluding borrowings, at end of
  period ...............................          --         $ 7.62      $ 7.45          --          --      $14.69
Asset coverage ratio (e) ...............          --            822%        804%         --          --         366%
</TABLE>
 
(a)  ASSUMES REINVESTMENT OF DISTRIBUTIONS AT NET ASSET VALUE AND DOES NOT
     REFLECT A SALES CHARGE.
(b)  ASSUMES REINVESTMENT OF DISTRIBUTIONS AT ACTUAL PRICES PURSUANT TO THE
     FUND'S DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN. FOR PURPOSES OF THE FISCAL 1998
     COMPUTATION, THE AUGUST 28, 1998 NET ASSET VALUE IS USED AS THE END OF
     PERIOD VALUE. SEE NOTE 1 IN THE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REGARDING THE
     MERGER INTO AN OPEN-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY ON AUGUST 28, 1998.
(c)  INCLUDES 0.07%, 0.30% AND 0.31% FROM FEDERAL EXCISE TAXES IN FISCAL YEARS
     ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994, RESPECTIVELY.
(d)  SECURITIES PURCHASED ON A WHEN-ISSUED BASIS FOR WHICH LIQUID SECURITIES ARE
     SEGREGATED WITH THE CUSTODIAN ARE NOT CONSIDERED BORROWINGS. SEE NOTE 2 IN
     THE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
(e)  REPRESENTS NET ASSETS, EXCLUDING BORROWINGS, AT END OF PERIOD DIVIDED BY
     BORROWINGS OUTSTANDING AT END OF PERIOD.
(f)  DATE FUND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS DUE TO MERGER. SEE NOTE 1 IN THE NOTES TO
     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
(g)  ANNUALIZED.
(h)  SHARES STOPPED TRADING ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE ON AUGUST 24, 1998.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  12  American Opportunity Income Fund
<PAGE>
Independent Auditors' Report
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS
AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY INCOME FUND INC.:
 
We have audited the accompanying statements of operations and cash flows of
American Opportunity Income Fund Inc. for the period from November 1, 1997 to
August 28, 1998 (date of fund merger), the statements of changes in net assets
for the period from November 1, 1997 to August 28, 1998 and the year ended
October 31, 1997, and the financial highlights for the periods presented in note
9 to the financial statements. These financial statements and the financial
highlights are the responsibility of the fund's management. Our responsibility
is to express an opinion on these financial statements and the 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 the 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. 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 referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, for American Opportunity Income Fund Inc., the results of
its operations and its cash flows, the changes in its net assets, and the
financial highlights for the periods stated in the first paragraph above, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
As described in note 1 to the financial statements, American Opportunity Income
Fund Inc., merged into Fixed Income Fund (a series of First American Investment
Funds, Inc.) effective August 28, 1998.
 
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
October 9, 1998
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  13  American Opportunity Income Fund
<PAGE>
               Federal Income Tax Information
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
               The following per-share information describes the federal tax
               treatment of distributions made during the fiscal year.
               Distributions for the calendar year will be reported on Form
               1099-DIV. Please consult a tax advisor on how to report these
               distributions at the state and local levels.
 
                  INCOME DISTRIBUTIONS (98.1% TAXABLE AS ORDINARY DIVIDENDS,
                  1.9% TAX RETURN OF CAPITAL, NONE QUALIFYING FOR DEDUCTION BY
                  CORPORATIONS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAYABLE DATE                              AMOUNT
- ----------------------------------------  -------
<S>                                       <C>
November 24, 1997 ......................  $0.0350
December 22, 1997 ......................   0.0350
January 12, 1998 .......................   0.0350
February 25, 1998 ......................   0.0350
March 25, 1998 .........................   0.0350
April 22, 1998 .........................   0.0350
May 27, 1998 ...........................   0.0350
June 24, 1998 ..........................   0.0350
July 29, 1998 ..........................   0.0350
August 21, 1998 ........................   0.0375
                                          -------
    Total ..............................  $0.3525
                                          -------
                                          -------
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  14  American Opportunity Income Fund
<PAGE>
               Shareholder Update
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  SPECIAL MEETING RESULTS
               A special meeting of the fund's shareholders was held on August
               10, 1998. Each matter voted upon at that meeting, as well as the
               number of votes cast for, against or withheld, the number of
               abstentions, and the number of broker non-votes with respect to
               such matters, are set forth below.
 
               1.  PROPOSAL TO RATIFY AND APPROVE AN INTERIM ADVISORY AGREEMENT
                   between the fund and Piper Capital Management Incorporated
                   ("Piper Capital"), and the receipt of investment advisory
                   fees by Piper Capital under such agreement.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          SHARES VOTED
                                          ------------
<S>                                       <C>
For ....................................   14,749,780
Against ................................      185,400
Abstain ................................      276,924
                                          ------------
  Total ................................   15,212,104
</TABLE>
 
               2.  PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
                   providing for the transfer of the assets and liabilities of
                   American Opportunity Income Fund Inc. to Fixed Income Fund,
                   an open-end fund of First American Investment Funds, Inc., in
                   exchange for shares of the Class A Shares of Fixed Income
                   Fund.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          SHARES VOTED
                                          ------------
<S>                                       <C>
For ....................................    9,386,498
Against ................................      262,458
Abstain ................................      215,232
Broker Non-Vote ........................    5,347,917
                                          ------------
  Total ................................   15,212,105
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
            1998 Annual Report  15  American Opportunity Income Fund


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