Change in Independent Accountants
On July 5, 2000 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP resigned as independent accountants
of the Fund.
The reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the financial statements of the
Fund for the past two fiscal years contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer
of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope
or accounting principle.
In connection with its audits for the two most recent fiscal years and through
July 5, 2000, there have been no disagreements with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements if not resolved
to the satisfaction of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP would have caused them to
make reference thereto in their report on the financial statements for such
years.
The Fund has requested that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP furnish it with a
letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not it agrees with the above
statements. A copy of such letter, dated August 10, 2000 is filed as Exhibit
77Q to this Form N-SAR.
The Fund, with the approval of its Board of Directors, Audit Committee and
shareholders, engaged Ernst & Young LLP as its new independent accountants
as of August 1, 2000.
