<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
I am pleased to report on the activity and performance of the European
Warrant Fund (the "Fund") for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999. Overall, the
past twelve months proved to be a difficult and challenging period for the Fund.
For the twelve-month period ended March 31, 1999, the Fund had negative
aggregate total returns of 5.88% based on net asset value ("NAV") and 26.80%
based on market price. The Fund was outperformed by the Financial Times/Standard
& Poors Actuaries Europe Index in United States ("US") Dollars ("benchmark"),
which had a positive return of 2.19% for the same period. The Fund's
underperformance relative to the benchmark was largely due to the European
market break in August and September of 1998 triggered by the Russian crisis and
the destabilization of some major hedge funds. This was a very tumultuous period
for global financial markets and, consequently, European equity markets declined
considerably. During periods of sharp market decline, a long equity warrant fund
such as ours, by its very nature, will significantly underperform equity
markets. The Fund's NAV performance has stabilized during the second half of the
Fund's fiscal year and recouped much of the underperformance of its fiscal
second quarter. The long term NAV performance of the Fund continues to be
favorable relative to its benchmark. As of March 31, 1999 the Fund outperformed
the benchmark for both the three- and five-year periods with annualized returns
of 41.40% and 26.69%, respectively, compared to the benchmark which had
annualized returns of 19.50% and 16.51%, respectively, for the same periods.]
In December of 1998, the Fund declared and paid a capital gain distribution
of USD 3.00 per share. Sixty-eight percent of shareholders elected to reinvest
their distribution proceeds into new shares of the Fund through the Fund's
Dividend Reinvestment Program. Management wishes to thank our shareholders for
their continued support.
ECONOMIC REVIEW
Many European markets surged in the last quarter of 1998 into early 1999
following the strong U.S. equity market, renewed merger and acquisition
activities and the positive prospects on the formation of the European Monetary
Union ("EMU") and new European Currency ("Euro"). The successful start of both
the EMU and Euro was soon overshadowed by the anti-business attitude of the
German Social Democratic Finance Minister Oskar Lafontaine. The unexpected
resignation of Mr. Lafontaine in mid March and the large rate cut by the
European Central Bank in early April in an attempt to stimulate the sluggish
economies of Italy, France and especially Germany, did not generate sufficient
investor confidence and momentum to rally European equity markets. Contrary to
the sluggish European equity markets, the U.S. equity market during the first
quarter of 1999 continued its rise, leaping over the magical 10,000 mark on the
Dow Jones Industrial Average.
On January 1, 1999 the Euro/USD exchange rate was fixed at 1.15 and rose up
to 1.17 as a result of the initial Euro euphoria in the market. However, a more
sober assessment and growing lethargy soon developed across European markets
causing the Euro to retrace all of its gains, ending the first quarter of 1999
down 8.4%. Worries surfaced on weaker than expected European growth prospects,
versus very strong U.S economic growth development as a result of robust U.S.
economic data in the first quarter of 1999. The suprisingly strong U.S. economic
growth led global bond investors to anticipate the Federal Reserve's eventual
tightening of rates. When coupled with the weakness in Europe, the large shift
in forward
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
interest rates in favor of the U.S. dollar, served to drive the Euro lower. The
result has been a capital outflow from Europe and into Asia, as that region is
now showing signs of early recovery.
NATO air strikes on Yugoslavia have not affected the European equity markets
in an adverse manner as yet. However, the escalating conflict has had a negative
psychological impact and added another element of uncertainty. With a
significantly longer bombing campaign than first anticipated, some investors
shifted flows of capital to the U.S. and Asian markets.
We believe that fears and growing concerns of Europe sliding into a
recession are overdone. If the U.S. equity market remains strong, we would
expect the European equity markets to follow suit. We believe that by mid-1999,
conditions for a very easy monetary policy in Europe and increase in consumer
spending should produce a recovery of the European economy, leading to a gentle
expansion in the economy later in the year.
INVESTMENT POLICY
The introduction of the EMU and Euro has revolutionized the whole investment
process in European stocks. From a top down investment approach, sector
allocation is of much greater significance than country allocation. Therefore,
the Fund is managed from a sector rather than country perspective and is largely
focused on sector leaders as a key element in its European equity selection. The
primary focus of the portfolio is currently on the European telecommunications
market. European telecommunications represent our largest sector allocation in
absolute and relative terms. Compared to the United States, where technology is
an expansive field, encompassing everything from semiconductors to the Internet,
in Europe the telecommunication market is the engine that drives technology. The
European telecommunications market is the most dynamic and largest in the world
but relatively inexpensive in valuation compared to the United States. We are
bullish on telecommunications for the following reasons:
1. GSM-technology (Global System for Mobile Communications) which began
during the 1980s as a Pan-European public land mobile system has become a
global telecommunications standard with a market share of more than 50%,
available in over 200 countries and currently has over 125 million
subscribers. GSM provides almost complete coverage in Western Europe, and
growing coverage in the Americas, Asia and elsewhere. The uniform
GSM-technology is represented strongly in the Fund by our Scandinavian
Telecom basket on Nokia (biggest producer of cellular telephones) and
Ericsson. On the network provider side there is currently the possibility
of an attractive arbitrage situation on the pending merger between future
market leader Vodafone/Airtouch leading to possibilities in selling
expensive OTC-puts on Vodafone in order to finance the inexpensive calls
on Airtouch. Upon the impending merger between the two companies, the
combined company will have approximately a 20% world market share and
will be well positioned in almost every European country.
2. Deregulation and liberalization in a Pan-European context has created
many dynamic and fast-growing companies. There is a massive growth in
specialized telecommunication companies between those that transmit data
with new fiber networks and those that provide Internet access. The
2
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
restructuring of the European telecommunications market will put pressure on
many firms to merge or to sell unprofitable units.
In terms of country allocation we have continuously increased the Fund's
holdings in the United Kingdom ("UK") to a solid overweighing of 3% relative to
the benchmark and nearly 40% of the Fund's delta country exposure. The chances
of a so-called soft landing in the UK economy are good and interest rates should
remain steady, demonstrating that the economy could break away from the
classical boom and bust cycle. The higher growth scenario for the UK has
propelled the UK equity market to new highs, the only one of the major European
countries to do so. The index structure of the FTSE 100 benefitted from the
rallies in oil and bank stocks due to the substantial weighting of oil and bank
stocks in the index.
The Fund has continued to benefit from the strategy of selling OTC equity
put options ("puts") through its final fiscal quarter. The sale of puts
compensates the Fund for the extremely high-implied volatility of the warrant
positions in the portfolio. The Fund is required to segregate cash or cash
equivalent in an amount that is equal to the underlying share value of the
written puts. At the end of the period the aggregate value of assets segregated
for this purpose represented approximately 15% of the Fund's net assets, held
mostly in the form of U.S., U.K. and German government bonds.
Delta-Ratio measures the total leverage of the Fund's portfolio to the NAV.
When the Delta-Ratio is 2 and the European market increases by $1.00, then the
NAV of the Fund generally should increase by $2.00. Conversely, if the European
market decreases by $1.00, then the NAV of the Fund generally should decrease by
$2.00. Strategically we define our Delta-Ratio Range in three different
scenarios: 2-3 is bullish with no clouds on the investment horizon; 1.5-2 means
mildly bullish with some risks of corrections; lower than 1.5 shows caution in a
flat market. Since the European equity market decline during the Fund's second
fiscal quarter in 1998 we have kept the delta leverage around 1.75, in the
middle of our defined neutral range of 1.5 -2. As soon as we see the flow of
funds coming back to Europe we plan to increase the Delta Ratio.
PORTFOLIO AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
At the close of business on May 6, 1999, the Fund was 78% invested in
warrants with an average weighted life of 868 days. The net asset value of the
Fund was $19.41. Shareholders can call Investors Bank & Trust Company, the
Fund's transfer agent, at the Fund's toll-free number 1-800-EUROWRS for weekly
information on portfolio holdings and geographic diversification.
In closing, I would like to mention again that conditions appear to be in
place for financial markets to strengthen in Europe. A very easy monetary
policy, gradual increase in domestic spending and a continued
3
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
strong U.S. stock market should stimulate economic activity in Europe and
investment in equities. Consequently, shareholders should soon benefit as the
economic outlook for Europe seems to be improving. On behalf of the management
of the Fund I would like to express my appreciation for the continued support of
our shareholders.
Sincerely,
/s/ Michael Quain
Michael Quain
President
May 12, 1999
The views expressed in this shareholder letter reflect those of the
President of the Fund only through the end of the period covered by the report
as stated on the cover. This shareholder letter contains certain forward looking
statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the
President. Shareholders are cautioned that such forward looking statements are
not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and
that actual results may differ materially from those in the forward looking
statements, as a result of various factors. The President's views are subject to
change based on market and other conditions.
4
<PAGE>
THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC. FACT SHEET
(UNAUDITED)
SECTOR
COUNTRY WEIGHTINGS WEIGHTINGS
[PIE CHART] [PIE CHART]
U.S. Cash Equivalents and Index Warrants.................... 40%
Net Other Assets and
Liabilities................ 15% U.S. Cash Equivalents and
Net Other Assets and
Switzerland.................. 5% Liabilities..................... 15%
Eastern Europe............... 3% Finance/Bank...................... 4%
Greece....................... 1% Consumer Goods/Services........... 12%
Germany...................... 18% Finance/Insurance................. 7%
United Kingdom............... 22% Utilities......................... 9%
Italy........................ 4% Investment Funds.................. 4%
Sweden....................... 7% Capital Goods..................... 3%
France....................... 5% Interest Rate..................... 4%
Netherlands.................. 6% Basic Industries.................. 1%
Multinational................ 14% Energy............................ 1%
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
March 31, 1999 March 31, 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
MISCELLANEOUS TOP TEN EQUITY WARRANT HOLDINGS MARCH
Average Life of Derivatives 31, 1999
(3/31/99) 1.63 years MARKET VALUE PERCENTAGE+
Average Gearing (3/31/99)++ 2.38% 1 FTSE 100 Index (WDR),
Average Premium (3/31/99) 2.92% STK 4000, expires
Average Annual Premium (3/31/99) 0.48% 5/12/99 $37,050,013 18.31%
Year to Date Total Return* 2 Scandinavian Telecommunication
(1/1/99-3/31/99) (0.70)% Basket (WDR), expires 6/02/03 15,634,518 7.73%
One Year Total Return*
(4/1/98-3/31/99) (5.88)% 3 Dow Jones EURO STOXX 50
Average Annual Total Return Since Index Cap Lepo (DB), STK
Inception* 2500-5000, expires 12/30/03 11,303,658 5.59%
(7/17/90-3/31/99) 18.85%
WARRANT 18.85% 4 DAX Cap Lepo (SOG), STK 5500,
CHARACTERISTICS expires 12/17/99 10,130,400 5.01%
The cost of a warrant is substantially 5 E-TOP 100 (DB) STK 1970,
less than the cost of the underlying expires 6/30/00 9,788,600 4.84%
securities themselves, and price 6 MIB 30 (BT), STK 19000,
movements in the underlying securities expires 5/19/00 9,660,600 4.77%
are generally magnified in the price 7 Euro Blue Star (ABN),
movements of the warrant. This expires 5/12/00 7,290,000 3.60%
leveraging effect enables an investor to 8 Baring Emerging Europe Trust,
gain exposure to the underlying expires 8/31/04 6,954,000 3.44%
instrument with a relatively low capital 9 Daimler-Benz AG Cap Lepo
investment with corresponding risk. (SOG), expires
Currently, the underlying equity 12/21/01 6,870,960 3.40%
exposure of a Fund share is 10 Vivendi, expires
approximately 1.73 times the value of 5/02/01 6,156,000 3.04%
the share. --------------------------------------------------------------------
Currency Hedge At March 31, 1999 0.00%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Annual Premium: The premium divided by the number of years until expiration of
the warrant.
Gearing: The value of the number of shares underlying each warrant
compared to the value of the warrant. This serves as an
indicator of the warrant price's sensitivity to a movement in
the underlying stock price.
Premium: The amount by which the sum of a warrant's exercise price and
purchase price exceeds the current stock price (in the case of
put warrants, the premium is the amount by which the sum of the
warrant's exercise price and purchase price is less than the
current share price). This is expressed as a percentage of the
current stock price.
*Total returns are based on Net Asset Value.
+Percentages are based on Market Value of Investments, other than repurchase
agreements, less market value of written options.
++The average gearing is based on the derivative portion of the portfolio.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
(percentages of total net assets)
March 31, 1999
SHARE VALUE
AMOUNT (NOTE 1)
- ---------- -----------
WARRANTS--75.6%
[ALL NON-INCOME PRODUCING SECURITIES]
UNITED KINGDOM--18.2%
1,000,000 Allied Zurich AG Cap (RF), expires 4/21/00........... $ 2,614,680
40,000 British Aerospace, expires 11/15/00.................. 710,160
10,000 FTSE 100 Index (WDR), STK 4000, expires 5/12/99...... 37,050,013
-----------
40,374,853
-----------
MULTINATIONAL--14.3%
100,000 Dow Jones EURO STOXX 50 Index Cap Lepo (DB), STK
1000-3000, expires 9/16/99......................... 2,975,400
1,000,000 Dow Jones EURO STOXX 50 Index Cap Lepo (DB), STK
2500-5000, expires 12/30/03........................ 11,303,658
10,000 E-Top 100 (DB) STK 1970, expires 6/30/00............. 9,788,600
300,000 Euro Blue Star (ABN), expires 5/12/00................ 7,290,000
1,000,000 Templeton Emerging Markets, expires 9/30/04.......... 367,185
-----------
31,724,843
-----------
GERMANY--13.8%
10,000 Adidas-Salomon AG Cap Lepo (MS), expires
6/11/99............................................ 856,224
64,000 BASF AG Range (Rabo), expires 11/11/99............... 541,210
1,300 BASF AG, expires 4/09/01............................. 240,084
5,000 Continental AG, expires 7/06/00...................... 691,200
100,000 DaimlerChrysler AG Cap Lepo (SOG), expires
12/21/01........................................... 6,870,960
400,000 DAX Cap Lepo (SOG), STK 5500, expires 12/17/99....... 10,130,400
50,000 Deutsche Telekom AG (DB), expires 2/04/00............ 1,946,700
50,000 Dresdner Bank AG, expires 4/30/02.................... 729,000
145,000 Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG (CL),
expires 12/21/01................................... 994,410
71,000 Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG,
expires 6/03/02.................................... 2,530,440
10,000 Preussag AG, expires 4/30/01......................... 3,078,000
SHARE VALUE
AMOUNT (NOTE 1)
- ---------- -----------
WARRANTS--(CONTINUED)
GERMANY--(CONTINUED)
10,000 SAP AG (Citi), expires 6/15/00....................... $ 1,535,760
100,000 Schering AG Range (CL), expires 6/04/99.............. 528,120
-----------
30,672,508
-----------
SWEDEN--7.1%
10,000,000 Scandinavian Telecommunication Basket (WDR), expires
6/02/03............................................ 15,634,518
-----------
FRANCE--4.9%
1,000,000 Axa (SOG), expires 8/24/00........................... 3,423,600
10,000 Promodes, expires 7/15/03............................ 1,296,000
2,500,000 Vivendi, expires 5/02/01............................. 6,156,000
-----------
10,875,600
-----------
SWITZERLAND--4.6%
250,000 ABB AG (Kant), expires 12/17/99...................... 348,562
100,000 Alusuisse (WDR), expires 1/15/02..................... 774,958
250,000 Nestle SA (WDR), expires 1/15/02..................... 2,115,059
250,000 Novartis/Ciba (WDR), expires 12/30/99................ 3,384,096
25,000 Roche Holdings (GR), expires 1/11/00................. 971,066
25,000 Roche Holdings (WDR), expires 12/01/00............... 2,571,912
-----------
10,165,653
-----------
ITALY--4.4%
1,000,000 MIB 30 (BT), STK 19000, expires 5/19/00.............. 9,660,600
-----------
NETHERLANDS--4.3%
25,000 ABN Amro (WDR), expires 5/08/99...................... 837,000
250,000 ING Groep NV, expires 1/05/08........................ 5,076,000
50,000 Wolters Kluwer NV (ML), expires 8/22/01.............. 3,515,400
-----------
9,428,400
-----------
EASTERN EUROPE--3.1%
9,150,000 Baring Emerging Europe Trust, expires 8/31/04........ 6,954,000
-----------
GREECE--0.9%
2,500,000 Greek Banks (BT), expires 4/26/04.................... 1,998,000
-----------
TOTAL WARRANTS
(Cost $110,536,782)................................ 167,488,975
-----------
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
6
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS--(Continued)
(percentages of total net assets)
March 31, 1999
VALUE
PAR VALUE (NOTE 1)
- ---------- -----------
GOVERNMENT BONDS--11.5%
UNITED STATES--6.8%
USD U.S. Treasury Bill, 4.46%, due
4,500,000 6/24/99 (a)........................................ $ 4,450,348
USD U.S. Treasury Bond, 6.375%, due
10,000,000 8/15/27 (b)........................................ 10,700,000
-----------
15,150,348
-----------
GERMANY--2.5%
EUR Deutschland BundesRepublic, 4.125%, due 7/04/08 .....
5,112,918 5,561,986
-----------
UNITED KINGDOM--2.2%
GBP United Kingdom War Loans, 3.50%, due 12/29/49........
4,000,000 4,831,934
-----------
TOTAL GOVERNMENT
BONDS
(Cost $24,038,712)................................. 25,544,268
-----------
SHARE
AMOUNT
- ----------
EQUITIES--5.4%
UNITED KINGDOM--1.7%
10,000 Energis Plc *........................................ 284,387
50,000 HSBC Holdings Plc (GBP .75 par)...................... 1,612,386
250,000 Shell Transport & Trading Company Plc................ 1,682,595
-----------
3,579,368
-----------
SHARE
AMOUNT
- ----------
EQUITIES--(CONTINUED)
GERMANY--1.0%
5,000 MobilCom AG.......................................... $ 1,312,200
25,000 Volkswagen AG Preferred.............................. 1,001,700
-----------
2,313,900
-----------
IRELAND--0.9%
100,652 Bank of Ireland...................................... 2,099,691
-----------
PORTUGAL--0.7%
30,000 Banco Comercial Portugues, SA *...................... 907,200
11,000 Brisa-Auto Estradas de Portugal, SA.................. 509,652
-----------
1,416,852
-----------
SWITZERLAND--0.4%
1,000 Baloise Holdings Ltd................................. 859,560
-----------
FRANCE--0.2%
5,000 SGS-Thomson Microelectronics *....................... 496,530
-----------
NETHERLANDS--0.2%
10,000 ASM Lithography
Holding NV *....................................... 457,380
-----------
NORWAY--0.2%
10,000 Norsk Hydro ASA ADR.................................. 405,000
-----------
GREECE--0.1%
11,111 Hellenic Telecommunication Organization SA........... 269,997
-----------
SPAIN--0.0%
840 Telefonica SA........................................ 35,644
-----------
TOTAL EQUITIES
(Cost $9,842,865).................................. 11,933,922
-----------
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
7
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS--(Continued)
(percentages of total net assets)
March 31, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
STRIKE VALUE
CONTRACTS PRICE (NOTE 1)
- -------- ------ ----------
OPTIONS PURCHASED--1.9%
[ALL NON-INCOME PRODUCING SECURITIES]
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NETHERLANDS--1.6%
100,000 Ahold (Listed) Call, expires 10/18/02......... EUR 22.68 $1,566,000
80,000 Unilever OTC Call, expires 12/30/99........... EUR 43.11 1,937,088
----------
3,503,088
----------
UNITED STATES--0.2%
25,000 AirTouch Communications, Inc. (Listed) Call,
expires 7/16/99............................. USD 80 492,188
----------
SWITZERLAND--0.1%
3,000 Novartis OTC Call, expires 5/21/99............ CHF 2,500 67,614
100 Roche Holdings OTC Call, expires 7/01/99...... CHF 25,000 148,400
----------
216,014
----------
TOTAL OPTIONS PURCHASED (Cost $3,115,188)..................... 4,211,290
----------
</TABLE>
SHARE
AMOUNT
- ----------
INVESTMENT FUNDS--1.3%
GERMANY--0.9%
169,456 The New Germany Fund.......................... 2,022,881
----------
RUSSIA--0.2%
100,000 First NIS Regional Fund....................... 450,000
----------
ROMANIA--0.1%
5,000 Societe Generale Romania Fund *............... 232,500
----------
CZECH REPUBLIC--0.1%
10,000 Komercni Banka Investment Fund *.............. 159,840
----------
TOTAL INVESTMENT FUNDS
(Cost $3,642,040)........................... 2,865,221
----------
PAR VALUE
- ----------
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS--0.3%
UNITED STATES--0.3%
USD Investors Bank & Trust Company Repurchase
736,247 Agreement, dated 3/31/99, due 4/01/99, with
a maturity value of $736,337, and an
effective yield of 4.40%, collateralized by
a Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
Obligation, with a rate of 8.00%, a maturity
date of 12/01/21 and a market value of
$773,173 (Cost $736,247).................... 736,247
----------
TOTAL INVESTMENTS--96.00%
(Cost $151,911,834)................................... 212,779,923
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (NET)--(4.0%).............. 8,858,889
----------
TOTAL NET ASSETS--100.0%................................ $221,638,812
------------
------------
NOTES TO THE SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS:
ADR American Depositary Receipt
* Non-income producing security.
(a) This security is held as collateral for open futures contracts.
(b) Security is segregated as collateral for uncovered written call options.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
8
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
SCHEDULE OF WRITTEN OPTIONS
March 31, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
STRIKE
CONTRACTS PRICE VALUE
- -------- ------ ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
FRANCE
25,000 Cap Gemini OTC Put, expires 5/10/99........... EUR 160 $ 356,670
10,000 L'OREAL OTC Put, expires 7/30/99.............. EUR 600 795,852
25,000 Sanofi OTC Put, expires 11/23/99.............. EUR 140 334,800
25,000 Sanofi OTC Put, expires 11/23/99.............. EUR 160 675,000
25,000 Total OTC Put, expires 6/16/99................ EUR 84 21,238
----------
2,183,560
----------
UNITED KINGDOM
500 COLT Telecom Group (Listed) Put, expires
7/20/99..................................... USD 60 246,875
1,000 FTSE 100 OTC Call, expires 5/12/99 GBP 5,700 1,077,619
100,000 HSBC Holdings OTC Call, expires 12/30/99...... GBP 22 323,672
500,000 Vodafone OTC Put, expires 5/12/99............. GBP 11 303,107
----------
1,951,273
----------
GERMANY
40,000 Continental OTC Call, expires 6/18/99 (a) .... EUR 26 34,560
25,000 Metro OTC Put, expires 4/30/99................ EUR 51 8,100
5,000 MobilCom OTC Put, expires 6/18/99............. EUR 225 237,600
5,000 MobilCom OTC Call, expires 6/18/99............ EUR 450 29,700
2,000 Preussag OTC Call, expires 5/14/99 (a) ....... EUR 500 28,080
1,800 SAP (Listed) Put, expires 6/18/99............. USD 30 990,000
----------
1,328,040
----------
SPAIN
1,000 IBEX OTC Put, expires 11/30/99................ EUR 10,000 1,212,619
----------
SWITZERLAND
3,000 Adecco OTC Put, expires 6/30/99............... CHF 700 60,227
1,500 Baloise OTC Put, expires 7/29/99.............. CHF 1,200 90,701
50,000 CS Group OTC Put, expires 11/30/99............ CHF 180 104,230
10,000 CS Group OTC Put, expires 12/17/99............ CHF 250 151,190
2,500 Holderbank OTC Put, expires 12/17/99.......... CHF 1,600 288,845
1,000 Novartis OTC Call, expires 12/16/99........... CHF 2,700 78,141
2,000 Novartis OTC Call, expires 12/30/99........... CHF 3,100 70,173
100 Roche Holdings OTC Call, expires 1/11/00...... CHF 18,750 88,965
----------
932,472
----------
FINLAND
250 Nokia (Listed) Call, expires 1/22/00 (a) ..... USD 150 753,125
----------
SWEDEN
1,000 Ericsson (Listed) Call, expires 7/17/99 (a) .. USD 25 250,000
25,000 Hennes & Mauritz OTC Put, expires 7/30/99..... SEK 700 303,813
----------
553,813
----------
IRELAND
100,000 Bank of Ireland OTC Call, expires 12/30/99.... GBP 13 377,676
----------
NETHERLANDS
100,000 ABN Amro OTC Call, expires 5/08/99 (a) ....... EUR 50 13,295
100,000 TNT Post Group OTC Put, expires 4/26/99....... EUR 28 136,890
----------
150,185
----------
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
9
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
SCHEDULE OF WRITTEN OPTIONS--(Continued)
March 31, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
STRIKE
CONTRACTS PRICE VALUE
- -------- ------ ----------
UNITED STATES
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
100 U.S. Treasury Bond (Listed) Call, expires
5/22/99..................................... USD 122 $ 114,063
50 U.S. Treasury Bond (Listed) Call, expires
5/22/99..................................... USD 130 2,344
----------
116,407
----------
PORTUGAL
25,000 Portugal Telecom OTC Put, expires 5/28/99..... EUR 40 55,607
----------
ITALY
300,000 BD Roma OTC Put, expires 5/21/99.............. EUR 3,000 52,082
----------
TOTAL WRITTEN OPTIONS (Premiums received $12,028,984)................... $9,666,859
----------
----------
</TABLE>
NOTES TO THE SCHEDULE OF WRITTEN OPTIONS:
(a) All or a portion of the written call option is uncovered. In order
to settle the contract, a sufficient amount of collateral has been
set aside to purchase the underlying security in the event the
option is exercised.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
10
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC,
SCHEDULE OF OPEN FINANCIAL FUTURES CONTRACTS
March 31, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NET UNREALIZED
NUMBERS OF CONTRACTS EXPIRATION CONTRACT DEPRECIATION
CONTRACTS TO SELL DATE VALUE OF CONTRACTS
- -------------- --------- ---------- ---------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
25 Euro 6/10/99 $3,060,806 $(36,180)
25 Euro 6/10/99 3,060,806 (8,640)
--------
NET UNREALIZED DEPRECIATION OF OPEN FUTURES CONTRACTS................................... $(44,820)
--------
--------
</TABLE>
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
CHF -- Swiss Franc
EUR -- Euro
GBP -- British Pound
SEK -- Swedish Krona
USD -- United States Dollar
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
11
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
March 31, 1999
ASSETS:
Investments, at value (Cost $151,911,834)
(Note 1).................................... $212,779,923
Foreign currency, at value (Cost $9,533,649)
(Note 1).................................... 9,295,080
Receivable for investment securities sold.... 10,240,929
Dividends and interest receivable............ 413,081
Prepaid expenses............................. 31,013
------------
Total assets.......................... 232,760,026
------------
LIABILITIES:
Written options, at value (Premiums received
$12,028,984) (Notes 1 and 3)................ $ 9,666,859
Payable for investment securities
purchased................................... 424,202
Payable for variation margin on open
financial futures contracts (Note 1)........ 174,661
Investment advisory fee payable (Note 2)..... 694,573
Accrued expenses and other payables.......... 160,919
------------
Total liabilities..................... 11,121,214
------------
TOTAL NET ASSETS.................................. $221,638,812
------------
------------
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:
Par value.................................... $ 11,966
Paid-in capital in excess of par value....... 140,449,900
Undistributed accumulated net investment
income...................................... 8,029,003
Accumulated net realized gain on
investments................................. 10,213,018
Net unrealized appreciation on investments... 62,934,925
------------
TOTAL NET ASSETS (equivalent to $18.52 per share
based on 11,966,470 shares of common stock
outstanding from 100,000,000 authorized with
$0.001 par value)............................... $221,638,812
------------
------------
See accompanying notes to the financial statements.
12
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Year Ended March 31, 1999
INVESTMENT INCOME:
Interest..................................... $ 1,272,149
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes
of $63,399)................................. 659,274
------------
Total Investment Income............... 1,931,423
------------
EXPENSES:
Investment advisory fee (Note 2)............. 2,847,023
Administration and custodian fees
(Note 2).................................... 462,042
Legal and audit fees......................... 447,098
Shareholder servicing fee (Note 2)........... 410,068
Printing and postage fees.................... 107,318
Transfer agent fees.......................... 60,000
Insurance premium expense.................... 46,992
Directors' fees and expenses (Note 2)........ 35,600
Other........................................ 30,723
------------
Total Expenses........................ 4,446,864
Less: Fees paid indirectly
(Note 2)........................ (325,676)
Less: Investment advisory fees
waived (Note 2)................. (410,068)
------------
Net expenses.......................... 3,711,120
------------
NET INVESTMENT LOSS............................... (1,779,697)
------------
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS
(Notes 1 and 3):
Net realized gain (loss) on:
Securities transactions................. 22,660,338
Written option transactions............. (2,253,758)
Realized gain distributions from
investment funds...................... 1,702,781
Financial futures contracts............. 2,548,323
Forward foreign currency contracts...... 899,518
Foreign currencies and net other
assets................................ 432,344
------------
Net realized gain on
investments.................. 25,989,546
------------
Net change in unrealized appreciation or
depreciation of:
Securities.............................. (42,062,532)
Written options......................... 2,481,956
Financial futures contracts............. (44,820)
Foreign currencies and net other
assets................................ (30,763)
------------
Net change in unrealized
appreciation or depreciation
of investments................ (39,656,159)
------------
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED LOSS ON INVESTMENTS... (13,666,613)
------------
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM
OPERATIONS...................................... $(15,446,310)
------------
------------
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
13
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED
MARCH 31, 1999 MARCH 31, 1998
-------------- --------------
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS
Net investment loss..................... $ (1,779,697) $ (1,832,816)
Net realized gain on investments........ 25,989,546 48,098,681
Net unrealized appreciation
(depreciation) of investments......... (39,656,159) 69,702,672
------------ ------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations............. (15,446,310) 115,968,537
Distributions to shareholders from:
Net realized gains on investments..... (32,027,304) (54,222,184)
Net increase in net assets resulting
from shares issued from dividend
reinvestment (1,290,702 and 2,522,056
shares, respectively)................. 21,941,935 34,047,754
------------ ------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets... (25,531,679) 95,794,107
NET ASSETS:
Beginning of year..................... 247,170,491 151,376,384
------------ ------------
End of year (including accumulated
undistributed net investment income
of $8,029,003 and $15,620,004,
respectively)...................... $221,638,812 $247,170,491
------------ ------------
------------ ------------
See accompanying notes to the financial statements.
14
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
For a Fund share outstanding throughout each year
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED
------------------------------------------------------------------
MARCH 31, MARCH 31, MARCH 31, MARCH 31, MARCH 31,
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Operating performance:
Net asset value, beginning of year.................... $ 23.15 $ 18.57 $ 12.11 $ 7.53 $ 13.34
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net investment loss(1)(3)............................. (0.18) (0.21) (0.13) (0.08) (0.01)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
on investments(3)................................... (1.26) 12.50 7.35 4.66 (3.90)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
resulting from investment operations................ (1.44) 12.29 7.22 4.58 (3.91)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Capital effect of dividend reinvestment................. (0.19) (1.06) -- -- --
Distributions:
Distributions from net realized gains................. (3.00) (6.65) (0.76) -- (1.90)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF YEAR............................ $ 18.52 $ 23.15 $ 18.57 $ 12.11 $ 7.53
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
MARKET VALUE, END OF YEAR............................... $ 14.000 $ 22.500 $ 13.500 $ 10.000 $ 6.875
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total investment return on market value (26.80)% 148.77% 43.69% 45.45% (26.37)%
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Ratios to average net assets/supplemental data:
Net assets, end of year (000's)....................... $221,639 $247,170 $151,376 $ 98,732 $ 61,430
Ratio of net investment loss to average
net assets.......................................... (0.78)% (0.95)% (0.89)% (0.86)% (0.11)%
Ratio of operating expenses to average
net assets(1)(2).................................... 1.77% 1.72% 1.88% 2.03% 1.74%
Portfolio turnover rate............................... 81% 95% 191% 148% 104%
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) For the following periods, the operating expenses of the Fund reflect a
waiver of fees by the Fund's investment adviser. Had such action not been
taken, the net investment loss per share and the operating expense ratios
would have been:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net investment loss per share........................ $(0.22) -- -- $(0.09) $(0.04)
Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets.... 1.81% -- -- 2.15% 1.99%
(2) For the following periods, the ratio of operating
expenses to average net assets includes indirectly
paid expenses. Excluding indirectly paid expenses,
the expense ratio would have been:................... 1.63% 1.65% 1.85% 1.94% --
(3) Based on average shares outstanding during the period.
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to the financial statements.
15
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The European Warrant Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") was incorporated under the
laws of the State of Maryland on May 23, 1990 and is a non-diversified,
closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended. The Fund's investment objective is enhanced capital
growth, which the Fund seeks to achieve by investing primarily in equity
warrants of Western European issuers.
The Fund's investments in European warrants involve certain considerations
not typically associated with investment in securities of U.S. companies or the
United States Government, including risks relating to (1) price volatility in
and relative illiquidity of European warrant markets; (2) currency exchange
matters; (3) restrictions on foreign investment; (4) the absence of uniform
accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and disclosure
requirements and less government supervision and regulation; and (5) certain
economic and political conditions.
The presentation 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 revenue and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently
followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
Portfolio valuation: All non-German securities for which market
quotations are readily available are valued at the last sales price prior
to the time of determination, or, if no sales price is available at that
time, at the mean between the bid and asked quotations. If bid and ask
quotations are not available, the security is priced at the bid quotation.
If this is unavailable, the security is priced at the last available quoted
price. German securities which trade on the German exchange are valued at
the last sale price prior to the time of determination. If this quotation
is not available, the securities are valued at the Kassa closing price of
the exchange. Securities that are traded over-the-counter are valued, at
the mean between the current bid and asked prices. If bid and asked
quotations are not available, then over-the-counter securities will be
valued as determined in good faith under the direction of the Fund's Board
of Directors. In making this determination, the Board will consider, among
other things, publicly available information regarding the issuer, market
conditions and values ascribed to comparable companies. In instances where
the price determined above is deemed not to represent fair market value,
the price is determined in such manner as the Board may prescribe.
Investments in short-term debt securities having a maturity of 60 days or
less are valued at amortized cost unless this is determined by the Fund's
Board of Directors not to represent fair value. All other securities and
assets are reported at fair value as determined in good faith according to
procedures established by the Fund's Board of Directors.
Warrants: Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests primarily
in European warrants. The Fund's holdings of European warrants may consist
of equity warrants, basket warrants, index warrants, covered warrants,
interest rate warrants, currency options and long-term options of, or
16
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
relating to, European issuers. At the time of issue, the cost of a warrant
is substantially less than the cost of the underlying securities
themselves, and price movements in the underlying securities are generally
magnified in the price movements of the warrant. Warrants generally pay no
dividends and confer no voting or other rights other than to purchase the
underlying security. If the market price of the underlying security is
below the exercise price of the warrant on its expiration date, the warrant
will generally expire without value.
Repurchase Agreements: The Fund may engage in repurchase agreement
transactions. Under the terms of a typical repurchase agreement, a Fund
takes possession of underlying debt securities subject to an obligation of
the seller to repurchase, and the Fund to resell such securities at an
agreed-upon price and time, thereby determining the yield during the Fund's
holding period. This arrangement results in a fixed rate of return that is
not subject to market fluctuations during the Fund's holding period. The
value of the securities subject to the repurchase agreement at all times
will be equal to at least 100% of the total amount of the repurchase
obligation, including interest. In the event of counterparty default, the
Fund has the right to use such securities to offset losses incurred. There
is potential loss to a Fund in the event the Fund is delayed or prevented
from exercising its rights to dispose of the collateral securities,
including the risk of a possible decline in the value of the underlying
securities during the period while the Fund seeks to assert its rights. The
Fund's investment adviser, acting under the supervision of the Board of
Directors, reviews the value of the collateral and the creditworthiness of
those banks and dealers with which the Fund enters into repurchase
agreements to evaluate potential risks.
Foreign currency: The books and records of the Fund are maintained in
United States (U.S.) dollars. Foreign currencies, investments and other
assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates
prevailing at the end of the period; purchases and sales of investment
securities and income and expenses are translated on the respective dates
of such transactions. Unrealized gains or losses on investments which
result from changes in foreign currencies have been included in the
unrealized appeciation/(depreciation) of investments. Net realized currency
gains and losses include foreign currency gains and losses between trade
date and settlement date on investment securities transactions, foreign
currency transactions and the difference between the amounts of interest
and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amount actually
received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to
fluctuations in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and
subsequent sale trade date is included in realized gains and losses on
security transactions.
Options: Purchases of put and call options are recorded as an
investment, the value of which is marked-to-market at each valuation date.
When a purchased option expires, the Fund will realize a loss equal to the
premium paid. When the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction, the
Fund will realize a gain or loss depending on whether the sales proceeds
from the closing sale transaction are greater or less than the cost of the
option. When the Fund exercises a put option, it will realize a gain or
loss from the sale of the underlying security and the proceeds from such
sale will be decreased by the premium originally paid. When the Fund
exercises a call option, the cost of the security which the Fund purchases
upon exercise will be increased by the premium originally paid.
17
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
When the Fund writes a call option or a put option, an amount equal to
the premium received by the Fund is recorded as a liability, the value of
which is marked-to-market at each valuation date. When a written option
expires, the Fund realizes a gain equal to the amount of the premium
originally received. When the Fund enters into a closing purchase
transaction, the Fund realizes a gain (or loss if the cost of the closing
purchase transaction exceeds the premium originally received when the
option was sold/written) without regard to any unrealized gain or loss on
the underlying security, and the liability related to such option is
eliminated. When a call option is exercised, the Fund realizes a gain or
loss from the sale of the underlying security and the proceeds from such
sale are increased by the amount of the premium originally received. When a
put option is exercised, the amount of the premium originally received will
reduce the cost of the security which the Fund purchased upon exercise.
Unlike options on specific securities, all settlements of options on
stock indices are in cash and gains or losses depend on general movements
in the stocks included in the index rather than price movements in a
particular stock. There is no physical delivery of securities. Further,
when the Fund writes an uncovered call option, the Fund must set aside
collateral sufficient to cover the cost of purchasing the underlying
security in the event that the counterparty to the transaction exercises
the contract.
The risk associated with purchasing options is limited to the premium
originally paid. The risk in writing a call option is that the Fund may
forego the opportunity for profit if the market price of the underlying
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
underlying security decreases and the option is exercised. There is also
the risk the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction
because of an illiquid secondary market. In addition, the Fund could be
exposed to risks if the counterparties to the transaction are unable to
meet the terms of the contracts.
Over-the-counter options: The Fund may invest in options on
securities which are traded in the over-the-counter market. The applicable
accounting principles used are the same as those for options discussed
above.
Forward foreign currency contracts: Forward foreign currency
contracts are valued at the forward rate and are marked-to-market at each
valuation date. The change in market value is recorded by the Fund as an
unrealized gain or loss. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a
realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the
contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.
As part of its investment strategy, the Fund uses forward foreign
currency contracts to hedge the Fund's portfolio holdings against currency
risks. With respect to the Fund's obligations to purchase or sell
currencies under forward foreign currency contracts, the Fund will either
deposit with its custodian in a segregated account cash or other liquid
securities having a value at least equal to its obligations, or continue to
own or have the right to sell or acquire, respectively, the currency
subject to the forward foreign currency contract.
18
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
The use of forward foreign currency contracts does not eliminate
fluctuations in the underlying prices of the Fund's portfolio securities,
but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the
future. Although forward foreign currency contracts limit the risk of loss
due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any
potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase.
In addition, the Fund could be exposed to risks if the counterparties to
the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts.
Financial futures contracts: Upon entering into a futures contract,
the Fund is required to deposit with the broker or to segregate for the
benefit of the broker an amount of cash or cash equivalents equal to a
certain percentage of the contract amount. This is known as the "initial
margin." Subsequent payments ("variation margin") are made or received by
the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuation of the value of the
contract.
For long futures positions, the asset is marked-to-market daily. For
short futures positions, the liability is marked-to-market daily. The daily
changes in the contract are recorded as unrealized gains or losses. The
Fund realizes a gain or loss when the contract is closed.
There are several risks connected with the use of futures contracts as
a hedging device. The change in value of futures contracts primarily
corresponds with the value of their underlying instruments, which may not
correlate with the change in value of the hedged investments. In addition,
there is the risk that the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing
transaction because of an illiquid secondary market.
Securities transactions and investment income: Securities
transactions are recorded as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses
from securities sold are recorded on the identified cost basis. Dividend
income and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend
date except that certain dividends from foreign securities are recorded as
soon after the ex-date as the Fund is informed of the dividend. Interest
income is recorded when earned.
Dividends and distributions to shareholders: The Fund intends to
distribute annually to its shareholders substantially all of its investment
company taxable income. The Fund will determine annually whether to
distribute any net realized long-term capital gains in excess of net
realized short-term capital losses; however, it currently expects to
distribute any excess annually to its shareholders. Additional
distributions of net investment income and capital gains may be made at the
discretion of the Fund's Board of Directors to avoid a 4% nondeductible
excise tax on certain undistributed amounts of ordinary income and capital
gains. Income distributions and capital gain distributions on a Fund level
are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ
from generally accepted accounting principles. These differences are
primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains on various
investment securities held by the Fund, foreign currency transactions,
other temporary and permanent differences and differing characterization of
distributions made by the Fund as a whole.
Federal income taxes: The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a
regulated investment company for Federal income tax purposes. Accordingly,
no income tax provision is required. It is
19
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
expected that certain capital gains earned by the Fund and certain
dividends and interest received by the Fund will be subject to foreign
withholding taxes.
2. INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEE AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS
Julius Baer Securities Inc. (the "Adviser") serves as the Fund's investment
adviser pursuant to an advisory agreement with the Fund. The Fund pays the
Adviser a fee for its advisory services at an annual rate of 1.25% of the value
of the Fund's weekly average net assets.
Effective July 1, 1998, the Fund pays Julius Baer Asset Management .25% of
the value of the Fund's weekly average net assets for shareholder servicing and
other services. These services replace services previously provided by the
Adviser and were approved by the Board of Directors at a special meeting on July
23, 1998. At the same time, the Adviser agreed to waive .25% of its 1.25%
advisory fee.
For the year ended March 31, 1999, the Fund incurred total brokerage
commissions of $393,626 of which $38,767 was paid in total to affiliates of the
Adviser.
No director, officer or employee of the Adviser or any affiliates of those
entities will receive any compensation from the Fund for serving as an officer
or director of the Fund.
The Fund has entered into an expense offset arrangement as part of its
custody agreement with Investors Bank & Trust Company. Under this arrangement,
the Fund's custody fees are reduced when the Fund maintains cash on deposit at
the custodian. For the year ended March 31, 1999, the Fund incurred total
administrative and custody fees in the amount of $462,042 which, after receiving
a credit of $325,676 pursuant to the expense offset arrangement, resulted in a
net expense of $136,366.
3. PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES
Cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities, excluding
short-term investments, for the year ended March 31, 1999 amounted to
$179,118,994 and $181,422,266 respectively.
Activity in written options for the year ended March 31, 1999 was as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
PREMIUM CONTRACTS
------------ -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Options outstanding at March 31, 1998...................... $ 4,478,926 6,324,100
Options written............................................ 34,168,846 35,581,833
Options exercised.......................................... (2,233,719) (476,800)
Options expired............................................ (7,617,291) (17,037,900)
Options closed............................................. (16,767,778) (22,878,433)
------------ -----------
Options outstanding at March 31, 1999...................... $ 12,028,984 1,512,800
------------ -----------
------------ -----------
</TABLE>
At March 31, 1999, aggregated gross unrealized appreciation for all
securities in which there is an excess of value over tax cost and aggregate
gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of
tax cost over value amount to $67,756,928 and $6,067,299 respectively. Tax cost
for investment securities at March 31, 1999 was $151,090,294.
20
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
4. FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION
The Fund has designated 54% (unaudited) of the distribution paid during the
year ended March 31, 1999, as a long term capital gain dividend.
For the year ended March 31, 1999, the Fund has elected to defer $517,435
of capital losses attributable to post-October losses.
5. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NET
NET REALIZED AND INCREASE/(DECREASE)
NET INVESTMENT UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS) IN NET ASSETS FROM
INVESTMENT INCOME INCOME (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS OPERATIONS
------------------- -------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
QUARTER ENDED: TOTAL PER SHARE TOTAL PER SHARE TOTAL PER SHARE TOTAL PER SHARE
- ---------------------------- -------- --------- --------- --------- ------------ --------- ------------ ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
June 30, 1997............... 366,775 .04 (316,510) (.04) 33,213,380 4.07 32,896,870 4.03
September 30, 1997.......... 403,156 .05 (393,229) (.05) 30,083,819 3.69 29,690,590 3.64
December 31, 1997........... 405,692 .05 (426,219) (.04) (12,968,057) (1.59) (13,394,276) (1.63)
March 31, 1998.............. 152,090 .01 (696,858) (.08) 67,472,211 6.33 66,775,353 6.25
June 30, 1998............... 634,783 .06 (361,820) (.04) 14,679,500 1.38 14,317,680 1.34
September 30, 1998.......... 397,489 .04 (662,116) (.06) (81,354,131) (7.62) (82,016,247) (7.68)
December 31, 1998........... 552,822 .05 (199,850) (.02) 54,028,213 5.05 53,828,363 5.03
March 31, 1999.............. 346,329 .04 (555,911) (.06) (1,020,195) (0.07) (1,576,106) (.13)
</TABLE>
21
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
[KPMG logo]
To the Board of Directors
The European Warrant Fund, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of The
European Warrant Fund, Inc., including the portfolio of investments, as of March
31, 1999, 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
March 31, 1999 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. 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 The
European Warrant Fund, Inc. as of March 31, 1999, 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.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
May 5, 1999
22
<PAGE>
- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
In managing the day-to-day operations of the Fund, including the making of
all investment decisions, the Adviser employs Hansruedi Huber and Philipp Burger
as co-Portfolio Managers of the Fund. Mr. Huber is employed as a Senior Vice
President of Investments with the Adviser and is currently also a Senior Vice
President and a member of the Management Committee of Julius Baer Asset
Management Ltd., an affiliate of the Adviser. Mr. Burger has been employed as a
Vice President of Investments with the Adviser since the second quarter of 1997
and a First Vice President of Julius Baer Asset Management Ltd. since January
1998.
YEAR 2000
Like other funds and business organizations around the world, the Fund
could be adversely affected if the computer systems used by the Adviser and the
Fund's other service providers do not properly process and calculate
date-related information for the year 2000 and beyond. The Fund has been
informed that the Adviser, and the Fund's other service providers (i.e
Administrator, Transfer Agent, Distributor and Custodian) have developed and are
implementing clearly defined and documented plans to minimize the risk
associated with the year 2000 problem. These plans include the following
activities: inventorying of software systems, determining inventory items that
may not function properly after December 31st, 1999, reprogramming or replacing
such systems and retesting for Year 2000 readiness. In addition, the service
providers are obtaining assurances from their vendors and suppliers in the same
manner. Non-compliant year 2000 systems upon which the Fund is dependant may
result in errors and account maintenance failures. The Fund has no reason to
believe that (1) the Year 2000 plans of the Advisor and the Fund's other service
providers will not be completed by December, 1999, and (2) the costs currently
associated with the implementation of their plans will have a material adverse
impact on the business, operations or financial condition of the Fund or its
service providers.
In addition, the Year 2000 may adversely affect the companies in which the
Fund invests. For example these companies may incur substantial costs to correct
the problem and may suffer losses caused by data processing errors. Since the
ultimate costs or consequences of incomplete or untimely resolution of the Year
2000 problem by the Fund's service providers are unknown to the Fund at this
time, no assurance can be made that such costs or consequences will not have a
material adverse impact on the Fund or its service providers.
The Fund and the Advisor will continue to monitor developments relating to
the Year 2000 problem, including the development of contingency plans for
providing back-up computer services in the event of a systems failure.
INVESTMENT POLICY CHANGES
The following changes to the non-fundamental investment policies of the
Fund and additional investment strategies have been implemented since the
issuance of the Fund's Prospectus dated September 3, 1993.
1. The Fund may write put options on securities and foreign currencies
with total market value not exceeding 5% of total assets.
23
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- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)--(Continued)
2. The policy that limits the value of the underlying securities on
which covered call options are written to 35% of the total assets of the
Fund has been eliminated.
3. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with primary
government securities dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York, member banks of the Federal Reserve System or its custodian.
4. The Board has further clarified the existing policy that the Fund
is required to concentrate at least 25% of its assets in securities issued
by banks or bank holding companies by eliminating the inconsistent
disclosure that the Investment Adviser does not anticipate that it will
have more than 25% of its assets in bank issued warrants or similar bank
issued equity securities.
5. The Fund has begun using portfolio securities (as opposed to cash
or cash equivalents) to satisfy asset segregation requirements in
connection with certain trading practices.
6. The policy which allows the Fund to invest up to 5% of its total
assets in Eastern European equity securities or warrants has been amended
to allow the Fund to invest up to 10% of its total assets in such
instruments and the definition of Eastern Europe was expanded to include
the Newly Independent States of the ex-Soviet Union.
7. The Fund may both purchase and sell interest rate futures contracts
that are traded on regulated exchanges, including non-U.S. exchanges to the
extent permitted by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
8. Fund shareholders changed the Fund's status from a diversified to a
non-diversified management investment company at the Fund's June 26, 1997
annual meeting.
DISCOUNT
On various occasions, the Board of Directors has considered several
alternatives to address the Fund's discount. The Board will continue to discuss
alternatives at future Board meetings.
The Fund currently intends to repurchase shares of the Fund on the open
market if Fund management believes such action is in the best interest of the
Fund. There can be no assurance that the Fund will repurchase any shares of the
Fund under any given circumstances.
QUARTERLY EARNINGS RELEASE
The Fund issues, in a press release, interim earnings statements on a
quarterly basis which compare the Fund's current quarterly performance against
the corresponding quarter from the previous fiscal year. In addition, the Fund
sends unaudited semi-annual and audited annual reports, including a list of
investments held, to its stockholders.
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND CASH PURCHASE PLAN
Under the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the "Plan"),
a shareholder whose Common Stock is registered in his own name will have all
distributions reinvested automatically by
24
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- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)--(Continued)
Investors Bank & Trust Company ("IBT") as agent under the Plan, unless the
shareholder elects to receive cash. Distributions with respect to shares
registered in the name of a broker-dealer or other nominee (that is, in "street
name") may be reinvested by the broker or nominee in additional shares under the
Plan, but only if the service is provided by the broker or nominee, unless the
shareholder elects to receive distributions in cash. A shareholder who holds
Common Stock registered in the name of a broker or other nominee may not be able
to transfer the Common Stock to another broker or nominee of a broker or other
nominee and continue to participate in the Plan. Investors who own Common Stock
registered in street name should consult their broker or nominee for details
regarding reinvestment.
The number of shares of Common Stock distributed to participants in the
Plan in lieu of a cash dividend is determined in the following manner. If the
market price per share on the valuation date equals or exceeds net asset value
per share on that date, the Fund will issue new shares to participants valued at
net asset value or, if the net asset value is less than 95% of the market price
on the valuation date, then valued at 95% of the market price. If net asset
value per share on the valuation date exceeds the market price per share on that
date, participants in the Plan will receive shares of stock from the Fund valued
at market price. The valuation date is the dividend or distribution payment date
or, if that date is not a New York Stock Exchange trading day, the next
proceeding trading day. To the extent the Fund issues shares of Common Stock to
participants in the Plan at a discount to net asset value, the remaining
shareholders' interests in the Fund's net assets will be diluted
proportionately. If the Fund should declare an income dividend or capital gains
distribution payable only in cash, IBT will, as agent for the participants, buy
Fund shares in the open market, on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere, for
the participants' accounts on, or shortly after, the payment date.
Participants in the Plan have the option of making additional semi-annual
cash payments to IBT in any amount from $100 to $3,000 for investment in Fund
shares. IBT uses all funds so received to purchase Fund shares in the open
market on or about February 15 and August 15 of each year. Plan participants are
not subject to any charge for reinvesting dividends or capital gains
distributions. Each Plan participant, however, bears a pro rata share of
brokerage commissions incurred with respect to IBT's open market purchases of
Fund shares in connection with voluntary cash payments or the reinvestment of
dividends or capital gains distributions payable only in cash.
The automatic reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions
does not relieve Plan participants of any income tax that may be payable on the
dividends or capital gains distributions. A participant in the Plan is treated
for federal income tax purposes as having received, on the dividend payment
date, a dividend or distribution in an amount equal to the cash that the
participant could have received instead of shares.
A shareholder may terminate participation in the Plan at anytime by
notifying IBT in writing. A termination will be effective immediately if notice
is received by IBT not less than 10 days before any dividend or distribution
record date. Otherwise, the termination will be effective, and only with respect
to any subsequent dividends or distributions, on the first trading day after the
dividend or distribution has been credited to the participant's account in
additional shares of Common Stock of the Fund. Upon termination and according to
a participant's instructions, IBT will either (a) issue certificates from the
whole
25
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- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)--(Continued)
shares credited to your Plan account and a check representing any fractional
shares or (b) sell the shares in the market. There will be a $5.00 fee assessed
for liquidation service, plus brokerage commissions, and IBT is authorized to
sell a sufficient number of a participant's shares to cover such amounts.
The Plan is described in more detail on pages 40-42 of the Fund's
Prospectus dated September 3, 1993. Information concerning the Plan may be
obtained from IBT at 1-(800) 387-6977.
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PRIVILEGE
Under the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Privilege (the "Reinvestment
Privilege"), a shareholder who is not otherwise participating in the Dividend
Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan will have all distributions to which the
Reinvestment Privilege applies reinvested automatically by IBT as agent under
the Reinvestment Privilege, unless the shareholder elects to receive cash.
Whenever the Directors of the Fund declare a capital gains distribution or
an income dividend payable either in Shares or cash, the Fund will send
Stockholders who are not otherwise participating in the Plan a notice (the
"Notice") indicating a distribution payable in cash or additional Shares issued
by the Fund. Stockholders who are not otherwise participating in the Plan will
be given the option to receive the distribution in additional Shares or cash,
net of any applicable U.S. withholding tax. Stockholders who desire to receive
the distribution in additional Shares need do nothing further. Stockholders who
desire the distribution in cash must notify the Fund in the form specified in
the Notice. Any cash payments will be paid by the Fund in U.S. dollars by check,
mailed directly to the Stockholder by IBT as the Fund's dividend paying agent.
Whenever market price per Share is equal to or exceeds net asset value per
share at the time shares are valued for the purpose of determining the number of
shares equivalent to the cash dividend or capital gains distribution, the Fund
will issue new shares to participants valued at net asset value or, if the net
asset value is less than 95% of the market price of the shares on the valuation
date, then valued at 95% of the market price. If net asset value of the shares
on the valuation date exceeds the market price of shares on that date,
participants will receive shares from the Fund valued at market price. The
valuation date is the dividend or distribution payment date or, if that date is
not a New York Stock Exchange trading day, the next preceding trading day. To
the extent the Fund issues shares of Common Stock to participants in the Plan at
a discount to net asset value, the remaining shareholders' interests in the
Fund's net assets will be diluted proportionately. If the Fund should declare an
income dividend or capital gains distribution payable only in cash, participants
in the Reinvestment Privilege will receive cash while participants in the
Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan will receive the distribution as
provided for in such Plan.
IBT will confirm in writing to the Stockholder each acquisition made for
her or his account as soon as practicable but not later than 60 days after the
date thereof. Although the Stockholder may from time to time have an undivided
fractional interest (computed to three decimal places) in a Share of the Fund,
no certificates for a fractional Share will be issued. However, dividends and
distributions on fractional Shares will be credited to the Stockholder's account
under the Reinvestment Privilege, IBT will adjust for any such undivided
fractional interest in cash at the market value of the shares at the time of
termination. Any stock
26
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- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)--(Continued)
dividends or split Shares distributed by the Fund on shares held by IBT for the
Stockholder will be credited to the Stockholder's account.
The Reinvestment Privilege may be terminated by IBT or the Fund as applied
to any dividend or distribution paid subsequent to notice of the termination in
writing mailed to the participants in the Reinvestment Privilege at least 30
days prior to the record date for the payment of any dividend or distribution by
the Fund. Upon any termination of the Reinvestment Privilege with respect to the
reinvestment of dividends and distributions generally, IBT will either
(a) issue certificates from the whole shares credited to your Plan account and a
check representing any fractional shares or (b) sell the shares in the market.
There will be a $5.00 fee assessed for liquidation service, plus brokerage
commissions, and IBT is authorized to sell a sufficient number of a
participant's shares to cover such amounts.
These terms and conditions may be amended or supplemented by IBT or the
Fund at any time or times but, except when necessary or appropriate to comply
with applicable law or the rules or policies of the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any other regulatory authority, only by mailing to participants in
the Reinvestment Privilege appropriate written notice at least 30 days prior to
the effective date thereof. Upon any such appointment of a successor agent for
the purpose of receiving dividends and distributions, the Fund will be
authorized to pay to such successor agent, for Stockholders' accounts, all
dividends and distributions payable on the Shares held in the Stockholders' name
or under the Reinvestment Privilege for retention or application by such
successor agent as provided in these terms and conditions.
Information concerning the Reinvestment Privilege may be obtained from IBT
at 1-(800) 387-6977.
27
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- --------- THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Julius Baer Securities Inc.
330 Madison Ave.
New York, New York 10017
ADMINISTRATOR, CUSTODIAN
& TRANSFER AGENT
Investors Bank & Trust Company
200 Clarendon Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
OFFICERS
Michael Quain
President, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Secretary
Hansruedi Huber
Chief Investment Officer
Philipp Burger
Investment Officer
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
KPMG LLP
99 High Street
Boston, MA 02110
COUNSEL
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10019-6064
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGENT
Julius Baer Asset Management Ltd., Zurich
Brandschenkestrasse 40
CH-8010 Zurich
DIRECTORS
Antoine Bernheim
Lawrence A. Fox
Thomas J. Gibbons
Harvey B. Kaplan
Bernard Spilko*
Martin Vogel
*Chairman of the Board
<PAGE>
---------------------------------------------------------
THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
MARCH 31, 1999
THE EUROPEAN WARRANT FUND, INC.
330 MADISON AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
This report is sent to the shareholders of The European Warrant Fund, Inc. for
their information. It is not a Prospectus, circular or representation intended
for use in the purchase or sale of shares of the Fund or of any securities
mentioned in the report.
