59 WALL STREET FUND INC
497, 1997-05-27
Previous: 59 WALL STREET FUND INC, 497, 1997-05-27
Next: CE SOFTWARE HOLDINGS INC, DEF 14A, 1997-05-27



                                     [LOGO]
                            International Equity Fund
                              Emerging Markets Fund

                                   PROSPECTUS
                                  May 20, 1997


<PAGE>

================================================================================

PROSPECTUS

                  The 59 Wall Street International Equity Fund
                    The 59 Wall Street Emerging Markets Fund

                 6 St. James Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02116

================================================================================

     The 59 Wall Street  International  Equity Fund (the  "International  Equity
Fund") and The 59 Wall  Street  Emerging  Markets  Fund (the  "Emerging  Markets
Fund") (each a "Fund" and collectively the "Funds") are separate non-diversified
portfolios of The 59 Wall Street Fund,  Inc.  Shares of each Fund are offered by
this Prospectus.

     The   International   Equity  Fund  is  designed  to  enable  investors  to
participate in the opportunities  available in equity markets outside the United
States and Canada.  The Emerging Markets Fund is designed to enable investors to
participate in the opportunities  available in emerging markets.  The investment
objective of each Fund is to provide  investors with long-term  maximization  of
total return, primarily through capital appreciation.  There can be no assurance
that a Fund's investment objective will be achieved.

   Investments  in the Funds are  neither  insured  nor  guaranteed  by the U.S.
Government.  Shares  of the  Funds  are  not  deposits  or  obligations  of,  or
guaranteed by, Brown  Brothers  Harriman & Co. or any other bank, and the shares
are not  insured by the  Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation,  the  Federal
Reserve Board or any other federal, state or other governmental agency.

     The Corporation  seeks to achieve the investment  objective of each Fund by
investing all of each Fund's assets in a corresponding  non-diversified open-end
investment  company  having the same  investment  objective  as each  Fund.  The
Corporation  invests  all of the  assets  of the  Emerging  Markets  Fund in the
Emerging  Markets  Portfolio and all of the assets of the  International  Equity
Fund in the International Equity Portfolio.

     Brown Brothers  Harriman & Co. is the  investment  adviser to the Portfolio
and the administrator  and shareholder  servicing agent for each Fund. Shares of
the Funds are offered at net asset value and without a sales charge.

     This Prospectus,  which investors are advised to read and retain for future
reference,  sets  forth  concisely  the  information  about  each  Fund  that  a
prospective  investor  ought to know before  investing.  Additional  information
about each Fund has been filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission in a
Statement of Additional  Information,  dated May 20, 1997.  This  information is
incorporated  herein by reference and is available  without  charge upon request
from the Funds'  distributor,  59 Wall Street  Distributors,  Inc.,  6 St. James
Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.

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

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

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

                  The date of this Prospectus is May 20, 1997.

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----
Expense Table............................................................    3
Investment Objective and Policies........................................    4
Investment Restrictions .................................................    9
Purchase of Shares ......................................................   10
Redemption of Shares ....................................................   10
Management of the Corporation                                             
  and the Portfolios ....................................................   11
Net Asset Value .........................................................   16
Dividends and Distributions .............................................   17
Taxes ...................................................................   17
Description of Shares ...................................................   18
Additional Information ..................................................   20
Appendix A ..............................................................   22
Appendix B ..............................................................   24
                                                   
                          TERMS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS

Corporation.........................     The 59 Wall Street Fund, Inc.
Funds...............................     The 59 Wall Street International 
                                              Equity Fund (the "International 
                                              Equity Fund")
                                         The 59 Wall Street Emerging Markets
                                              Fund (the "Emerging Markets Fund")
Portfolios..........................     International Equity Portfolio

                                         Emerging Markets Portfolio
Investment Adviser..................     Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
Administrator of the
   Corporation......................     Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
Administrator of the 
   Portfolios ......................     Brown Brothers Harriman Trust Company 
                                              (Cayman) Limited
Subadministrator of the 
   Corporation......................     59 Wall Street Administrators, Inc.
                                              ("59 Wall Street Administrators")
Subadministrator of the 
   Portfolios.......................     Signature Financial Group (Cayman)
                                              Limited ("SFG-Cayman")
Distributor ........................     59 Wall Street Distributors, Inc.
                                              ("59 Wall Street Distributors")
1940 Act ...........................     The Investment Company Act of 1940, 
                                              as amended


                                       2
<PAGE>

EXPENSE TABLE
================================================================================

     The following table provides (i) a summary of estimated  expenses  relating
to  purchases  and  sales of  shares  of each  Fund,  and the  aggregate  annual
operating expenses of each Fund and its corresponding Portfolio, as a percentage
of average net assets of that Fund, and (ii) an example  illustrating the dollar
cost of such  estimated  expenses  on a  $1,000  investment  in each  Fund.  The
Directors of the  Corporation  believe that the aggregate per share  expenses of
each Fund and its  corresponding  Portfolio  will be less than or  approximately
equal to the expenses which the Fund would incur if the Corporation retained the
services  of an  investment  adviser on behalf of the Fund and the assets of the
Fund  were  invested  directly  in the  type  of  securities  being  held by its
corresponding Portfolio.

                        SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES

                                                   International     Emerging
                                                    Equity Fund    Markets Fund
                                                     -----------   ------------
Sales Load Imposed on Purchases.................         None           None
Sales Load Imposed on Reinvested Dividends......         None           None
Deferred Sales Load.............................         None           None
Redemption Fee..................................         None           None
                                                
                         ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
                     (as a percentage of average net assets)

                                             International        Emerging
                                              Equity Fund       Markets Fund
                                             --------------     ------------- 
Investment Advisory Fee..................             0.65%         0.90%
12b-1 Fee................................             None           None
Other Expenses
  Administration Fee.....................     0.16%              0.16%
  Shareholder Servicing/Eligible 
    Institution Fee......................     0.25               0.25
  Other Expenses.........................     0.30    0.71       0.40     0.81%
                                              ----    ----       ----     ----
Total Fund Operating Expenses ...........             1.36%               1.71%
                                                      ====                ====
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                     Example                                1 year      3 years     5 years     10 years
                     -------                                ------      ------      -------     --------
<S>                                                          <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>    
International Equity Fund: A shareholder of the           
   Fund would pay the following expenses on a $1,000      
   investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return, and         
   (2) redemption at the end of each time period: ......     $14          $43         $74         $164
                                                             ---          ---         ---         ----
Emerging Markets Fund: A shareholder of the Fund                                              
   would pay the following expenses on a $1,000                                               
   investment, assuming (1) 5% annual return, and                                             
   (2) redemption at the end of each time period:.......     $17          $54         $93         $202
                                                             ---          ---         ---         ----
</TABLE>    

  The Example  should not be  considered a  representation  of past or future
expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown. In connection
with the  Example,  please note that $1,000 is  currently  less than each Fund's
minimum purchase  requirement.  The purpose of this table is to assist investors
in understanding  the various costs and expenses that  shareholders of each Fund
bear directly or indirectly.

     For more  information  with  respect to the  expenses  of each Fund and its
corresponding  Portfolio, see "Management of the Corporation and the Portfolios"
herein.


                                       3
<PAGE>

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
================================================================================

     The investment objective of each Fund and its corresponding Portfolio is to
provide investors with long-term maximization of total return, primarily through
capital appreciation.

     The investment objective of each Fund and its corresponding  Portfolio is a
fundamental policy and may be changed only with the approval of the holders of a
"majority of the outstanding  voting securities" (as defined in the 1940 Act) of
the Fund or the Portfolio, as the case may be. (See "Additional  Information" in
this  Prospectus.)  However,  the investment  policies of each Fund as described
below, will correspond directly to those of its corresponding  Portfolio and are
not fundamental and may be changed without such approval.

                           International Equity Fund

     The assets of the International Equity Portfolio under normal circumstances
are fully  invested in equity  securities of companies  based outside the United
States and Canada in the developed  markets of the world.  These markets include
Japan, United Kingdom,  Germany,  France, Hong Kong,  Netherlands,  Switzerland,
Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Finland,
Norway, New Zealand,  Austria and Ireland.  The Portfolio may also invest in the
less developed  markets  although no more than 10% of the  International  Equity
Portfolio's assets will be invested in these markets. In addition,  no more than
5% of the  International  Equity  Portfolio  will be  invested  in any one  less
developed  market.  Appendix A provides a comparison  of Market  Capitalization,
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Population of the developed  countries in which
the International Equity Portfolio invests.

     Although the assets of the  International  Equity Portfolio are expected to
be  invested   primarily  in  common  stocks,   other   securities  with  equity
characteristics may be purchased,  including securities  convertible into common
stock, rights and warrants. These equity securities may be purchased directly or
in the form of American Depository Receipts ("ADRs"), Global Depository Receipts
("GDRs") or other similar  securities  representing  securities of foreign-based
companies.  Although the  International  Equity Portfolio  invests  primarily in
equity securities which are traded on foreign or domestic securities  exchanges,
equity  securities  which are  traded in foreign  or  domestic  over-the-counter
markets  may  be  purchased  for  the  International   Equity  Portfolio.   (See
"Investment   Restrictions".)   The   Portfolio  may  invest  in  securities  of
appropriate  investment  companies in order to obtain more favorable  investment
terms for the Portfolio or to obtain participation in markets or market sectors.

     The Investment  Adviser allocates  investment among various countries based
upon the economic environment,  liquidity conditions, valuation levels, expected
earnings growth,  government  policies and political  stability.  In response to
changes  or  anticipated  changes  in these  criteria,  a  particular  country's
representation in the International Equity Portfolio is increased,  decreased or
eliminated.  As a  result,  the  International  Equity  Portfolio's  assets  are
allocated  among  countries in a manner which does not reflect the relative size
or valuation  of the  country's  capital  market or a country's  relative  gross
domestic product or population.

     In  constructing  the portfolio of securities of the  International  Equity
Portfolio,  emphasis is placed on the equity securities of larger companies with
strong longer term  fundamentals  such as leading industry  position,  effective
management,  competitive  products and  services,  high or  improving  return on
investment and a sound financial structure.  Selection of individual equities is
the product of a  disciplined  process  which  systematically  evaluates  growth
expectations relative to price levels.

                             Emerging Markets Fund

     The assets of the Emerging Markets Portfolio under normal circumstances are
fully invested in equity  securities of issuers domiciled in or with substantial
operations  in emerging  markets.  For  purposes of this  prospectus,  "emerging
markets"  are defined as countries  (i) which are included in the MSCI  Emerging
Markets  Index or the IFC Emerging 


                                       4
<PAGE>

Markets  Investable Index (ii) which have a gross national product per capita of
$2,000 or less at the time of the  Portfolio's  investment,  or (iii)  which are
generally  considered  to be  developing  or  emerging  countries  by the United
Nations development programme or by the World Bank and the International Finance
Corporation.  These emerging markets currently include,  but are not limited to,
markets such as China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia,  Korea, Malaysia,  Pakistan,
Venezuela,  Czech Republic,  Greece, Hungary,  Israel, Jordan, Poland, Portugal,
Russia,  South  Africa and Turkey.  Appendix A provides a  comparison  of Market
Capitalization,  GDP and  Population  of the  emerging  countries  in which  the
Emerging Markets Portfolio may invest.

     Emerging  markets now  comprise  roughly 10% of the  world's  stock  market
capitalization.  Many  emerging  markets are expected to continue to  experience
faster economic growth rates than those found in more developed  markets such as
the U.S.,  Japan and Western Europe.  While the Emerging Markets Fund offers the
opportunity for substantial long term investment  return, it also involves above
average investment risk and volatility of investment return.

     Although the assets of the Emerging  Markets  Portfolio  are expected to be
invested   primarily   in  common   stocks,   other   securities   with   equity
characteristics may be purchased,  including securities  convertible into common
stock, rights and warrants. These equity securities may be purchased directly or
in the form of American Depository Receipts ("ADRs"), Global Depository Receipts
("GDRs") or other similar  securities  representing  securities of foreign-based
companies.  Although the Emerging Markets  Portfolio invests primarily in equity
securities which are traded on foreign or domestic securities exchanges,  equity
securities which are traded in foreign or domestic  over-the-counter markets may
be purchased for Emerging Markets Portfolio. (See "Investment Restrictions".)

     The Emerging  Markets  Portfolio may invest in  securities  of  appropriate
investment  companies in order to obtain participation in markets which restrict
foreign investment or to obtain more favorable investment terms for the Emerging
Markets Portfolio.  The Emerging Markets Portfolio may invest in emerging market
debt  securities if the Investment  Adviser  determines that the total return of
debt  securities  may  equal  or  exceed  the  capital  appreciation  of  equity
securities.  Such debt  instruments  may take the form of bonds,  notes,  bills,
commercial  paper and bank deposits which usually have no rating or a low rating
and which are not  considered  to be  superior in  investment  quality to equity
securities of the same issuers.

     For temporary defensive purposes,  the Emerging Markets Portfolio may hold,
without limit, debt obligations of the U.S.  government and U.S. dollar deposits
held at banks which are rated within the three  highest  rating  categories  for
debt  obligations  by at  least  two  (unless  only  rated  by  one)  nationally
recognized  statistical rating  organizations or, if unrated,  are of comparable
quality as  determined by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees of the
Emerging  Markets  Portfolio.  It is  impossible  to predict for how long such a
defensive strategy will be utilized.

     The Investment Adviser, during normal market conditions, intends to broadly
diversify the Emerging  Markets  Portfolio  among emerging  markets with no more
than 15% of the assets of the Emerging  Markets  Portfolio in any single market.
The Investment  Adviser allocates  investment among various countries based upon
the economic  environment,  liquidity  conditions,  valuation  levels,  expected
earnings growth,  government policies and political stability.  As a result, the
Emerging  Markets  Portfolio's  assets are allocated among countries in a manner
which does not reflect the relative size or valuation of the  country's  capital
market or a country's relative gross domestic product or population.

     In  constructing  the  portfolio  of  securities  of the  Emerging  Markets
Portfolio,  emphasis is placed on the equity securities of larger companies with
strong longer term  fundamentals  such as leading industry  position,  effective
management,  competitive  products and  services,  high or  improving  return on
investment and a sound financial structure.  Selection of individual equities is
the product of a  disciplined  process  which  systematically  evaluates  growth
expectations relative to price levels.


                                       5
<PAGE>

                               Hedging Strategies

     Subject to applicable  laws and  regulations  and solely as a hedge against
changes in the market value of portfolio securities or securities intended to be
purchased,  futures  contracts  on stock  indexes  may be entered  into for each
Portfolio. (See Appendix B on page 24 for more detail.)

     For the same  purpose,  put and call options on stocks,  stock  indexes and
currencies  may also be  purchased  for each  Portfolio,  although  the  current
intention  is not to do so in such a manner  that each put and call  option type
would put more than 5% of a  Portfolio's  net  assets at risk.  Over-the-counter
options ("OTC Options")  purchased are treated as not readily  marketable.  (See
"Investment Restrictions".)

     The  Investment  Adviser on behalf of each Portfolio may enter into forward
foreign  exchange  contracts  in  order  to  protect  the  dollar  value  of all
investments  in  securities  denominated  in  foreign  currencies.  The  precise
matching  of the  forward  contract  amounts  and the  value  of the  securities
involved is not always  possible  because the future value of such securities in
foreign  currencies changes as a consequence of market movements in the value of
such  securities  between the date the forward  contract is entered into and the
date it matures.

                                  Risk Factors

     Foreign  Investments.  Investing  in  equity  securities  of  foreign-based
companies  involves  risks not  typically  associated  with  investing in equity
securities of companies organized and operated in the United States.

     The value of the investments of each Portfolio may be adversely affected by
changes in political or social conditions,  diplomatic  relations,  confiscatory
taxation, expropriation,  nationalization, limitation on the removal of funds or
assets,  or  imposition of (or change in) exchange  control or tax  regulations.
Changes in government  administrations  or economic or monetary  policies in the
United  States or  abroad  could  result  in  appreciation  or  depreciation  of
portfolio  securities  and  could  favorably  or  unfavorably  affect  a  Fund's
operations.  The economies of individual  foreign  nations  differ from the U.S.
economy, whether favorably or unfavorably,  in areas such as growth of GDP, rate
of inflation,  capital  reinvestment,  resource  self-sufficiency and balance of
payments  position.  It may be more  difficult  to obtain and enforce a judgment
against a foreign company. Dividends and interest paid by foreign issuers may be
subject to withholding and other foreign taxes which may decrease the net return
on foreign investments as compared to dividends and interest paid to each of the
Funds by domestic companies.

     In  general,  less  information  is  publicly  available  with  respect  to
foreign-based  companies than is available with respect to U.S. companies.  Most
foreign-based  companies  are also not  subject to the  uniform  accounting  and
financial  reporting  requirements  applicable to companies  based in the United
States.

     In addition,  while the volume of  transactions  effected on foreign  stock
exchanges has increased in recent  years,  in most cases it remains  appreciably
below that of the New York Stock Exchange.  Accordingly, the investments of each
Portfolio  are less liquid and their prices are more  volatile  than  comparable
investments in securities of U.S.  companies.  Moreover,  the settlement periods
for foreign securities, which are often longer than those for securities of U.S.
companies,  may affect portfolio liquidity.  In buying and selling securities on
foreign  exchanges,  fixed  commissions are often paid that are generally higher
than the negotiated commissions charged in the United States. In addition, there
is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges,
brokers and companies in foreign countries than in the United States.

     The foreign investments made for each Portfolio are made in compliance with
the  currency  regulations  and  tax  laws  of the  United  States  and  foreign
governments.  There may also be foreign  government  regulations  and laws which
restrict the amounts and types of foreign investments.

     Because foreign  securities  generally are denominated and pay dividends or
interest  in  foreign  currencies,  and each  Portfolio  holds  various  foreign


                                       6
<PAGE>

currencies  from time to time,  the value of the net assets of each Portfolio as
measured in U.S.  dollars is affected  favorably  or  unfavorably  by changes in
exchange  rates.  Each Portfolio also incurs costs in connection with conversion
between various currencies.

     Emerging Markets.  Investments in securities of issuers in emerging markets
countries  may  involve  a high  degree  of  risk  and  many  may be  considered
speculative.  Investments in developing  and emerging  markets may be subject to
potentially  greater  risks than those of other  foreign  issuers.  These  risks
include:   (i)   greater   risks  of   expropriation,   confiscatory   taxation,
nationalization,  and less social,  political and economic  stability;  (ii) the
small current size of the markets for securities of emerging  market issuers and
the  currently  low or  non-existent  volume of  trading,  which  result in less
liquidity and in greater price volatility; (iii) certain national policies which
may restrict the Portfolio's investment opportunities, including restrictions on
investment in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to national interests;  and
(iv) the absence of  developed  legal  structures  governing  private or foreign
investments and private property.

                              Portfolio Brokerage

     Each Portfolio is managed actively in pursuit of its investment  objective.
Securities  are not  traded  for  short-term  profits  but,  when  circumstances
warrant,  securities  are sold without regard to the length of time held. A 100%
annual  turnover  rate would occur,  for example,  if all  portfolio  securities
(excluding  short-term  obligations) were replaced once in a period of one year.
For the period from April 1, 1995  (commencement  of  operations) to October 31,
1995 and the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996, the portfolio  turnover rate of
the International Equity Portfolio was 23% and 36%, respectively. For the fiscal
year ending October 31, 1997 the portfolio turnover rate of the Emerging Markets
Portfolio is expected to be 80%. The amount of brokerage  commissions  and taxes
on realized  capital gains to be borne by the shareholders of the Funds tends to
increase as the level of portfolio activity increases.

     In effecting securities transactions the Investment Adviser seeks to obtain
the best price and execution of orders.  In selecting a broker,  the  Investment
Adviser considers a number of factors including: the broker's ability to execute
orders without disturbing the market price; the broker's reliability for prompt,
accurate  confirmations  and  on-time  delivery  of  securities;   the  broker's
financial  condition  and  responsibility;  the research  and other  information
provided  by  the  broker;  and  the  commissions  charged.   Accordingly,   the
commissions  charged by any such broker may be greater  than the amount  another
firm might charge if the  Investment  Adviser  determines in good faith that the
amount  of such  commissions  is  reasonable  in  relation  to the  value of the
brokerage services and research information provided by such broker.

     The Investment Adviser may direct a portion of each Portfolio's  securities
transactions to certain  unaffiliated brokers which in turn use a portion of the
commissions they receive from each Portfolio to pay other  unaffiliated  service
providers  on  behalf  of the  Portfolio  for  services  provided  for which the
Portfolio  would  otherwise be obligated to pay. Such  commissions  paid by each
Portfolio  are at the same  rate paid to other  brokers  for  effecting  similar
transactions in listed equity securities.

     On those occasions when Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. deems the purchase or
sale of a security to be in the best  interests  of a Portfolio as well as other
customers,  Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., to the extent permitted by applicable
laws and regulations,  may, but is not obligated to, aggregate the securities to
be sold or purchased  for the  Portfolio  with those to be sold or purchased for
other  customers in order to obtain best  execution,  including  lower brokerage
commissions,  if  appropriate.  In such event,  allocation of the  securities so
purchased or sold as well as any expenses  incurred in the  transaction are made
by Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in the manner it considers to be most equitable
and consistent with its fiduciary  obligations to its customers,  including each
Portfolio. In some instances, this procedure might adversely affect a Portfolio.

                          Other Investment Techniques

     Short-Term  Instruments.  The assets of each  Portfolio  may be invested in
non-U.S.  dollar denominated and U.S. dollar denominated short-


                                       7
<PAGE>

term instruments,  including U.S. dollar denominated repurchase agreements. Cash
is held for each  Portfolio  in demand  deposit  accounts  with the  Portfolio's
custodian bank.

     Government  Securities.  The assets of each  Portfolio  may be  invested in
securities issued by the U.S. Government or sovereign foreign governments, their
agencies or  instrumentalities.  These securities  include notes and bonds, zero
coupon bonds and stripped principal and interest securities.

     Restricted   Securities.   Securities   that  have  legal  or   contractual
restrictions on their resale may be acquired for a Portfolio. The price paid for
these securities,  or received upon resale,  may be lower than the price paid or
received for similar  securities  with a more liquid  market.  Accordingly,  the
valuation of these securities  reflects any limitation on their liquidity.  (See
"Investment Restrictions".)

     Loans of Portfolio  Securities.  Loans of portfolio securities up to 30% of
the total value of each  Portfolio  are  permitted.  These loans must be secured
continuously  by cash or equivalent  collateral or by an  irrevocable  letter of
credit  in favor of the  Portfolio  at least  equal at all  times to 100% of the
market  value  of  the  securities   loaned  plus  accrued  income.  By  lending
securities, the Portfolio's income can be increased by its continuing to receive
income  on the  loaned  securities  as well  as by the  opportunity  to  receive
interest on the collateral. Any appreciation or depreciation in the market price
of the borrowed  securities  which occurs  during the term of the loan inures to
that Portfolio and its investors.

     When-Issued and Delayed  Delivery  Securities.  Securities may be purchased
for a  Portfolio  on a  when-issued  or delayed  delivery  basis.  For  example,
delivery  and  payment  may  take  place a month or more  after  the date of the
transaction. The purchase price and the interest rate payable on the securities,
if any, are fixed on the  transaction  date.  The  securities  so purchased  are
subject  to  market  fluctuation  and no income  accrues  to a  Portfolio  until
delivery  and  payment  take  place.  At the time  the  commitment  to  purchase
securities on a when-issued or delayed  delivery basis is made, the  transaction
is recorded and thereafter the value of such securities is reflected each day in
determining that Portfolio's net asset value. Each Portfolio  maintains with the
Custodian a separate  account with a segregated  portfolio of  securities  in an
amount at least equal to these  commitments.  At the time of its acquisition,  a
when-issued or delayed delivery security may be valued at less than the purchase
price.  Commitments for such when-issued or delayed delivery securities are made
only when  there is an  intention  of  actually  acquiring  the  securities.  On
delivery dates for such  transactions,  such obligations are met from maturities
or sales of  securities  and/or  from  cash  flow.  If the  right to  acquire  a
when-issued  or  delayed   delivery   security  is  disposed  of  prior  to  its
acquisition,  a Portfolio  could, as with the disposition of any other portfolio
obligation,  incur a gain or loss  due to  market  fluctuation.  When-issued  or
delayed  delivery  commitments  for a Portfolio  may not be entered into if such
commitments exceed in the aggregate 15% of the market value of its total assets,
less  liabilities  other than the obligations  created by when-issued or delayed
delivery commitments.

     Foreign Currency Exchange  Transactions.  Because securities denominated in
currencies  other than the U.S.  dollar are bought and sold for each  Portfolio,
and  interest,  dividends  and sale  proceeds are received by each  Portfolio in
currencies other than the U.S. dollar,  foreign currency  exchange  transactions
from time to time are  entered  into for each  Portfolio  to convert to and from
different foreign  currencies and to convert foreign  currencies to and from the
U.S. dollar.  Foreign currency exchange  transactions are agreements to exchange
currencies at a specific rate either for settlement two days  thereafter  (i.e.,
spot market or spot contracts) or for settlement on a future date (i.e., forward
contracts).

     Investment  Company  Securities.   Subject  to  applicable   statutory  and
regulatory  limitations,  the assets of each Portfolio may be invested in shares
of other investment companies.  Under the 1940 Act, the assets of each Portfolio
may be invested in shares of other  investment  companies in  connection  with a
merger,  consolidation,  acquisition or  reorganization  or if immediately after
such  investment  (i) 10% or less of the market value of the  Portfolio's  total
assets  would  be so  invested,  (ii)  5% or  less of the  market  value  of the
Portfolio's  total  assets  would


                                       8
<PAGE>

be invested in the shares of any one such  company,  and (iii) 3% or less of the
total outstanding voting stock of any other investment company would be owned by
the Portfolio.  As a shareholder of another  investment  company,  the Portfolio
would bear,  along with other  shareholders,  its pro rata  portion of the other
investment company's expenses,  including advisory fees. These expenses would be
in addition to the advisory and other  expenses that a Portfolio  bears directly
in connection with its own operations.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
================================================================================

     The Statement of Additional Information for the Funds includes a listing of
the specific  investment  restrictions  which govern the investment  policies of
each Fund and each  Portfolio.  Certain  of these  investment  restrictions  are
deemed  fundamental  policies  and may be changed  only with the approval of the
holders of a "majority of the outstanding  voting securities" (as defined in the
1940  Act) of the Fund or the  Portfolio,  as the  case may be (see  "Additional
Information" in this Prospectus),  including a restriction  that,  excluding the
investment  of all of a Fund's  assets in an open-end  investment  company  with
substantially  the same investment  objective,  policies and restrictions as the
Fund,  not  more  than  10% of the net  assets  of a Fund  or its  corresponding
Portfolio, as the case may be, may be invested in securities that are subject to
legal or contractual restrictions on resale.

     Since the investment restrictions of each Fund correspond directly to those
of its  Portfolio,  the  following  is a  discussion  of the various  investment
restrictions of each Portfolio.

     As a  non-fundamental  policy,  money is not  borrowed by a Portfolio in an
amount  in  excess of 10% of its  assets.  It is  intended  that  money  will be
borrowed  only  from  banks  and only  either to  accommodate  requests  for the
withdrawal of part or all of an interest while effecting an orderly  liquidation
of  portfolio   securities  or  to  maintain   liquidity  in  the  event  of  an
unanticipated  failure to complete a  portfolio  security  transaction  or other
similar situations.  Securities are not purchased for a Portfolio at any time at
which the amount of its borrowings exceed 5% of its assets.

     As a non-fundamental policy of the International Equity Portfolio, at least
65% of the value of the total assets of the  International  Equity  Portfolio is
invested  in equity  securities  of  companies  based in  countries  in which it
invests. As a non-fundamental policy of the Emerging Markets Portfolio, at least
65% of the  value of the total  assets  of the  Emerging  Markets  Portfolio  is
invested in equity  securities  based in emerging  markets.  For these purposes,
equity  securities  are defined as common  stock,  securities  convertible  into
common stock, rights and warrants, and include securities purchased directly and
in the form of American Depository Receipts, Global Depository Receipts or other
similar securities representing common stock of foreign-based companies.

     In accordance  with applicable  regulations,  a Portfolio does not purchase
any restricted security, OTC option,  repurchase agreement maturing in more than
seven days,  security of a foreign  issuer  which is not listed on a  recognized
domestic or foreign securities exchange,  security of a company which, including
predecessors,  has a record of less than  three  years of  operations,  or other
security that is not readily marketable, if after such purchase more than 10% of
the Portfolio's net assets would be represented by such investments.

     Each Portfolio is classified as "non-diversified" under the 1940 Act, which
means that the  Portfolio  is not  limited  by the 1940 Act with  respect to the
portion of its assets which may be invested in  securities  of a single  company
(although  certain  diversification  requirements  are  imposed by the  Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended). The possible assumption of large positions in
the  securities  of a small number of companies may cause the  performance  of a
Portfolio to fluctuate to a greater extent than that of a diversified investment
company as a result of changes in the  financial  condition  or in the  market's
assessment of the companies.


                                       9
<PAGE>

PURCHASE OF SHARES
================================================================================

     Shares of the Funds are  offered on a  continuous  basis at their net asset
value without a sales charge.  The  Corporation  reserves the right to determine
the purchase orders for Fund shares that it will accept. Shares of the Funds may
be purchased on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular  trading
if the Corporation  receives the purchase order and acceptable  payment for such
order  prior to 4:00 P.M.,  New York  time.  Purchases  of Fund  shares are then
executed  at the net asset  value per share  next  determined  on that same day.
Shares are  entitled to  dividends  declared,  if any,  starting as of the first
business day following the day a purchase  order is executed on the books of the
Corporation.

     An investor who has an account with an Eligible  Institution  (see page 15)
or a Financial  Intermediary  (see page 15) may place  purchase  orders for Fund
shares with the  Corporation  through  that  Eligible  Institution  or Financial
Intermediary  which  holds  such  shares in its name on behalf of that  customer
pursuant  to   arrangements   made  between  that  customer  and  that  Eligible
Institution  or  Financial  Intermediary.  Each  Eligible  Institution  and each
Financial  Intermediary  may  establish  and  amend  from time to time a minimum
initial and a minimum subsequent  purchase  requirement for its customers.  Each
Eligible Institution or Financial  Intermediary arranges payment for Fund shares
on behalf of its  customers.  A  transaction  fee may be charged by an  Eligible
Institution or a Financial Intermediary on the purchase of Fund shares.

     An investor who does not have an account with an Eligible  Institution or a
Financial  Intermediary  must place  purchase  orders for Fund  shares  with the
Corporation through the Funds' Shareholder Servicing Agent. Such an investor has
such shares held directly in the investor's name on the books of the Corporation
and is  responsible  for arranging for the payment of the purchase price of Fund
shares. All purchase orders for initial and subsequent purchases are executed at
the net asset value per share next determined after the Corporation's custodian,
State  Street  Bank and Trust  Company,  has  received  payment in the form of a
cashier's check drawn on a U.S. bank, a check certified by a U.S. bank or a wire
transfer.  Brown Brothers  Harriman & Co., as the Funds'  Shareholder  Servicing
Agent, has established a minimum initial  purchase  requirement for each Fund of
$100,000 and a minimum subsequent purchase requirement for each Fund of $25,000.
These minimum purchase requirements may be amended from time to time.

     Inquiries  regarding  the manner in which  purchases  of Fund shares may be
effected and other  matters  pertaining to the Funds should be directed to Brown
Brothers  Harriman & Co., an  Eligible  Institution  and the Funds'  Shareholder
Servicing Agent. (See back cover for address and phone number.)

REDEMPTION OF SHARES
================================================================================

     A  redemption  request  must be received by the  Corporation  prior to 4:00
P.M.,  New York time on any day the New York Stock  Exchange is open for regular
trading.  Such a  redemption  is  executed at the net asset value per share next
determined on that same day. Shares continue to earn dividends declared, if any,
through the business  day a  redemption  request is executed on the books of the
Corporation.

     Shares  held by an Eligible  Institution  or a  Financial  Intermediary  on
behalf of a shareholder  must be redeemed  through that Eligible  Institution or
Financial  Intermediary  pursuant to arrangements  made between that shareholder
and Eligible Institution or Financial Intermediary. Proceeds of a redemption are
paid to that  shareholder's  account at that Eligible  Institution  or Financial
Intermediary  on a date  established  by the Eligible  Institution  or Financial
Intermediary.  A transaction  fee may be charged by an Eligible  Institution  or
Financial Intermediary on the redemption of Fund shares.

     Shares  held  directly  in the name of a  shareholder  on the  books of the
Corporation may be redeemed by submitting a redemption  request in good order to
the Corporation through the Funds' Shareholder  Servicing


                                       10
<PAGE>

Agent.  (See back cover for address and phone number.)  Proceeds  resulting from
such  redemption  are paid by the  Corporation  directly to the  shareholder  in
"available"  funds  generally  on the next  business  day after  the  redemption
request is executed, and in any event within seven days.

                         Redemptions By the Corporation

     The  Funds'  Shareholder  Servicing  Agent  (see  page 14),  each  Eligible
Institution  and each  Financial  Intermediary  (see page 15) may  establish and
amend from time to time for their  respective  customers a minimum account size.
If the value of a  shareholder's  holdings  in a Fund falls  below  that  amount
because of a redemption of shares,  the  shareholder's  remaining  shares may be
redeemed.  If such remaining  shares are to be redeemed,  the  shareholder is so
notified and is allowed 60 days to make an  additional  investment to enable the
shareholder to meet the minimum  requirement before the redemption is processed.
Brown Brothers  Harriman & Co., as the Funds'  Shareholder  Servicing Agent, has
established a minimum account size of $25,000.

                         Further Redemption Information

     In the  event a  shareholder  redeems  all  shares  held in a Fund,  future
purchases  of shares of that Fund by such  shareholder  would be  subject to the
Fund's minimum initial purchase requirements.

     The value of  shares  redeemed  may be more or less than the  shareholder's
cost depending on Fund performance  during the period the shareholder owned such
shares.  Redemptions  of shares are taxable  events on which a  shareholder  may
realize a gain or a loss.

     An  investor  should  be  aware  that  redemptions  from a Fund  may not be
processed  if  a  completed  account   application  with  a  certified  taxpayer
identification number has not been received.

     The  Corporation  has  reserved the right to pay the amount of a redemption
from a  Fund,  either  totally  or  partially,  by a  distribution  in  kind  of
securities  (instead of cash) from that Fund. (See "Net Asset Value;  Redemption
in Kind" in the Statement of Additional Information.)

     A shareholder's right to receive payment with respect to any redemption may
be suspended or the payment of the redemption proceeds postponed for up to seven
days and for such other  periods as the 1940 Act may  permit.  (See  "Additional
Information" in the Statement of Additional Information.)

MANAGEMENT OF THE CORPORATION AND THE PORTFOLIOS
================================================================================

                        Directors, Trustees and Officers

     The Corporation's  Directors, in addition to supervising the actions of the
Administrator  of the Corporation and  Distributor,  as set forth below,  decide
upon matters of general policy with respect to the Corporation.  The Portfolios'
Trustees,  in addition to supervising the actions of the Portfolios'  Investment
Adviser and  Administrator,  as set forth below,  decide upon matters of general
policy with respect to each Portfolio.  The Corporation's  Directors are not the
same individuals as the Portfolios' Trustees.

     Because  of the  services  rendered  to each  Portfolio  by the  Investment
Adviser  and  to  the  Corporation  and  the  Portfolios  by  their   respective
Administrators,  the  Corporation and the Portfolios  require no employees,  and
their respective officers, other than the Chairmen, receive no compensation from
the Funds or the  Portfolios.  (See  "Directors,  Trustees and  Officers" in the
Statement of Additional Information.)

     The Directors of the Corporation are:

      J.V. Shields, Jr.
          Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
             Shields & Company

      Eugene P. Beard
          Vice Chairman-Finance and Operations of
             The Interpublic Group of Companies

      David P. Feldman
          Chairman and Chief Executive Officer-AT&T
             Investment Management Corporation

      Alan G. Lowy
          Private Investor


                                       11
<PAGE>

      Arthur D. Miltenberger
          Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
             Richard K. Mellon and Sons

   The Trustees of each Portfolio are:

      H.B. Alvord
          Retired, Former Treasurer and Tax Collector
             of Los Angeles County

      Richard L. Carpenter
          Retired, Director of Internal Investments of
             the Public School Employees' Retirement System

      Clifford A. Clark
          Retired, Former Senior Manager of Brown
             Brothers Harriman & Co.

      David M. Seitzman
          Practicing Physician with Seitzman, Shuman,
             Kwart and Phillips

                               Investment Adviser

     The Investment  Adviser to each Portfolio is Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.,
Private Bankers, a New York limited partnership established in 1818. The firm is
subject to  examination  and  regulation by the  Superintendent  of Banks of the
State  of New York and by the  Department  of  Banking  of the  Commonwealth  of
Pennsylvania.  The firm is also subject to  supervision  and  examination by the
Commissioner of Banks of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

     Brown  Brothers  Harriman & Co.  provides  investment  advice and portfolio
management services to each Portfolio. Subject to the general supervision of the
Portfolios'  Trustees,  Brown  Brothers  Harriman  & Co.  makes  the  day-to-day
investment  decisions,  places  the  purchase  and  sale  orders  for  portfolio
transactions,  and generally  manages the investments of each  Portfolio.  Brown
Brothers Harriman & Co. provides a broad range of investment management services
for  customers in the United  States and abroad.  At June 30,  1996,  it managed
total assets of approximately $25 billion.

     Each Portfolio is managed on a day-to-day  basis by a team of  individuals,
including Mr. John A. Nielsen, Ms. Camille M. Kelleher,  Mr. A. Edward Allinson,
Mr. G. Scott Clemons,  Mr. Paul J. Fraker and Mr. Ben Kottler. Mr. Nielsen holds
a B.A. from Bucknell  University,  a M.B.A.  from Columbia  University  and is a
Chartered  Financial  Analyst.  He joined Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in 1968.
Ms.  Kelleher  holds a B.A.  from  Barnard  College and a M.B.A.  from  Columbia
University. She joined Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in 1984. Mr. Allinson holds
a B.A.  and a M.B.A.  from the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  He  joined  Brown
Brothers  Harriman  & Co.  in 1991.  Mr.  Clemons  holds a A.B.  from  Princeton
University.  He joined Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in 1990. Mr. Fraker holds a
B.A. from Carleton College and a M.A. from Johns Hopkins  University.  He joined
Brown  Brothers  Harriman & Co. in 1996.  Mr.  Kottler  holds a B.A. from Durham
University. He joined Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in 1996.

     As  compensation  for the services  rendered and related  expenses  such as
salaries of advisory  personnel borne by Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. under the
Investment Advisory  Agreement,  Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. receives from the
International Equity Portfolio and the Emerging Markets Portfolio an annual fee,
computed daily and payable monthly, equal to 0.65% and 0.90%,  respectively,  of
the average daily net assets of that  Portfolio.  Brown Brothers  Harriman & Co.
and its affiliates  also receive annual  administration  fees from each Fund and
each  Portfolio  equal to 0.16% of the average  daily net assets of that Fund or
that Portfolio,  as the case may be. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. also receives
an annual shareholder servicing/eligible institution fee from each Fund equal to
0.25% of the average daily net assets of that Fund  represented by shares during
the  period  for whom  Brown  Brothers  Harriman & Co. is the holder or agent of
record.

     The investment  advisory  services of Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. to each
Portfolio  are  not  exclusive  under  the  terms  of  the  Investment  Advisory
Agreement.  Brown Brothers  Harriman & Co. is free to and does render investment
advisory services to others, including other registered investment companies.

     Pursuant to a license  agreement between the Corporation and Brown Brothers
Harriman & Co. dated  September 5, 1990, as amended as of


                                       12
<PAGE>

December  15,  1993,  the  Corporation  may continue to use in its name "59 Wall
Street",  the current and historic address of Brown Brothers  Harriman & Co. The
agreement may be terminated  by Brown  Brothers  Harriman & Co. at any time upon
written notice to the Corporation upon the expiration or earlier  termination of
any investment  advisory  agreement between a Fund or any investment  company in
which a series of the  Corporation  invests all of its assets and Brown Brothers
Harriman & Co.  Termination  of the agreement  would require the  Corporation to
change its name and the name of each Fund to eliminate all reference to "59 Wall
Street".

     Pursuant to license  agreements  between Brown Brothers  Harriman & Co. and
each of 59 Wall Street  Administrators  and 59 Wall Street  Distributors (each a
"Licensee"),  dated June 22, 1993 and June 8, 1990, respectively,  each Licensee
may  continue to use in its name "59 Wall  Street",  the  current  and  historic
address of Brown Brothers  Harriman & Co., only if Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
does not terminate the  respective  license  agreement,  which would require the
Licensee to change its name to eliminate all reference to "59 Wall Street".

                                 Administrators

     Brown Brothers  Harriman & Co. acts as Administrator of the Corporation and
Brown Brothers  Harriman Trust Company (Cayman) Limited acts as Administrator of
each   Portfolio.   (See   "Administrators"   in  the  Statement  of  Additional
Information.)  Brown  Brothers  Harriman  Trust  Company  (Cayman)  Limited is a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of Brown  Brothers  Harriman Trust Company of New York,
which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

     In its  capacity  as  Administrator  of  the  Corporation,  Brown  Brothers
Harriman & Co.  administers all aspects of the Corporation's  operations subject
to the  supervision  of the  Corporation's  Directors  except as set forth below
under  "Distributor".  In connection with its  responsibilities as Administrator
and at  its  own  expense,  Brown  Brothers  Harriman  & Co.  (i)  provides  the
Corporation with the services of persons  competent to perform such supervisory,
administrative  and  clerical  functions  as are  necessary  in order to provide
effective  administration  of the  Corporation,  including  the  maintenance  of
certain books and records;  (ii) oversees the performance of administrative  and
professional  services  to the  Corporation  by  others,  including  the  Funds'
Custodian,   Transfer  and  Dividend   Disbursing  Agent;   (iii)  provides  the
Corporation with adequate office space and  communications and other facilities;
and (iv) prepares and/or arranges for the preparation, but does not pay for, the
periodic  updating of the Corporation's  registration  statement and each Fund's
prospectus,  the printing of such  documents for the purpose of filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities administrators,  and the
preparation of tax returns for each Fund and reports to each Fund's shareholders
and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     For the services  rendered to the Corporation and related expenses borne by
Brown  Brothers  Harriman & Co.,  as  Administrator  of the  Corporation,  Brown
Brothers  Harriman & Co.  receives from each Fund an annual fee,  computed daily
and payable monthly, equal to 0.125% of that Fund's average daily net assets.

     Brown Brothers Harriman Trust Company (Cayman) Limited,  in its capacity as
Administrator  of each  Portfolio,  administers  all aspects of the  Portfolio's
operations subject to the supervision of the Portfolio's  Trustees except as set
forth above under "Investment  Adviser". In connection with its responsibilities
as  Administrator  for each  Portfolio  and at its own expense,  Brown  Brothers
Harriman  Trust Company  (Cayman)  Limited (i) provides each  Portfolio with the
services of persons  competent to perform such supervisory,  administrative  and
clerical functions as are necessary in order to provide effective administration
of the  Portfolio,  including  the  maintenance  of certain  books and  records,
receiving and processing  requests for increases and decreases in the beneficial
interests in the Portfolio,  notification to the Investment Adviser of available
funds for investment, reconciliation of account information and balances between
the Custodian and the Investment  Adviser,  and  processing,  investigating  and
responding


                                       13
<PAGE>

to investor  inquiries;  (ii) oversees the  performance  of  administrative  and
professional  services to each  Portfolio by others,  including  the  Custodian;
(iii) provides each Portfolio with adequate office space and  communications and
other  facilities;  and (iv) prepares and/or arranges for the  preparation,  but
does  not pay  for,  the  periodic  updating  of each  Portfolio's  registration
statement  for filing  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  and the
preparation  of tax returns for each  Portfolio and reports to investors and the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

     For the services  rendered to each Portfolio and related  expenses borne by
Brown Brothers  Harriman Trust Company (Cayman) Limited as Administrator of each
Portfolio,  Brown Brothers Harriman Trust Company (Cayman) Limited receives from
each  Portfolio  an annual fee,  computed  daily and payable  monthly,  equal to
0.035% of that Portfolio's average daily net assets.

     Pursuant to a  Subadministrative  Services  Agreement  with Brown  Brothers
Harriman & Co., 59 Wall Street  Administrators  performs such  subadministrative
duties for the  Corporation as are from time to time agreed upon by the parties.
The offices of 59 Wall Street  Administrators are located at 6 St. James Avenue,
Boston,  Massachusetts  02116. 59 Wall Street  Administrators  is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Signature  Financial Group,  Inc.  ("SFG").  SFG is not affiliated
with   Brown   Brothers   Harriman   &  Co.  59  Wall   Street   Administrators'
subadministrative  duties may include providing equipment and clerical personnel
necessary for maintaining the organization of the Corporation,  participation in
the  preparation of documents  required for compliance by the  Corporation  with
applicable laws and regulations,  preparation of certain documents in connection
with  meetings of  Directors  and  shareholders  of the  Corporation,  and other
functions that would  otherwise be performed by the  Administrator  as set forth
above.  For  performing  such   subadministrative   services,   59  Wall  Street
Administrators  receives such  compensation as is from time to time agreed upon,
but not in excess of the amount paid to the Administrator from the Funds.

     Pursuant to a  Subadministrative  Services  Agreement  with Brown  Brothers
Harriman   Trust   Company   (Cayman)   Limited,    SFG-Cayman   performs   such
subadministrative duties for each Portfolio as are from time to time agreed upon
by the parties.  The offices of SFG-Cayman  are located at  Elizabethan  Square,
George Town, Grand Cayman BWI.  SFG-Cayman is a wholly-owned  subsidiary of SFG.
SFG-Cayman's  subadministrative  duties  may  include  providing  equipment  and
clerical personnel necessary for maintaining the organization of each Portfolio,
participation  in the  preparation of documents  required for compliance by each
Portfolio with applicable laws and regulations, preparation of certain documents
in connection with meetings of Trustees of and investors in each Portfolio,  and
other functions that would otherwise be performed by the  Administrator  of each
Portfolio as set forth above.  For performing such  subadministrative  services,
SFG-Cayman  receives such  compensation as is from time to time agreed upon, but
not in excess of the amount paid to the Administrator from the Portfolios.

                           Shareholder Servicing Agent

     The  Corporation  has entered into a shareholder  servicing  agreement with
Brown Brothers  Harriman & Co. pursuant to which Brown Brothers  Harriman & Co.,
as agent for the  Corporation  with  respect to the Funds,  among other  things:
answers  inquiries from  shareholders of and prospective  investors in the Funds
regarding  account  status  and  history,  the  manner  in which  purchases  and
redemptions of Fund shares may be effected and certain other matters  pertaining
to the Funds; assists shareholders of and prospective  investors in the Funds in
designating and changing dividend options,  account  designations and addresses;
and provides such other related  services as the Corporation or a shareholder of
or prospective investor in the Funds may reasonably request. For these services,
Brown Brothers  Harriman & Co.  receives from each Fund an annual fee,  computed
daily and  payable  monthly,  equal to 0.25% of that  Fund's  average  daily net
assets represented by shares owned during the period for which payment was being
made  by  shareholders   who  did  not  hold  their  account  with  an  eligible
institution.


                                       14
<PAGE>

                            Financial Intermediaries

     From time to time,  the Funds'  Shareholder  Servicing  Agent  enters  into
contracts with banks,  brokers and other  financial  intermediaries  ("Financial
Intermediaries")  pursuant to which a customer of the Financial Intermediary may
place purchase orders for Fund shares through that Financial  Intermediary which
holds  such  shares  in its name on behalf of that  customer.  Pursuant  to such
contract,  each Financial  Intermediary as agent with respect to shareholders of
and  prospective  investors  in the Funds who are  customers  of that  Financial
Intermediary, among other things: provides necessary personnel and facilities to
establish and maintain certain  shareholder  accounts and records enabling it to
hold,  as agent,  its  customers'  shares in its name or its nominee name on the
shareholder  records of the  Corporation;  assists in  processing  purchase  and
redemption  transactions;  arranges  for the  wiring  of  funds;  transmits  and
receives funds in connection  with customer  orders to purchase or redeem shares
of the Funds;  provides periodic statements showing a customer's account balance
and, to the extent  practicable,  integrates such  information  with information
concerning other customer  transactions  otherwise  effected with or through it;
furnishes,  either  separately or on an integrated basis with other reports sent
to a customer,  monthly and annual statements and confirmations of all purchases
and  redemptions  of  Fund  shares  in a  customer's  account;  transmits  proxy
statements,  annual reports,  updated prospectuses and other communications from
the Corporation to its customers;  and receives,  tabulates and transmits to the
Corporation  proxies  executed  by its  customers  with  respect to  meetings of
shareholders  of the  Funds.  For these  services,  the  Financial  Intermediary
receives such fees from the  Shareholder  Servicing  Agent as may be agreed upon
from time to time between the  Shareholder  Servicing  Agent and such  Financial
Intermediary.

                              Eligible Institutions

     The  Corporation  enters into eligible  institution  agreements with banks,
brokers  and other  financial  institutions  pursuant  to which  each  financial
institution,  as agent for the  Corporation  with respect to shareholders of and
prospective  investors  in the  Funds  who are  customers  with  that  financial
institution,  among other things: provides necessary personnel and facilities to
establish and maintain certain  shareholder  accounts and records enabling it to
hold,  as agent,  its  customer's  shares in its name or its nominee name on the
shareholder  records of the  Corporation;  assists in  processing  purchase  and
redemption  transactions;  arranges  for the  wiring  of  funds;  transmits  and
receives funds in connection  with customer  orders to purchase or redeem shares
of the Funds;  provides periodic statements showing a customer's account balance
and, to the extent  practicable,  integrates such  information  with information
concerning other customer  transactions  otherwise  effected with or through it;
furnishes,  either  separately or on an integrated basis with other reports sent
to a customer,  monthly and annual statements and confirmations of all purchases
and  redemptions  of  Fund  shares  in a  customer's  account;  transmits  proxy
statements,  annual reports,  updated prospectuses and other communications from
the Corporation to its customers;  and receives,  tabulates and transmits to the
Corporation  proxies  executed  by its  customers  with  respect to  meetings of
shareholders  of the  Funds.  For these  services,  each  financial  institution
receives from each Fund an annual fee, computed daily and payable monthly, equal
to 0.25% of that Fund's  average  daily net assets  represented  by shares owned
during the period for which  payment was being made by  customers  for whom each
financial institution was the holder or agent of record.

                           Expense Payment Agreement

     Under  separate  agreements  dated  August  23,  1994 and April  10,  1997,
respectively,  Brown Brothers  Harriman Trust Company  (Cayman) Limited pays the
expenses  of  the  International  Equity  Portfolio  and  the  Emerging  Markets
Portfolio,  other  than fees paid to Brown  Brothers  Harriman  & Co.  under the
Trust's  Administration  Agreement  and  other  than  expenses  relating  to the
organization of each Portfolio. In return, Brown Brothers Harriman Trust Company
(Cayman) Limited receives a fee from the International  Equity Portfolio and the
Emerging  Markets  Portfolio such that after such payment the aggregate expenses


                                       15
<PAGE>

of each Portfolio do not exceed an agreed upon annual rate,  currently 0.90% and
1.25%,  respectively,  of the average daily net assets of that  Portfolio.  Such
fees are computed daily and paid monthly.

                                   Distributor

     59 Wall Street Distributors acts as exclusive  Distributor of shares of the
Funds. Its office is located at 6 St. James Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.
59 Wall Street  Distributors  is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of SFG. SFG and its
affiliates currently provide  administration and distribution services for other
registered  investment  companies.  The  Corporation  pays for the  preparation,
printing and filing of copies of the Corporation's  registration  statements and
each Fund's prospectus as required under federal and state securities laws. (See
"Distributor" in the Statement of Additional Information.)

     59 Wall Street  Distributors  holds itself  available  to receive  purchase
orders for Fund shares.

                Custodian, Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent

     State Street Bank and Trust Company  ("State  Street" or the  "Custodian"),
225 Franklin Street, P.O. Box 351, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, is Custodian for
the Funds and the Portfolios and Transfer and Dividend  Disbursing Agent for the
Funds.

     As  Custodian  for each Fund,  it is  responsible  for holding  each Fund's
assets  (i.e.,  cash and  that  Fund's  interest  in its  respective  Portfolio)
pursuant to a custodian  agreement with the  Corporation.  Cash is held for each
Fund in demand deposit accounts at the Custodian.  Subject to the supervision of
the  Administrator  of the Corporation,  the Custodian  maintains the accounting
records  for each Fund and each day  computes  the net asset  value per share of
each Fund.  As Transfer  and Dividend  Disbursing  Agent it is  responsible  for
maintaining the books and records detailing the ownership of each Fund's shares.

     As Custodian for each Portfolio,  it is responsible  for maintaining  books
and records of portfolio  transactions and holding each  Portfolio's  securities
and cash pursuant to a custodian agreement with each Portfolio. Cash is held for
each  Portfolio  in demand  deposit  accounts at the  Custodian.  Subject to the
supervision of the Administrator of each Portfolio,  the Custodian maintains the
accounting  and portfolio  transaction  records for each  Portfolio and each day
computes the net asset value and net income of each Portfolio.

                              Independent Auditors

     Deloitte & Touche LLP, Boston,  Massachusetts are the independent  auditors
for the Funds.  Deloitte & Touche, Grand Cayman are the independent auditors for
the Portfolios.

NET ASSET VALUE
================================================================================

     Each  Fund's  net asset  value per share is  determined  once daily at 4:00
P.M.,  New York time on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular
trading.

     The  determination  of each  Fund's  net  asset  value per share is made by
subtracting from the value of the total assets of a Fund (i.e., the value of its
investment in a Portfolio and other  assets) the amount of its  liabilities  and
dividing the difference by the number of shares of that Fund  outstanding at the
time the determination is made.

     The value of each Fund's  investment  in its  respective  Portfolio is also
determined once daily at 4:00 P.M., New York time on each day the New York Stock
Exchange is open for regular trading.

     The  determination of the value of each Fund's investment in its respective
Portfolio  is made by  subtracting  from the  value  of the  total  assets  of a
Portfolio the amount of a Portfolio's liabilities and multiplying the difference
by the percentage, effective for that day, which represents that Fund's share of
the aggregate beneficial interests in its respective Portfolio.

     Values of assets  held by each  Portfolio  are  determined  on the basis of
their  market or other  fair  value.  (See  "Determination  of Net Asset  Value;
Redemption in Kind" in the Statement of Additional Information.)


                                       16
<PAGE>

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
================================================================================

     Substantially  all of each Fund's net  investment  income  ("Net  Income"),
including  its pro rata share of its  corresponding  Portfolio's  net income and
realized net short-term  capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses
is declared and paid to the Fund's shareholders at least annually as a dividend,
and  substantially  all  of the  Fund's  pro  rata  share  of its  corresponding
Portfolio's  realized net long-term  capital  gains in excess of net  short-term
capital  losses is  declared  and paid to the Fund's  shareholders  on an annual
basis as a capital gains  distribution.  An additional  dividend  and/or capital
gains  distribution may be made in a given year to the extent necessary to avoid
the  imposition  of  federal  excise  tax on each  Fund.  (See  "Taxes"  below.)
Dividends   and  capital  gains   distributions   are  payable  to  each  Fund's
shareholders of record on the record date.

     Unless a shareholder  whose shares are held  directly in the  shareholder's
name on the books of the Corporation  elects to have dividends and capital gains
distributions  paid in cash,  dividends  and  capital  gains  distributions  are
automatically  reinvested in  additional  Fund shares  without  reference to the
minimum subsequent purchase  requirement.  The Corporation reserves the right to
discontinue,  alter or limit the automatic  reinvestment  privilege at any time,
but will provide  shareholders prior written notice of any such  discontinuance,
alteration or limitation.

     Each Eligible Institution and each Financial Intermediary may establish its
own policy with  respect to the  reinvestment  of  dividends  and capital  gains
distributions in additional Fund shares.

TAXES
================================================================================

     Each year,  the  Corporation  intends to continue to qualify  each Fund and
elect that each Fund be treated as a  separate  "regulated  investment  company"
under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Accordingly, the Funds are
not  subject  to federal  income  taxes on their Net  Income  and  realized  net
long-term  capital  gains in excess of net  short-term  capital  losses that are
distributed to their shareholders.  A 4% non-deductible excise tax is imposed on
a Fund to the extent that certain  distribution  requirements  for that Fund for
each calendar year are not met. The Corporation intends to continue to meet such
requirements.  The Portfolios are also not required to pay any federal income or
excise taxes.

     Dividends are taxable to shareholders of a Fund as ordinary income, whether
such  dividends are paid in cash or reinvested in additional  shares.  Dividends
paid  from the  Funds  are not  eligible  for the  dividends-received  deduction
allowed to corporate  shareholders because the Net Income of each Portfolio does
not  consist  of  dividends  paid  by  domestic   corporations.   Capital  gains
distributions  are taxable to shareholders as long-term  capital gains,  whether
paid in cash or reinvested in additional  shares and regardless of the length of
time a particular shareholder has held Fund shares.

     Any dividend or capital gains  distribution  has the effect of reducing the
net asset value of Fund shares held by a  shareholder  by the same amount as the
dividend or capital gains distribution.  If the net asset value of the shares is
reduced  below a  shareholder's  cost as a result of such a dividend  or capital
gains  distribution,  the  dividend  or  capital  gains  distribution,  although
constituting a return of invested capital,  would be taxable as described above.
Any gain or loss realized on the redemption of Fund shares by a shareholder  who
is not a dealer in  securities  is treated as long-term  capital gain or loss if
the shares have been held for more than one year,  and  otherwise as  short-term
capital  gain or loss.  However,  any loss  realized by a  shareholder  upon the
redemption  of shares in a Fund held one year or less is treated as a  long-term
capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gains distributions received
by the shareholder with respect to such shares.


                                       17
<PAGE>

     The Funds may be subject to foreign  withholding taxes and if more than 50%
of the value of a Fund's share of a Portfolio's total assets at the close of any
fiscal year  consists of stock or  securities  of foreign  corporations,  at the
election of the  Corporation any such foreign income taxes paid by a Fund may be
treated as paid  directly by its  shareholders.  The  Corporation  makes such an
election only if it deems it to be in the best interest of a Fund's shareholders
and notifies  shareholders  in writing each year if it makes the election and of
the  amount of  foreign  income  taxes,  if any,  to be  treated  as paid by the
shareholders. If the Corporation makes the election, each Fund shareholder would
be required in computing  federal income tax liability to include in income that
shareholder's  proportionate share of the amount of foreign income taxes paid by
that Fund and would be  entitled to claim  either a credit  (which is subject to
certain  limitations),  or, if  deductions  are  itemized,  a deduction for that
shareholder's share of the foreign income taxes paid by that Fund. (No deduction
is permitted in computing  alternative minimum tax liability.) Certain entities,
including  corporations  formed as part of corporate  pension or  profit-sharing
plans and certain  charitable and other  organizations  described in Section 501
(c) of the Internal  Revenue  Code, as amended,  that are generally  exempt from
federal  income  taxes may not  receive  any  benefit  from the  election by the
Corporation to "pass through" foreign income taxes to a Fund's shareholders.

     Under  U.S.  Treasury  regulations,   the  Corporation  and  each  Eligible
Institution  are required to withhold  and remit to the U.S.  Treasury a portion
(31%) of  dividends  and capital  gains  distributions  on the accounts of those
shareholders  who fail to  provide  a  correct  taxpayer  identification  number
(Social Security Number for individuals) or to make required certifications,  or
who have been notified by the Internal  Revenue Service that they are subject to
such withholdings.  Prospective investors should submit an IRS Form W-9 to avoid
such withholding.

                              State and Local Taxes

     The treatment of each Fund and its  shareholders in those states which have
income tax laws might differ from  treatment  under the federal income tax laws.
Distributions  to  shareholders  may be  subject to  additional  state and local
taxes.  Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding any state
or local taxes.

                                Foreign Investors

     Each Fund is designed for investors  who are either  citizens of the United
States or aliens subject to United States income tax. Prospective  investors who
are not citizens of the United  States and who are not aliens  subject to United
States  income tax are subject to United  States  withholding  tax on the entire
amount of all dividends.  Therefore,  such investors should not invest in a Fund
since alternative investments are available which would not be subject to United
States withholding tax.

                                Other Information

     Annual notification as to the tax status of capital gains distributions, if
any, is  provided  to  shareholders  shortly  after  October 31, the end of each
Fund's fiscal year.  Additional  tax  information is mailed to  shareholders  in
January.

     This tax  discussion is based on the tax laws and  regulations in effect on
the date of this  Prospectus,  however such laws and  regulations are subject to
change.  Shareholders  and prospective  investors are urged to consult their tax
advisors   regarding   specific   questions   relevant   to   their   particular
circumstances.

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
================================================================================

     The Corporation is an open-end  management  investment company organized on
July 16, 1990,  as a  corporation  under the laws of the State of Maryland.  Its
offices are located at 6 St. James  Avenue,  Boston,  Massachusetts  02116;  its
telephone number is (617) 423-0800.

     The Articles of  Incorporation  currently  permit the  Corporation to issue
2,500,000,000  shares of common  stock,  par value  $0.001 per  share,  of which
25,000,000  shares have been  classified as shares of the  International  Equity
Fund and  25,000,000  shares  have been  classified  as  shares of the  Emerging


                                       18
<PAGE>

Markets Fund. The Board of Directors of the  Corporation may increase the number
of shares the  Corporation  is  authorized  to issue  without  the  approval  of
shareholders.  The Board of Directors of the  Corporation  also has the power to
designate  one or more  series of shares of  common  stock and to  classify  and
reclassify any unissued shares with respect to such series.  Currently there are
five such series in addition to the Funds.

     Each share of the Fund  represents  an equal  proportional  interest in the
Fund with each other  share.  Upon  liquidation  of the Fund,  shareholders  are
entitled  to  share  pro  rata in the  net  assets  of the  Fund  available  for
distribution to shareholders.

     Shareholders  of each Fund are  entitled to a full vote for each full share
held and to a  fractional  vote for  fractional  shares.  The  voting  rights of
shareholders are not cumulative. Shares have no preemptive or conversion rights.
The rights of redemption are described  elsewhere herein.  Shares are fully paid
and nonassessable by the Corporation. It is the intention of the Corporation not
to hold meetings of shareholders  annually. The Directors of the Corporation may
call meetings of shareholders  for action by shareholder vote as may be required
by the 1940 Act or as may be  permitted  by the  Articles  of  Incorporation  or
By-laws.  Shareholders have under certain  circumstances (e.g., upon application
and  submission  of  certain  specified   documents  to  the  Directors  of  the
Corporation by a specified number of shareholders) the right to communicate with
other  shareholders in connection with requesting a meeting of shareholders  for
the purpose of removing one or more Directors of the  Corporation.  Shareholders
also have the right to remove one or more Directors of the Corporation without a
meeting by a declaration in writing by a specified number of shareholders.

     The By-laws of the  Corporation  provide  that the presence in person or by
proxy of the holders of record of one third of the shares of a Fund  outstanding
and  entitled  to vote  thereat  shall  constitute  a quorum at all  meetings of
shareholders of that Fund,  except as otherwise  required by applicable law. The
By-laws further provide that all questions shall be decided by a majority of the
votes cast at any such meeting at which a quorum is present, except as otherwise
required by applicable law.

     The Corporation's Articles of Incorporation provide that, at any meeting of
shareholders  of a Fund,  each  Eligible  Institution  may vote any shares as to
which that Eligible  Institution  is the agent of record and which are otherwise
not  represented  in  person  or by proxy  at the  meeting,  proportionately  in
accordance with the votes cast by holders of all shares otherwise represented at
the meeting in person or by proxy as to which that Eligible  Institution  is the
agent of  record.  Any  shares so voted by an  Eligible  Institution  are deemed
represented at the meeting for purposes of quorum requirements.

     Each  Portfolio  is  organized as a trust under the law of the State of New
York.  Each  Portfolio's  Declaration of Trust provides that each  corresponding
Fund and other  entities  investing in the  Portfolio  (e.g.,  other  investment
companies,  insurance  company separate accounts and common and commingled trust
funds) are liable for all obligations of the Portfolio.  However,  the risk of a
Fund  incurring  financial  loss on  account  of such  liability  is  limited to
circumstances  in which both  inadequate  insurance  existed  and the  Portfolio
itself was unable to meet its  obligations.  Accordingly,  the  Directors of the
Corporation  believe that neither  Fund nor its  shareholders  will be adversely
affected  by  reason  of the  investment  of all of  the  Fund's  assets  in its
corresponding Portfolio.

     Each investor in a Portfolio, including each Fund, may add to or reduce its
investment  in a Portfolio  on each day the New York Stock  Exchange is open for
regular  trading.  At 4:00 P.M.,  New York time on each such  business  day, the
value of each  investor's  beneficial  interest in a Portfolio is  determined by
multiplying  the net asset value of the Portfolio by the  percentage,  effective
for that day, which represents that investor's share of the aggregate beneficial
interests  in the  Portfolio.  Any  additions  or  withdrawals,  which are to be
effected  on that day,  are then  effected.  The  investor's  percentage  of the
aggregate  beneficial  interests  in the  Portfolio  is then  recomputed  as the
percentage equal to the fraction (i) the numerator of which is the value of such
investor's  investment in the  Portfolio as of 4:00 P.M.,  New York time on such
day


                                       19
<PAGE>

plus or minus, as the case may be, the amount of any additions to or withdrawals
from the investor's  investment in the Portfolio  effected on such day, and (ii)
the denominator of which is the aggregate net asset value of the Portfolio as of
4:00  P.M.,  New York  time on such day plus or minus,  as the case may be,  the
amount of the net additions to or withdrawals from the aggregate  investments in
the Portfolio by all investors in the Portfolio. The percentage so determined is
then applied to determine the value of the investor's  interest in the Portfolio
as of 4:00 P.M., New York time on the following business day of the Portfolio.

     Whenever the  Corporation is requested to vote on a matter  pertaining to a
Portfolio,   the  Corporation   will  vote  its  shares  without  a  meeting  of
shareholders  of the  corresponding  Fund if the  proposal is one, if which made
with  respect to the Fund,  would not  require the vote of  shareholders  of the
Fund,  as long as such action is  permissible  under  applicable  statutory  and
regulatory requirements. For all other matters requiring a vote, the Corporation
will hold a meeting of shareholders of the Fund and, at the meeting of investors
in the  Portfolio,  the  Corporation  will  cast  all of its  votes  in the same
proportion as the votes of the Fund's shareholders even if all Fund shareholders
did not  vote.  Even if the  Corporation  votes all its  shares  at a  Portfolio
meeting,  other  investors  with a greater pro rata  ownership in the  Portfolio
could have effective voting control of the operations of the Portfolio.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
================================================================================

     As used in this  Prospectus,  the term "majority of the outstanding  voting
securities"  (as defined in the 1940 Act) currently means the vote of (i) 67% or
more of the outstanding voting securities  present at a meeting,  if the holders
of more than 50% of the outstanding  voting  securities are present in person or
represented  by  proxy;  or  (ii)  more  than  50%  of  the  outstanding  voting
securities, whichever is less.

     Each Fund's shareholders  receive semi-annual reports containing  unaudited
financial  statements and annual reports containing financial statements audited
by independent auditors. The annual report also contains performance information
and is made available to investors upon request and without charge.

     Other mutual funds or institutional  investors may invest in each Portfolio
on the same terms and conditions as each Fund.  However,  these other  investors
may have different  sales  commissions  and other  operating  expenses which may
generate different aggregate performance results.  Information  concerning other
investors in each Portfolio is available from Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (See
the back cover for the address and phone number.)

     The  Corporation  may  withdraw a Fund's  investment  in its  corresponding
Portfolio  as  a  result  of  certain  changes  in  the  Portfolio's  investment
objective,  policies  or  restrictions  or if  the  Board  of  Directors  of the
Corporation determines that it is otherwise in the best interests of the Fund to
do so. Upon any such withdrawal, the Board of Directors of the Corporation would
consider  what action might be taken,  including  the  investment  of all of the
assets of the Fund in another  pooled  investment  entity or the retaining of an
investment  adviser to manage the Fund's  assets in  accordance  with the Fund's
investment  policies.  In the event the Directors of the Corporation were unable
to accomplish either, the Directors will determine the best course of action.

     A  confirmation  of each purchase and  redemption  transaction is issued on
execution of that transaction.

     Each  Fund's  performance  may be used  from  time  to time in  shareholder
reports  or other  communications  to  shareholders  or  prospective  investors.
Performance  figures are based on  historical  earnings  and are not intended to
indicate  future  performance.  Performance  information may include each Fund's
investment  results  and/or  comparisons  of its  investment  results to various
unmanaged indexes (such as the MSCI-EAFE Index,  MSCI-Emerging Markets Index and
IFC Emerging  Markets  Investable  Index) and to investments  for which reliable


                                       20
<PAGE>

performance  data  is  available.   Performance  information  may  also  include
comparisons to averages,  performance  rankings or other information prepared by
recognized  mutual  fund  statistical  services.  To the extent  that  unmanaged
indexes are so included,  the same indexes are used on a consistent  basis. Each
Fund's  investment  results as used in such  communications  are calculated on a
total rate of return basis in the manner set forth below.

     Period and average  annualized  "total  rates of return" may be provided in
such  communications.  The "total  rate of  return"  refers to the change in the
value of an investment in a Fund over a stated period based on any change in net
asset value per share and including the value of any shares purchasable with any
dividends or capital gains distributions during such period.  Period total rates
of return may be annualized.  An annualized total rate of return is a compounded
total  rate of return  which  assumes  that the  period  total rate of return is
generated  over a one year  period,  and that all  dividends  and capital  gains
distributions  are  reinvested.  An annualized  total rate of return is slightly
higher  than a period  total rate of return if the  period is  shorter  than one
year, because of the assumed reinvestment.

     Historical performance  information for any period or portion thereof prior
to the  establishment  of the  International  Equity  Fund  will  be that of the
International  Equity Portfolio,  adjusted to assume that all charges,  expenses
and fees of the Fund and the  Portfolio  which  are  presently  in  effect  were
deducted   during  such   periods,   as  permitted  by   applicable   SEC  staff
interpretations.

     This Prospectus omits certain of the information contained in the Statement
of  Additional  Information  and  the  Registration  Statement  filed  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Statement of Additional Information may
be obtained from 59 Wall Street Distributors without charge and the Registration
Statement  may be obtained  from the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  upon
payment of the fee prescribed by the Rules and Regulations of the Commission.


                                       21
<PAGE>

APPENDIX A - INTERNATIONAL STATISTICS
================================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                     Market             Gross Domestic    
                                 Capitalization            Product                Population
                               -------------------    ------------------      -------------------
                               Dollars       % of     Dollars      % of                     % of
MARKETS -- DEVELOPED          (Billions)     Total   (Billions)    Total     (Millions)     Total
- ----------------------         --------     ------    ---------    -----      ---------     -----
<S>                             <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>           <C>
Japan........................   2,663        25.5       4,149       23.2       125.2         3.0
United Kingdom...............   1,590        15.2       1,200        6.7        58.3         1.4
Germany......................     667         6.4       2,241       12.5        81.6         1.9
France.......................     540         5.2       1,473        8.2        58.0         1.4
Hong Kong....................     449         4.3         143        0.8         6.3         0.1
Netherlands..................     426         4.1         365        2.0        15.4         0.4
Switzerland..................     399         3.8         268        1.5         7.0         0.2
Malaysia.....................     282         2.7          84        0.5        20.1         0.5
Australia....................     266         2.5         374        2.1        18.1         0.4
Singapore....................     256         2.5          86        0.5         3.0         0.1
Italy........................     254         2.4       1,072        6.0        57.2         1.4
Sweden.......................     222         2.1         237        1.3         8.8         0.2
Spain........................     181         1.7         538        3.0        39.2         0.9
Belgium......................     117         1.1         247        1.4        10.1         0.2
Denmark......................      66         0.6         164        0.9         5.2         0.1
Finland......................      62         0.6         118        0.7         5.1         0.1
Norway.......................      53         0.5         144        0.8         4.4         0.1
New Zealand..................      36         0.3          64        0.4         3.5         0.1
Austria......................      35         0.3         216        1.2         8.5         0.2
Ireland......................      31         0.3          64        0.4         3.6         0.1
                                -----       -----      ------       ----       -----        ----
   SUBTOTAL - DEVELOPED......   8,595        82.4      34,247       74.0       538.6        12.7
                                -----       -----      ------       ----       -----        ----
</TABLE>


                                       22
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                      Market             Gross Domestic    
                                  Capitalization            Product                Population
                                -------------------    ------------------      -------------------
                                Dollars       % of     Dollars      % of                     % of
MARKETS -- EMERGING            (Billions)     Total   (Billions)    Total     (Millions)     Total
- ------------------              --------     ------    ---------    -----      ---------     -----
<S>                                <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>
Taiwan.......................      312         3.0         261        1.5        21.3         0.5
South Africa.................      230         2.2          90        0.5        41.2         1.0
Brazil.......................      219         2.1         721        4.0       155.8         3.7
Korea........................      139         1.3         416        2.3        44.9         1.1
India........................      125         1.2         264        1.5       935.7        22.1
Mexico.......................      110         1.1         279        1.6        90.5         2.1
Thailand.....................       96         0.9         162        0.9        59.4         1.4
Indonesia....................       91         0.9         192        1.1       193.8         4.6
Pakistan.....................       85         0.8          47        0.3       129.8         3.1
Chile........................       72         0.7          67        0.4        14.2         0.3
Philippines..................       57         0.5          73        0.4        70.3         1.7
Argentina....................       44         0.4         286        1.6        34.8         0.8
Israel.......................       36         0.3          87        0.5        57.2         1.4
Turkey.......................       35         0.3         165        0.9        61.6         1.5
Portugal.....................       31         0.3          89        0.5         9.9         0.2
Greece.......................       24         0.2         108        0.6        10.5         0.2
Czech Republic...............       20         0.2          46        0.3        10.3         0.2
Venezuela....................       18         0.2          51        0.3        21.6         0.5
Colombia.....................       17         0.2          79        0.4        35.1         0.8
Peru.........................       14         0.1          59        0.3        23.5         0.6
Egypt........................       12         0.1          57        0.3        59.0         1.4
Poland.......................        8         0.1         121        0.7        38.6         0.9
Morocco......................        8         0.1          33        0.2        27.1         0.6
Luxembourg...................        6         0.1          17        0.1         0.4         0.0
Hungary......................        5         0.0          45        0.2        10.2         0.2
China........................        5         0.0         702        3.9     1,211.5        28.6
Jordan.......................        5         0.0           6        0.0         5.4         0.1
Zimbabwe.....................        4         0.0           6        0.0        11.5         0.3
Tunisia......................        4         0.0          18        0.1         8.9         0.2
Bangladesh...................        2         0.0          28        0.2       120.4         2.8
Sri Lanka....................        2         0.0          12        0.1        18.4         0.4
Kenya........................        2         0.0           8        0.0        30.5         0.7
Nigeria......................        2         0.0          42        0.2       111.7         2.6
Ghana........................        1         0.0           6        0.0        17.5         0.4
Slovenia.....................      0.5         0.0          14        0.1         2.0         0.0
Botswana.....................      0.3         0.0           4        0.0         1.5         0.0
                              --------       -----      ------       ----      ------        ----
   SUBTOTAL - EMERGING.......  1,841.8        17.6       4,661       26.0       3,696        87.3
                              --------       -----      ------       ----      ------        ----
TOTAL - WORLD................ 10,436.8         100      17,908        100     4,234.6         100
                              ========       =====      ======       ====      ======        ====
</TABLE>

Sources:

Market Capitalization: Datastream (as of December 1996)

GDP/Population: International Monetary Fund: 
   International Financial Statistics (February 1997).

International Finance Corporation: Emerging Stock Markets Factbook (1996).


                                       23
<PAGE>

APPENDIX B - HEDGING STRATEGIES
================================================================================

     Futures  Contracts  on  Stock  Indexes.  Subject  to  applicable  laws  and
regulations  and  solely  as a hedge  against  changes  in the  market  value of
portfolio  securities or securities intended to be purchased,  futures contracts
on stock indexes ("Futures Contracts") may be entered into for the Portfolios.

     In order to assure that a Portfolio  is not deemed a  "commodity  pool" for
purposes of the Commodity  Exchange Act,  regulations  of the Commodity  Futures
Trading Commission  ("CFTC") require that each Portfolio enter into transactions
in Futures  Contracts  and options on Futures  Contracts  only (i) for bona fide
hedging  purposes  (as  defined in CFTC  regulations),  or (ii) for  non-hedging
purposes,  provided  that the  aggregate  initial  margin and  premiums  on such
non-hedging  positions  does  not  exceed  5%  of  the  liquidation  value  of a
Portfolio's assets.

     Futures  Contracts  provide  for  the  making  and  acceptance  of  a  cash
settlement based upon changes in the value of an index of stocks and are used to
hedge against  anticipated  future  changes in overall stock market prices which
otherwise  might  either  adversely  affect the value of  securities  held for a
Portfolio or adversely  affect the prices of securities which are intended to be
purchased at a later date. A Futures  Contract may also be entered into to close
out or offset an existing futures position.

     In  general,   each   transaction   in  Futures   Contracts   involves  the
establishment of a position which is expected to move in a direction opposite to
that  of  the  investment  being  hedged.  If  these  hedging  transactions  are
successful,  the futures  positions taken would rise in value by an amount which
approximately  offsets  the  decline in value of the  portion  of a  Portfolio's
investments  that is being  hedged.  Should  general  market  prices  move in an
unexpected manner, the full anticipated benefits of Futures Contracts may not be
achieved or a loss may be realized.  There is also the risk of a potential  lack
of liquidity in the secondary market.

     The effectiveness of entering into Futures Contracts as a hedging technique
depends  upon  the  extent  to  which  price  movements  in the  portion  of the
securities  portfolio  being hedged  correlate with price movements of the stock
index selected. The value of a Futures Contract depends upon future movements in
the level of the overall stock market  measured by the  underlying  index before
the closing out of the Futures  Contract.  Accordingly,  the  successful  use of
Futures Contracts is subject to the Investment  Adviser's ability both to select
an appropriate  index and to predict future price  movements over the short term
in the overall  stock market.  The incorrect  choice of an index or an incorrect
assessment  of future price  movements  over the short term in the overall stock
market may result in poorer overall  performance  than if a Futures Contract had
not  been  purchased.   Brokerage  costs  are  incurred  in  entering  into  and
maintaining Futures Contracts.

     When  each  Portfolio  enters  into a  Futures  Contract,  it is  initially
required  to  deposit,  in a  segregated  account  in the  name  of  the  broker
performing  the  transaction,  an  "initial  margin"  of cash,  U.S.  Government
securities or other high grade short-term  obligations equal to approximately 3%
of the contract  amount.  Initial  margin  requirements  are  established by the
exchanges on which Futures  Contracts trade and may, from time to time,  change.
In addition,  brokers may establish  margin  deposit  requirements  in excess of
those  required by the  exchanges.  Initial  margin in futures  transactions  is
different from margin in securities transactions in that initial margin does not
involve the borrowing of funds by a broker's client but is, rather, a good faith
deposit  on the  Futures  Contract  which  will  be  returned  upon  the  proper
termination  of the Futures  Contract.  The margin  deposits  made are marked to
market daily and a Portfolio may be required to make subsequent deposits of cash
or eligible  securities  called  "variation  margin",  with its futures contract
clearing  broker,  which are  reflective  of price  fluctuations  in the Futures
Contract.


                                       24
<PAGE>

     Currently,  investments in Futures  Contracts on non-U.S.  stock indexes by
U.S. investors, such as the Portfolios,  can be purchased on such non-U.S. stock
indexes as the Osaka Stock Exchange (OSE), Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), Hong Kong
Futures Exchange (HKFE),  Singapore  International  Monetary  Exchange  (SIMEX),
London  International  Financial  Futures and Options Exchange  (LIFFE),  Marche
Terme International de France (MATIF),  Sydney Futures Exchange Ltd. (SFE), Meff
Sociedad  Rectora de Productos  Financieros  Derivados de Renta  Variable,  S.A.
(MEFF RENTA VARIABLE), Deutsche Terminborse (DTB), Italian Stock Exchange (ISE),
Financiele  Termijnmarkt  Amsterdam (FTA), and London Securities and Derivatives
Exchange, Ltd. (OMLX).

     Exchanges may limit the amount by which the price of a Futures Contract may
move on any day. If the price moves  equal the daily limit on  successive  days,
then it may prove  impossible  to liquidate a futures  position  until the daily
limit moves have ceased.

     Another  risk which may arise in  employing  Futures  Contracts  to protect
against the price  volatility  of portfolio  securities is that the prices of an
index subject to Futures Contracts (and thereby the Futures Contract prices) may
correlate  imperfectly  with  the  behavior  of the  cash  prices  of  portfolio
securities.  Another such risk is that the price of the Futures Contract may not
move in tandem with the change in overall  stock market  prices  against which a
Portfolio seeks a hedge.


                                       25
<PAGE>

The 59 Wall Street Fund, Inc.

Investment Adviser and
  Administrator of the Corporation
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
59 Wall Street
New York, New York  10005

Distributor
59 Wall Street Distributors, Inc.
6 St. James Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts  02116

Shareholder Servicing Agent
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
59 Wall Street
New York, New York  10005
(800) 625-5759

No  dealer,  salesman  or any  other  person  has  been  authorized  to give any
information or to make any  representations,  other than those contained in this
Prospectus and the Statement of Additional  Information,  in connection with the
offer contained in this Prospectus, and if given or made, such other information
or  representations  must not be relied  upon as having been  authorized  by the
Corporation or the Distributor.  This Prospectus does not constitute an offer by
the Corporation or by the  Distributor to sell or the  solicitation of any offer
to buy any of the securities offered hereby in any jurisdiction to any person to
whom it is unlawful for the Corporation or the Distributor to make such offer in
such jurisdiction.



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission