<PAGE>
Filed Pursuant to Rule 497(e)
File Nos. 811-6229; 33-37783
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THE GOVETT FUNDS, INC.
SUPPLEMENT DATED March 6, 1996
TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 1995,
AS SUPPLEMENTED OCTOBER 26, 1995, DECEMBER 21, 1995, AND DECEMBER 29, 1995
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THIS SUPPLEMENT SUPERSEDES ALL PRIOR SUPPLEMENTS.
On December 7, 1995, an agreement was signed to sell John Govett & Co.
Limited ("John Govett"), the investment manager of The Govett Funds, Inc. (the
"Funds"), to John Govett Holdings Limited, a newly-formed, majority-owned
subsidiary of the AIB Group of Companies of Dublin, Ireland ("AIB"), in a stock
sale that closed on December 29, 1995.
In connection with the sale, the Directors of The Govett Funds have
approved (i) a new investment management agreement with John Govett, under its
new ownership, for all of the Funds, and (ii) a new subadvisory agreement
between John Govett and Berkeley Capital Management (formerly Govett Asset
Management Company, subadvisor to the Smaller Companies Fund). Berkeley Capital
Management was an affiliate of John Govett prior to the sale. No change in the
portfolio management of any Govett Fund or in the advisory fees paid by the
Funds is expected to occur as a result of the Sale. The new agreements are
described in detail in the Proxy Statement dated January 13, 1996, which was
mailed to all shareholders in connection with the shareholder meeting. The
shareholders of The Govett Funds approved the new management and subadvisory
agreements on February 23, 1996.
* * * * * * * * *
Effective December 30, 1995, Jeffrey Bernstein will take over
responsibility as portfolio manager of the Smaller Companies Fund, following
Garrett Van Wagoner's departure on December 29, 1995. Mr. Bernstein joined
Berkeley Capital Management (formerly Govett Asset Management Company), the
subadviser, at the end of November 1995. Prior to that time he was a vice
president at Bankers Trust, where he was assistant portfolio manager of the
bank's small and mid-cap collective funds, and of the BT Investment Small Cap
Fund, an open-end mutual fund. He came to Bankers Trust from Cowen Asset
Management, where he was a vice president specializing in analysis of the
technology sector. He graduated from Union College in 1988.
* * * * * * * * * *
Effective January 2, 1996, the offices of The Govett Funds, Inc. relocated
to:
250 Montgomery Street, 12th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
Telephone: 415/263-1865
FAX: 415/263-1880
Please note that there is no change in the address of any service provider
to the Funds or to any other address shown in the Funds' current prospectus. In
addition, all shareholder service and new account inquiries should continue to
be addressed as directed in the prospectus.
<PAGE>
Filed Pursuant to Rule 497(e)
File Nos. 811-6229; 33-37783
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THE GOVETT FUNDS, INC.
SUPPLEMENT DATED MARCH 6, 1996
TO THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DATED MAY 1, 1995,
AS SUPPLEMENTED OCTOBER 26, 1995, DECEMBER 21, 1995, AND DECEMBER 29, 1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS SUPPLEMENT SUPERSEDES ALL PRIOR SUPPLEMENTS.
On December 7, 1995, an agreement was signed to sell John Govett & Co.
Limited ("John Govett"), the investment manager of The Govett Funds, Inc.
(the "Funds"), to John Govett Holdings Limited, a newly-formed,
majority-owned subsidiary of the AIB Group of Companies of Dublin, Ireland
("AIB"), in a stock sale that closed on December 29, 1995 (the "Sale").
In connection with the sale, the Directors of The Govett Funds have
approved (i) a new investment management agreement with John Govett, under
its new ownership, for all of the Funds, and (ii) a new subadvisory agreement
between John Govett and Berkeley Capital Management (formerly Govett Asset
Management Company subadvisor to the Smaller Companies Fund). Berkeley
Capital Management was an affiliate of John Govett prior to the sale. No
change in the portfolio management of any Govett Fund or in the advisory fees
paid by the Funds is expected to occur as a result of the Sale. The new
agreements described in detail in the Proxy Statement dated January 13, 1996,
which was mailed to all shareholders in connection with the shareholder
meeting. The shareholders of The Govett Funds approved the new management
and subadvisory agreements on February 23, 1996.
* * * * * * * * * *
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SUPPLEMENTS THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON PAGES 20
AND 21 OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, REGARDING THE DIRECTORS AND
OFFICERS OF THE GOVETT FUNDS, INC.:
Effective November 17, 1995, Ronald W. Green resigned as Director, Chairman
of the Board and President, and Cindee Beechwood resigned as Treasurer, of the
Funds.
On the same date, the Board of Directors elected Kevin J. T. Pakenham as
Director and Chairman of the Board to succeed Mr. Green, Brian Lee to succeed
Mr. Green as President, and Colin Kreidewolf to succeed Ms. Beechwood as
Treasurer.
Mr. Pakenham graduated from Oxford University with an MA and MPhil in
Economics. After working at Rothschild Intercontinental Bank, in 1975 he was
appointed Chief Economist at American Express Bank and, two years later, was
responsible for setting up their international asset management business. In
1983, he joined Foreign & Colonial Management as Managing Director. He joined
John Govett as Chief Executive Officer in 1988.
Mr. Lee graduated from the University of Wales in 1980 and qualified as a
Chartered Accountant with Deloitte Haskins & Sells in 1982. He joined John
Govett in 1987 and was appointed Finance Director in 1991. From November 1993
until January 1995, he was on special assignment in the United States working
with an insurance-related affiliate of John Govett. He is responsible for the
financial control, compliance and administrative functions at John Govett.
Mr. Kreidewolf joined John Govett in 1981. He became a member of the
Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in England and Wales in
1986. Currently he is responsible for the management of reporting functions for
John Govett's United Kingdom and U.S. retail funds.
Effective December 20, 1995, Deborah Kemper resigned as Vice President of
the Funds.
* * * * * * * * * *
<PAGE>
Effective January 2, 1996, the offices of The Govett Funds, Inc. relocated
to:
250 Montgomery Street, 12th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
Telephone: 415/263-1865
FAX: 415/263-1880
Please note that there is no change in the address of any service provider
to the Funds or to any other address shown in the Funds' current prospectus. In
addition, all shareholder service and new account inquiries should continue to
be addressed as directed in the prospectus.
