File No. 33-38336
As filed on June 27, 1995
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 X
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Pre-Effective Amendment No.
Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 X
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REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 X
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Amendment No. 6 X
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INVESCO EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUNDS, INC.
(formerly known as INVESCO Emerging Growth Fund, Inc.)
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
7800 E. Union Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80237
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
P.O. Box 173706, Denver, Colorado 80217-3706
(Mailing Address)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (303) 930-6300
Glen A. Payne, Esq.
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80237
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
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Copies to:
Ronald M. Feiman, Esq.
Gordon Altman Butowsky
Weitzen Shalov & Wein
114 W. 47th St.
New York, New York 10036
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Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after
this post-effective amendment becomes effective.
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate
box) immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) on
_____________, pursuant to paragraph (b) 60 days after filing pursuant
to paragraph (a)(1) on __________________, pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
X on September 11, 1995, pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.
If appropriate, check the following box:
this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a
previously filed post-effective amendment.
Registrant has previously elected to register an indefinite number of shares of
its common stock pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act.
Registrant's Rule 24f-2 Notice for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1995, will be
filed on or about July 21, 1995.
Page 1 of __
Exhibit index is located at page __
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This amendment is being filed to add the Prospectus for a new series of the
Registrant, INVESCO Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund, and does not affect the
Prospectus for the other series of the Registrant, INVESCO Emerging Growth Fund.
The Registrant intends to file a post-effective amendment containing updated
financial and other information for INVESCO Emerging Growth Fund, an updated
Prospectus for that Fund and the exhibits omitted from this post-effective
amendment in sufficient time for the effective date of that amendment to occur
on the same date as this post-effective amendment becomes effective.
<PAGE>
INVESCO EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUNDS, INC.
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CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
Form N-1A
Item Caption
Part A Prospectus
1....................... Cover Page
2....................... Annual Fund Expenses
3....................... Financial Highlights; Performance Data
4....................... Investment Objective and Policies; Risk
Factors; The Fund and Its Management
5....................... The Fund and Its Management; Additional
Information
5A...................... Not Applicable
6....................... Services Provided by the Fund; Taxes,
Dividends and Capital Gain
Distributions; Additional Information
7....................... How Shares Can Be Purchased; Services
Provided by the Fund
8....................... Services Provided by the Fund; How to
Redeem Shares
9....................... Not Applicable
Part B Statement of Additional Information
10....................... Cover Page
11....................... Table of Contents
12....................... The Fund and Its Management
13....................... Investment Practices; Investment
Policies and Restrictions
14....................... The Fund and Its Management
15....................... The Fund and Its Management; Additional
Information
-i-
<PAGE>
Form N-1A
Item Caption
16....................... The Fund and Its Management; Additional
Information
17....................... Investment Practices; Investment
Policies and Restrictions
18....................... Additional Information
19....................... How Shares Can Be Purchased; How Shares
Are Valued; Services Provided by the
Fund; Tax-Deferred Retirement Plans; How
to Redeem Shares
20....................... Dividends, Capital Gain Distributions,
and Taxes
21....................... How Shares Can Be Purchased
22....................... Performance Data
23....................... Additional Information; Financial
Statements
Part C Other Information
Information required to be included in Part C is set forth under the
appropriate Item, so numbered, in Part C to this Registration Statement.
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<PAGE>
Prospectus
September 11, 1995
INVESCO WORLDWIDE EMERGING MARKETS FUND
INVESCO Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund (the "Fund") seeks to achieve
capital appreciation. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least
65% of its total assets in securities of emerging country issuers. The Fund is
not intended as a complete investment program due to risks of investing in the
Fund. For a description of risks inherent in investing in the Fund see "Risk
Factors" and "Investment Objective and Policies - Portfolio Turnover."
The Fund is a series of INVESCO Emerging Opportunity Funds, Inc. (the
"Company"), a no-load mutual fund consisting of two separate portfolios of
investments. A separate prospectus is available upon request from INVESCO Funds
Group, Inc. for the Company's other fund, INVESCO Emerging Growth Fund.
Investors may purchase shares of either or both of the Funds. Additional funds
may be offered in the future.
This Prospectus provides you with the basic information you should know
before investing in the Fund. You should read it and keep it for future
reference. A Statement of Additional Information containing further information
about the Fund, dated September 11, 1995, has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. You
can obtain a copy without charge by writing INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., Post
Office Box 173706, Denver, Colorado 80217-3706; or by calling 1-800-525-8085.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE. SHARES OF THE FUND ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR
GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED BY ANY BANK OR OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. THE SHARES OF
THE FUND ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION,
THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
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<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page
ANNUAL FUND EXPENSES 7
PERFORMANCE DATA 8
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES 9
RISK FACTORS 15
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT 22
HOW SHARES CAN BE PURCHASED 24
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE FUND 27
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES 31
TAXES, DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS 33
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 35
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ANNUAL FUND EXPENSES
The Fund is no-load; there are no fees to purchase, exchange or redeem
shares other than a fee to redeem or exchange shares held less than 12 months
(see "Shareholder Transaction Expenses"). The Fund, however, is authorized to
pay a distribution fee pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act
of 1940. (See "How Shares Can Be Purchased--Distribution Expenses.") Lower
expenses benefit Fund shareholders by increasing the Fund's total return.
Shareholder Transaction Expenses
Sales load "charge" on purchases None
Sales load "charge" on reinvested dividends None
Redemption fees 2.00%*
Exchange fees 2.00%*
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(as a percentage of average net assets)
Management Fee 0.75%
12b-1 Fees 0.25%
Other Expenses 1.00%
(after voluntary expense limitation)(1)
Transfer Agency Fee(2) 0.20%
General Services, Administrative 0.80%
Services, Registration, Postage (3)
Total Fund Operating Expenses 2.00%
(after voluntary expense limitation)(1)
*There is a 2% fee retained by the Fund to offset transaction costs and other
expenses associated with short-term redemptions and exchanges, which is imposed
only on redemptions or exchanges of shares held less than 12 months.
(1) Based on estimated expenses for the current fiscal year. If necessary,
certain Fund expenses will be absorbed voluntarily for at least the first fiscal
year of the Fund's operations in order to ensure that expenses for the Fund will
not exceed 2.00% of the Fund's average net assets pursuant to an agreement among
the Fund, INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. and MIM International Limited. If such
voluntary expense limit were not in effect, the Fund's "Other Expenses" and
"Total Fund Operating Expenses" for the fiscal year ending May 31, 1996 are
estimated to be 1.29% and 2.29%, respectively, of the Fund's average net assets.
Actual expenses are not provided because the Fund did not begin a public
offering of its securities until September 11, 1995.
(2) Consists of the transfer agency fee described under "Additional
Information-Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent."
(3) Includes, but is not limited to, fees and expenses of directors,
custodian bank, legal counsel and auditors, a securities pricing service, costs
of administrative services under an Administrative Services Agreement, costs of
registration of Fund shares under applicable laws, and costs of printing and
distributing reports to shareholders.
Example
A shareholder would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment for
the periods shown, assuming (1) a 5% annual return and (2) redemption at the end
of each time period:
<PAGE>
1 Year 3 Years
$21 $63
The purpose of the foregoing table is to assist investors in understanding
the various costs and expenses that an investor in the Fund will bear directly
or indirectly. Such expenses are paid from the Fund's assets. (See "The Fund and
Its Management.") The above figures are estimates, since the Fund did not
commence a public offering of securities until the date of this Prospectus. The
Example should not be considered a representation of past or future expenses,
and actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown. The assumed 5%
annual return is hypothetical and should not be considered a representation of
past or future annual returns, which may be greater or less than the assumed
amount.
As a result of the 0.25% Rule 12b-1 fee paid by the Fund, investors who
own Fund shares for a long period of time may pay more than the economic
equivalent of the maximum front-end sales charge permitted for mutual funds by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
PERFORMANCE DATA
From time to time, the Fund may advertise its total return performance.
These figures are based upon historical earnings and are not intended to
indicate future performance. The "total return" of the Fund refers to the
average annual rate of return of an investment in the Fund. This figure is
computed by calculating the percentage change in value of an investment of
$1,000, assuming reinvestment of all income dividends and other distributions,
to the end of a specified period. Periods of one year, five years, ten years
and/or life of the Fund are generally used. Thus, a report of total return
performance should not be considered as representative of future performance.
The Fund charges no sales loads which would affect the total return computation.
However, the total return computation may be affected as a result of the 2%
redemption or exchange fee which is retained by the Fund to offset transaction
costs and other expenses associated with short-term redemptions and exchanges,
which is imposed on redemptions or exchanges of shares held less than 12 months.
In conjunction with performance reports and/or analyses of shareholder
service for the Fund, comparative data between the Fund's performance for a
given period and recognized indices of investment results for the same period,
and/or assessments of the quality of shareholder service, may be provided to
shareholders. Such indices include indices provided by Dow Jones & Company,
Standard & Poor's, Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Lehman Brothers, National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, Frank Russell Company,
Value Line Investment Survey, the American Stock Exchange, Morgan Stanley
Capital International, Wilshire Associates, the Financial Times-Stock Exchange,
the New York Stock Exchange, the Nikkei Stock Average and the Deutcher
Aktienindex, all of which are unmanaged market indicators. In addition,
rankings, ratings, and comparisons of investment performance and/or assessments
of the quality of shareholder service appearing in publications such as Money,
Forbes, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Morningstar, and similar sources which
utilize information compiled (i) internally; (ii) by Lipper Analytical Services,
Inc.; or (iii) by other recognized analytical services, may be used in
advertising. The Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. mutual fund rankings and
comparisons, which may be used by the Fund in performance reports, will be drawn
from the "Emerging Markets" Lipper mutual fund grouping, in addition to the
broad-based Lipper general fund grouping.
Further information about the performance of the Fund will be contained
<PAGE>
in the Company's annual report to shareholders, which may be obtained without
charge by writing INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., P.O. Box 173706, Denver, Colorado
80217-3706; or by calling 1-800-525-8085. The annual report containing
information about the Fund's first fiscal year of operations will be available
on or about July 31, 1996.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
The Fund seeks to achieve capital appreciation. The foregoing investment
objective is fundamental and may not be changed in any material respect without
the approval of the Fund's shareholders. Under normal circumstances, the Fund
will invest at least 65% of its total assets in securities of emerging country
issuers.
As used in this Prospectus, the term "emerging country" applies to any
country which, in the opinion of the Fund's investment adviser or sub-adviser
(collectively, "Fund Management"), is generally considered to be a developing or
emerging country by the international financial community. These countries
include countries with low-to-middle-income economies according to the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (more commonly known as
the World Bank), those listed in World Bank publications as developing or those
having emerging stock markets as defined by the International Finance
Corporation. Emerging countries generally include every nation in the world
except the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the nations
in Western Europe other than Greece, Portugal and Turkey. The Fund will focus
its investments in those emerging countries that Fund Management believes have
the potential for rapid growth and that have undertaken economic and securities
market reforms making international investment feasible. The Fund normally will
invest in at least three different emerging countries, although Fund Management
expects the Fund's assets to be allocated among a larger number of emerging
countries. The Fund normally will not invest more than 50% of its total assets
in any one emerging country. The economies of these countries may vary widely in
their condition and may be subject to certain changes that could have a positive
or negative impact on the Fund. Investments in emerging countries involve
certain risks that are discussed below under "Risk Factors."
An "emerging country issuer" is a company that, in the opinion of Fund
Management, has one or more of the following characteristics: (i) its principal
securities trading market is in an emerging country; (ii) the company derives
50% or more of its annual revenue from either goods produced, sales made or
services performed in emerging countries; or (iii) the company is organized
under the laws of, or has its principal office in, an emerging country. Fund
Management will base its determination of whether a company is an emerging
country issuer on publicly available information or inquiries made to the
company.
Under normal conditions, the Fund will invest primarily in equity
securities (common stocks and, to a lesser degree, depository receipts, shares
of unaffiliated investment companies, preferred stocks and securities
convertible into common stocks, such as rights, warrants and convertible debt
securities) that are discussed more fully under "Risk Factors" and in the
Statement of Additional Information. In selecting the equity securities in which
the Fund invests, Fund Management attempts to identify companies that have
demonstrated or, in Fund Management's opinion, are likely to demonstrate in the
future, strong earnings growth that reflects the underlying economic activity
within the emerging country or countries in which they operate. Equity
securities may be issued by either established, well-capitalized companies or
newly-formed, small-cap companies, and may trade on regional or national stock
exchanges or in the over-the-counter market. The Fund's
<PAGE>
investments in small capitalization stocks may include companies that have
limited operating histories, product lines, and financial and managerial
resources. These companies may be subject to intense competition from larger
companies, and their stock may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market
movements than the stocks of larger, more established companies. Due to these
and other factors, small-cap companies may suffer significant losses as well as
realize substantial growth.
The balance of the Fund's assets may be invested in debt securities
denominated in the currency of an emerging country, or issued or guaranteed by
an emerging country issuer or the government of an emerging country, as well as
equity or debt securities of U.S. and other developed country issuers. Equity
securities of developed country issuers may be issued by either established,
well-capitalized companies or newly-formed, small-cap companies, and may trade
on regional or national stock exchanges or in the over-the-counter market. Debt
securities must meet the quality standards described below. In addition, the
Fund may hold certain cash and cash equivalent securities as cash reserves
("cash securities").
As discussed above, consistent with its investment objective, the Fund may
invest in debt securities, including corporate bonds, commercial paper,
securities issued by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities, or
foreign governments and, to a lesser extent, municipal bonds, asset-backed
securities and zero coupon bonds. The Fund may invest in debt securities that
are rated below BBB by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("Standard & Poor's"),
Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or equivalent ratings of
other ratings services or, if unrated, that are judged by Fund Management to be
equivalent in quality to debt securities having such ratings (commonly referred
to as "junk bonds"), provided that the Fund's investments in junk bonds are less
than 35% of its total assets at the time of purchase. The Fund expects that most
foreign debt securities in which it invests will not be rated by U.S. rating
services, as discussed more fully below. In no event will the Fund ever invest
in a debt security rated below CCC by Standard & Poor's, Caa by Moody's or
equivalent ratings of other ratings services or, if unrated, is judged by Fund
Management to be equivalent in quality to debt securities having such ratings.
The risks of investing in lower rated debt securities are discussed below under
"Risk Factors."
The amounts invested in equity, debt and cash securities may be varied
from time to time, depending upon Fund Management's assessment of business,
economic and market conditions. In periods of adverse economic and market
conditions, as determined by Fund Management, the Fund may depart from its basic
investment objective and assume a temporary defensive position, with up to 100%
of its assets invested in U.S. government and agency securities, investment
grade corporate bonds, or cash securities such as domestic certificates of
deposit and bankers' acceptances, repurchase agreements and commercial paper.
The Fund reserves the right to hold equity, debt and cash securities in whatever
proportion is deemed desirable at any time for temporary defensive purposes.
While the Fund is in a temporary defensive position, the opportunity to achieve
capital appreciation will be limited; however, the ability to maintain a
temporary defensive position enables the Fund to seek to avoid capital losses
during market downturns. Under normal market conditions, the Fund does not
expect to have a substantial portion of its assets invested in cash securities.
In order to hedge its portfolio, the Fund may purchase and write options
on securities (including index options and options on securities), and may
invest in futures contracts for the purchase or sale of foreign currencies, debt
securities and instruments based on financial indices (collectively, "futures
contracts"), options on futures contracts, forward contracts and
<PAGE>
interest rate swaps and swap-related products. Interest rate swaps involve the
exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay
or receive interest, e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate
payments. These practices, some of which may involve instruments known as
derivatives, and their risks are discussed below under "Risk Factors" and in the
Statement of Additional Information.
Additional information on certain types of securities in which the Fund
may invest is set forth below:
When-Issued Securities
The Fund may make commitments in an amount of up to 10% of the value of
its total assets at the time any commitment is made to purchase or sell equity
or debt securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis (i.e., securities
may be purchased or sold by the Fund with settlement taking place in the future,
often a month or more later). The payment obligation and, in the case of debt
securities, the interest rate that will be received on the securities are
generally fixed at the time the Fund enters into the commitment. During the
period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund and no
interest accrues to the Fund. At the time of settlement, the market value of the
security may be more or less than the purchase price, and the Fund bears the
risk of such market value fluctuations. The Fund maintains cash, U.S. government
securities, or other high-grade debt obligations readily convertible into cash
having an aggregate value equal to the amount of such purchase commitments in a
segregated account until payment is made.
Illiquid and Rule 144A Securities
The Fund is authorized to invest in securities that are illiquid because
they are subject to restrictions on their resale ("restricted securities") or
because, based upon their nature or the market for such securities, they are not
readily marketable. However, the Fund will not purchase any such security if the
purchase would cause the Fund to invest more than 15% of its net assets,
measured at the time of purchase, in illiquid securities. Securities the
proceeds of which are subject to limitations on repatriation of principal or
profits for more than seven days, and those for which there ceases to be a ready
market, will be deemed illiquid for this purpose. In addition, repurchase
agreements maturing in more than seven days will be considered as illiquid for
purposes of this restriction. Investments in illiquid securities involve certain
risks to the extent that the Fund may be unable to dispose of such a security at
the time desired or at a reasonable price. In addition, in order to resell a
restricted security, the Fund might have to bear the expense and incur the
delays associated with effecting registration.
Certain restricted securities that are not registered for sale to the
general public, but that can be resold to institutional investors ("Rule 144A
Securities"), may be purchased without regard to the foregoing 15% limitation if
a liquid institutional trading market exists. The liquidity of the Fund's
investments in Rule 144A Securities could be impaired if dealers or
institutional investors become uninterested in purchasing these securities. The
Company's board of directors has delegated to Fund Management the authority to
determine the liquidity of Rule 144A Securities pursuant to guidelines approved
by the board. For more information concerning Rule 144A Securities, see the
Statement of Additional Information.
Repurchase Agreements
<PAGE>
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with respect to debt
instruments eligible for investment by the Fund. These agreements are entered
into with member banks of the Federal Reserve System, registered broker-dealers,
and registered government securities dealers, which are deemed creditworthy. A
repurchase agreement, which may be considered a "loan" under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, is a means of investing monies for a short period. In a
repurchase agreement, the Fund acquires a debt instrument (generally a security
issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker's acceptance, or a
certificate of deposit) subject to resale to the seller at an agreed upon price
and date (normally, the next business day). In the event that the original
seller defaults on its obligation to repurchase the security, the Fund could
incur costs or delays in seeking to sell such security. To minimize risk, the
securities underlying each repurchase agreement will be maintained with the
Fund's custodian in an amount at least equal to the repurchase price under the
agreement (including accrued interest), and such agreements will be effected
only with parties that meet certain creditworthiness standards established by
the Company's board of directors. The Fund will not enter into a repurchase
agreement maturing in more than seven days if as a result more than 15% of its
net assets would be invested in such repurchase agreements and other illiquid
securities. The Fund has not adopted any limit on the amount of its net assets
that may be invested in repurchase agreements maturing in seven days or less.
<PAGE>
Portfolio Turnover
There are no fixed limitations regarding portfolio turnover for the Fund's
portfolio. Although the Fund does not trade for short-term profits, securities
may be sold without regard to the time they have been held in the Fund when, in
the opinion of Fund Management, investment considerations warrant such action.
In addition, portfolio turnover rates may increase as a result of large amounts
of purchases or redemptions of Fund shares due to economic, market or other
factors that are not within the control of Fund Management. As a result, while
it is anticipated that the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund's portfolio
generally will not exceed 200%, under certain market conditions the portfolio
turnover rate may exceed 200%. Increased portfolio turnover would cause the Fund
to incur greater brokerage costs than would otherwise be the case, and may
result in the acceleration of capital gains that are taxable when distributed to
shareholders. The Fund's portfolio turnover rate, along with the Fund's
brokerage allocation policies, are discussed further in the Statement of
Additional Information.
Investment Restrictions
The Fund is subject to a variety of restrictions regarding its investments
that are set forth in this Prospectus and in the Statement of Additional
Information. Certain of the Fund's investment restrictions are fundamental, and
may not be altered without the approval of the Fund's shareholders. Such
fundamental investment restrictions include the restrictions which prohibit the
Fund from: lending more than 33-1/3% of its total assets to other parties
(excluding purchases of commercial paper, debt securities and repurchase
agreements); investing more than 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets in
any one industry (other than government securities); with respect to 75% of its
total assets, purchasing the securities of any one issuer (other than cash items
and government securities) if the purchase would cause the Fund to have more
than 5% of its total assets invested in the issuer or to own more than 10% of
the outstanding voting securities of the issuer; and borrowing money or issuing
senior securities except that the Fund may borrow money for temporary or
emergency purposes (not for leveraging or investment) and may enter into reverse
repurchase agreements in an aggregate amount not exceeding 33-1/3% of its total
assets. However, unless otherwise noted, the Fund's investment restrictions and
its investment policies are not fundamental and may be changed by action of the
Company's board of directors. Unless otherwise noted, all percentage limitations
contained in the Fund's investment policies and restrictions apply at the time
an investment is made. Thus, subsequent changes in the value of an investment
after purchase or in the value of the Fund's total assets will not cause any
such limitation to have been violated or to require the disposition of any
investment, except as otherwise required by law. If the credit ratings of an
issuer are lowered below those specified for investment by the Fund, the Fund is
not required to dispose of the obligations of that issuer. The determination of
whether to sell such an obligation will be made by Fund Management based upon an
assessment of credit risk and the prevailing market price of the investment. If
the Fund borrows money, its share price may be subject to greater fluctuation
until the borrowing is repaid. The Fund attempts to minimize such fluctuations
by not purchasing additional securities when borrowings, including reverse
repurchase agreements, are greater than 5% of the value of the Fund's total
assets. As a fundamental policy in addition to the above, the Fund may,
notwithstanding any other investment policy or limitation (whether or not
fundamental), invest all of its assets in the securities of a single open-end
management investment company with substantially the same fundamental investment
objectives, policies and limitations as the Fund. See "Additional
Information-Master/Feeder Option."
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment
objective. The Fund's investments in common stocks and other equity securities
may, of course, decline in value. The Fund's assets will be invested primarily
in emerging country issuers. Investors should recognize that investing in
securities of emerging country issuers involves certain risks and special
considerations, including those set forth below, which are not typically
associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Further, certain
investments that the Fund may purchase, and investment techniques that the Fund
may use, involve risks, including those set forth below.
Investment in the Fund involves above-average investment risk. It is
designed as a long-term investment and not for short-term trading purposes and
should not be considered a complete investment program. A 2% fee is payable to
the Fund by redeeming or exchanging shareholders for the benefit of remaining
shareholders on the redemption or exchange of shares held less than one year.
This fee is described more fully under "Services Provided by the Fund - Exchange
Privilege" and "How to Redeem Shares."
Social, Political and Economic Risks
The emerging countries in which the Fund invests may be subject to a
substantially greater degree of social, political and economic instability than
is the case in the United States and other developed countries. Such instability
may result from, among other things, the following: (i) authoritarian
governments or military involvement in political and economic decision-making,
and changes in government through extra-constitutional means; (ii) popular
unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic and social
conditions; (iii) internal insurgencies and terrorist activities; (iv) hostile
relations with neighboring countries; and (v) drug trafficking. Social,
political and economic instability could significantly disrupt the principal
financial markets in which the Fund invests and adversely affect the value of
the Fund's assets.
The economies of individual emerging countries may differ favorably or
unfavorably and significantly from the U.S. economy in such respects as the rate
of growth of gross domestic product or gross national product, rate of
inflation, currency depreciation, capital reinvestment, resource
self-sufficiency, structural unemployment and balance of payments position.
Governments of many emerging countries have exercised and continue to exercise
substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector. In some cases,
the government owns or controls many companies, including some of the largest in
the country. Accordingly, government actions in the future could have a
significant effect on economic conditions in an emerging country, which could
affect private sector companies and the Fund, and on market conditions, prices
and yields of securities in the Fund's portfolio. There may be the possibility
of nationalization, asset expropriation or future confiscatory levels of
taxation affecting the Fund. In the event of nationalization, expropriation or
other confiscation, the Fund may not be fairly compensated for its loss and
could lose its entire investment in the country involved. The economies of most
emerging countries are heavily dependent upon international trade and
accordingly are affected by protective trade barriers and the economic
conditions of their trading partners. The enactment by the United States or
other principal trading partners of protectionist trade legislation, reduction
of foreign investment in the local economies and general declines in the
international securities markets could have a significant adverse effect upon
the securities markets of these countries. The economies of emerging countries
generally are less diverse
<PAGE>
and mature than the economies of the United States and other developed
countries, and are vulnerable to weaknesses in world prices for the emerging
countries' commodity exports and natural resources.
Securities Markets
Securities exchanges and broker-dealers in most emerging countries are
subject to less regulatory scrutiny than in the United States, as are emerging
country issuers. The limited size of the markets for securities may enable
adverse publicity, investors' perceptions or traders' positions or strategies to
affect prices unduly, at times decreasing not only the value but also the
liquidity of the Fund's investments.
The market capitalizations of listed equity securities on exchanges in
emerging countries are significantly smaller than those of the United States and
other major economies. Only a few issuers may constitute a major portion of the
market capitalization and trading equity. A large segment of the ownership of
many emerging country issuers may be held by a limited number of persons and
families, which may limit the number of shares available for investment by the
Fund. As a consequence, individual emerging country securities markets are
vulnerable to the effect of large investors' trading significant blocks of
securities or by large dispositions of securities, e.g., as a result of margin
calls. The resulting limitations on the liquidity of emerging country securities
will influence the Fund's capability for acquiring and disposing of such
securities at the price and time it desires to do so.
Other risks and considerations of investing in emerging country securities
markets include the following: generally higher commission rates on portfolio
transactions and longer settlement periods; the smaller trading volumes and
generally lower liquidity of emerging country stock markets, which may result in
greater price volatility; differences in accounting, auditing and financial
reporting standards which may result in less publicly available information than
is generally available with respect to U.S. issuers; foreign withholding taxes
payable on income and/or gain from the Fund's foreign securities, which may
reduce dividend income or capital gains available for distribution to
shareholders; and the possibility of the Fund experiencing difficulties in
pursuing legal remedies and collecting judgments.
In addition, in certain emerging countries there may be limitations on
investment by foreigners in the securities of companies located in those
countries, and restrictions on foreign currency transactions or repatriation of
capital. The Fund's ability to invest may be restricted to the use of investment
vehicles authorized by the local government, investment in shares of other
investment companies, or investments in American Depository Receipts or American
Depository Shares (collectively, "ADRs"), Global Depository Shares, or other
similar depository securities.
ADRs are instruments, usually issued by a U.S. bank or trust company,
evidencing ownership of securities of a foreign issuer into which the ADRs
may be convertible. ADRs are designed for use in U.S. markets and may be
traded on U.S. securities exchanges or over-the-counter markets. They are
denominated in dollars rather than the currency of the country in which the
underlying securities are issued.
ADRs may be issued in sponsored or unsponsored programs. In sponsored
programs, the issuer makes arrangements to have its securities traded in the
form of ADRs; in unsponsored programs, the issuer may not be directly involved
in the creation of the program. Although the regulatory
<PAGE>
requirements with respect to sponsored and unsponsored programs are generally
similar, the issuers of unsponsored ADRs are not obligated to disclose material
information in the United States and, therefore, such information may not be
reflected in the market value of the ADRs. ADRs are subject to certain of the
same risks as direct investments in foreign securities, including the risk that
changes in the value of the currency in which the security underlying an ADR is
denominated relative to the U.S. dollar may adversely affect the value of the
ADR.
As indicated above, the Fund may deem it most practical to invest in
certain emerging countries through other investment companies or similar
vehicles, although there can be no assurance that any such vehicles will be
available or will themselves have invested in the securities found most
desirable by the Fund. The Fund will not invest through other entities unless,
in the opinion of Fund Management, the potential advantages of such investment
justify the Fund's bearing its ratable share of the expenses of such entity
(constituting duplicate levels of advisory fees to be borne by the Fund and its
shareholders) and its share of any premium encompassed in the market value of
such entity at the time of the Fund's investment over the market value of the
entity's underlying holdings. In addition, there may be tax ramifications
relating to investment in such entities. Investments by the Fund in other
investment companies are subject to the following limits imposed by the
Investment Company Act of 1940: no more than 5% of the Fund's total assets may
be invested in any one investment company (but no more than 3% of the voting
stock of the underlying investment company) and no more than 10% of the Fund's
total assets may be invested in other investment companies in the aggregate.
Currency Risks
For U.S. investors, the returns on foreign securities are influenced not
only by the returns on the foreign investments themselves, but also by currency
fluctuations (i.e., changes in the value of the currencies in which the
securities are denominated relative to the U.S. dollar). In a period when the
U.S. dollar generally rises against foreign currencies, the returns on foreign
securities for a U.S. investor are diminished. By contrast, in a period when the
U.S. dollar generally declines, the returns on foreign securities generally are
enhanced. Currencies of certain emerging countries have undergone sudden
devaluations relative to the U.S. dollar as a result of corresponding
inflationary trends or other reasons. Any such devaluation may have a
deleterious effect on the Fund's investments. Inflation may have strong negative
consequences for the economy and political stability of a country that
experiences it, and may seriously affect its securities markets.
The currencies of certain emerging countries are not commonly traded in
foreign exchange markets. Certain emerging countries have managed currencies
that, for foreign exchange purposes, do not float freely against the U.S.
dollar. Other governmental restrictions on the convertibility of their currency
may be imposed.
Debt Securities
The Fund's investments in debt securities generally are subject to both
credit risk and market risk. Credit risk relates to the ability of the issuer to
meet interest or principal payments, or both, as they come due. The ratings
given a security by Moody's, Standard & Poor's and other ratings services
provide a generally useful guide as to such credit risk. The lower the rating
given a security by such rating service, the greater the credit risk such rating
service perceives to exist with respect to such security. Increasing the amount
of Fund assets invested in unrated or lower grade
<PAGE>
securities, while intended to increase the yield produced by those assets, also
will increase the credit risk to which those assets are subject.
Market risk relates to the fact that the market values of the debt
securities in which the Fund invests generally will be affected by changes in
the level of interest rates. An increase in interest rates will tend to reduce
the market values of debt securities, whereas a decline in interest rates will
tend to increase their values. Medium and lower rated securities (Baa, BBB or
the equivalent and lower) and non-rated securities of comparable quality tend to
be subject to wider fluctuations in yields and market values than higher rated
securities and may have speculative characteristics. Although Fund Management
limits the Fund's investments in debt securities to securities it believes are
not highly speculative, both kinds of risk are increased by investing in debt
securities rated below the top three grades by Standard & Poor's or Moody's or
equivalent ratings of other ratings services or, if unrated, securities
determined by Fund Management to be of equivalent quality. Of course, relying in
part on ratings assigned by credit agencies in making investments will not
protect the Fund from the risk that the securities in which it invests will
decline in value, since credit ratings represent evaluations of the safety of
principal, dividend and interest payments on preferred stocks and debt
securities, not the market value of such securities, and such ratings may not be
changed on a timely basis to reflect subsequent events. The Fund is not required
to sell immediately debt securities that go into default, but may continue to
hold such securities until such time as Fund Management determines it is in the
best interests of the Fund to sell such securities. Because investment in medium
and lower rated securities involves both greater credit risk and market risk,
achievement of the Fund's investment objectives may be more dependent on Fund
Management's own credit analysis than is the case for funds investing in higher
quality securities. In addition, the share price and yield of the Fund may be
expected to fluctuate more than in the case of funds investing in higher
quality, shorter term securities. Moreover, a significant economic downturn or
major increase in interest rates may result in issuers of lower rated securities
experiencing increased financial stress, which would adversely affect their
ability to service their principal, dividend and interest obligations, meet
projected business goals, and obtain additional financing. Expenses incurred to
recover an investment in a defaulted security may adversely affect the Fund's
net asset value. Finally, while Fund Management attempts to limit purchases of
medium and lower rated securities to securities having a secondary market, the
secondary market for such securities may be less liquid than the market for
higher quality securities. The reduced liquidity of the secondary market for
such securities may adversely affect the market price of, and ability of the
Fund to value, particular securities at certain times, thereby making it
difficult to make specific valuation determinations.
The Fund expects that most emerging country debt securities in which it
invests will not be rated by U.S. rating services. Although bonds in the lowest
investment grade debt category (those rated BBB by Standard & Poor's, Baa by
Moody's or the equivalent) are regarded as having adequate capability to pay
principal and interest, they have speculative characteristics. Adverse economic
conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened
capacity to make principal and interest payments than is the case for higher
rated bonds. Lower rated bonds by Moody's (categories Ba, B, Caa) are of poorer
quality and also have speculative characteristics. Bonds rated Caa may be in
default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or
interest. Lower rated bonds by Standard & Poor's (categories BB, B, CCC) include
those that are regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect
to the issuer's capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with
their terms; BB indicates the
<PAGE>
lowest degree of speculation and CCC a high degree of speculation. While such
bonds likely will have some quality and protective characteristics, these are
outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
Bonds having equivalent ratings from other ratings services will have
characteristics similar to those of the corresponding Standard & Poor's and
Moody's ratings. For a specific description of Standard & Poor's and Moody's
corporate bond rating category, please refer to Appendix B to the Statement of
Additional Information.
In certain emerging countries, the central government and its agencies are
the largest debtors to local and foreign banks and others. Sovereign debt
involves the risk that the government, as a result of political considerations
or cash flow difficulties, may fail to make scheduled payments of interest or
principal and may require holders to participate in rescheduling of payments or
even to make additional loans. If an emerging country government defaults on its
sovereign debt, there is likely to be no legal proceeding under which the debt
may be ordered repaid, in whole or in part. The ability or willingness of a
foreign sovereign debtor to make payments of principal and interest in a timely
manner may be influenced by, among other factors, its cash flow, the magnitude
of its foreign reserves, the availability of foreign exchange on the payment
date, the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the debtor's then
current relationship with the International Monetary Fund and its then current
political constraints. Some of the emerging countries issuing such instruments
have experienced high rates of inflation in recent years and have extensive
internal debt. Among other effects, high inflation and internal debt service
requirements may adversely affect the cost and availability of future domestic
sovereign borrowing to finance governmental programs, and may have other adverse
social, political and economic consequences, including effects on the
willingness of such countries to service their sovereign debt. An emerging
country government's willingness and ability to make timely payments on its
sovereign debt also are likely to be heavily affected by the country's balance
of trade and its access to trade and other international credits. If a country's
exports are concentrated in a few commodities, such country would be more
significantly exposed to a decline in the international prices of one of more of
such commodities. A rise in protectionism on the part of its trading partners,
or unwillingness by such partners to make payment for goods in hard currency,
could also adversely affect the country's ability to export its products and
repay its debts. Sovereign debtors may also be dependent on expected receipts
from such agencies and others abroad to reduce principal and interest arrearages
on their debt. However, failure by the sovereign debtor or other entity to
implement economic reforms negotiated with multilateral agencies or others, to
achieve specified levels of economic performance, or to make other debt payments
when due, may cause third parties to terminate their commitments to provide
funds to the sovereign debtor, which may further impair such debtor's
willingness or ability to service its debts.
The Fund may invest in debt securities issued under the "Brady Plan" in
connection with restructurings in emerging country debt markets or earlier
loans. These securities, often referred to as "Brady Bonds," are, in some cases,
denominated in U.S. dollars and collateralized as to principal by U.S. Treasury
zero coupon bonds having the same maturity. At least one year's interest
payments, on a rolling basis, are collateralized by cash or other investments.
Brady Bonds are actively traded on an over-the-counter basis in the secondary
market for emerging country debt securities. "Brady Bonds" are lower rated bonds
and highly volatile.
<PAGE>
Futures, Options and Other Derivative Instruments
The use of futures, options, forward contracts and swaps exposes the Fund
to additional investment risks and transaction costs. If Fund Management seeks
to protect the Fund against potential adverse movements in the securities,
foreign currency or interest rate markets using these instruments, and such
markets do not move in a direction adverse to the Fund, the Fund could be left
in a less favorable position than if such strategies had not been used. Risks
inherent in the use of futures, options, forward contracts and swaps include (1)
the risk that interest rates, securities prices and currency markets will not
move in the directions anticipated; (2) imperfect correlation between the price
of futures, options and forward contracts and movements in the prices of the
securities or currencies being hedged; (3) the fact that skills needed to use
these strategies are different from those needed to select portfolio securities;
(4) the possible absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular
instrument at any time; and (5) the possible need to defer closing out certain
hedged positions to avoid adverse tax consequences. Further information on the
use of futures, options, forward foreign currency contracts and swaps and
swap-related products, and the associated risks, is contained in the Statement
of Additional Information.
THE FUND AND ITS MANAGEMENT
The Company is a no-load mutual fund, registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an open-end, diversified, management investment company.
It was incorporated on December 6, 1990, under the laws of Maryland. The overall
supervision of the Fund is the responsibility of the Company's board of
directors.
Pursuant to an agreement with the Company, INVESCO Funds Group, Inc.
("INVESCO"), 7800 E. Union Avenue, Denver, Colorado, serves as the Fund's
investment adviser. INVESCO is primarily responsible for providing the Fund with
various administrative services and supervising the Fund's daily business
affairs. These services are subject to review by the Company's board of
directors.
INVESCO is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of INVESCO PLC. INVESCO PLC
is a financial holding company that, through its subsidiaries, engages in the
business of investment management on an international basis. INVESCO was
established in 1932 and, as of May 31, 1995, managed 14 mutual funds, consisting
of 38 separate portfolios, with combined assets of approximately $9.9 billion on
behalf of approximately 797,000 shareholders.
Pursuant to an agreement with INVESCO, MIM International Limited ("MIL")
serves as the sub-adviser to the Fund. In that capacity, MIL has the primary
responsibility, under the supervision of INVESCO, for providing portfolio
management services to the Fund. MIL also is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary
of INVESCO PLC. MIL also acts as sub-adviser to the INVESCO European Fund, the
INVESCO Pacific Basin Fund, the INVESCO European Small Company Fund and the
INVESCO Latin American Growth Fund. MIL, subject to the supervision of INVESCO,
is primarily responsible for selecting and managing the Fund's investments.
Although the Company is not a party to the sub- advisory agreement, the
agreement has been approved by INVESCO as the then sole shareholder of the
Company.
The following individual serves as lead portfolio manager for the Fund and
is primarily responsible for determining, in accordance with senior investment
policy group, the country-by-country allocation of the portfolio's assets,
overall stock selection methodology and the ongoing implementation and risk
control policies applicable to the portfolio:
<PAGE>
Philip Ehrmann Lead portfolio manager of the Fund since 1995
(inception); portfolio manager for MIL since 1994;
Investment Director of INVESCO Asset Management
Ltd. since 1989 specializing in international
equities; formerly, Assistant Investment Director
of INVESCO Asset Management Ltd. (1986 to 1989);
began investment career in 1981; Honors Degree in
Economics from the London School of Economics.
Mr. Ehrmann heads a team of individual country specialists who are
responsible for managing security selection for their assigned country's share
of the allocation within the parameters established by the investment policy
group of MIL.
Fund Management permits investment and other personnel to purchase and
sell securities for their own accounts, subject to compliance policies governing
personal investing. These policies require investment and other personnel to
conduct their personal investment activities in a manner that Fund Management
believes is not detrimental to the Fund or Fund Management's other advisory
clients. See the Statement of Additional Information for more detailed
information.
The Fund pays INVESCO a monthly advisory fee which is based upon a
percentage of the average net assets of the Fund, determined daily. The maximum
advisory fee is computed at the annual rate of 0.75% on the first $500 million
of the Fund's average net assets, 0.65% on the next $500 million of the Fund's
average net assets and 0.55% on the Fund's average net assets over $1 billion.
The management fee of 0.75% is higher than that charged by most other mutual
funds, but is typical of the management fees charged by funds similar to the
Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund.
Out of its advisory fee which it receives from the Fund, INVESCO pays MIL,
as sub-adviser to the Fund, a monthly fee, which is computed at the annual rate
of 0.375% on the first $500 million of the Fund's average net assets, 0.325% on
the next $500 million of the Fund's average net assets and 0.275% on the Fund's
average net assets in excess of $1 billion. No fee is paid by the Fund to MIL.
The Company also has entered into an Administrative Services Agreement
(the "Administrative Agreement") with INVESCO. Pursuant to the Administrative
Agreement, INVESCO performs certain administrative, recordkeeping and internal
sub-accounting services, including without limitation, maintaining general
ledger and capital stock accounts, preparing a daily trial balance, calculating
net asset value daily, providing selected general ledger reports and providing
sub-accounting and recordkeeping services for Fund shareholder accounts
maintained by certain retirement and employee benefit plans for the benefit of
participants in such plans. For such services, the Fund pays INVESCO a fee
consisting of a base fee of $10,000 per year, plus an additional incremental fee
computed at the annual rate of 0.015% per year of the average net assets of the
Fund. INVESCO also is paid a fee by the Fund for providing transfer agent
services. See "Additional Information."
The Fund's expenses, which are accrued daily, are generally deducted from
the Fund's total income before dividends are paid. These expenses include the
fees of the investment adviser, distribution fees, legal, transfer agent,
custodian and auditor's fees, commissions, taxes, compensation of independent
directors, insurance premiums, printing, and other expenses relating to the
Fund's operations which are not expressly assumed by INVESCO under its
agreements with the Company. If necessary,
<PAGE>
certain expenses for the Fund will be absorbed by INVESCO voluntarily for at
least the first fiscal year of the Fund's operations in order to ensure that the
Fund's total expenses do not exceed 2.00%.
Fund Management places orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio
securities with brokers and dealers based upon Fund Management's evaluation of
their financial responsibility coupled with their ability to effect transactions
at the best available prices. As discussed under "How Shares Can Be Purchased -
Distribution Expenses," the Company may market shares of the Fund through
intermediary brokers or dealers that have entered into Dealer Agreements with
INVESCO, as the Company's Distributor. The Fund may place orders for portfolio
transactions with qualified broker/dealers that recommend the Fund, or sell
shares of the Fund to clients, or act as agent in the purchase of Fund shares
for clients, if Fund Management believes that the quality of the execution of
the transaction and level of commission are comparable to those available from
other qualified brokerage firms.
HOW SHARES CAN BE PURCHASED
Shares of the Fund are sold on a continuous basis by INVESCO, as the
Fund's Distributor, at the net asset value per share next calculated after
receipt of a purchase order in good form. No sales charge is imposed upon the
sale of shares of the Fund. To purchase shares of the Fund, send a check made
payable to INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., together with a completed application
form, to:
<PAGE>
INVESCO Funds Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 173706
Denver, Colorado 80217-3706
Purchase orders must specify the Fund in which the investment is to be
made.
The minimum initial purchase must be at least $1,000, with subsequent
investments of not less than $50, except that: (1) those shareholders
establishing an EasiVest or direct payroll purchase account, as described below
in the Prospectus section entitled "Services Provided by the Fund," may open an
account without making any initial investment if they agree to make regular,
minimum purchases of at least $50; (2) Fund management may permit a lesser
amount to be invested in the Fund under a federal income tax-deferred retirement
plan (other than an Individual Retirement Account ("IRA")), or under a group
investment plan qualifying as a sophisticated investor; (3) those shareholders
investing in an IRA, or through omnibus accounts where individual shareholder
recordkeeping and sub-accounting are not required, may make initial minimum
purchases of $250; and (4) Fund Management reserves the right to reduce or waive
the minimum purchase requirements in its sole discretion where it determines
such action is in the best interests of the Fund.
The purchase of Fund shares can be expedited by placing bank wire,
overnight courier or telephone orders. Overnight courier orders must meet the
above minimum requirements. In no case can a bank wire order or telephone order
be in an amount less than $1,000. For further information, the purchaser may
call the Fund's office by using the telephone number on the cover of this
Prospectus. Orders sent by overnight courier, including Express Mail, should be
sent to the street address, not Post Office Box, of INVESCO Funds Group, Inc.,
at 7800 E. Union Avenue, Suite 800, Denver, CO 80237.
Orders to purchase Fund shares can be placed by telephone. Shares of the
Fund will be issued at the net asset value next determined after receipt of
telephone instructions. Generally, payments for telephone orders must be
received by the Fund within three business days or the transaction may be
cancelled. In the event of such cancellation, the purchaser will be held
responsible for any loss resulting from a decline in the value of the shares. In
order to avoid such losses, purchasers should send payments for telephone
purchases by overnight courier or bank wire. INVESCO has agreed to indemnify the
Fund for any losses resulting from the cancellation of telephone purchases.
If your check does not clear, or if a telephone purchase must be cancelled
due to nonpayment, you will be responsible for any related loss the Fund or
INVESCO incurs. If you are already a shareholder in the INVESCO funds, the Fund
has the option to redeem shares from any identically registered account in the
Fund or any other INVESCO fund as reimbursement for any loss incurred. You also
may be prohibited or restricted from making future purchases in any of the
INVESCO funds.
Persons who invest in the Fund through a securities broker may be charged
a commission or transaction fee for the handling of the transaction if the
broker so elects. Any investor may deal directly with the Fund in any
transaction. In that event, there is no such charge.
The Fund reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject any order for
purchase of its shares (including purchases by exchange) when, in the judgment
of management, such rejection is in the best interest of the Fund.
<PAGE>
Net asset value per share is computed once each day that the New York
Stock Exchange is open, as of the close of regular trading on that Exchange
(usually 4:00 p.m., New York time) and also may be computed on other days under
certain circumstances. Net asset value per share for the Fund is calculated by
dividing the market value of the Fund's securities plus the value of its other
assets (including dividends and interest accrued but not collected), less all
liabilities (including accrued expenses), by the number of outstanding shares of
that Fund. If market quotations are not readily available, a security or other
asset will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the board of
directors. Debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less at the
time of purchase will be valued at amortized cost, absent unusual circumstances,
so long as the Company's board of directors believes that such value represents
fair value.
Distribution Expenses. The Fund is authorized under a Plan and Agreement
of Distribution pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940
(the "Plan") to use its assets to finance certain activities relating to the
distribution of its shares to investors. Under the Plan, monthly payments may be
made by the Fund to INVESCO to reimburse it for particular expenditures incurred
by INVESCO during the rolling 12-month period in which that month falls in
connection with the distribution of the Fund's shares to investors. These
expenditures may include the payment of compensation (including incentive
compensation and/or continuing compensation based on the amount of customer
assets maintained in the Fund) to securities dealers and other financial
institutions and organizations to obtain various distribution-related and/or
administrative services for the Fund. Such services may include, among other
things, processing new shareholder account applications, preparing and
transmitting to the Fund's Transfer Agent computer processable tapes of all
transactions by customers, and serving as the primary source of information to
customers in answering questions concerning the Fund and their transactions with
the Fund.
In addition, other reimbursable expenditures include those incurred for
advertising, the preparation and distribution of sales literature, the cost of
printing and distributing prospectuses to prospective investors, and such other
services and promotional activities for the Fund as may from time to time be
agreed upon by the Company and its board of directors, including public
relations efforts and marketing programs to communicate with investors and
prospective investors.
Under the Plan, the Company's reimbursement to INVESCO on behalf of the
Fund is limited to an amount computed at an annual rate of 0.25 of 1% of the
Fund's average net assets during the month. INVESCO is not entitled to
reimbursement for overhead expenses under the Plan, but may be reimbursed for
all or a portion of the compensation paid for salaries and other employee
benefits for the personnel of INVESCO whose primary responsibilities involve
marketing shares of the INVESCO funds, including the Fund. Payment amounts by
the Fund under the Plan, for any month, may only be made to reimburse or pay
expenditures incurred during the rolling 12-month period in which that month
falls; therefore, any reimbursable expenses incurred by INVESCO in excess of the
limitation described above are not reimbursable and will be borne by INVESCO. In
addition, INVESCO may from time to time make additional payments from its
revenues to securities dealers and other financial institutions that provide
distribution-related and/or administrative services for the Fund. No further
payments will be made by the Fund under the Plan in the event of its
termination. Also, any payments made by the Fund may not be used to finance the
distribution of shares of any other fund of the Company or other mutual fund
advised by INVESCO. Payments made by the Fund under the Plan for compensation of
marketing personnel, as noted above, are based on an allocation formula designed
to ensure that all such payments are appropriate.
<PAGE>
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE FUND
Shareholder Accounts. INVESCO maintains a share account that reflects the
current holdings of each shareholder. Share certificates will be issued only
upon specific request. Since certificates must be carefully safeguarded, and
must be surrendered in order to exchange or redeem Fund shares, most
shareholders do not request share certificates in order to facilitate such
transactions. Each shareholder is sent a detailed confirmation of each
transaction in shares of the Fund. Shareholders whose only transactions are
through the EasiVest, direct payroll purchase, automatic monthly exchange or
periodic withdrawal programs, or are reinvestments of dividends or capital gains
in the same or another fund, will receive confirmations of those transactions on
their quarterly statements. These programs are discussed below. For information
regarding a shareholder's account and transactions, the shareholder may call the
Fund's office by using the telephone number on the cover of this Prospectus.
Reinvestment of Distributions. Dividends and other distributions are
automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund at the net asset value
per share in effect on the ex-dividend date. A shareholder may, however, elect
to reinvest dividends and other distributions in certain of the other no-load
mutual funds advised and distributed by INVESCO, or to receive payment of all
dividends and other distributions in excess of $10.00 by check by giving written
notice to INVESCO at least two weeks prior to the record date on which the
change is to take effect. Further information concerning these options can be
obtained by contacting INVESCO.
Periodic Withdrawal Plan. A Periodic Withdrawal Plan is available to
shareholders who own or purchase shares of any mutual funds advised by INVESCO
having a total value of $10,000 or more; provided, however, that at the time the
Plan is established, the shareholder owns shares having a value of at least
$5,000 in the fund from which the withdrawals will be made. Under the Periodic
Withdrawal Plan, INVESCO, as agent, will make specified monthly or quarterly
payments of any amount selected (minimum payment of $100) to the party
designated by the shareholder. Notice of all changes concerning the Periodic
Withdrawal Plan must be received by INVESCO at least two weeks prior to the next
scheduled check. Further information regarding the Periodic Withdrawal Plan and
its requirements and tax consequences can be obtained by contacting INVESCO.
Exchange Privilege. Shares of the Fund may be exchanged for shares of the
other fund of the Company, as well as for shares of any of the following other
no-load mutual funds, which are also advised and distributed by INVESCO, on the
basis of their respective net asset values at the time of the exchange: INVESCO
Diversified Funds, Inc., INVESCO Dynamics Fund, Inc., INVESCO Growth Fund, Inc.,
INVESCO Income Funds, Inc., INVESCO Industrial Income Fund, Inc., INVESCO
International Funds, Inc., INVESCO Money Market Funds, Inc., INVESCO Multiple
Asset Funds, Inc., INVESCO Specialty Funds, Inc., INVESCO Strategic Portfolios,
Inc., INVESCO Tax-Free Income Funds, Inc.
and INVESCO Value Trust.
Upon an exchange of shares held less than a year (other than shares
acquired through reinvestment of dividends or other distributions), a fee of 2%
of the current net asset value of the shares being exchanged will be assessed
and retained by the Fund for the benefit of the remaining shareholders. This fee
is intended to encourage long-term investment in the Fund, to avoid transaction
and other expenses caused by early redemptions, and to facilitate portfolio
management. The fee is not a deferred sales charge, is not a commission paid to
INVESCO, and does not benefit INVESCO in any way. The fee applies to redemptions
from the Fund and exchanges into any
<PAGE>
of the other no-load mutual funds which are also advised and distributed by
INVESCO. The Fund will use the "first-in, first-out" method to determine the
twelve month holding period. Under this method the date of redemption or
exchange will be compared with the earliest purchase date of shares held in the
account. If this holding period is less than twelve months, the
redemption/exchange fee will be assessed.
An exchange involves the redemption of shares in the Fund and investment
of the redemption proceeds in shares of the other Fund of the Company or in
shares of one of the funds listed above. Exchanges will be made at the net asset
value per share next determined after receipt of an exchange request in proper
order. Any gain or loss realized on such an exchange is recognizable for federal
income tax purposes by the shareholder. Exchange requests may be made either by
telephone or by written request to INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., using the
telephone number or address on the cover of this Prospectus. Exchanges made by
telephone must be in an amount of at least $250, if the exchange is being made
into an existing account of one of the INVESCO funds. All exchanges that
establish a new account must meet the Fund's applicable minimum initial
investment requirements. Written exchange requests into an existing account have
no minimum requirements other than the Fund's applicable minimum subsequent
investment requirements.
The privilege of exchanging Fund shares by telephone is available to
shareholders automatically unless expressly declined. By signing the New Account
Application, a Telephone Transaction Authorization Form or otherwise utilizing
telephone exchange privileges, the investor has agreed that the Fund will not be
liable for following instructions communicated by telephone that it reasonably
believes to be genuine. The Fund employs procedures, which it believes are
reasonable, designed to confirm that exchange instructions are genuine. These
may include recording telephone instructions and providing written confirmations
of exchange transactions. As a result of this policy, the investor may bear the
risk of any loss due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions; provided,
however, that if the Fund fails to follow these or other reasonable procedures,
the Fund may be liable.
In order to prevent abuse of this privilege to the disadvantage of other
shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to terminate the exchange privilege of
any shareholder who requests more than four exchanges in a year. The Fund will
determine whether to do so based on a consideration of both the number of
exchanges any particular shareholder or group of shareholders has requested and
the time period over which those exchange requests have been made, together with
the level of expense to the Fund which will result from effecting additional
exchange requests. The exchange privilege also may be modified or terminated at
any time. Except for those limited instances where redemptions of the exchanged
security are suspended under Section 22(e) of the Investment Company Act of
1940, or where sales of the fund into which the shareholder is exchanging are
temporarily stopped, notice of all such modifications or termination of the
exchange privilege will be given at least 60 days prior to the date of
termination or the effective date of the modification.
Before making an exchange, the shareholder should review the prospectuses
of the funds involved and consider their differences, and should be aware that
the exchange privilege may only be available in those states where exchanges
legally may be made, which will require that the shares being acquired are
registered for sale in the shareholder's state of residence. Shareholders
interested in exercising the exchange privilege may contact INVESCO for
information concerning their particular exchanges.
<PAGE>
Automatic Monthly Exchange. Shareholders who have accounts in any one or
more of the mutual funds distributed by INVESCO may arrange for a fixed dollar
amount of their fund shares to be automatically exchanged for shares of any
other INVESCO mutual fund listed under "Exchange Privilege" on a monthly basis.
The minimum monthly exchange in this program is $50.00. This automatic exchange
program can be changed by the shareholder at any time by notifying INVESCO at
least two weeks prior to the date the change is to be made. Further information
regarding this service can be obtained by contacting INVESCO.
EasiVest. For shareholders who want to maintain a schedule of monthly
investments, EasiVest uses various methods to draw a preauthorized amount from
the shareholder's bank account to purchase Fund shares. This automatic
investment program can be changed by the shareholder at any time by writing to
INVESCO at least two weeks prior to the date the change is to be made. Further
information regarding this service can be obtained by contacting INVESCO.
Direct Payroll Purchase. Shareholders may elect to have their employer
make automatic purchases of Fund shares for them by deducting a specified amount
from their regular paychecks. This automatic investment program can be modified
or terminated at any time by the shareholder, by notifying the employer. Further
information regarding this service can be obtained by contacting INVESCO.
Tax-Deferred Retirement Plans. Shares of the Fund may be purchased for
self-employed individual retirement plans, IRAs, simplified employee pension
plans and corporate retirement plans. In addition, shares can be used to fund
tax qualified plans established under Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 by educational institutions, including public school systems and
private schools, and certain kinds of non-profit organizations, which provide
deferred compensation arrangements for their employees.
Prototype forms for the establishment of these various plans, including,
where applicable, disclosure statements required by the Internal Revenue
Service, are available from INVESCO. INVESCO Trust Company, a subsidiary of
INVESCO, is qualified to serve as trustee or custodian under these plans and
provides the required services at competitive rates. Retirement plans (other
than IRAs) receive monthly statements reflecting all transactions in their Fund
accounts. IRAs receive the confirmations and quarterly statements described
under "Shareholder Accounts." For complete information, including prototype
forms and service charges, call INVESCO at the telephone number listed on the
cover of this Prospectus or send a written request to: Retirement Services,
INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., Post Office Box 173706, Denver, Colorado 80217-3706.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
Shares of the Fund may be redeemed at any time at their current net asset
value per share next determined after a request in proper form is received at
the Fund's office. (See "How Shares Can Be Purchased.") Net asset value per
share at the time of redemption may be more or less than the price you paid to
purchase your shares, depending primarily upon the Fund's investment
performance. Upon the redemption of shares held less than a year (other than
shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or other distributions), a fee
of 2% of the current net asset value of the shares will be assessed and retained
by the Fund for the benefit of remaining shareholders. This fee is intended to
encourage long-term investment in the Fund, to avoid transaction and other
expenses caused by early redemptions, and to facilitate portfolio management.
The fee is not a deferred sales charge, is not a commission paid to INVESCO, and
does not benefit INVESCO in
<PAGE>
any way. The fee applies to redemptions from the Fund and exchanges into any of
the other no-load mutual funds which are also advised and distributed by
INVESCO. The Fund will use the "first-in, first-out" method to determine the
twelve month holding period. Under this method the date of redemption or
exchange will be compared with the earliest purchase date of shares held in the
account. If this holding period is less than twelve months, the
redemption/exchange fee will be assessed.
If the shares to be redeemed are represented by stock certificates, a
written request for redemption signed by the registered shareholder(s) and the
certificates must be forwarded to INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., Post Office Box
173706, Denver, Colorado 80217-3706. Redemption requests sent by overnight
courier, including Express Mail, should be sent to the street address, not Post
Office Box, of INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. at 7800 E. Union Avenue, Denver, CO
80237. If no certificates have been issued, a written redemption request signed
by each registered owner of the account must be submitted to INVESCO at the
address noted above. If shares are held in the name of a corporation, additional
documentation may be necessary. Call or write for specifics. If payment for the
redeemed shares is to be made to someone other than the registered owner(s), the
signature(s) must be guaranteed by a financial institution which qualifies as an
eligible guarantor institution. Redemption procedures with respect to accounts
registered in the names of broker/dealers may differ from those applicable to
other shareholders.
Be careful to specify the account from which the redemption is to be made.
Shareholders have a separate account for each Fund in which they invest.
Payment of redemption proceeds will be mailed within seven days following
receipt of the required documents. However, payment may be postponed under
unusual circumstances, such as when normal trading is not taking place on the
New York Stock Exchange, or an emergency as defined by the Securities and
Exchange Commission exists. If the shares to be redeemed were purchased by check
and that check has not yet cleared, payment will be made after the Fund has
allowed a reasonable time for clearance of the purchase check (which may take up
to 12 days).
If a shareholder participates in Easivest, the Fund's automatic monthly
investment program, and redeems all of the shares in his Fund account, INVESCO
will terminate any further Easivest purchases unless otherwise instructed by the
shareholder.
Because of the high relative costs of handling small accounts, should the
value of any shareholder's account fall below $250 as a result of shareholder
action, the Fund reserves the right to effect the involuntary redemption of all
shares in such account, in which case the account would be liquidated and the
proceeds forwarded to the shareholder. Prior to any such redemption, a
shareholder will be notified and given 60 days to increase the value of the
account to $250 or more.
Fund shareholders (other than shareholders holding Fund shares in accounts
of IRA plans) may request expedited redemption of shares having a minimum value
of $250 (or redemption of all shares if their value is less than $250) held in
accounts maintained in their name by telephoning redemption instructions to
INVESCO, using the telephone number on the cover of this Prospectus. The
redemption proceeds, at the shareholder's option, either will be mailed to the
address listed for the shareholder's Fund account, or wired (minimum of $1,000)
or mailed to the bank which the shareholder has designated to receive the
proceeds of telephone redemptions.
<PAGE>
The Fund charges no fee for effecting such telephone redemptions. Unless Fund
Management permits a larger redemption request to be placed by telephone, a
shareholder may not place a redemption request by telephone in excess of
$25,000. These telephone redemption privileges may be modified or terminated in
the future at the discretion of the Fund's management.
For INVESCO Trust Company-sponsored federal income tax-sheltered
retirement plans, the term "shareholders" is defined to mean plan trustees that
file a written request to be able to redeem Fund shares by telephone.
Shareholders should understand that, while the Fund will attempt to process all
telephone redemption requests on an expedited basis, there may be times,
particularly in periods of severe economic or market disruption, when (a) they
may encounter difficulty in placing a telephone redemption request, and (b)
processing telephone redemptions will require up to seven days following receipt
of the redemption request, or additional time because of the unusual
circumstances set forth above.
The privilege of redeeming Fund shares by telephone is available to
shareholders automatically unless expressly declined. By signing a New Account
Application, a Telephone Transaction Authorization Form or otherwise utilizing
telephone redemption privileges, the shareholder has agreed that the Fund will
not be liable for following instructions communicated by telephone that it
reasonably believe to be genuine. The Fund employs procedures, which it believes
are reasonable, designed to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine.
These may include recording telephone instructions and providing written
confirmation of transactions initiated by telephone. As a result of this policy,
the investor may bear the risk of any loss due to unauthorized or fraudulent
instructions; provided, however, that if the Fund fails to follow these or other
reasonable procedures, the Fund may be liable.
TAXES, DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS
Taxes. The Fund intends to distribute to shareholders substantially all of
its net investment income, net capital gains and net gains from foreign currency
transactions, if any, in order to qualify for tax treatment as a regulated
investment company. Thus, the Fund does not expect to pay any federal income or
excise taxes.
Unless shareholders are exempt from income taxes, they must include all
dividends and capital gain distributions in taxable income for federal, state,
and local income tax purposes. Dividends and other distributions are taxable
whether they are received in cash or automatically invested in shares of the
Fund or another fund in the INVESCO group.
The Fund may be subject to the withholding of foreign taxes on dividends
or interest it receives on foreign securities. Foreign taxes withheld will be
treated as an expense of the Fund unless the Fund meets the qualifications to
enable it to pass these taxes through to shareholders for use by them as a
foreign tax credit or deduction.
Shareholders may be subject to backup withholding of 31% on dividends,
capital gain distributions and redemption proceeds. Unless a shareholder is
subject to backup withholding for other reasons, the shareholder can avoid
backup withholding on his Fund account by ensuring that INVESCO has a correct,
certified tax identification number.
Dividends and Capital Gain Distributions. The Fund earns ordinary or
net investment income, in the form of dividends and interest on its
investments. The Fund's policy is to distribute substantially all of this
<PAGE>
income, less Fund expenses, to shareholders on an annual or semiannual basis, at
the discretion of the Company's board of directors.
In addition, the Fund realizes capital gains and losses when it sells
securities for more or less than it paid. If total gains on sales exceed total
losses (including losses carried forward from previous years), the Fund has a
net realized capital gain. Net realized capital gains, if any, are distributed
to shareholders at least annually, usually in December.
Dividends and capital gain distributions are paid to shareholders who hold
shares on the record date of the distribution regardless of how long the shares
have been held. The Fund's share price will then drop by the amount of the
distribution on the day the distribution is made. If a shareholder purchases
shares immediately prior to the distribution, the shareholder will, in effect,
have "bought" the distribution by paying full purchase price, a portion of which
is then returned in the form of a taxable distribution.
At the end of each year, information regarding the tax status of dividends
and capital gain distributions is provided to shareholders. Net realized capital
gains are divided into short-term and long-term gains depending on how long the
Fund held the security which gave rise to the gains. The capital gain
distribution consists of long-term capital gains which are taxed at the capital
gains rate. Short-term capital gains are included with income from dividends and
interest as ordinary income and are paid to shareholders as dividends.
Shareholders also may realize capital gains or losses when they sell Fund
shares at more or less than the price originally paid.
Shareholders are encouraged to consult their tax advisers with respect to
these matters. For further information see "Dividends, Capital Gain
Distributions and Taxes" in the Statement of Additional Information.
<PAGE>
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Voting Rights. All shares of the Fund have equal voting rights, based on
one vote for each share owned and a corresponding fractional vote for each
fractional share owned. Voting with respect to certain matters, such as
ratification of independent accountants and the election of directors, will be
by both Funds of the Company voting together. In other cases, such as voting
upon an investment advisory contract, voting is on a Fund-by-Fund basis. When
both Funds are not affected by a matter to be voted upon, only shareholders of
the Fund affected by the matter will be entitled to vote thereon. The Company is
not generally required, and does not expect, to hold regular annual meetings of
shareholders. However, the board of directors will call special meetings of
shareholders for the purpose, among other reasons, of voting upon the question
of removal of a director or directors when requested to do so in writing by the
holders of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company or as may be
required by applicable law or the Company's Articles of Incorporation. The
Company will assist shareholders in communicating with other shareholders as
required by the Investment Company Act of 1940. Directors may be removed by
action of the holders of a majority or more of the outstanding shares of the
Company.
Master/Feeder Option. The Company may in the future seek to achieve the
Fund's investment objective by investing all of the Fund's assets in another
investment company or partnership having the same investment objective and
substantially the same investment policies and restrictions as those applicable
to the Fund. It is expected that any such investment company would be managed by
INVESCO in substantially the same manner as the existing Fund. If permitted by
applicable laws and policies then in effect, any such investment may be made in
the sole discretion of the Company's board of directors without further approval
of the shareholders of the Fund. However, Fund shareholders will be given at
least 30 days prior notice of any such investment. Such investment would be made
only if the Company's board of directors determines it to be in the best
interests of the Fund and its shareholders. In making that determination, the
board will consider, among other things, the benefits to shareholders and/or the
opportunity to reduce costs and achieve operational efficiencies. No assurance
can be given that costs will be materially reduced if this option is
implemented.
Shareholder Inquiries. All inquiries regarding the Fund should be
directed to the Fund at the telephone number or mailing address set forth on
the cover page of this Prospectus.
Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent. INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., 7800 E.
Union Ave., Denver, Colorado 80237, acts as registrar, transfer agent, and
dividend disbursing agent for the Fund pursuant to a Transfer Agency Agreement
which provides that the Fund will pay an annual fee of $14.00 per shareholder
account or omnibus account participant. The transfer agency fee is not charged
to each shareholder's or participant's account, but is an expense of the Fund to
be paid from the Fund's assets. Registered broker-dealers, third party
administrators of tax-qualified retirement plans and other entities, including
affiliates of INVESCO, may provide sub-transfer agency services to the Fund
which reduce or eliminate the need for identical services to be provided on
behalf of the Fund by INVESCO. In such cases, INVESCO may pay the third party an
annual sub-transfer agency fee of up to $14.00 per participant in the third
party's omnibus account out of the transfer agency fee which is paid to INVESCO
by the Fund.
<PAGE>
INVESCO WORLDWIDE EMERGING MARKETS FUND A no-load
mutual fund seeking capital appreciation.
PROSPECTUS
September 11, 1995
To receive general information and prospectuses on any of INVESCO's funds or
retirement plans, or to obtain current account or price information, call
toll-free:
1-800-525-8085
To reach PAL, your 24-hour Personal Account Line, call:
1-800-424-8085
Or write to:
INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., Distributor
Post Office Box 173706
Denver, Colorado 80217-3706
If you're in Denver, visit one of our convenient Investor Centers:
Cherry Creek
155-B Fillmore Street
Denver Tech Center
7800 East Union Avenue
Lobby Level
<PAGE>
SEPTEMBER 11, 1995
INVESCO EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUNDS, INC.
Address: Mailing Address:
7800 East Union Avenue Post Office Box 173706
Denver, Colorado 80237 Denver, Colorado 80217-3706
Telephone:
In Continental U.S., 1-800/525-8085
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESCO EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUNDS, Inc. (the "Company") is an open-end,
diversified management investment company ("mutual fund") consisting of two
separate portfolios of investments, INVESCO Emerging Growth Fund (the "Emerging
Growth Fund") and INVESCO Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund (the "Worldwide
Emerging Markets Fund") (collectively, the "Funds" and individually, a "Fund").
The Emerging Growth Fund seeks long-term capital growth. It pursues this
objective by investing its assets principally in a diversified group of equity
securities of emerging growth companies with market capitalizations of less than
$500 million at the time of initial purchase ("small cap companies"). In
managing the Fund's investments the Fund's investment adviser or sub-adviser
seeks to identify securities which are undervalued in the marketplace, and/or
have earnings that may be expected to grow faster than the U.S. economy in
general. Except for short-term investments and investments in U. S. government
securities, the Fund invests all of its assets in the equity securities of small
cap companies. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 65% of its
total assets in the equity securities of such companies (consisting of common
and preferred stocks, convertible debt securities, and other securities having
equity features). The Fund is designed for investors seeking long-term capital
appreciation with little or no current income.
<PAGE>
The Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund seeks capital appreciation. Under
normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 65% of its total assets in
securities of emerging country issuers.
Investors may purchase shares of either or both of the Funds. Additional
funds may be offered in the future.
Prospectuses for the Funds, dated September 11, 1995, which provide the
basic information you should know before investing in a Fund, may be obtained
without charge from INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., Post Office Box 173706, Denver,
Colorado 80217-3706. This Statement of Additional Information is not a
Prospectus, but contains information in addition to and more detailed than that
set forth in the Prospectuses. It is intended to provide you with additional
information regarding the activities and operations of the Funds, and should be
read in conjunction with the Prospectuses.
Investment Adviser and Distributor: INVESCO Funds Group, Inc.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS 41
THE FUNDS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT 59
HOW SHARES CAN BE PURCHASED 72
HOW SHARES ARE VALUED 75
FUND PERFORMANCE 77
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE FUNDS 78
TAX-DEFERRED RETIREMENT PLANS 79
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES 79
DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES 80
INVESTMENT PRACTICES 83
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 85
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS
As discussed in each Fund's Prospectus in the section entitled "Investment
Objective and Policies," the Funds may invest in a variety of securities, and
employ a broad range of investment techniques, in seeking to achieve their
respective investment objectives. Such securities and techniques include the
following:
Types of Equity Securities
As described in the Prospectuses, equity securities which may be purchased
by the Funds consist of common, preferred and convertible preferred stocks, and
securities having equity characteristics such as rights, warrants and
convertible debt securities. Common stocks and preferred stocks represent equity
ownership interests in a corporation and participate in the corporation's
earnings through dividends which may be declared by the corporation. Unlike
common stocks, preferred stocks are entitled to stated dividends payable from
the corporation's earnings, which in some cases may be "cumulative" if prior
stated dividends have not been paid. Dividends payable on preferred stock have
priority over distributions to holders of common stock, and preferred stocks
generally have preferences on the distribution of assets in the event of the
corporation's liquidation. Preferred stocks may be "participating" which means
that they may be entitled to dividends in excess of the stated dividend in
certain cases. The rights of common and preferred stocks are generally
subordinate to rights associated with a corporation's debt securities. Rights
and warrants are securities which entitle the holder to purchase the securities
of a company (generally, its common stock) at a specified price during a
specified time period. Because of this feature, the values of rights and
warrants are affected by factors similar to those which determine the prices of
common stocks and exhibit similar behavior. Rights and warrants may be purchased
directly or acquired in connection with a corporate reorganization or exchange
offer.
Convertible securities which may be purchased by the Funds include
convertible debt obligations and convertible preferred stock. A convertible
security entitles the holder to exchange it for a fixed number of shares of
common stock (or other equity security), usually at a fixed price within a
specified period of time. Until conversion, the holder receives the interest
paid on a convertible bond or the dividend preference of a preferred stock.
Convertible securities have an "investment value" which is the theoretical
value determined by the yield they provide in comparison with similar securities
without the conversion feature. Investment value changes are based upon
prevailing interest rates and other factors. They also have a "conversion value"
which is the worth in market value if the security were exchanged for the
underlying equity security. Conversion value fluctuates directly
<PAGE>
with the price of the underlying security. If conversion value is substantially
below investment value, the price of the convertible security is governed
principally by its investment value. If the conversion value is near or above
investment value, the price of the convertible security generally will rise
above investment value and may represent a premium over conversion value due to
the combination of the convertible security's right to interest (or dividend
preference) and the possibility of capital appreciation from the conversion
feature. A convertible security's price, when price is influenced primarily by
its conversion value, generally will yield less than a senior non-convertible
security of comparable investment value. Convertible securities may be purchased
at varying price levels above their investment values or conversion values.
However, there is no assurance that any premium above investment value or
conversion value will be recovered because prices change and, as a result, the
ability to achieve capital appreciation through conversion may be eliminated.
Foreign Securities
As discussed in the section of the Emerging Growth Fund's Prospectus
entitled "Investment Objective and Policies--Foreign Securities," the Fund may
invest up to 25% of its total assets, measured at the time of purchase, in
foreign securities. Securities of Canadian issuers and securities purchased by
means of sponsored American Depository Receipts ("ADRs") are not subject to this
25% limitation. As discussed in the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund's
Prospectus, the Fund will invest at least 65% of its total assets in securities
of emerging country issuers. There is generally less publicly available
information, reports and ratings about foreign companies and other foreign
issuers than that which is available about companies and issuers in the United
States. Foreign issuers are also generally subject to fewer uniform accounting
and auditing and financial reporting standards, practices, and requirements as
compared to those applicable to United States issuers.
The Funds' investment adviser normally will purchase foreign securities in
over-the-counter markets or on exchanges located in the countries in which the
respective principal offices of the issuers of the various securities are
located, as such markets or exchanges are generally the best available market
for foreign securities. Foreign securities markets are generally not as
developed or efficient as those in the United States. While growing in volume,
they usually have substantially less volume than the New York Stock Exchange,
and securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than
securities of comparable United States issuers. Fixed commissions on foreign
exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on United States
exchanges, although the Funds will endeavor to achieve the most favorable net
results on their portfolio transactions. There is
<PAGE>
generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges,
brokers and listed issuers than in the United States.
With respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of
adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations, expropriation or
confiscatory taxation, limitations on the removal of funds or other assets of
the Funds, political or social instability, or diplomatic developments which
could affect United States investments in those countries. Moreover, the
economies of foreign countries may differ favorably or unfavorably from the
United States' economy in such respects as growth of gross national product,
rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance
of payment position.
The dividends and interest payable on certain of the Funds' foreign
portfolio securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, thus reducing
the net amount of income available for distribution to the Funds' shareholders.
Illiquid and 144A Securities
As discussed in the section of each Fund's Prospectus entitled "Investment
Objective and Policies," the Funds may invest in illiquid securities, including
restricted securities and other investments which are not readily marketable.
Restricted securities are securities which are subject to restrictions on resale
because they have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"1933 Act"). These limitations on resale and marketability may have the effect
of preventing a Fund from disposing of such a security at the time desired or at
a reasonable price. In addition, in order to resell a restricted security, a
Fund might have to bear the expense and incur the delays associated with
effecting registration. In purchasing restricted securities, the Funds do not
intend to engage in underwriting activities, except to the extent the Funds may
be deemed to be a statutory underwriter under the Securities Act in disposing of
such securities. Restricted securities will be purchased for investment purposes
only and not for the purpose of exercising control or management of other
companies.
The Funds also may invest in restricted securities that can be resold to
institutional investors pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act ("Rule 144A
Securities"). In recent years, a large institutional market has developed for
Rule 144A Securities. Institutional investors generally will not seek to sell
these instruments to the general public, but instead will often depend on an
efficient institutional market in which Rule 144A Securities can readily be
resold or on an issuer's ability to honor a demand for repayment. Therefore, the
fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general
public or certain institutions is not dispositive of the liquidity of such
investments. Institutional markets for Rule 144A Securities may
<PAGE>
provide both readily ascertainable values for Rule 144A Securities and the
ability to liquidate an investment in order to satisfy share redemption orders.
An insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in
purchasing a Rule 144A Security held by a Fund, however, could adversely affect
the marketability of such security, and the Fund might be unable to dispose of
such security promptly or at reasonable prices.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities
As discussed in the section of each Fund's Prospectus entitled "Investment
Objective and Policies," the Funds may purchase and sell securities on a
when-issued or delayed delivery basis. When-issued or delayed delivery
transactions arise when securities (normally, equity obligations of issuers
eligible for investment by the Funds) are purchased or sold by the Funds with
payment and delivery taking place in the future in order to secure what is
considered to be an advantageous price and yield. However, the yield on a
comparable security available when delivery takes place may vary from the yield
on the security at the time that the when-issued or delayed delivery transaction
was entered into. When a Fund engages in when-issued and delayed delivery
transactions, it relies on the seller or buyer, as the case may be, to
consummate the sale. Failure to do so may result in the Fund missing the
opportunity of obtaining a price or yield considered to be advantageous.
When-issued and delayed delivery transactions generally may be expected to
settle within one month from the date the transactions are entered into, but in
no event later than 90 days. However, no payment or delivery is made by a Fund
until it receives delivery or payment from the other party to the transaction.
To the extent that a Fund remains substantially fully invested at the same
time that it has purchased when-issued securities, as it would normally expect
to do, there may be greater fluctuations in its net assets than if the Fund set
aside cash to satisfy its purchase commitments.
When a Fund purchases securities on a when-issued basis, it will maintain
in a segregated account cash, U.S. government securities or other high-grade
debt obligations readily convertible into cash having an aggregate value equal
to the amount of such purchase commitments, until payment is made. If necessary,
additional assets will be placed in the account daily so that the value of the
account will equal or exceed the amount of the Fund's purchase commitments.
Repurchase Agreements
As discussed in the section of each Fund's Prospectus entitled "Investment
Objective and Policies," the Funds may invest in repurchase agreements with
commercial banks, registered brokers or
<PAGE>
registered government securities dealers. A repurchase agreement is an agreement
under which a Fund acquires a debt instrument (generally a security issued by
the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker's acceptance or a certificate
of deposit) from a commercial bank, broker or dealer, subject to resale to the
seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next business day). A
repurchase agreement may be considered a loan collateralized by securities. The
resale price reflects an agreed upon interest rate effective for the period the
instrument is held by the Fund and is unrelated to the interest rate on the
underlying instrument. In these transactions, the securities acquired by the
Fund (including accrued interest earned thereon) must have a total value in
excess of the value of the repurchase agreement and are held by the Fund's
custodian bank until repurchased. In addition, the Company's board of directors
monitors each Fund's repurchase agreement transactions and has established
guidelines and standards for review by the investment adviser of the
creditworthiness of any bank, broker or dealer party to a repurchase agreement
with the Fund. The Emerging Growth Fund and the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund
will not enter into repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days if as
a result more than 10% and 15%, respectively, of their total assets would be
invested in such repurchase agreements and other illiquid securities.
The use of repurchase agreements involves certain risks. For example, if
the other party to the agreement defaults on its obligation to repurchase the
underlying security at a time when the value of the security has declined, a
Fund may incur a loss upon disposition of the security. If the other party to
the agreement becomes insolvent and subject to liquidation or reorganization
under the Bankruptcy Code or other laws, a court may determine that the
underlying security is collateral for a loan by the Fund not within the control
of the Fund and therefore the realization by the Fund on such collateral may
automatically be stayed. Finally, it is possible that the Fund may not be able
to substantiate its interest in the underlying security and may be deemed an
unsecured creditor of the other party to the agreement. While the Funds'
management acknowledges these risks, it is expected that they can be controlled
through careful monitoring procedures.
Lending of Securities
Each Fund may lend its securities to qualified institutional investors who
need to borrow securities in order to complete certain transactions, such as
covering short sales, avoiding failures to deliver securities, or completing
arbitrage operations. By lending its securities, a Fund will be attempting to
generate income through the receipt of interest on the loan which, in turn, can
be invested in additional securities to pursue the Fund's investment objective.
Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur
during the term of the loan would be for the account of the Fund. A Fund may
lend its
<PAGE>
portfolio securities to qualified brokers, dealers, banks or other financial
institutions, so long as the terms, structure and the aggregate amount of such
loans are not inconsistent with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940 Act") or the rules and regulations or interpretations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder. Loans of
securities by a Fund will be collateralized by cash, letters of credit, or
securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies equal to
at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities, determined
on a daily basis. Cash collateral will be invested only in high quality
short-term investments offering maximum liquidity. Lending securities involves
certain risks, the most significant of which is the risk that a borrower may
fail to return a portfolio security. The Funds monitor the creditworthiness of
borrowers in order to minimize such risks. A Fund will not lend any security if,
as a result of the loan, the aggregate value of securities then on loan would
exceed 33-1/3% of the Fund's total assets (taken at market value).
At the present time, a Fund may pay reasonable negotiated finders fees in
connection with loaned securities, so long as such fees are set forth in a
written contract and approved by the Company's board of directors. In addition,
voting rights may pass with the loaned securities, but if a material event
(e.g., proposed merger, sale of assets, or liquidation) will occur affecting an
investment on loan, the loan must be called and the securities voted.
U.S. Government Obligations
These securities consist of treasury bills, treasury notes, and treasury
bonds, which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and dates of
issuance. Treasury bills have a maturity of one year or less. Treasury notes
generally have a maturity of one to ten years, and treasury bonds generally have
maturities of more than ten years. As discussed in each Fund's Prospectus, U.S.
government obligations also include securities issued or guaranteed by agencies
or instrumentalities of the U.S. government.
Some obligations of United States government agencies, which are
established under the authority of an act of Congress, such as Government
National Mortgage Association (GNMA) participation certificates, are supported
by the full faith and credit of the United States Treasury. GNMA Certificates
are mortgage-backed securities representing part ownership of a pool of mortgage
loans. These loans -- issued by lenders such as mortgage bankers, commercial
banks and savings and loan associations -- are either insured by the Federal
Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. A "pool" or
group of such mortgages is assembled and, after being approved by GNMA, is
offered to investors through securities dealers. Once approved by GNMA, the
timely payment of interest and principal on each mortgage is
<PAGE>
guaranteed by GNMA and backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
government. The market value of GNMA Certificates is not guaranteed. GNMA
Certificates differ from bonds in that principal is paid back monthly by the
borrower over the term of the loan rather than returned in a lump sum at
maturity. GNMA Certificates are called "pass-through" securities because both
interest and principal payments (including prepayments) are passed through to
the holder of the Certificate. Upon receipt, principal payments will be used by
the Fund to purchase additional securities under its investment objective and
investment policies.
Other United States government obligations, such as securities of the
Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from
the Treasury to repay its obligations. Still others, such as bonds issued by the
Federal National Mortgage Association, a federally chartered private
corporation, are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality.
Obligations of Domestic Banks
These obligations consist of certificates of deposit ("CDs") and bankers'
acceptances issued by domestic banks (including their foreign branches) having
total assets in excess of $5 billion, which meet the Funds' minimum rating
requirements. CDs are issued against deposits in a commercial bank for a
specified period and rate and are normally negotiable. Eurodollar CDs are
certificates issued by a foreign branch (usually London) of a U.S. domestic
bank, and, as such, the credit is deemed to be that of the domestic bank.
Bankers' acceptances are short-term credit instruments evidencing the
promise of the bank (by virtue of the bank's "acceptance") to pay at maturity a
draft which has been drawn on it by a customer (the "drawer"). These instruments
are used to finance the import, export, transfer, or storage of goods and
reflect the obligation of both the bank and the drawer to pay the face amount.
Commercial Paper
These obligations are short-term promissory notes issued by domestic
corporations to meet current working capital requirements. Such paper may be
unsecured or backed by a bank letter of credit. Commercial paper issued with a
letter of credit is, in effect, "two party paper," with the issuer directly
responsible for payment, plus a bank's guarantee that if the note is not paid at
maturity by the issuer, the bank will pay the principal and interest to the
buyer. Commercial paper is sold either as interest-bearing or on a discounted
basis, with maturities not exceeding 270 days.
<PAGE>
Futures and Options on Futures and Securities
As described in the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund's Prospectus, the Fund
may enter into futures contracts, and purchase and sell ("write") options to buy
or sell futures contracts and other securities, which are included among the
types of instruments sometimes known as derivatives. The Fund will comply with
and adhere to all limitations in the manner and extent to which it effects
transactions in futures and options on such futures currently imposed by the
rules and policy guidelines of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the
"CFTC") as conditions for exemption of a mutual fund, or investment advisers
thereto, from registration as a commodity pool operator. Under those
restrictions, the Fund will not, as to any positions, whether long, short or a
combination thereof, enter into futures and options thereon for which the
aggregate initial margins and premiums exceed 5% of the fair market value of the
Fund's total assets after taking into account unrealized profits and losses on
options it has entered into. In the case of an option that is "in-the-money," as
defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (the "CEA"), the in-the-money amount may
be excluded in computing such 5%. (In general a call option on a future is
"in-the-money" if the value of the future exceeds the exercise ("strike") price
of the call; a put option on a future is "in-the-money" if the value of the
future which is the subject of the put is exceeded by the strike price of the
put.) The Fund may use futures and options thereon solely for bona fide hedging
or for other non-speculative purposes within the meaning and intent of the
applicable provisions of the CEA and the regulations thereunder. As to long
positions which are used as part of the Fund's portfolio management strategies
and are incidental to its activities in the underlying cash market, the
"underlying commodity value" of the Fund's futures and options thereon must not
exceed the sum of (i) cash set aside in an identifiable manner, or short-term
U.S. debt obligations or other dollar-denominated high-quality, short-term money
instruments so set aside, plus sums deposited on margin; (ii) cash proceeds from
existing investments due in 30 days; and (iii) accrued profits held at the
futures commission merchant. The "underlying commodity value" of a future is
computed by multiplying the size of the future by the daily settlement price of
the future. For an option on a future, that value is the underlying commodity
value of the future underlying the option.
Unlike when the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund purchases or sells a
security, no price is paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of
a futures contract. Instead, the Fund will be required to deposit in a
segregated asset account with the broker an amount of cash or qualifying
securities (currently U.S. Treasury bills), currently in a minimum amount of
$15,000. This is called "initial margin." Such initial margin is in the nature
of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the contract. However, since
losses on open contracts are required to be reflected in cash
<PAGE>
in the form of variation margin payments, the Fund may be required to make
additional payments during the term of the contracts to its broker. Such
payments would be required, for example, where, during the term of an interest
rate futures contract purchased by the Fund, there was a general increase in
interest rates, thereby making the Fund's portfolio securities less valuable. In
all instances involving the purchase of financial futures contracts by the Fund,
an amount of cash together with such other securities as permitted by applicable
regulatory authorities to be utilized for such purpose, at least equal to the
market value of the futures contracts, will be deposited in a segregated account
with the Fund's custodian to collateralize the position. At any time prior to
the expiration of a futures contract, the Fund may elect to close its position
by taking an opposite position which will operate to terminate the Fund's
position in the futures contract. For a more complete discussion of the risks
involved in futures and options on futures and other securities, refer to
Appendix A ("Description of Futures and Options Contracts").
Where futures are purchased to hedge against a possible increase in the
price of a security before a Fund is able in an orderly fashion to invest in the
security, it is possible that the market may decline instead. If the Fund, as a
result, concluded not to make the planned investment at that time because of
concern as to possible further market decline or for other reasons, the Fund
would realize a loss on the futures contract that is not offset by a reduction
in the price of securities purchased.
In addition to the possibility that there may be an imperfect correlation
or no correlation at all between movements in the futures contract and the
portion of the portfolio being hedged, the price of futures may not correlate
perfectly with movements in the prices due to certain market distortions. All
participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance
requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements,
investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions which
could distort the normal relationship between the underlying securities and the
value of the futures contract. Moreover, the deposit requirements in the futures
market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market and
may therefore cause increased participation by speculators in the futures
market. Such increased participation may also cause temporary price distortions.
Due to the possibility of price distortion in the futures market and because of
the imperfect correlation between movements in the value of the underlying
securities and movements in the prices of futures contracts, the value of
futures contracts as a hedging device may be reduced.
In addition, if the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund has insufficient
available cash, it may at times have to sell securities to meet variation margin
requirements. Such sales may
<PAGE>
have to be effected at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do
so.
Options on Futures Contracts
The Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund may buy and write options on futures
contracts for hedging purposes, which are included among the types of
instruments sometimes known as derivatives. The purchase of a call option on a
futures contract is similar in some respects to the purchase of a call option on
an individual security. Depending on the pricing of the option compared to
either the price of the futures contract upon which it is based or the price of
the underlying instrument, ownership of the option may or may not be less risky
than ownership of the futures contract or the underlying instrument. As with the
purchase of futures contracts, when the Fund is not fully invested it may buy a
call option on a futures contract to hedge against a market advance.
The writing of a call option on a futures contract constitutes a partial
hedge against declining prices of the security or foreign currency which is
deliverable under, or of the index comprising, the futures contract. If the
futures price at the expiration of the option is below the exercise price, the
Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund will retain the full amount of the option
premium which provides a partial hedge against any decline that may have
occurred in the Fund's portfolio holdings. The writing of a put option on a
futures contract constitutes a partial hedge against increasing prices of the
security or foreign currency which is deliverable under, or of the index
comprising, the futures contract. If the futures price at expiration of the
option is higher than the exercise price, the Fund will retain the full amount
of the option premium which provides a partial hedge against any increase in the
price of securities which the Fund is considering buying. If a call or put
option the Fund has written is exercised, the Fund will incur a loss which will
be reduced by the amount of the premium it received. Depending on the degree of
correlation between change in the value of its portfolio securities and changes
in the value of the futures positions, the Fund's losses from existing options
on futures may to some extent be reduced or increased by changes in the value of
portfolio securities.
The purchase of a put option on a futures contract is similar in some
respects to the purchase of protective put options on portfolio securities. For
example, the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund may buy a put option on a futures
contract to hedge the Fund's portfolio against the risk of falling prices.
The amount of risk the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund assumes when it
buys an option on a futures contract is the premium paid for the option plus
related transaction costs. In addition to the correlation risks discussed above,
the purchase of an option also
<PAGE>
entails the risk that changes in the value of the underlying futures contract
will not be fully reflected in the value of the options bought.
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts
The Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund may enter into forward currency
contracts, which are included among the types of instruments sometimes known as
derivatives, to purchase or sell foreign currencies (i.e., non-U.S. currencies)
as a hedge against possible variations in foreign exchange rates. A forward
foreign currency contract is an agreement between the contracting parties to
exchange an amount of currency at some future time at an agreed upon rate. The
rate can be higher or lower than the spot rate between the currencies that are
the subject of the contract. A forward contract generally has no deposit
requirement, and such transactions do not involve commissions. By entering into
a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency
invested in a foreign security transaction, the Fund can hedge against possible
variations in the value of the dollar versus the subject currency either between
the date the foreign security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment
is made or received or during the time the Fund holds the foreign security.
Hedging against a decline in the value of a currency in the foregoing manner
does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of portfolio securities or prevent
losses if the prices of such securities decline. Furthermore, such hedging
transactions preclude the opportunity for gain if the value of the hedged
currency should rise. The Fund will not speculate in forward currency contracts.
Although the Fund has not adopted any limitations on its ability to use forward
contracts as a hedge against fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, the Fund
does not attempt to hedge all of its non-U.S. portfolio positions and will enter
into such transactions only to the extent, if any, deemed appropriate by its
investment adviser or sub-adviser (collectively, "Fund Management"). The Fund
will not enter into forward contracts for a term of more than one year.
Swaps and Swap-Related Products
Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Worldwide Emerging Markets
Fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive
interest, e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments.
The exchange commitments can involve payments to be made in the same currency or
in different currencies. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the
purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest
rate, to receive payments of interest on a contractually-based principal amount
from the party selling the interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate
floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a
predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a
contractually-based principal amount from the party selling the interest rate
floor.
<PAGE>
The Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund may enter into interest rate swaps,
caps and floors, which are included among the types of instruments sometimes
known as derivatives, on either an asset-based or liability-based basis,
depending upon whether it is hedging its assets or its liabilities, and usually
will enter into interest rate swaps on a net basis, i.e., the two payment
streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be,
only the net amount of the two payments. The net amount of the excess, if any,
of the Fund's obligations over its entitlement with respect to each interest
rate swap will be calculated on a daily basis, and an amount of cash or
high-grade liquid assets having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to
the accrued excess will be maintained in a segregated account by the Fund's
custodian. If the Fund enters into an interest rate swap on other than a net
basis, the Fund would maintain a segregated account in the full amount accrued
on a daily basis of the Fund's obligations with respect to the swap. The Fund
will not enter into any interest rate swap, cap or floor transaction unless the
unsecured senior debt or the claims-paying ability of the other party thereto is
rated in one of the three highest rating categories of at least one nationally
recognized statistical rating organization at the time of entering into such
transaction. Fund Management will monitor the creditworthiness of all
counterparties on an ongoing basis. If there is a default by the other party to
such a transaction, the Fund would have contractual remedies pursuant to the
agreements related to the transaction.
The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large
number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as
agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. Caps and floors are more
recent innovations for which standardized documentation has not yet been
developed and, accordingly, they are less liquid than swaps. To the extent the
Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund sells (i.e., writes) caps and floors, it will
maintain in a segregated account cash or high-grade liquid assets having an
aggregate net asset value at least equal to the full amount, accrued on a daily
basis, of the Fund's obligations with respect to any caps or floors.
There is no limit on the amount of interest rate swap transactions that
may be entered into by the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund. These transactions
may in some instances involve the delivery of securities or other underlying
assets by the Fund or its counterparty to collateralize obligations under the
swap. The documentation currently used in those markets attempts to limit the
risk of loss with respect to interest rate swaps to the net amount of the
payments that a party is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to
an interest rate swap that is not collateralized defaults, the Fund would
anticipate losing the net
<PAGE>
amount of the payments that the Fund contractually is entitled to receive over
the payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. The Fund may buy
and sell (i.e., write) caps and floors without limitation, subject to the
segregated account requirement described above as well as the Fund's other
investment restrictions set forth below.
Investment Restrictions. As described in the section of the Emerging
Growth Fund's Prospectus entitled "Investment Objective and Policies," the Fund
has adopted certain fundamental investment restrictions. Under these
restrictions, which may not be changed without prior approval by the holders of
a majority, as defined in the 1940 Act, of the outstanding voting securities of
the Emerging Growth Fund, the Emerging Growth Fund may not:
(1) sell short or buy on margin, except if the Fund ever commences
writing put or call options (which the Fund currently does not
anticipate doing) and except for such short-term credits as are
necessary for the clearance of purchases of securities;
(2) issue senior securities as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940 or borrow money, except that the Fund may borrow from banks in
an amount not in excess of 10% of the value of its total assets
(including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (not including the
amount borrowed) at the time the borrowing is made, as a temporary
measure for emergency purposes (the Fund will not purchase
securities while any such borrowings exist);
(3) invest in the securities of any other investment company except for
a purchase or acquisition in accordance with a plan of
reorganization, merger or consolidation;
(4) purchase the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S.
government securities) if as a result more than 5% of the value of
its total assets would be invested in the securities of any one
issuer or the Fund would own more than 10% of the voting securities
of such issuer;
(5) lend money or securities to any person, provided, however, that this
shall not be deemed to prohibit the purchase of debt securities or
entering into repurchase agreements in accordance with the Fund's
investment policies, or to prohibit the Fund from lending portfolio
securities in an amount up to 33-1/3% of the Fund's total assets
(taken at current value);
(6) buy or sell commodities, commodity contracts or real estate
(however, the Fund may purchase securities of companies investing in
real estate);
<PAGE>
(7) invest in any company for the purpose of exercising
control or management;
(8) engage in the underwriting of any securities (except to the extent
the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under the Securities Act of
1933 in disposing of a security);
(9) purchase securities of any company in which any officer or director
of the Fund or its investment adviser owns more than 1/2 of 1% of
the outstanding securities, or in which all of the officers and
directors of the Fund and its investment adviser, as a group, own
more than 5% of such securities;
(10) invest more than 25% of the value of the Fund's assets in one
particular industry.
(11) pledge, hypothecate, mortgage or otherwise encumber its
assets, except as necessary to secure permitted
borrowings;
(12) purchase oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty
contracts or development programs (except that the Fund may invest
in the securities of issuers engaged in the foregoing activities);
(13) purchase the securities (other than United States government
securities) of an issuer having a record, together with
predecessors, of less than three years' continuous operations, if as
a result of such purchase more than 5% of the value of the Fund's
total assets would be invested in such securities.
The Emerging Growth Fund is not prohibited from purchasing or writing put
and call options on securities, but does not anticipate doing so in the
foreseeable future.
In applying restriction (10) above, the Emerging Growth Fund uses an
industry classification system based on the O'Neil Database published by William
O'Neil & Co., Inc.
The Company also has given the following undertaking to the State of
Texas. The Emerging Growth Fund will not buy or sell real property (including
limited partnership interests therein), but may buy or sell readily marketable
interests in real estate investment trusts or readily marketable securities of
companies which invest in real estate.
The Company also has given an undertaking to the State of Arkansas that the
Emerging Growth Fund may purchase or write put and call options on securities,
or straddles, spreads, or combinations thereof, only if by reason thereof the
value of its aggregate investment in such classes of securities will be 5% or
less of its total assets.
<PAGE>
As described in the section of the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund's
Prospectus entitled "Investment Objective and Policies," the Fund has adopted
certain fundamental investment restrictions. Under these restrictions, which may
not be changed without prior approval by the holders of a majority, as defined
in the 1940 Act, of the outstanding voting securities of the Worldwide Emerging
Markets Fund, the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund may not:
1. With respect to seventy-five percent (75%) of the Fund's total assets,
purchase the securities of any one issuer (except cash items and
"Government securities" as defined under the 1940 Act), if the purchase
would cause the Fund to have more than 5% of the value of its total assets
invested in the securities of such issuer or to own more than 10% of the
outstanding voting securities of such issuer;
2. Borrow money or issue senior securities (as defined in the
1940 Act), except that the Fund may borrow money for temporary
or emergency purposes (not for leveraging or investment) and
may enter into reverse repurchase agreements in an aggregate
amount not exceeding 33-1/3% of the value of its total assets
(including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than
borrowings). Any borrowings that come to exceed 33-1/3% of
the value of the Fund's total assets by reason of a decline in
total assets will be reduced within three business days to the
extent necessary to comply with the 33-1/3% limitation. This
restriction shall not prohibit deposits of assets to margin or
guarantee positions in futures, options, swaps or forward
contracts, or the segregation of assets in connection with
such contracts.
3. Invest directly in real estate or interests in real estate; however, the
Fund may own debt or equity securities issued by companies engaged in
those businesses.
4. Purchase or sell physical commodities other than foreign currencies unless
acquired as a result of ownership of securities (but this shall not
prevent the Fund from purchasing or selling options, futures, swaps and
forward contracts or from investing in securities or other instruments
backed by physical commodities).
5. Lend any security or make any other loan if, as a result, more than
33-1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties (but this
limitation does not apply to purchases of commercial paper, debt
securities or to repurchase agreements.)
<PAGE>
6. Act as an underwriter of securities issued by others, except to the extent
that it may be deemed an underwriter in connection with the disposition of
portfolio securities of the Fund.
7. Invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in any particular
industry (other than Government securities).
As a fundamental policy in addition to the above, the Worldwide Emerging
Markets Fund may, notwithstanding any other investment policy or limitation
(whether or not fundamental), invest all of its assets in the securities of a
single open-end management investment company with substantially the same
fundamental investment objectives, policies and limitations as the Fund.
In applying restriction 7, above, the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund uses
an industry classification system for international securities based on
information obtained from Bloomberg L.P., Moody's International and the O'Neil
Database
published by William O'Neil & Co., Inc.
Furthermore, the Company's board of directors has adopted additional
investment restrictions for the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund. These
restrictions are operating policies of the Fund and may be changed by the board
of directors without shareholder approval. The additional investment
restrictions adopted by the board of directors to date with respect to the
Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund include the following:
(a) The Fund's investments in warrants, valued at the lower
of cost or market, may not exceed 5% of the value of its
net assets. Included within that amount, but not to
exceed 2% of the value of the Fund's net assets, may be
warrants that are not listed on the New York or American
Stock Exchanges. Warrants acquired by the Fund in units
or attached to securities shall be deemed to be without
value unless such warrants are separately transferable
and current market prices are available, or unless
otherwise determined by the board of directors.
(b) The Fund will not (i) enter into any futures contracts or
options on futures contracts if immediately thereafter
the aggregate margin deposits on all outstanding futures
contracts positions held by the Fund and premiums paid on
outstanding options on futures contracts, after taking
into account unrealized profits and losses, would exceed
5% of the market value of the total assets of the Fund,
or (ii) enter into any futures contracts if the aggregate
net amount of the Fund's commitments under outstanding
futures contracts positions of the Fund would exceed the
market value of the total assets of the Fund.
<PAGE>
(c) The Fund does not currently intend to sell securities
short, unless it owns or has the right to obtain
securities equivalent in kind and amount to the
securities sold short without the payment of any
additional consideration therefor, and provided that
transactions in options, swaps and forward futures
contracts are not deemed to constitute selling securities
short.
(d) The Fund does not currently intend to purchase securities on margin,
except that the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as are
necessary for the clearance of transactions, and provided that
margin payments and other deposits in connection with transactions
in options, futures, swaps and forward contracts shall not be deemed
to constitute purchasing securities on margin.
(e) The Fund does not currently intend to (i) purchase
securities of closed-end investment companies, except in
the open market where no commission except the ordinary
broker's commission is paid, or (ii) purchase or retain
securities issued by other open-end investment companies
other than money market funds or funds which are the only
practical means, or one of the few practical means, of
investing in a particular emerging country. Limitations
(i) and (ii) do not apply to securities received as
dividends, through offers of exchange, or as a result of
a reorganization, consolidation, or merger.
(f) The Fund may not mortgage or pledge any securities owned
or held by the Fund in amounts that exceed, in the
aggregate, 15% of the Fund's net assets, provided that
this limitation does not apply to reverse repurchase
agreements or in the case of assets deposited to margin
or guarantee positions in futures, options, swaps or
forward contracts or placed in a segregated account in
connection with such contracts.
(g) The Fund does not currently intend to purchase securities
of any issuer (other than U.S. Government agencies and
instrumentalities or instruments guaranteed by an entity
with a record of more than three years' continuous
operation, including that of predecessors) with a record
of less than three years' continuous operation (including
that of predecessors) if such purchase would cause the
Fund's investments in all such issuers to exceed 5% of
the Fund's total assets taken at market value at the time
of such purchase.
(h) The Fund does not currently intend to invest directly in
oil, gas, or other mineral development or exploration programs
or leases; however, the Fund may own debt or equity securities
of companies engaged in those businesses.
<PAGE>
(i) The Fund does not currently intend to purchase any
security or enter into a repurchase agreement if, as a
result, more than 15% of its net assets would be
invested in repurchase agreements not entitling the
holder to payment of principal and interest within seven
days and in securities that are illiquid by virtue of
legal or contractual restrictions on resale or the
absence of a readily available market. The board of
directors, or the Fund's investment adviser acting
pursuant to authority delegated by the board of
directors, may determine that a readily available market
exists for securities eligible for resale pursuant to
Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, or any
successor to such rule, and therefore that such
securities are not subject to the foregoing limitation.
(j) The Fund may not invest in companies for the purpose of exercising
control or management, except to the extent that exercise by the
Fund of its rights under agreements related to portfolio securities
would be deemed to constitute such control.
With respect to investment restriction (i) above, the board of directors
has delegated to Fund Management the authority to determine whether a liquid
market exists for securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the
1933 Act, or any successor to such rule, and whether such securities are subject
to restriction (i) above. Under guidelines established by the board of
directors, Fund Management will consider the following factors, among others, in
making this determination: (1) the unregistered nature of a Rule 144A security,
(2) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (3) the number of
dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other
potential purchasers; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security;
and (5) the nature of the security and the nature of marketplace trades (e.g.,
the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and
the mechanics of transfer).
Unless otherwise noted, each Fund's investment restrictions and its
investment policies are not fundamental and may be changed by action of the
Company's board of directors. Unless otherwise noted, all percentage limitations
contained in the Fund's investment policies and restrictions apply at the time
an investment is made. Thus, subsequent changes in the value of an investment
after purchase or in the value of the Fund's total assets will not cause any
such limitation to have been violated or to require the disposition of any
investment, except as otherwise required by law.
<PAGE>
THE FUNDS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT
The Company. The Company was incorporated under the laws of Maryland on
December 6, 1990. On December 2, 1994, the Company's name was changed from
"INVESCO Emerging Growth Fund, Inc." to "INVESCO Emerging Opportunity Funds,
Inc."
The Investment Adviser. INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. ("INVESCO") is employed
as the Funds' investment adviser. INVESCO was established in 1932 and also
serves as an investment adviser to INVESCO Diversified Funds, Inc., INVESCO
Dynamics Fund, Inc., INVESCO Growth Fund, Inc., INVESCO Income Funds, Inc.,
INVESCO Industrial Income Fund, Inc., INVESCO International Funds, Inc., INVESCO
Money Market Funds, Inc., INVESCO Multiple Asset Funds, Inc., INVESCO Specialty
Funds, Inc., INVESCO Strategic Portfolios, Inc., INVESCO Tax-Free Income Funds,
Inc., INVESCO Value Trust and INVESCO Variable Investment Funds, Inc.
The Sub-Advisers. INVESCO, as investment adviser, has contracted with
INVESCO Trust Company ("INVESCO Trust") to provide investment advisory and
research services on behalf of the Emerging Growth Fund. INVESCO Trust has the
primary responsibility for providing portfolio investment management services to
that Fund. INVESCO Trust, a trust company founded in 1969, is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of INVESCO.
Additionally, INVESCO, as investment adviser, has contracted with MIM
International Limited ("MIL") to provide investment advisory and research
services on behalf of the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund. MIL has the primary
responsibility for providing portfolio investment management services to that
Fund. MIL is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of INVESCO PLC.
INVESCO is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of INVESCO PLC, a
publicly-traded holding company organized in [1935]. Through subsidiaries
located in London, Denver, Atlanta, Boston, Louisville, Dallas, Tokyo, Hong
Kong, and the Channel Islands, INVESCO PLC provides investment services around
the world. INVESCO was acquired by INVESCO PLC in 1982 and as of May 31, 1995,
managed 14 mutual funds, consisting of 38 separate portfolios, on behalf of
approximately 797,000 shareholders. INVESCO PLC's other North American
subsidiaries include the following:
--INVESCO Capital Management, Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia, manages
institutional investment portfolios, consisting primarily of discretionary
employee benefit plans for corporations and state and local governments, and
endowment funds. INVESCO Capital Management, Inc. is the sole shareholder of
INVESCO Services, Inc., a registered broker-dealer whose primary business is the
distribution of shares of two registered investment companies.
<PAGE>
--INVESCO Management & Research, Inc. (formerly Gardner and Preston Moss,
Inc.) of Boston, Massachusetts, primarily manages pension and endowment
accounts.
--PRIMCO Capital Management, Inc. of Louisville, Kentucky, specializes in
managing stable return investments, principally on behalf of Section 401(k)
retirement plans.
--INVESCO Realty Advisors of Dallas, Texas, is responsible for providing
advisory services in the U.S. real estate markets for INVESCO PLC's clients
worldwide. Clients include corporate plans, public pension funds as well as
endowment and foundation accounts.
The corporate headquarters of INVESCO PLC are located at 11 Devonshire
Square, London, EC2M 4YR, England.
As indicated in the Prospectuses, INVESCO and INVESCO Trust permit
investment and other personnel to purchase and sell securities for their own
accounts in accordance with a compliance policy governing personal investing by
directors, officers and employees of INVESCO, INVESCO Trust and their North
American affiliates. The policy requires officers, inside directors, investment
and other personnel of INVESCO, INVESCO Trust and their North American
affiliates to pre-clear all transactions in securities not otherwise exempt
under the policy. Requests for trading authority will be denied when, among
other reasons, the proposed personal transaction would be contrary to the
provisions of the policy or would be deemed to adversely affect any transaction
then known to be under consideration for or to have been effected on behalf of
any client account, including the Funds.
MIL is subject to a similar policy.
In addition to the pre-clearance requirement described above, the policy
subjects officers, inside directors, investment and other personnel of INVESCO,
INVESCO Trust and their North American affiliates to various trading
restrictions and reporting obligations. All reportable transactions are reviewed
for compliance with the policy. The provisions of this policy are administered
by and subject to exceptions authorized by INVESCO or INVESCO Trust.
Investment Advisory Agreement. INVESCO serves as investment adviser
pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the "Agreement") with the Company
which was approved on April 24, 1991, by a vote cast in person by all of the
directors of the Company, including all of the directors who are not "interested
persons" of the Company or INVESCO at a meeting called for such purpose. The
Agreement was approved by INVESCO on December 31, 1991 as the then sole
shareholder of the Emerging Growth Fund, and was approved by that Fund's public
shareholders on May 24, 1993. The Agreement was approved by INVESCO on September
__, 1995 as the then sole shareholder of the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund.
The Agreement
<PAGE>
was for an initial term of two years expiring December 31, 1993, and has been
continued by action of the board of directors until April 30, 1996. Thereafter,
the Agreement may be continued from year to year as to each Fund as long as each
such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the board of
directors of the Company, or by a vote of the holders of a majority, as defined
in the 1940 Act, of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Each such continuance
also must be approved by a majority of the directors who are not parties to the
Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party,
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such
continuance. The Agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty by
either party upon sixty (60) days' written notice, and terminates automatically
in the event of an assignment to the extent required by the 1940 Act and the
rules thereunder.
The Agreement provides that INVESCO shall manage the investment portfolios
of the Funds in conformity with the Funds' investment policies (either directly
or by delegation to a sub-adviser which may be a company affiliated with
INVESCO). Further, INVESCO shall perform all administrative, internal accounting
(including computation of net asset value), clerical, statistical, secretarial,
and all other services necessary or incidental to the administration of the
affairs of the Funds excluding, however, those services that are the subject of
separate agreement between the Company and INVESCO or any affiliate thereof,
including the distribution and sale of Fund shares and provision of transfer
agency, dividend disbursing agency, and registrar services, and services
furnished under an Administrative Services Agreement dated as of April 30, 1991,
with INVESCO. Services provided under the Agreement include, but are not limited
to: supplying the Company with officers, clerical staff and other employees, if
any, who are necessary in connection with the Funds' operations; furnishing
office space, facilities, equipment, and supplies; providing personnel and
facilities required to respond to inquiries related to shareholder accounts;
conducting periodic compliance reviews of the Funds' operations; preparation and
review of required documents, reports and filings by INVESCO's in-house legal
and accounting staff (including the prospectus, statement of additional
information, proxy statements, shareholder reports, tax returns, reports to the
SEC, and other corporate documents of the Funds), except insofar as the
assistance of independent accountants or attorneys is necessary or desirable;
supplying basic telephone service and other utilities; and preparing and
maintaining certain of the books and records required to be prepared and
maintained by the Funds under the 1940 Act. Expenses not assumed by INVESCO are
borne by the Funds.
As full compensation for its advisory services provided to the Company
under the Agreement, INVESCO receives a monthly fee. The fee is based upon a
percentage of each Fund's average net assets, determined daily. With respect to
the Emerging Growth Fund, the
<PAGE>
fee is calculated at an annual rate of 0.75% on the first $350 million of the
Fund's average net assets, 0.65% on the next $350 million of the Fund's average
net assets, and 0.55% on the Fund's average net assets over $700 million. With
respect to the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund, the fee is calculated at the
annual rate of 0.75% on the first $500 million of the Fund's average net assets,
0.65% on the next $500 million of the Fund's average net assets, and 0.55% on
the Fund's average net assets over $1 billion. For the fiscal years ended May
31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, the Emerging Growth Fund paid INVESCO advisory fees of
$_________, $1,359,701 and $564,219, respectively. The Worldwide Emerging
Markets Fund has not paid INVESCO any advisory fees as of the date of this
Statement of Additional Information, since the Fund did not commence a public
offering of its securities until September 11, 1995.
Certain states in which the shares of the Funds are qualified for sale
currently impose limitations on the expenses of the Funds. At the date of this
Statement of Additional Information, the most restrictive state-imposed annual
expense limitation requires that INVESCO absorb any amount necessary to prevent
a Fund's aggregate ordinary operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, Rule
12b-1 fees, brokerage fees and commissions, and extraordinary charges such as
litigation costs) from exceeding in any fiscal year 2.5% on the Fund's first $30
million of average net assets, 2.0% on the next $70 million of average net
assets and 1.5% on the remaining average net assets. No payment of the
investment advisory fee will be made to INVESCO which would result in a Fund's
expenses exceeding on a cumulative annualized basis this state limitation.
During the past fiscal year, INVESCO did not absorb any amounts under this
provision.
Sub-Advisory Agreements. INVESCO Trust serves as sub-adviser to the
Emerging Growth Fund pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement (the "Emerging Growth
Sub-Agreement") with INVESCO which was approved on April 24, 1991, by a vote
cast in person by all of the directors of the Company, including all of the
directors who are not "interested persons" of the Company, INVESCO, or INVESCO
Trust at a meeting called for such purpose. The Emerging Growth Sub-Agreement
was approved on December 31, 1991, by INVESCO as the then sole shareholder of
the Fund, and by the Fund's public shareholders on May 24, 1993. The Emerging
Growth Sub-Agreement was for an initial term of two years expiring December 31,
1993, and has been continued by action of the board of directors until April 30,
1996. Thereafter, the Emerging Growth Sub-Agreement may be continued from year
to year as long as each such continuance is specifically approved by the board
of directors of the Company, or by a vote of the holders of a majority, as
defined in the 1940 Act, of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Each such
continuance also must be approved by a majority of the directors who are not
parties to the Emerging Growth Sub-Agreement or interested persons (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of any such party, cast in person at a
<PAGE>
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. The Emerging
Growth Sub-Agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty by either
party or the Company upon sixty (60) days' written notice, and terminates
automatically in the event of an assignment to the extent required by the 1940
Act and the rules thereunder.
MIL serves as sub-adviser to the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund pursuant
to a sub-advisory agreement (the "Worldwide Sub- Agreement") with INVESCO which
was approved on April 19, 1995, by a vote cast in person by a majority of the
directors of the Company, including a majority of the directors who are not
"interested persons" of the Company, INVESCO or MIL at a meeting called for such
purpose. The Worldwide Sub-Agreement was approved on September __, 1995, by
INVESCO as the then sole shareholder of the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund for
an initial term expiring April 30, 1996. Thereafter, the Worldwide Sub-Agreement
may be continued from year to year as long as each such continuance is
specifically approved by the board of directors of the Company, or by a vote of
the holders of a majority, as defined in the 1940 Act, of the outstanding shares
of the Fund. Each such continuance also must be approved by a majority of the
directors who are not parties to the Worldwide Sub-Agreement or interested
persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party, cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. The Worldwide
Sub-Agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty by either party or
the Company upon sixty (60) days' written notice, and terminates automatically
in the event of an assignment to the extent required by the 1940 Act and the
rules thereunder.
The Sub-Agreements provide that INVESCO Trust and MIL, subject to the
supervision of INVESCO and the Company's board of directors, shall manage the
investment portfolios of the respective Funds in conformity with each Fund's
investment policies. These management services include: (a) managing the
investment and reinvestment of all the assets, now or hereafter acquired, of the
Funds, and executing all purchases and sales of portfolio securities; (b)
maintaining a continuous investment program for the Funds, consistent with (i)
each Fund's investment policies as set forth in the Company's Articles of
Incorporation, Bylaws, and Registration Statement, as from time to time amended,
under the 1940 Act, and in any prospectus and/or statement of additional
information of the Company, as from time to time amended and in use under the
1933 Act, and (ii) the Company's status as a regulated investment company under
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; (c) determining what securities
are to be purchased or sold for each of the Funds, unless otherwise directed by
the directors of the Company or INVESCO, and executing transactions accordingly;
(d) providing the Funds the benefit of all of the investment analysis and
research, the reviews of current economic conditions and trends, and the
consideration of long-range investment policy now or hereafter generally
available to investment advisory customers
<PAGE>
of the Sub-Advisers; (e) determining what portion of each of the Funds should be
invested in the various types of securities authorized for purchase by each
Fund; and (f) making recommendations as to the manner in which voting rights,
rights to consent to Company action and any other rights pertaining to the
portfolio securities of each Fund shall be exercised.
The Emerging Growth Sub-Agreement provides that as compensation for
its services, INVESCO Trust shall receive from INVESCO, at the end of each
month, a fee based upon the average daily value of the Emerging Growth Fund's
net assets at the following annual rate: 0.25% on the first $200 million of the
average net assets of the Fund, and 0.20% on the Fund's average net assets over
$200 million. The Worldwide Sub-Agreement provides that as compensation for its
services, MIL shall receive from INVESCO, at the end of each month, a fee based
upon the average daily value of the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund's net assets
at the following annual rate: 0.375% on the first $500 million of the Fund's
average net assets, 0.325% on the next $500 million of the Fund's average net
assets, and 0.275% on the Fund's average net assets over $1 billion. The
Sub-Advisory fees are paid by INVESCO, NOT the Funds.
Administrative Services Agreement. INVESCO, either directly or through
affiliated companies, provides certain administrative, sub-accounting, and
recordkeeping services to the Funds pursuant to an Administrative Services
Agreement dated December 31, 1991 (the "Administrative Agreement"). The
Administrative Agreement was approved on April 24, 1991, by a vote cast in
person by all of the directors of the Company, including all of the directors
who are not "interested persons" of the Company or INVESCO at a meeting called
for such purpose. The Administrative Agreement was for an initial term of one
year expiring December 31, 1992, and has been continued by action of the board
of directors until April 30, 1996. The Administrative Agreement may be continued
from year to year thereafter as long as each such continuance is specifically
approved by the board of directors of the Company, including a majority of the
directors who are not parties to the Administrative Agreement or interested
persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party, cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. The Administrative
Agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty by INVESCO on sixty (60)
days' written notice, or by the Company upon thirty (30) days' written notice,
and terminates automatically in the event of an assignment unless the Company's
board of directors approves such assignment.
The Administrative Agreement provides that INVESCO shall provide the
following services to the Funds: (A) such sub-accounting and recordkeeping
services and functions as are reasonably necessary for the operation of the
Funds; and (B) such sub-accounting, recordkeeping, and administrative services
and
<PAGE>
functions, which may be provided by affiliates of INVESCO, as are reasonably
necessary for the operation of Fund shareholder accounts maintained by certain
retirement plans and employee benefit plans for the benefit of participants in
such plans.
As full compensation for services provided under the Administrative
Agreement, each Fund pays a monthly fee to INVESCO consisting of a base fee of
$10,000 per year, plus an additional incremental fee computed daily and paid
monthly at an annual rate of 0.015% per year of the average net assets of the
Fund. For the fiscal years ended May 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, the Emerging
Growth Fund paid INVESCO administrative services fees in the amount of $______,
$37,194 and $21,284, respectively. The Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund has not
paid INVESCO any administrative services fees as of the date of this Statement
of Additional Information, since it did not commence a public offering of its
securities until September 11, 1995.
Transfer Agency Agreement. INVESCO also performs transfer agent, dividend
disbursing agent, and registrar services for the Funds pursuant to a Transfer
Agency Agreement dated December 31, 1991, which was approved by the board of
directors of the Company, including a majority of the Company's directors who
are not parties to the Transfer Agency Agreement or "interested persons" of any
such party, in April 1992, for a term of one year. The Transfer Agency Agreement
has been continued by action of the board of directors until April 30, 1996, and
thereafter may be continued from year to year as long as such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually by the board of directors of the
Company. Any such continuance also must be approved by a majority of the
Company's directors who are not parties to the Transfer Agency Agreement or
interested persons (as defined by the 1940 Act) of any such party, cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. The
Transfer Agency Agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty by
either party upon sixty (60) days' written notice and terminates automatically
in the event of assignment.
The Transfer Agency Agreement provides that the Funds shall pay to INVESCO
an annual fee of $14.00 per shareholder account or omnibus account participant.
This fee is paid monthly at 1/12 of the annual fee and is based upon the number
of shareholder accounts and omnibus account participants in existence at any
time during each month. For the fiscal years ended May 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993,
the Emerging Growth Fund paid INVESCO transfer agency fees of $_______, $362,259
and $203,346, respectively. The Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund has not paid
INVESCO any transfer agency fees as of the date of this Statement of Additional
Information, since it did not commence a public offering of securiites until
September 11, 1995.
<PAGE>
Officers and Directors of the Company. The overall direction and
supervision of the Company is the responsibility of the board of directors,
which has the primary duty of seeing that the general investment policies and
programs of each of the Funds are carried out and that the Funds are properly
administered. The officers of the Company, all of whom are officers and
employees of, and are paid by, INVESCO, are responsible for the day-to-day
administration of the Company and each of the Funds. The investment adviser for
each Fund has the primary responsibility for making investment decisions on
behalf of that Fund. These investment decisions are reviewed by the investment
committee of INVESCO.
All of the officers and directors of the Company hold comparable positions
with INVESCO Diversified Funds, Inc., INVESCO Dynamics Fund, Inc., INVESCO
Growth Fund, Inc., INVESCO Income Funds, Inc., INVESCO Industrial Income Fund,
Inc., INVESCO International Funds, Inc., INVESCO Money Market Funds, Inc.,
INVESCO Multiple Asset Funds, Inc., INVESCO Specialty Funds, Inc., INVESCO
Strategic Portfolios, Inc., INVESCO Tax-Free Income Funds, Inc. and INVESCO
Variable Investment Funds, Inc. All of the directors of the Company are also
trustees of INVESCO Value Trust. In addition, all of the directors of the
Company also are, with the exception of Messrs. Hesser and Sim, trustees of
INVESCO Treasurer's Series Trust and directors of The EBI Funds, Inc. All of the
officers of the Company also hold comparable positions with INVESCO Value Trust.
Set forth below is information with respect to each of the Company's officers
and directors. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of the directors and
officers is Post Office Box 173706, Denver, Colorado 80217-3706. Their
affiliations represent their principal occupations during the past five years.
CHARLES W. BRADY,*+ Chairman of the Board. Chief Executive Officer and
Director of INVESCO PLC, London, England, and of various subsidiaries thereof;
Chairman of the Board of The EBI Funds, Inc., INVESCO Treasurer's Series Trust,
and The Global Health Sciences Fund. Address: 1315 Peachtree Street, NE,
Atlanta, Georgia. Born May 11, 1935.
FRED A. DEERING,+# Vice Chairman of the Board. Vice Chairman of The EBI
Funds, Inc. and INVESCO Treasurer's Series Trust. Trustee of The Global Health
Sciences Fund. Chairman of the Executive Committee and, formerly, Chairman of
the Board of Security Life of Denver Insurance Company, Denver, Colorado;
Director of NN Financial, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Director and Chairman of the
Executive Committee of ING America Life, Life Insurance Co. of Georgia and
Southland Life Insurance Company. Address: Security Life Center, 1290 Broadway,
Denver, Colorado. Born: January 12, 1928.
DAN J. HESSER,*+ President and Director. Chairman of the Board, President,
and Chief Executive Officer of INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., and Director of
INVESCO Trust Company. Trustee of The Global Health Sciences Fund. Born:
December 27, 1939.
<PAGE>
VICTOR L. ANDREWS,** Director. Mills Bee Lane Professor of Banking and
Finance and Chairman of the Department of Finance at Georgia State University,
Atlanta, Georgia, since 1968; since October 1984, Director of the Center for the
Study of Regulated Industry at Georgia State University; formerly, member of the
faculties of the Harvard Business School and the Sloan School of Management of
MIT. Dr. Andrews is also a director of The Southeastern Thrift and Bank Fund,
Inc. and The Sheffield Funds, Inc. Address: Department of Finance, Georgia State
University, University Plaza, Atlanta, Georgia. Born: June 23, 1930.
BOB R. BAKER,+** Director. President and Chief Executive Officer of AMC
Cancer Research Center, Denver, Colorado, since January 1989; until mid-December
1988, Vice Chairman of the Board of First Columbia Financial Corporation (a
financial institution), Englewood, Colorado. Formerly, Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer of First Columbia Financial Corporation. Address: 1775
Sherman Street, #1000, Denver, Colorado. Born: August 7, 1936.
FRANK M. BISHOP,* Director. President and Chief Operating Officer of
INVESCO Inc. since February, 1993; Director of INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. since
March 1993; Director (since February 1993), Vice President (since December
1991), and Portfolio Manager (since February 1987), of INVESCO Capital
Management, Inc. (and predecessor firms) Atlanta, Georgia. Address: 1315
Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia. Born: December 7, 1943.
LAWRENCE H. BUDNER,# Director. Trust Consultant; prior to June 30, 1987,
Senior Vice President and Senior Trust Officer of InterFirst Bank, Dallas,
Texas. Address: 7608 Glen Albens, Dallas, Texas. Born: July 25, 1930.
DANIEL D. CHABRIS,+# Director. Financial Consultant; Assistant Treasurer of
Colt Industries Inc., New York, New York, from 1966 to 1988. Address: 15
Sterling Road, Armonk, New York. Born: August 1, 1923.
A. D. FRAZIER, JR.,** Director. Chief Operating Officer of the Atlanta
Committee for the Olympic Games. From 1982 to 1991, Mr. Frazier was employed in
various capacities by First Chicago Bank, most recently as Executive Vice
President of the North American Banking Group. Trustee of The Global Health
Sciences Fund. Address: 250 Williams Street, Suite 6000, Atlanta, Georgia 30301.
Born: June 29, 1944.
KENNETH T. KING,** Director. Formerly, Chairman of the Board of The Capitol
Life Insurance Company, Providence Washington Insurance Company, and Director of
numerous subsidiaries thereof in the U.S. Formerly, Chairman of the Board of The
Providence Capitol Companies in the United Kingdom and Guernsey. Chairman of the
Board of the Symbion Corporation (a high technology company) until 1987.
Address: 4080 North Circulo Manzanillo, Tucson, Arizona. Born: November 16,
1925.
<PAGE>
JOHN W. MCINTYRE,# Director. Retired. Formerly, Vice Chairman of the Board
of Directors of the Citizens and Southern Corporation and Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer of the Citizens and Southern Georgia Corporation and
Citizens and Southern National Bank. Director of Golden Poultry Co., Inc.
Trustee of The Global Health Sciences Fund and Gables Residential Trust.
Address: Seven Piedmont Center, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30305. Born:
September 14, 1930.
R. DALTON SIM*, Director. Chairman of the Board (since March 1993) and
President (since January 1991) of INVESCO Trust Company; Director since June
1987 and, formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (June
1987 to January 1991) of INVESCO Funds Group, Inc.; President (since 1994) and
Trustee (since 1991) of The Global Health Sciences Fund. Born: July 18, 1939.
GLEN A. PAYNE, Secretary. Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary of INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. and INVESCO Trust Company; formerly,
employee of a U.S. regulatory agency, Washington, D.C., (June 1973 through May
1989). Born: September 25, 1947.
RONALD L. GROOMS, Treasurer. Senior Vice President and Treasurer of INVESCO
Funds Group, Inc. and INVESCO Trust Company. Born: October 1, 1946.
WILLIAM J. GALVIN, JR., Assistant Secretary. Vice President of INVESCO
Funds Group, Inc. and Trust Officer of INVESCO Trust Company since August 1992;
Vice President of 440 Financial Group from June 1990 to August 1992; Assistant
Vice President of Putnam Companies from November 1986 to June 1990. Born: August
21, 1956.
ALAN I. WATSON, Assistant Secretary. Vice President of INVESCO Funds Group,
Inc. and Trust Officer of INVESCO Trust Company. Born: September 14, 1941.
JUDY P. WIESE, Assistant Treasurer. Vice President of INVESCO Funds Group,
Inc. and Trust Officer of INVESCO Trust Company. Born: February 3, 1948.
#Member of the audit committee of the Company.
+Member of the executive committee of the Company. On occasion, the
executive committee acts upon the current and ordinary business of the Company
between meetings of the board of directors. Except for certain powers which,
under applicable law, may only be exercised by the full board of directors, the
executive committee may exercise all powers and authority of the board of
directors in the management of the business of the Company. All decisions are
subsequently submitted for ratification by the board of directors.
<PAGE>
*These directors are "interested persons" of the Company as defined in the
1940 Act.
**Member of the management liaison committee of the Company.
As of May 31, 1995, the officers and directors of the Company, as a group,
beneficially owned less than 1% of the Company's outstanding shares and less
than 1% of each Fund's outstanding shares.
Director Compensation
The following table sets forth, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1995:
the compensation paid by the Company to its eight independent directors for
services rendered in their capacities as directors of the Company; the benefits
accrued as Company expenses with respect to the Defined Benefit Deferred
Compensation Plan discussed below; and the estimated annual benefits to be
received by these directors upon retirement as a result of their service to the
Company. In addition, the table sets forth the total compensation paid by all of
the mutual funds distributed by INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. (including the
Company), The EBI Funds, Inc., INVESCO Treasurer's Series Trust and The Global
Health Sciences Fund (collectively, the "INVESCO Complex") to these directors
for services rendered in their capacities as directors or trustees during the
year ended December 31, 1994. As of December 31, 1994, there were 45 funds in
the INVESCO Complex.
Total
Compensa-
Benefits Estimated tion From
Aggregate Accrued As Annual INVESCO
Compensa- Part of Benefits Complex
tion From Company Upon Paid To
Company1 Expenses2 Retirement3 Directors1
Fred A.Deering, $_____ $_____ $_____ $89,350
Vice Chairman of
the Board
Victor L. Andrews _____ _____ _____ 68,000
Bob R. Baker _____ _____ _____ 75,350
Lawrence H. Budner _____ _____ _____ 68,000
<PAGE>
Daniel D. Chabris _____ _____ _____ 73,350
A. D. Frazier, Jr.4 0 0 0 ______
Kenneth T. King _____ _____ _____ 71,000
John W. McIntyre4 0 0 0 ______
Total $______ $______ $______ $_______
% of Net Assets _____%5 _____%5 .____%6
1The vice chairman of the board, the chairmen of the audit, management
liaison and compensation committees, and the members of the executive and
valuation committees each receive compensation for serving in such capacities in
addition to the compensation paid to all independent directors.
2Represents benefits accrued with respect to the Defined Benefit Deferred
Compensation Plan discussed below, and not compensation deferred at the election
of the directors.
3These figures represent the Company's share of the estimated annual
benefits payable by the INVESCO Complex (excluding the Global Health Sciences
Fund which does not participate in any retirement plan) upon the directors'
retirement, calculated using the current method of allocating director
compensation among the funds in the INVESCO Complex. These estimated benefits
assume retirement at age 72 and that the basic retainer payable to the directors
will be adjusted periodically for inflation, for increases in the number of
funds in the INVESCO Complex, and for other reasons during the period in which
retirement benefits are accrued on behalf of the respective directors. This
results in lower estimated benefits for directors who are closer to retirement
and higher estimated benefits for directors who are further from retirement.
With the exception of Messrs. Frazier and McIntyre, each of these directors has
served as a director/trustee of one or more of the funds in the INVESCO Complex
for the minimum five-year period required to be eligible to participate in the
Defined Benefit Deferred Compensation Plan.
4Messrs. Frazier and McIntyre began serving as directors of the Company on
April 19, 1995.
5Totals as a percentage of the Company's net assets as of May 31, 1995.
6Total as a percentage of the net assets of the INVESCO Complex as of
December 31, 1994.
Messrs. Bishop, Brady, Hesser, and Sim, as "interested persons" of the
Company and other funds in the INVESCO Complex, receive compensation as officers
or employees of INVESCO or its affiliated companies, and do not receive any
director's fees or other compensation from the Company or other funds in the
INVESCO Complex for their services as directors.
<PAGE>
The boards of directors/trustees of the mutual funds managed by INVESCO,
The EBI Funds, Inc. and INVESCO Treasurer's Series Trust have adopted a Defined
Benefit Deferred Compensation Plan for the non-interested directors and trustees
of the funds. Under this plan, each director or trustee who is not an interested
person of the funds (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who has served for at least
five years (a "qualified director") is entitled to receive, upon retiring from
the boards at the retirement age of 72 (or the retirement age of 73 to 74, if
the retirement date is extended by the boards for one or two years, but less
than three years) continuation of payment for one year (the "first year
retirement benefit") of the annual basic retainer payable by the funds to the
qualified director at the time of his retirement (the "basic retainer").
Commencing with any such director's second year of retirement, and commencing
with the first year of retirement of a director whose retirement has been
extended by the board for three years, a qualified director shall receive
quarterly payments at an annual rate equal to 25% of the basic retainer. These
payments will continue for the remainder of the qualified director's life or ten
years, whichever is longer (the "reduced retainer payments"). If a qualified
director dies or becomes disabled after age 72 and before age 74 while still a
director of the funds, the first year retirement benefit and the reduced
retainer payments will be made to him or to his beneficiary or estate. If a
qualified director becomes disabled or dies either prior to age 72 or during
his/her 74th year while still a director of the funds, the director will not be
entitled to receive the first year retirement benefit; however, the reduced
retainer payments will be made to his beneficiary or estate. The plan is
administered by a committee of three directors who are also participants in the
plan and one director who is not a plan participant. The cost of the plan will
be allocated among the INVESCO, EBI and Treasurer's Series funds in a manner
determined to be fair and equitable by the committee. The Company is not making
any payments to directors under the plan as of the date of this Statement of
Additional Information. The Company has no stock options or other pension or
retirement plans for management or other personnel and pays no salary or
compensation to any of its officers.
The Company has an audit committee comprised of four of the directors who
are not interested persons of the Company. The committee meets periodically with
the Company's independent accountants and officers to review accounting
principles used by the Company, the adequacy of internal controls, the
responsibilities and fees of the independent accountants, and other matters.
<PAGE>
The Company also has a management liaison committee which meets quarterly
with various management personnel of INVESCO in order (a) to facilitate better
understanding of management and operations of the Company, and (b) to review
legal and operational matters which have been assigned to the committee by the
board of directors, in furtherance of the board of directors' overall duty of
supervision.
HOW SHARES CAN BE PURCHASED
Shares of each Fund are sold on a continuous basis at the respective net
asset value per share of the Fund next calculated after receipt of a purchase
order in good form. The net asset value per share is computed separately for
each Fund and is determined once each day that the New York Stock Exchange is
open as of the close of regular trading on that Exchange, but may also be
computed at other times. See "How Shares Are Valued." INVESCO acts as the Funds'
Distributor under a distribution agreement with the Company under which it
receives no compensation and bears all expenses, including the costs of printing
and distributing prospectuses, incident to marketing of the Funds' shares,
except for such distribution expenses which are paid out of Fund assets under
the Company's Plan of Distribution which has been adopted by the Company in
accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
Distribution Plan. As discussed under "How Shares Can Be Purchased" in the
Prospectuses, the Company has adopted a Plan and Agreement of Distribution (the
"Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Plan provides that each
of the Funds may make monthly payments to INVESCO of amounts computed at an
annual rate no greater than 0.25% on the Fund's average net assets during any
12-month period to reimburse it for expenses incurred by it in connection with
the distribution of each Fund's shares to investors. For the fiscal year ended
May 31, 1995, the Emerging Growth Fund made payments to INVESCO under the Plan
in the amount of $_______. In addition, as of May 31, 1995, $______ of
additional distribution expenses had been incurred for the Emerging Growth Fund
and are subject to payment upon approval of the Company's directors. As noted in
the Prospectuses, one type of reimbursable expenditure is the payment of
compensation to securities companies and other financial institutions and
organizations in order to obtain various distribution-related and/or
administrative services for the Funds. Each Fund is authorized by the Plan to
use its assets to finance the payments made to obtain those services. Payments
may be made by INVESCO to broker-dealers, who sell shares of the Funds and may
be made to banks, savings and loan associations and other depository
institutions. Although the Glass-Steagall Act limits the ability of certain
banks to act as underwriters of mutual fund shares, the Company does not believe
that these limitations affect the ability of such banks to enter into
arrangements with INVESCO, but can give no assurance in this regard. However, to
the extent it is
<PAGE>
determined otherwise in the future, arrangements with banks might have to be
modified or terminated, and, in that case, the size of one or both of the Funds
possibly could decrease to the extent that the banks would no longer invest
customer assets in a particular Fund. Neither the Company nor its investment
adviser will give any preference to banks or other depository institutions which
enter into such arrangements when selecting investments to be made by each Fund.
For the 12 months ended May 31, 1995, allocation of 12b-1 amounts paid by
the Emerging Growth Fund for the following categories of expenses were:
advertising--$______; sales literature, printing, and postage--$_______; direct
mail--$______; public relations/promotion--$______ compensation to securities
dealers and other organizations--$______; and marketing personnel-- $_______.
The Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund has not paid any 12b-1 fees as of the date
of this Statement of Additional Information since it did not commence a public
offering of its securities until September 11, 1995.
The nature and scope of services which are provided by securities dealers
and other organizations may vary by dealer but include, among other things,
processing new stockholder account applications, preparing and transmitting to
the Company's Transfer Agent computer-processable tapes of each Fund's
transactions by customers, serving as the primary source of information to
customers in answering questions concerning each Fund, and assisting in other
customer transactions with each Fund.
The Plan was approved on April 24, 1991, at a meeting called for such
purpose by a majority of the directors of the Company, including a majority of
the directors who neither are "interested persons" of the Company nor have any
financial interest in the operation of the Plan ("12b-1 directors"). The Plan
was approved by INVESCO on December 31, 1991, as the then sole shareholder of
the Emerging Growth Fund, and by the public shareholders of the Fund on May 24,
1993. Continuation of the Plan for another year was approved by the board of
directors of the Company, including a majority of the 12b-1 directors, on April
19, 1995. With respect to the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund, the Plan was
approved by INVESCO on September __, 1995 as the then sole shareholder of the
Fund.
The Plan provides that it shall continue in effect for so long as such
continuance is approved at least annually by the vote of the board of directors,
including a majority of the 12b-1 directors of the Company cast in person at a
meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. The Plan can be
terminated at any time with respect to any Fund, without penalty, if a majority
of the 12b-1 directors, or shareholders of such Fund, vote to terminate the
Plan. The Company may, in its absolute discretion, suspend, discontinue or limit
the offering of the shares of any
<PAGE>
Fund at any time. In determining whether any such action should be taken, the
board of directors intends to consider all relevant factors including, without
limitation, the size of the Funds, the investment climate for any particular
Fund, general market conditions, and the volume of sales and redemptions of Fund
shares. The Plan may continue in effect and payments may be made under the Plan
following any such temporary suspension or limitation of the offering of a
Fund's shares; however, the Company is not contractually obligated to continue
the Plan for any particular period of time. Suspension of the offering of a
Fund's shares would not, of course, affect a shareholder's ability to redeem his
shares. So long as the Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of
persons to serve as independent directors of the Company shall be committed to
the independent directors then in office at the time of such selection or
nomination. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of any
Fund's payments thereunder without approval of the shareholders of that Fund,
and all material amendments to the Plan must be approved by the board of
directors of the Company, including a majority of the 12b-1 directors. Under the
agreement implementing the Plan, INVESCO or the Funds, the latter by vote of a
majority of the 12b-1 directors or of the holders of a majority of any Fund's
outstanding voting securities, may terminate such agreement without penalty upon
30 days' written notice to the other party. No further payments will be made by
any Fund under the Plan in the event of its termination as to that Fund.
To the extent that the Plan constitutes a plan of distribution adopted
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, it shall remain in effect as such, so
as to authorize the use of each Fund's assets in the amounts and for the
purposes set forth therein, notwithstanding the occurrence of an assignment, as
defined by the 1940 Act, and rules thereunder. To the extent it constitutes an
agreement pursuant to a plan, each Fund's obligation to make payments to INVESCO
under the Plan shall terminate automatically, in the event of an "assignment,"
in which event the Funds may continue to make payments, pursuant to the Plan, to
INVESCO or another organization only upon the approval of new arrangements,
which may or may not be with INVESCO, regarding the use of the amounts
authorized to be paid by it under the Plan, by the directors, including a
majority of the 12b-1 directors, by a vote cast in person at a meeting called
for such purpose.
Information regarding the services rendered under the Plan and the amounts
paid therefor by each Fund are provided to, and reviewed by, the directors on a
quarterly basis. In the quarterly review, the directors determine whether, and
to what extent, INVESCO will be reimbursed for expenditures which it has made
that are reimbursable under the Company's Rule 12b-1 Plan. On an annual basis,
the directors consider the continued appropriateness of the Plan and the level
of compensation provided therein.
<PAGE>
The only directors or interested persons, as that term is defined in
Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, of the Company who have a direct or indirect
financial interest in the operation of the Plan are the officers and directors
of the Company listed under "Officers and Directors of the Company" who are also
officers either of INVESCO or companies affiliated with INVESCO. The benefits
which the Company believes will be reasonably likely to flow to the Funds and
their shareholders under the Plan include the following:
(1) Enhanced marketing efforts, if successful, should result in an
increase in net assets through the sale of additional shares and
afford greater resources with which to pursue the investment
objectives of the Funds;
(2) The sale of additional shares reduces the likelihood that redemption
of shares will require the liquidation of securities of the Funds in
amounts and at times that are disadvantageous for investment
purposes;
(3) The positive effect which increased Fund assets will have on its
revenues could allow INVESCO:
(a) To have greater resources to make the financial commitments
necessary to improve the quality and level of each Fund's
shareholder services (in both systems and personnel),
(b) To increase the number and type of mutual funds available to
investors from INVESCO (and support them in their infancy),
and thereby expand the investment choices available to all
shareholders, and
(c) To acquire and retain talented employees who desire to be
associated with a growing organization; and
(4) Increased Fund assets may result in reducing each investor's share
of certain expenses through economies of scale (e.g. exceeding
established breakpoints in the advisory fee schedule and allocating
fixed expenses over a larger asset base) thereby partially
offsetting the costs of the Plan.
HOW SHARES ARE VALUED
As described in the section of the Funds' Prospectuses entitled "How
Shares Can Be Purchased," the net asset value of shares of each Fund of the
Company is computed once each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open as of
the close of regular trading on that Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m., New York
time) and applies to purchase and redemption orders received prior to that
<PAGE>
time. Net asset value per share is also computed on any other day on which there
is a sufficient degree of trading in the securities held by a Fund that the
current net asset value per share of such Fund might be materially affected by
changes in the value of the securities held, but only if on such day the Fund
receives a request to purchase or redeem shares. Net asset value per share is
not calculated on days the New York Stock Exchange is closed, such as federal
holidays, including New Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
The net asset value per share of each Fund is calculated by dividing the
value of all securities held by the Fund and its other assets (including
dividends and interest accrued but not collected), less the Fund's liabilities
(including accrued expenses), by the number of outstanding shares of the Fund.
Securities traded on national securities exchanges, the NASDAQ National Market
System, the NASDAQ Small Cap Market and foreign markets are valued at their last
sale prices on the exchanges or markets where such securities are primarily
traded. Securities traded in the over-the-counter market for which last sale
prices are not available, and listed securities for which no sales were reported
on a particular date, are valued at their highest closing bid prices (or, for
debt securities, yield equivalents thereof) obtained from one or more dealers
making markets for such securities. If market quotations are not readily
available, securities will be valued at their fair values as determined in good
faith by the board of directors or pursuant to procedures adopted by the board
of directors. The above procedures may include the use of valuations furnished
by a pricing service which employs a matrix to determine valuations for normal
institutional- size trading units of debt securities. Prior to utilizing a
pricing service, the Company's board of directors reviews the methods used by
such service to assure itself that securities will be valued at their fair
values. The Company's board of directors also periodically monitors the methods
used by such pricing services. Debt securities with remaining maturities of 60
days or less at the time of purchase are normally valued at amortized cost.
The values of securities held by the Funds, and other assets used in
computing net asset value, generally are determined as of the time regular
trading in such securities or assets is completed each day. Since regular
trading in most foreign securities markets is completed simultaneously with, or
prior to, the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, closing
prices for foreign securities usually are available for purposes of computing
the Funds' net asset value. However, in the event that the closing price of a
foreign security is not available in time to calculate a Fund's net asset value
on a particular day, the Company's board of directors has authorized the use of
the market price for the security obtained from an approved pricing service at
an established time during the day which may be prior to the close of
<PAGE>
regular trading in the security. The value of all assets and liabilities
initially expressed in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars at
the spot rate of such currencies against U.S. dollars provided by an approved
pricing service.
FUND PERFORMANCE
As discussed in the Funds' Prospectuses, the Company advertises the total
return performance of the Funds. Average annual total return performance for the
Emerging Growth Fund for the one-year period ended May 31, 1995 and the period
December 27, 1991 (commencement of operations of the Fund) to May 31, 1995 (life
of the Fund), was _____% and _____%, respectively. The Worldwide Emerging
Markets Fund did not commence a public offering of its securities until
September 11, 1995, so it does not have any investment results for the period
indicated.
Average annual total return performance is computed by finding the average
annual compounded rates of return that would equate the initial amount invested
to the ending redeemable value, according to the following formula:
P(1 + T)n = ERV
where: P = initial payment of $1000
T = average annual total return
n = number of years
ERV = ending redeemable value of initial payment
The total return performance figures shown are determined by solving the
above formula for "T" for a particular time period.
In conjunction with performance reports, comparative data between the
Funds' performance for a given period and other types of investment vehicles,
including certificates of deposit, may be provided to prospective investors and
shareholders.
From time to time, evaluations of performance made by independent sources
may also be used in advertisements, sales literature or shareholder reports,
including reprints of, or selections from, editorials or articles about the
Funds. Sources for Fund performance information and articles about the Funds
include, but are not limited to, the following:
American Association of Individual Investors' Journal
Banxquote
Barron's
Business Week
CDA Investment Technologies
CNBC
CNN
Consumer Digest
<PAGE>
Financial Times
Financial World
Forbes
Fortune
Ibbotson Associates, Inc.
Institutional Investor
Investment Company Data, Inc.
Investor's Business Daily
Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.'s Mutual Fund
Performance Analysis
Money
Morningstar
Mutual Fund Forecaster
No-Load Analyst
No-Load Fund X
Personal Investor
Smart Money
The New York Times
The No-Load Fund Investor
U.S. News and World Report
United Mutual Fund Selector
USA Today
The Wall Street Journal
Wiesenberger Investment Companies Services
Working Woman
Worth
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE FUNDS
Periodic Withdrawal Plan. As described in the section of the Funds'
Prospectuses entitled "Services Provided by the Funds," each Fund offers a
Periodic Withdrawal Plan. All dividends and distributions on shares owned by
shareholders participating in this Plan are reinvested in additional shares.
Since withdrawal payments represent the proceeds from sales of shares, the
amount of shareholders' investments in a Fund will be reduced to the extent that
withdrawal payments exceed dividends and other distributions paid and
reinvested. Any gain or loss on such redemptions must be reported for tax
purposes. In each case, shares will be redeemed at the close of business on or
about the 20th day of each month preceding payment and payments will be mailed
within five business days thereafter.
The Periodic Withdrawal Plan involves the use of principal and is not a
guaranteed annuity. Payments under such a Plan do not represent income or a
return on investment.
A Periodic Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time by sending a
written request to INVESCO. Upon termination, all future dividends and capital
gain distributions will be reinvested in additional shares unless a shareholder
requests otherwise.
<PAGE>
Exchange Privilege. As discussed in the section of the Funds' Prospectuses
entitled "Services Provided by the Funds," the Funds offer shareholders the
privilege of exchanging shares of a Fund for shares of the other Fund or for
shares of certain other no-load mutual funds advised by INVESCO. Exchange
requests may be made either by telephone or by written request to INVESCO Funds
Group, Inc. using the telephone number or address on the cover of this Statement
of Additional Information. Exchanges made by telephone must be in an amount of
at least $250, if the exchange is being made into an existing account of one of
the INVESCO funds. All exchanges that establish a new account must meet the
fund's applicable minimum initial investment requirements. Written exchange
requests into an existing account have no minimum requirements other than the
fund's applicable minimum subsequent investment requirements. Any gain or loss
realized on an exchange is recognized for federal income tax purposes. This
privilege is not an option or right to purchase securities, but is a revocable
privilege permitted under the present policies of each of the funds and is not
available in any state or other jurisdiction where the shares of the mutual fund
into which transfer is to be made are not qualified for sale, or when the net
asset value of the shares presented for exchange is less than the minimum dollar
purchase required by the appropriate prospectus.
TAX-DEFERRED RETIREMENT PLANS
As described in the section of the Funds' Prospectuses entitled "Services
Provided by the Fund," shares of a Fund may be purchased as the investment
medium for various tax-deferred retirement plans. Persons who request
information regarding these plans from INVESCO will be provided with prototype
documents and other supporting information regarding the type of plan requested.
Each of these plans involves a long-term commitment of assets and is subject to
possible regulatory penalties for excess contributions, premature distributions
or for insufficient distributions after age 70-1/2. The legal and tax
implications may vary according to the circumstances of the individual investor.
Therefore, the investor is urged to consult with an attorney or tax adviser
prior to the establishment of such a plan.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
Normally, payments for shares redeemed will be mailed within seven (7) days
following receipt of the required documents as described in the section of the
Funds' Prospectuses entitled "How to Redeem Shares." The right of redemption may
be suspended and payment postponed when: (a) the New York Stock Exchange is
closed for other than customary weekends and holidays; (b) trading on that
exchange is restricted; (c) an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by
a Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not
reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net
assets; or (d) the Securities and Exchange Commission by order so permits.
<PAGE>
It is possible that in the future conditions may exist which would, in the
opinion of the Company's investment adviser, make it undesirable for a Fund to
pay for redeemed shares in cash. In such cases, the investment adviser may
authorize payment to be made in portfolio securities or other property of the
Fund. However, the Company is obligated under the 1940 Act to redeem for cash
all shares of a Fund presented for redemption by any one shareholder having a
value up to $250,000 (or 1% of the Fund's net assets if that is less) in any
90-day period. Securities delivered in payment of redemptions are selected
entirely by the investment adviser based on what is in the best interests of the
Fund and its shareholders, and are valued at the value assigned to them in
computing the Fund's net asset value per share. Shareholders receiving such
securities are likely to incur brokerage costs on their subsequent sales of the
securities.
DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES
Each Fund intends to conduct its business and satisfy the applicable
diversification of assets and source of income requirements to qualify as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended. The Emerging Growth Fund so qualified in the fiscal year ended
May 31, 1995, and both Funds intend to qualify during the current fiscal year.
(The Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund did not commence a public offering of its
securities until September 11, 1995, so it was not subject to the requirements
of Subchapter M during the fiscal year ended May 31, 1995.) As a result, it is
anticipated that the Funds will pay no federal income or excise taxes and will
be accorded conduit or "pass through" treatment for federal income tax purposes.
Dividends paid by the Funds from net investment income as well as
distributions of net realized short-term capital gains and net- realized gains
from certain foreign currency transactions are, for federal income tax purposes,
taxable as ordinary income to shareholders. After the end of each calendar year,
each Fund sends shareholders information regarding the amount and character of
dividends paid in the year, including the dividends eligible for the
dividends-received deduction for corporations. Such amounts will be limited to
the aggregate amount of qualifying dividends which each Fund derives from its
portfolio investments.
Distributions by the Funds of net capital gain (the excess of long-term
capital gain over net short-term capital loss) are, for federal income tax
purposes, taxable to the shareholder as long-term capital gains regardless of
how long a shareholder has held shares of a Fund. Such distributions are
identified as such and are not eligible for the dividends-received deduction.
<PAGE>
All dividends and other distributions are regarded as taxable to the
investor, whether or not such dividends and distributions are reinvested in
additional shares. If the net asset value of the shares of the Funds should be
reduced below a shareholder's cost as a result of a distribution, such
distribution would be taxable to the shareholder although a portion would be, in
effect, a return of invested capital. The net asset value of shares of the Funds
reflects accrued net investment income and undistributed realized capital and
foreign currency gain; therefore, when a distribution is made, the net asset
value is reduced by the amount of the distribution. If shares are purchased
shortly before a distribution, the full price for the shares will be paid and
some portion of the price may then be returned to the shareholder as a taxable
dividend or capital gain. However, the net asset value per share will be reduced
by the amount of the distribution, which would reduce any gain (or increase any
loss) for tax purposes on any subsequent redemption of shares.
Dividends and interest received by the Funds may give rise to withholding
and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax treaties between certain
countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes.
INVESCO may provide Fund shareholders with information concerning the
average cost basis of their shares in order to help them prepare their tax
returns. This information is intended as a convenience to shareholders, and will
not be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"). The IRS permits the
use of several methods to determine the cost basis of mutual fund shares. The
cost basis information provided by INVESCO will be computed using the
single-category average cost method, although neither INVESCO nor the Company
recommends any particular method of determining cost basis. Other methods may
result in different tax consequences. If a shareholder has reported gains or
losses for a Fund in past years, the shareholder must continue to use the method
previously used, unless the shareholder applies to the IRS for permission to
change methods.
If a Fund's shares are sold at a loss after being held for six months or
less, the loss will be treated as long-term, instead of short-term, capital loss
to the extent of any capital gain distributions received on those shares.
The Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax to the extent it
fails to distribute by the end of any calendar year substantially all of its
ordinary income for that year and capital gain net income for the one-year
period ending on October 31 of that year, plus certain other amounts.
Dividends and interest received by a Fund may be subject to income,
withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions
that would reduce the yield on its securities.
<PAGE>
Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or
eliminate these foreign taxes, however, and many foreign countries do not impose
taxes on capital gains in respect of investments by foreign investors. If more
than 50% of the value of a Fund's total assets at the close of any taxable year
consists of securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to,
and may, file an election with the Internal Revenue Service that will enable its
shareholders, in effect, to receive the benefit of the foreign tax credit with
respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by it. Each Fund
will report to its shareholders shortly after each taxable year their respective
shares of the Fund's income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign
countries and U.S. possessions if it makes this election.
Each Fund may invest in the stock of "passive foreign investment
companies" (PFICs"). A PFIC is a foreign corporation that, in general, meets
either of the following tests: (1) at least 75% of its gross income is passive
or (2) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the
production of, passive income. Under certain circumstances, a Fund will be
subject to federal income tax on a portion of any "excess distribution" received
on the stock of a PFIC or of any gain on disposition of the stock (collectively
"PFIC income"), plus interest thereon, even if the Fund distributes the PFIC
income as a taxable dividend to its shareholders. The balance of the PFIC income
will be included in the Fund's investment company taxable income and,
accordingly, will not be taxable to it to the extent that income is distributed
to its shareholders.
Gains or losses (1) from the disposition of foreign currencies, (2) from
the disposition of debt securities denominated in foreign currency that are
attributable to fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency between the
date of acquisition of each security and the date of disposition, and (3) that
are attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates that occur between the time a
Fund accrues interest, dividends or other receivables or accrues expenses or
other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund
actually collects the receivables or pays the liabilities, generally will be
treated as ordinary income or loss. These gains or losses may increase or
decrease the amount of the Fund's investment company taxable income to be
distributed to its shareholders.
Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers regarding specific
questions as to federal, state and local taxes. Dividends and capital gain
distributions will generally be subject to applicable state and local taxes.
Qualification as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, for income tax purposes does not entail government
supervision of management or investment policies.
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT PRACTICES
Portfolio Turnover. There are no fixed limitations regarding the portfolio
turnover of the Funds. The rate of portfolio turnover can fluctuate under
constantly changing economic conditions and market circumstances. Securities
initially satisfying the basic policies and objectives of a Fund may be disposed
of when they are no longer suitable. Brokerage costs to the Funds are
commensurate with the rate of portfolio activity. As of the date of this
Statement of Additional Information, the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund had not
commenced a public offering of its shares and therefore had not experienced any
portfolio turnover. The portfolio turnover rates for the Emerging Growth Fund
for the fiscal years ended May 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 were ___%, 196% and 153%,
respectively. In computing the portfolio turnover rate, all investments with
maturities or expiration dates at the time of acquisition of one year or less
are excluded. Subject to this exclusion, the turnover rate is calculated by
dividing (A) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the
fiscal year by (B) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities
owned by the Fund during the fiscal year.
Placement of Portfolio Brokerage. Either INVESCO, as the Company's
investment adviser, or INVESCO Trust or MIL, as the Company's sub-advisers,
places orders for the purchase and sale of securities with brokers and dealers
based upon INVESCO's, INVESCO Trust's or MIL's evaluation of their financial
responsibility, subject to their ability to effect transactions at the best
available prices. INVESCO, INVESCO Trust or MIL evaluates the overall
reasonableness of brokerage commissions or underwriting discounts (the
difference between the full acquisition price to acquire the new offering and
the discount offered to members of the underwriting syndicate) paid by reviewing
the quality of executions obtained on portfolio transactions of the respective
Funds, viewed in terms of the size of transactions, prevailing market conditions
in the security purchased or sold, and general economic and market conditions.
In seeking to ensure that the commissions charged the Funds are consistent with
prevailing and reasonable commissions or discounts, INVESCO, INVESCO Trust or
MIL also endeavor to monitor brokerage industry practices with regard to the
commissions or discounts charged by brokers and dealers on transactions effected
for other comparable institutional investors. While INVESCO, INVESCO Trust or
MIL seek reasonably competitive rates, the Funds do not necessarily pay the
lowest commission, spread or discount available.
Consistent with the standard of seeking to obtain the best execution on
portfolio transactions, INVESCO, INVESCO Trust or MIL may select brokers that
provide research services to effect such transactions. Research services consist
of statistical and analytical reports relating to issuers, industries,
securities and
<PAGE>
economic factors and trends, which may be of assistance or value to INVESCO,
INVESCO Trust or MIL in making informed investment decisions. Research services
prepared and furnished by brokers through which the Funds effect securities
transactions may be used by INVESCO, INVESCO Trust or MIL in servicing all of
their accounts and not all such services may be used by INVESCO, INVESCO Trust
or MIL in connection with the Funds.
In recognition of the value of the above-described brokerage and research
services provided by certain brokers, INVESCO, INVESCO Trust or MIL, consistent
with the standard of seeking to obtain the best execution on portfolio
transactions, may place orders with such brokers for the execution of
transactions for the Funds on which the commissions or discounts are in excess
of those which other brokers might have charged for effecting the same
transactions.
Portfolio transactions may be effected through qualified broker/dealers
who recommend the Funds to their clients, or who act as agent in the purchase of
the Fund's shares for their clients. When a number of brokers and dealers can
provide comparable best price and execution on a particular transaction, the
Company's adviser or sub-adviser may consider the sale of Fund shares by a
broker or dealer in selecting among qualified broker/dealers.
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. ("Schwab) is paid a fee for recordkeeping,
shareholder communications and other services provided by Schwab to investors
purchasing shares of the Funds through the OneSource(R) program offered by
Schwab as part of its Mutual Fund Marketplace(R). This fee is based on the
average daily value of the investments in each Fund made by Schwab on behalf of
investors participating in the Schwab program. The directors of the Company have
authorized the Funds to apply dollars generated from the Company's Plan and
Agreement of Distribution pursuant to 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to pay this fee
to Schwab. The directors of the Company have further authorized INVESCO to place
a portion of the Emerging Growth Fund's brokerage transactions with Schwab, if
INVESCO reasonably believes that, in effecting the Fund's transactions in
portfolio securities, Schwab is able to provide the best execution of orders at
the most favorable prices. Commissions earned by Schwab from executing portfolio
transactions on behalf of the Emerging Growth Fund may be credited by Schwab
against the fee charged by Schwab to that Fund, on a basis which has resulted
from negotiations between INVESCO and Schwab. Any Rule 12b-1 fees which are not
expended as a result of the application of any such credit may be used to
reimburse INVESCO for other expenses incurred by INVESCO in distributing the
Emerging Growth Fund's shares to the extent contemplated by the Fund's Plan and
Agreement of Distribution.
<PAGE>
The Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund has paid no brokerage commissions as of
the date of this Statement of Additional Information, since the Fund did not
commence a public offering of its securities until September 11, 1995. The
aggregate dollar amounts of brokerage commissions paid by the Emerging Growth
Fund for the fiscal years ended May 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 were $_________,
$2,276,525 and $1,028,661, respectively. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 1995,
brokers providing research services received $_______ in commissions on
portfolio transactions effected for the Fund. The aggregate dollar amount of
such portfolio transactions was $__________. There were no commissions allocated
to brokers in recognition of their sales of shares of the Fund on portfolio
transactions of the Fund effected during that time period.
At May 31, 1995, the Emerging Growth Fund held securities of its regular
brokers or dealers, or their parents, as follows:
Value of Securities
Broker or Dealer at 5/31/95
Neither INVESCO, INVESCO Trust or MIL receives any brokerage commissions
on portfolio transactions effected on behalf of the Funds, and there is no
affiliation between INVESCO, INVESCO Trust, MIL, or any person affiliated with
INVESCO, INVESCO Trust, MIL or the Funds and any broker or dealer that executes
transactions for the Funds.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Common Stock. The Company was incorporated with 600,000,000 authorized
shares of common stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share. Of the Company's
authorized shares, 300,000,000 shares have been allocated to each of the two
series, respresenting the Company's two Funds. As of May 31, 1995, 16,401,894
shares of the Emerging Growth Fund were outstanding and no shares of the
Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund were outstanding. The board of directors has the
authority to designate additional series of common stock without seeking the
approval of shareholders, and may reclassify any authorized but unissued shares.
Shares of each series represent the interests of the shareholders of such
series in a particular portfolio of investments of the Company. Each series of
the Company's shares is preferred over all other series in respect of the assets
specifically allocated to that series, and all income, earnings, profits and
proceeds from such assets, subject only to the rights of creditors, are
allocated to shares of that series. The assets of each series are segregated on
the books of account and are
<PAGE>
charged with the liabilities of that series and with a share of the Company's
general liabilities. The board of directors determines those assets and
liabilities deemed to be general assets or liabilities of the Company, and these
items are allocated among series in a manner deemed by the board of directors to
be fair and equitable. Generally, such allocation will be made based upon the
relative total net assets of each series. In the unlikely event that a liability
allocable to one series exceeds the assets belonging to the series, all or a
portion of such liability may have to be borne by the holders of shares of the
Company's other series.
All shares, regardless of series, have equal voting rights. Voting with
respect to certain matters, such as ratification of independent accountants or
election of directors, will be by all series of the Company. When not all series
are affected by a matter to be voted upon, such as approval of an investment
advisory contract or changes in a Fund's investment policies, only shareholders
of the series affected by the matter may be entitled to vote. Company shares
have noncumulative voting rights, which means that the holders of a majority of
the shares voting for the election of directors can elect 100% of the directors
if they choose to do so. In such event, the holders of the remaining shares
voting for the election of directors will not be able to elect any person or
persons to the board of directors. After they have been elected by shareholders,
the directors will continue to serve until their successors are elected and have
qualified or they are removed from office, in either case by a shareholder vote,
or until death, resignation, or retirement. They may appoint their own
successors, provided that always at least a majority of the directors have been
elected the Company's shareholders. It is the intention of the Company not to
hold annual meetings of shareholders. The directors will call annual or special
meetings of shareholders for action by shareholder vote as may be required by
the 1940 Act or the Company's Articles of Incorporation, or at their discretion.
Principal Shareholders. As of May 31, 1995, the following entity held more
than 5% of the Emerging Growth Fund's outstanding equity securities.
Class and
Amount and Nature Percent
Name and Address of Ownership of Class
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. 4,027,147.4 24.6%
Reinvest Acct. Record
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
<PAGE>
Connecticut General Life Ins. 909,620.2 5.5%
P.O. Box 2975 Record and
Hartford, CT 06104 Beneficial
Independent Accountants. Price Waterhouse LLP, 950 Seventeenth Street,
Denver, Colorado, has been selected as the independent accountants of the
Company. The independent accountants are responsible for auditing the financial
statements of the Company.
Custodian. State Street Bank and Trust Company, P.O. Box 351, Boston,
Massachusetts, has been designated as custodian of the cash and investment
securities of the Company. The bank is also responsible for, among other things,
receipt and delivery of the Funds' investment securities in accordance with
procedures and conditions specified in the custody agreement.
Transfer Agent. The Company is provided with transfer agent, registrar,
and dividend disbursing agent services by INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., 7800 E.
Union Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80237, pursuant to the Transfer Agency Agreement
described in "The Funds and Their Management." Such services include the
issuance, cancellation, and transfer of shares of the Funds, and the maintenance
of records regarding the ownership of such shares.
Reports to Shareholders. The Company's fiscal year ends on May 31. The
Company distributes reports at least semiannually to its shareholders. Financial
statements regarding the Company, audited by the independent accountants, are
sent to shareholders annually.
Legal Counsel. The firm of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP,
Washington, D.C., is legal counsel for the Company. The firm of
Moye, Giles, O'Keefe, Vermeire & Gorrell, Denver, Colorado, acts as
special counsel to the Company.
Financial Statements. The Emerging Growth Fund's audited financial
statements and the notes thereto for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1995, and the
report of Price Waterhouse LLP with respect to such financial statements, are
incorporated herein by reference from the Company's Annual Report to
Shareholders for the fiscal year ended May 31, 1995.
Prospectus. The Company will furnish, without charge, a copy of either
Fund's Prospectus upon request. Such requests should be made to the Company at
the mailing address or telephone number set forth on the first page of this
Statement of Additional Information.
Registration Statement. This Statement of Additional
Information and the related Prospectuses do not contain all of the
information set forth in the Registration Statement the Company has
<PAGE>
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The complete 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.
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF FUTURES AND OPTIONS CONTRACTS
Options on Securities
An option on a security provides the purchaser, or "holder," with the
right, but not the obligation, to purchase, in the case of a "call" option, or
sell, in the case of a "put" option, the security or securities underlying the
option, for a fixed exercise price up to a stated expiration date. The holder
pays a non-refundable purchase price for the option, known as the "premium." The
maximum amount of risk the purchaser of the option assumes is equal to the
premium plus related transaction costs, although the entire amount may be lost.
The risk of the seller, or "writer," however, is potentially unlimited, unless
the option is "covered," which is generally accomplished through the writer's
ownership of the underlying security, in the case of a call option, or the
writer's segregation of an amount of cash or securities equal to the exercise
price, in the case of a put option. If the writer's obligation is not so
covered, it is subject to the risk of the full change in value of the underlying
security from the time the option is written until exercise.
Upon exercise of the option, the holder is required to pay the purchase
price of the underlying security, in the case of a call option, or to deliver
the security in return for the purchase price, in the case of a put option.
Conversely, the writer is required to deliver the security, in the case of a
call option, or to purchase the security, in the case of a put option. Options
on securities which have been purchased or written may be closed out prior to
exercise or expiration by entering into an offsetting transaction on the
exchange on which the initial position was established, subject to the
availability of a liquid secondary market.
Options on securities are traded on national securities exchanges, such as
the Chicago Board of Options Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, which are
regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Options Clearing
Corporation ("OCC") guarantees the performance of each party to an
exchange-traded option, by in effect taking the opposite side of each such
option. A holder or writer may engage in transactions in exchange-traded options
on securities and options on indices of securities only through a registered
broker/dealer which is a member of the exchange on which the option is traded.
An option position in an exchange-traded option may be closed out only on
an exchange which provides a secondary market for an option of the same series.
Although the Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund will generally purchase or write
only those options for which there appears to be an active secondary market,
there is no
<PAGE>
assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange will exist for any
particular option at any particular time. In such event it might not be possible
to effect closing transactions in a particular option with the result that the
Fund would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit. This
would result in the Fund incurring brokerage commissions upon the disposition of
underlying securities acquired through the exercise of a call option or upon the
purchase of underlying securities upon the exercise of a put option. If the Fund
as a covered call option writer is unable to effect a closing purchase
transaction in a secondary market, unless the Fund is required to deliver the
securities pursuant to the assignment of an exercise notice, it will not be able
to sell the underlying security until the option expires.
Reasons for the potential absence of a liquid secondary market on an
exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest
in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening
transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions
or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or
series of options or underlying securities: (iv) unusual or unforeseen
circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities
of an exchange or a clearing corporation may not at all times be adequate to
handle current trading volume or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic
or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the
trading of options (or particular class or series of options) in which event the
secondary market on that exchange (or in the class or series of options) would
cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange which had been
issued by a clearing corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would
continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms. There is no assurance
that higher than anticipated trading activity or other unforeseen events might
not, at a particular time, render certain of the facilities of any of the
clearing corporations inadequate and thereby result in the institution by an
exchange of special procedures which may interfere with the timely execution of
customers' orders. However, the OCC, based on forecasts provided by the U.S.
exchanges, believes that its facilities are adequate to handle the volume of
reasonably anticipated options transactions, and such exchanges have advised
such clearing corporation that they believe their facilities will also be
adequate to handle reasonably anticipated volume.
In addition, options on securities may be traded over-the-counter through
financial institutions dealing in such options as well as the underlying
instruments. OTC options are purchased from or sold (written) to dealers or
financial institutions which have entered into direct agreements with the
Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund. With OTC options, such variables as expiration
date, exercise price and premium will be agreed upon between the Fund and
<PAGE>
the transacting dealer, without the intermediation of a third party such as the
OCC. If the transacting dealer fails to make or take delivery of the securities
underlying an option it has written, in accordance with the terms of that option
as written, the Fund would lose the premium paid for the option as well as any
anticipated benefit of the transaction. The Fund will engage in OTC option
transactions only with primary U.S. Government securities dealers recognized by
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Futures Contracts
A futures contract is a bilateral agreement providing for the purchase and
sale of a specified type and amount of a financial instrument or foreign
currency, or for the making and acceptance of a cash settlement, at a stated
time in the future, for a fixed price. By its terms, a futures contract provides
for a specified settlement date on which, in the case of the majority of
interest rate and foreign currency futures contracts, the fixed income
securities or currency underlying the contract are delivered by the seller and
paid for by the purchaser, or on which, in the case of stock index futures
contracts and certain interest rate and foreign currency futures contracts, the
difference between the price at which the contract was entered into and the
contract's closing value is settled between the purchaser and seller in cash.
Futures contracts differ from options in that they are bilateral agreements,
with both the purchaser and the seller equally obligated to complete the
transaction. In addition, futures contracts call for settlement only on the
expiration date, and cannot be "exercised" at any other time during their term.
The purchase or sale of a futures contract also differs from the purchase
or sale of a security or the purchase of an option in that no purchase price is
paid or received. Instead, an amount of cash or cash equivalent, which varies
but may be as low as 5% or less of the value of the contract, must be deposited
with the broker as "initial margin." Subsequent payments to and from the broker,
referred to as "variation margin," are made on a daily basis as the value of the
index or instrument underlying the Futures Contract fluctuates, making positions
in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as "marking to
market."
A futures contract may be purchased or sold only on an exchange, known as
a "contract market," designated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for
the trading of such contract, and only through a registered futures commission
merchant which is a member of such contract market. A commission must be paid on
each completed purchase and sale transaction. The contract market clearing house
guarantees the performance of each party to a futures contract, by in effect
taking the opposite side of such contract. At any time prior to the expiration
of a futures contract, a trader may elect to close out its position by taking an
<PAGE>
opposite position on the contract market on which the position was entered into,
subject to the availability of a secondary market, which will operate to
terminate the initial position. At that time, a final determination of variation
margin is made and any loss experienced by the trader is required to be paid to
the contract market clearing house while any profit due to the trader must be
delivered to it.
Interest rate futures contracts currently are traded on a variety of fixed
income securities, including long-term U.S. Treasury Bonds, Treasury Notes,
Government National Mortgage Association modified pass-through mortgage-backed
securities, U.S. Treasury Bills, bank certificates of deposit and commercial
paper. In addition, interest rate futures contracts include contracts on indices
of municipal securities. Foreign currency futures contracts currently are traded
on the British pound, Canadian dollar, Japanese yen, Swiss franc, West German
mark and on Eurodollar deposits.
Options on Futures Contracts
An option on a futures contract provides the holder with the right to
enter into a "long" position in the underlying futures contract, in the case of
a call option, or a "short" position in the underlying futures contract, in the
case of a put option, at a fixed exercise price to a stated expiration date.
Upon exercise of the option by the holder, the contract market clearing house
establishes a corresponding short position for the writer of the option, in the
case of a call option, or a corresponding long position, in the case of a put
option. In the event that an option is exercised, the parties will be subject to
all the risks associated with the trading of futures contracts, such as payment
of variation margin deposits. In addition, the writer of an option on a futures
contract, unlike the holder, is subject to initial and variation margin
requirements on the option position.
A position in an option on a futures contract may be terminated by the
purchaser or seller prior to expiration by effecting a closing purchase or sale
transaction, subject to the availability of a liquid secondary market, which is
the purchase or sale of an option of the same series (i.e., the same exercise
price and expiration date) as the option previously purchased or sold. The
difference between the premiums paid and received represents the trader's profit
or loss on the transaction.
An option, whether based on a futures contract, a stock index or a
security, becomes worthless to the holder when it expires. Upon exercise of an
option, the exchange or contract market clearing house assigns exercise notices
on a random basis to those of its members which have written options of the same
series and with the same expiration date. A brokerage firm receiving such
notices then assigns them on a random basis to those of its customers which have
written options of the same series and expiration date. A writer therefore has
no control over whether an option will be exercised against it, nor over the
time of such exercise.
<PAGE>
APPENDIX B
BOND RATINGS
The following is a description of Standard & Poor's Ratings Group
("Standard & Poor's") and Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
("Moody's") bond rating categories:
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. Corporate Bond Ratings
Aaa - Bonds rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the
smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as
"gilt-edged." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally
stable margin, and principal is secure. While the various protective elements
are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to
impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa - Bonds rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards.
Together with the Aaa group, they comprise what are generally known as high
grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of
protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective
elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present
which make the long term risk appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A - Bonds rated A possess many favorable investment attributes, and are to
be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to
principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which
suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa - Bonds rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e.,
they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and
principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba - Bonds rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements. Their future
cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and
principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during
both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes
bonds in this class.
B - Bonds rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable
investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or maintenance of other
terms of the contract over any longer period of time may be small.
<PAGE>
Caa - Bonds rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default
or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or
interest.
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group Corporate Bond Ratings
AAA - This is the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's to a debt
obligation and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay principal and
interest.
AA - Bonds rated AA also qualify as high-quality debt obligations.
Capacity to pay principal and interest is very strong, and in the majority of
instances they differ from AAA issues only in small degree.
A - Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay principal and interest,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions than bonds in higher rated categories.
BBB - Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capability to pay
principal and interest. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay principal and interest for bonds in
this category than for bonds in higher rated categories.
BB - Bonds rated BB have less near-term vulnerability to default than
other speculative issues. However, they face major ongoing uncertainties or
exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead
to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments.
B - Bonds rated B have a greater vulnerability to default but currently
have the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse
business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or
willingness to pay interest and repay principal.
CCC - Bonds rated CCC have a currently identifiable vulnerability to
default and are dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic
conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the
event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, they are not
likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
<PAGE>
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Financial Statements:
Page in
Prospectus
(1) Financial statements and schedules
included in Prospectus (Part A):
Financial Highlights for the Emerging
Growth Fund for the three years ended
May 31, 1995 and the period from
commencement of the Fund's operations
(December 27, 1991)until May 31, 1992
(to be filed by amendment).
(2) The Emerging Growth Fund's audited
financial statements and the notes
thereto for the fiscal year ended
May 31, 1995, and the report of
Price Waterhouse LLP with respect
to such financial statements, are
incorporated in the Statement of
Additional Information by reference
from the Company's Annual Report to
Shareholders for the fiscal year
ended May 31, 1995.
(3) Financial statements and schedules
included in Part C:
None: Schedules have been omitted
as all information has been
presented in the financial
statements.
(b) Exhibits:
(1) Articles of Incorporation
(Charter);1 Amendment to Articles
of Incorporation;2 Amendment to
Articles of Incorporation;3
Amendment to Articles of
Incorporation.5
(a) Articles of Amendment of
Articles of Incorporation, filed
December 2, 1994.
<PAGE>
(b) Articles of Amendment of
Articles of Incorporation, filed
January 20, 1995.
(c) Articles Supplementary to
Articles of Incorporation, filed
_________, 1995 (to be filed by
amendment).
(2) Bylaws, as amended July 21, 1993.5
(3) Not applicable.
(4) (a) Revised specimen stock
certificate.4
(b) Specimen stock certificate for INVESCO
Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund
(to be filed by amendment).
(5) (a) Investment Advisory Agreement
Between Registrant and INVESCO
Funds Group, Inc. dated December
31, 1991.2 Amendment to Investment
Advisory Agreement dated ________,
1995 (to be filed by amendment).
(b) Sub-Advisory Agreement Between
INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. and
INVESCO Trust Company dated
December 31, 1991.2
(c) Sub-Advisory Agreement Between
INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. and MIM
International Limited, dated
________, 1995 (to be filed by
amendment).
(6) General Distribution Agreement
Between Registrant and INVESCO
Funds Group, Inc. dated December
31, 1991.2
(7) Defined Benefit Deferred
Compensation Plan for Non-
Interested Directors and Trustees.5
(8) Custody Agreement Between
Registrant and State Street Bank
and Trust Company dated December
31, 1991.3
<PAGE>
(9) (a) Transfer Agency Agreement
Between Registrant and INVESCO
Funds Group, Inc. dated December
31, 1991.2 Amendment to Fee
Schedule dated April 1, 1994.
(b) Administrative Services
Agreement Between Registrant and
INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. dated
December 31, 1991.2
(10) Opinion and consent of counsel
as to the legality of the securities
being registered, indicating whether
they will, when sold, be legally issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.3
(11) Consent of Independent Accountants
(to be filed by amendment).
(12) Not applicable.
(13) Not applicable.
(14) Copies of model plans used in the
establishment of retirement plans
as follows: Non-standardized
Profit Sharing Plan; Non-
standardized Money Purchase Pension
Plan; Standardized Profit Sharing
Plan Adoption Agreement;
Standardized Money Purchase Pension
Plan; Non-standardized 401(k) Plan
Adoption Agreement; Standardized
401(k) Paired Profit Sharing Plan;
Standardized Simplified Profit
Sharing Plan; Standardized
Simplified Money Purchase Plan;
Defined Contribution Master Plan &
Trust Agreement; and Financial
403(b) Retirement Plan, all filed
with Registration Statement of
INVESCO International Funds, Inc.
(File No. 33-63498), filed May 27,
1993, and herein incorporated by
reference.
(15) Plan and Agreement of Distribution
dated April 30, 1991 adopted pursuant
to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company
Act of 1940.2
<PAGE>
(16) Schedule for computation of
performance data.3
(17) Financial Data Schedule (to be
filed by amendment).
(18) Not Applicable.
1Previously filed with the Registrant's Registration
Statement dated December 21, 1990 and incorporated herein by reference.
2Previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on October 31, 1991, and
incorporated herein by reference.
3Previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on December 24, 1991, and
incorporated herein by reference.
4Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on June 24, 1993, and
incorporated herein by reference.
5Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on July 26, 1994, and
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 25. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control With
Registrant
No person is presently controlled by or under common
control with Registrant.
Item 26. Number of Holders of Securities
Number of Record
Holders as of
Title of Class May 31, 1995
Emerging Growth Fund 23,163
Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund 0
Item 27. Indemnification
Indemnification provisions for officers, directors and employees of
Registrant are set forth in Article VII, Section 2 of the Articles of
Incorporation and are hereby incorporated by reference. See Item 24(b)(1) above.
Under this Article, officers and directors will be indemnified to the fullest
extent permitted to directors by the Maryland General Corporation Law, subject
only
<PAGE>
to such limitations as may be required by the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder.
Under the 1940 Act, Fund directors and officers cannot be protected against
liability to the Company or its shareholders to which they would be subject
because of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties of their office. The Company also maintains liability
insurance policies covering its directors and officers.
Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
See "The Funds and Their Management" in the Funds' Prospectuses and
in the Statement of Additional Information for information regarding the
business of the investment adviser. For information as to the business,
profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature of each of the
officers and directors of INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., reference is made to
Schedule Ds to Form ADV, filed under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 by
INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., which schedules are herein incorporated by reference.
Item 29. Principal Underwriters
(a) INVESCO Diversified Funds, Inc.
INVESCO Dynamics Fund, Inc.
INVESCO Growth Fund, Inc.
INVESCO Income Funds, Inc.
INVESCO Industrial Income Fund, Inc.
INVESCO International Funds, Inc.
INVESCO Money Market Funds, Inc.
INVESCO Multiple Asset Funds, Inc.
INVESCO Specialty Funds, Inc.
INVESCO Strategic Portfolios, Inc.
INVESCO Tax-Free Income Funds, Inc.
INVESCO Value Trust
INVESCO Variable Investment Funds, Inc.
<PAGE>
(b)
Positions and Positions and
Name and Principal Offices with Offices with
Business Address Underwriter Registrant
David W. Altimont Regional Vice
7800 E. Union Avenue President
Denver, CO 80237
David D. Barrett Vice President
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, CO 80237
Frank M. Bishop Director
1315 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
Charles W. Brady Chairman of
1315 Peachtree St. NE the Board
Atlanta, GA 30309
Kenneth R. Christoffersen Vice President
7800 E. Union Avenue Asst. General Counsel
Denver, CO 80237
Craig D. Cloyed Senior Vice
7800 E. Union Avenue President
Denver, CO 80237
M. Anthony Cox Senior Vice
1315 Peachtree St. N.E. President
Atlanta, GA 30309
Steven T. Cox, Jr. Regional Vice
7800 E. Union Avenue President
Denver, CO 80237
Robert D. Cromwell Asst. Vice President
7800 E. Union Ave.
Denver, CO 80237
Philip J. Crosley Regional Vice
7800 E. Union Avenue President
Denver, CO 80237
Samuel T. DeKinder Director
1315 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
William H. Eigen Regional Vice
7800 E. Union Avenue President
Denver, CO 80237
<PAGE>
Positions and Positions and
Name and Principal Offices with Offices with
Business Address Underwriter Registrant
William J. Galvin, Jr. Vice President Asst. Sec.
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, CO 80237
Linda J. Gieger Vice President
7800 E. Union Aenue
Denver, CO 80237
Ronald L. Grooms Sr. Vice President Treasurer &
7800 E. Union Avenue & Treasurer Chief Fin'l.
Denver, CO 80237 Officer and
Chief Acct'g.
Officer
Wylie G. Hairgrove Vice President
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, CO 80237
David S. Harris Regional Vice
1315 Peachtree Street, N.E. President
Atlanta, GA 30309
Dan J. Hesser Chairman of the President &
7800 E. Union Avenue Board, President, Director
Denver, CO 80237 Chief Executive
Officer & Director
Mark A. Jones Regional Vice
7800 E. Union Avenue President
Denver, CO 80237
Jeraldine E. Kraus Assistant Secretary
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, CO 80237
Michael D. Legoski Assistant Vice
7800 E. Union Avenue President
Denver, CO 80237
Walter R. Lewis, Jr. Regional Vice
1315 Peachtree Street NE President
Atlanta, GA 30309
Dennis J. McCarthy Regional Vice
7800 E. Union Avenue President
Denver, CO 80237
<PAGE>
Positions and Positions and
Name and Principal Offices with Offices with
Business Address Underwriter Registrant
David G. Mertens Regional Vice
1315 Peachtree Street NE President
Atlanta, GA 30309
Timothy J. Milligan Regional Vice
7800 E. Union Avenue President
Denver, CO 80237
Robert J. O'Connor Director
1315 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
Laura M. Parsons Vice President
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, CO 80237
Glen A. Payne Sr. Vice President, Secretary
7800 E. Union Avenue Secretary &
Denver, CO 80237 General Counsel
M. Ellen Phillips Regional Vice
7800 E. Union Avenue President
Denver, CO 80237
R. Dalton Sim Director
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, CO 80237
James S. Skesavage Regional Vice
1315 Peachtree Street NE President
Atlanta, GA 30309
Terri Berg Smith Vice President
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, CO 80237
Katha Hall Stuart Regional Vice
1315 Peachtree Street,N.E. President
Atlanta, GA 30309
Alan I. Watson Vice President Asst. Sec.
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, CO 80237
Judy P. Wiese Vice President Asst. Treas.
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, CO 80237
<PAGE>
Positions and Positions and
Name and Principal Offices with Offices with
Business Address Underwriter Registrant
John F. Yeager, III Vice President
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, CO 80237
Allyson B. Zoellner Vice President
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, CO 80237
(c) Not applicable.
Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records
Dan J. Hesser
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, CO 80237
Item 31. Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 32. Undertakings
(a) The registrant hereby undertakes that the board of
directors will call such meetings of shareholders
for action by shareholder vote, including acting
on the question of removal of a director or
directors, as may be requested in writing by the
holders of at least 10% of the outstanding shares
of the Company or as may be required by applicable
law or the Company's Articles of Incorporation,
and to assist shareholders in communicating with
other shareholders as required by the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
(b) The Registrant shall furnish each person to whom
a prospectus is delivered with a copy of the
Registrant's latest annual report to shareholders,
upon request and without charge.
(c) The Registrant hereby undertakes to file a
post-effective amendment, containing reasonably
current financial statements for INVESCO Worldwide
Emerging Markets Fund which need not be certified,
within four to six months from the effective date
of Post-Effective Amendment No. 4.
(d) Insofar as indemnification for liability arising
under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted
<PAGE>
to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in
the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the
Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in
the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
<PAGE>
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this
post-effective amendment to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Denver, County of Denver, and State of
Colorado, on the 27th day of June, 1995.
Attest: INVESCO EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUNDS, INC.
/s/ Glen A. Payne /s/ Dan J. Hesser
- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
Glen A. Payne, Secretary Dan J. Hesser, President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
post-effective amendment to Registrant's Registration Statement has been signed
by the following persons in the capacities indicated on this 27th day of June,
1995.
/s/ Dan J. Hesser /s/ Lawrence H. Budner
- --------------------------- ------------------------------------
Dan J. Hesser, President & Lawrence H. Budner, Director
Director (Chief Executive Officer)
/s/ Ronald L. Grooms /s/ Daniel D. Chabris
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
Ronald L. Grooms, Treasurer Daniel D. Chabris, Director
(Chief Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Victor L. Andrews /s/ Fred A. Deering
- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
Victor L. Andrews, Director Fred A. Deering, Director
/s/ Bob R. Baker /s/ A. D. Frazier, Jr.
- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
Bob R. Baker, Director A. D. Frazier, Jr., Director
/s/ Frank M. Bishop /s/ Kenneth T. King
- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
Frank M. Bishop, Director Kenneth T. King, Director
/s/ Charles W. Brady /s/ John W. McIntyre
- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
Charles W. Brady, Director John W. McIntyre, Director
/s/ R. Dalton Sim
------------------------------------
R. Dalton Sim, Director
/s/ Glen A. Payne
By*--------------------------------- By* ---------------------------------
Edward F. O'Keefe Glen A. Payne
Attorney in Fact Attorney in Fact
* Original Powers of Attorney authorizing Edward F. O'Keefe and Glen A. Payne,
and each of them, to execute this post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement of the Registrant on behalf of the above-named directors and officers
of the Registrant have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 22, 1992, June 9, 1992, October 13, 1992, July 26, 1994 and June 27, 1995.
<PAGE>
Exhibit Index
Page in
Exhibit Number Registration Statement
1(a)
1(b)
9(a)
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
OF
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
INVESCO EMERGING GROWTH FUND, INC.
INVESCO Emerging Growth Fund, Inc., a corporation organized and existing
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland (the "Company"),
hereby certifies that:
FIRST: Article I of the Articles of Incorporation of the
Company is hereby amended to read as follows:
Article I
NAME AND TERM
The name of the corporation is "INVESCO EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUNDS, INC.",
and it shall have perpetual existence.
SECOND: The foregoing amendment, in accordance with the
requirements of Section 2-408 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Maryland, was approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company on October 19, 1994.
THIRD: The foregoing amendment was duly adopted in
accordance with the provisions of Section 2-605 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Maryland.
The undersigned, President of the Company, who is executing on behalf of
the Company the foregoing Articles of Amendment, of which this paragraph
is made a part, hereby acknowledges, in the name and on behalf of the
Company, the foregoing Articles of Amendment to be the corporate act of
the Company and further verifies under oath that, to the best of his
knowledge, information and belief, the matters and facts set forth herein
are true in all material respects, under the penalties of perjury.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, INVESCO Emerging Growth Fund, Inc. has caused these
Articles of Amendment to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its
President and witnessed by its Secretary on the 17th day of November,
1994.
<PAGE>
These Articles of Amendment shall be effective upon acceptance by the Maryland
State Department of Assessments and Taxation.
INVESCO EMERGING GROWTH FUND, INC.
BY: /s/ Dan J. Hesser
-------------------------
DAN J. HESSER
President
[SEAL]
WITNESSED:
/s/ Glen A. Payne
-------------------------------
GLEN A. PAYNE, Secretary
CERTIFICATION
I, Ruth A. Christensen, a notary public in and for the County of Denver, City of
Denver, and State of Colorado, do hereby certify that Dan J. Hesser, personally
known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Articles
of Amendment, appeared before me this date in person and acknowledged that he
signed, sealed and delivered said instrument as his free and voluntary act and
deed for the uses and purposes therein set forth.
Given my hand and official seal this 17th day of November, 1994.
/s/ Ruth A. Christensen
---------------------------
Notary Public
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80237
[SEAL]
My commission expires March 16, 1998
2
<PAGE>
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
OF
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
INVESCO EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUNDS, INC.
INVESCO Emerging Opportunity Funds, Inc., a corporation organized and existing
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland (the "Company"),
hereby certifies that:
FIRST: Article III, Section 1 of the Articles of Incorporation
of the Company is hereby amended to read as follows:
ARTICLE III
CAPITALIZATION
Section 1. The total amount of authorized capital stock of the corporation
is six million dollars ($6,000,000), consisting of six hundred million
(600,000,000) shares having a par value of one cent ($0.01) per share. Such
stock may be issued as full shares or as fractional shares. In the exercise of
the powers granted to the board of directors pursuant to Section 3 of this
Article III, the board of directors has designated one class of shares of
capital stock of the corporation, to be designated as the INVESCO Emerging
Growth Fund. Until such time as any additional class or series of stock is
established as contemplated by Section 3 below, all shares of the authorized
stock of the corporation shall constitute shares of such class. Unless otherwise
prohibited by law, so long as the corporation is registered as an open-end
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the
total number of shares which the corporation is authorized to issue may be
increased or decreased by the board of directors in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law.
SECOND: The foregoing amendment, in accordance with the requirements of Section
2-408 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland, was unanimously
approved by the Board of Directors of the Company on October 19, 1994.
THIRD: The foregoing amendment is limited to a change expressly permitted by
Section 2-605(a)(4) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland to
be made without action by the shareholders, and the Company is registered as an
open-end company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
The undersigned, President of the Company, who is executing on behalf of
the Company the foregoing Articles of Amendment, of which this paragraph is made
a part, hereby acknowledges, in the name and on behalf of the Company, the
foregoing Articles of Amendment to be the corporate act of the Company and
further perjury. under oath that, to the best of his knowledge, information and
belief, the matters and facts set forth herein are true in all material
respects, under the penalties of perjury.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, INVESCO Emerging Opportunity Funds, Inc. has caused
these Articles of Amendment to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its
President and witnessed by its Secretary on the 18th day of January, 1995. These
Articles of Amendment shall be effective upon acceptance by the Maryland State
Department of Assessments and Taxation.
INVESCO EMERGING OPPORTUNITY FUNDS, INC.
By: /s/ Dan J. Hesser
---------------------------------
Dan J. Hesser
President
[SEAL]
WITNESSED:
/s/ Glen A. Payne
- ------------------------
Glen A. Payne
Secretary
CERTIFICATION
I, Ruth A. Christensen, a notary public in and for the County of Denver, City of
Denver, and State of Colorado, do hereby certify that Dan J. Hesser, personally
known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Articles
of Amendment, appeared before me this date in person and acknowledged that he
signed, sealed and delivered said instrument as his free and voluntary act and
deed for the uses and purposes therein set forth.
Given my hand and official seal this 18th day of January, 1995.
/s/ Ruth A. Christensen
-----------------------------
Notary Public
7800 E. Union Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80237
[SEAL]
My commission expires March 16, 1998.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 9(a)
AMENDMENT
to
FEE SCHEDULE
for
Services Pursuant to Transfer Agency Agreement, dated December 31, 1991,
between INVESCO Emerging Growth Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") and INVESCO Funds Group,
Inc. as Transfer Agent (the "Agreement").
Account Maintenance Charges. Fees are based on an annual charge set forth
below per shareholder account or omnibus account participant for account
maintenance, as described in the Agreement. This charge, in the amount of $14.00
per shareholder account per year, or in the case of omnibus accounts that are
invested in the Fund $14.00 per participant in such accounts per year, is
billable monthly at the rate of one-twelfth (1/12) of the annual fee. A charge
is made for an account in the month that it opens or closes, as well as in each
month which the account remains open, regardless of the account balance.
Expenses. The Fund shall not be liable for reimbursement to the Transfer
Agent of expenses incurred by it in the performance of services pursuant to the
Agreement, provided, however, that nothing herein or in the Agreement shall be
construed as affecting in any manner any obligations assumed by the Fund with
respect to expense payment or reimbursement pursuant to a separate written
agreement between the Fund and the Transfer Agent or any affiliate thereof.
Effective this 1st day of April, 1994.
INVESCO EMERGING GROWTH FUND, INC.
By: /s/ Dan J. Hesser
------------------------------
Dan J. Hesser, President
ATTEST:
/s/ Glen A. Payne
- --------------------------
Glen A. Payne, Secretary
INVESCO FUNDS GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Ronald L. Grooms
-----------------------------
Ronald L. Grooms,
Senior Vice President
ATTEST:
/s/ Glen A. Payne
- --------------------------
Glen A. Payne, Secretary
<PAGE>
