LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS
485APOS, 1997-10-31
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<PAGE>
 
    
   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997 
     
                    Registration Nos. 811-6241 and 33-39133


                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                              ------------------   
                                   FORM N-1A
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933                      [X]

                          Pre-Effective Amendment No. ___                 [_]
    
                          Post-Effective Amendment No. 13                 [X]
     
                                      and
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                   THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940                      [X]
    
                              Amendment No. 15                             [X]
     
                       (Check appropriate box or boxes)

                              ------------------   
                              LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

                     One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

      Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 482-2450

Name and address
of agent for service                                     with a copy to
- --------------------                                     ---------------
Daniel J. Fuss                                           Truman S. Casner, Esq.
Loomis, Sayles & Company, Incorporated                   Ropes & Gray
One Financial Center                                     One International Place
Boston, MA 02111                                         Boston, MA  02110
<PAGE>
 
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
 
[_]  immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
    
[_]  on [date] pursuant to paragraph (b)      
 
[_]  60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
    
[X]  on January 2, 1998 pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)      
 
[ ]  75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

[_]  on [date] 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.


         
<PAGE>
 
                              LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS

                             Cross Reference Sheet

                          Items required by Form N-1A

PART A

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Item
No.         Registration Statement Caption                    Caption in Prospectus
<S>        <C>                                               <C>                                 
 
1.         Cover Page                                         Cover Page
 
2.         Synopsis                                            Summary of Expenses
 
3.         Condensed Financial Information                     Financial Highlights
 
4.         General Description of                              Cover Page; The Trust; Investment Objectives and
           Registrant                                          Policies; More Information About the Funds'        
                                                               Investments and Risk Considerations 
 
5.         Management of the Fund                              Cover Page; The Trust; The Funds' Investment Adviser; Fund   
                                                               Expenses; Portfolio Transactions; Back Cover
 
5A.        Management's Discussion of                          More Information about the Funds' Investments and
           Fund Performance                                    Risk Considerations; Performance
                                                               Information
 
6.         Capital Stock and Other Securities                  The Trust; Shareholder Services; Dividends, Capital
                                                               Gain Distributions and Taxes 
                             
 
7.         Purchase of Securities Being                        How to Purchase Shares;                      
           Offered                                             Shareholder Services

8.         Redemption or Repurchase                            How to Redeem Shares
                                             
9.         Pending Legal Proceedings                           Not Applicable

</TABLE> 
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART B
<S>          <C>                                               <C>
          
Item      
No.          Registration Statement Caption                    Caption in Statement of Additional Information
          
10.          Cover Page                                        Cover Page
          
11.          Table of Contents                                 Table of Contents
          
12.          General Information and History                   Not Applicable
          
13.          Investment Objectives and Policies                Investment Objectives, Policies and Restrictions
          
14.          Management of the Fund                            Management of the Trust
          
15.          Control Persons and Principal                     Management of the Trust
             Holders of Securities
          
16.          Investment Advisory and Other                     Investment Advisory and Other Services
             Services
          
17.          Brokerage Allocation and Other                    Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
             Practices
          
18.          Capital Stock and Other Securities                How to Redeem Shares (Prospectus); Redemptions;
                                                               Dividends, Capital Gain Distributions and Taxes
                                                               (Prospectus); Income Dividends, Capital Gain
                                                               Distributions and Tax
                                                               Status; Description of the Trust
          
19.          Purchase, Redemption and Pricing                  How to Purchase Shares (Prospectus); Shareholder
             of Securities Being Offered                       Services; How to Redeem Shares (Prospectus);
                                                               Redemptions; Net Asset Value and Public Offering
                                                               Price
          
20.          Tax Status                                        Dividends, Capital Gain Distributions and Taxes
                                                               (Prospectus); Income Dividends, Capital Gain
                                                               Distributions and Tax Status
          
21.          Underwriters                                      Not Applicable
          
22.          Calculations of Performance Data                  Calculation of Yield and Total Return; Performance
                                                               Data
          
23.          Financial Statements                              Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
      [LOGO OF LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS(TM) APPEARS HERE] 
 
      LOOMIS SAYLES  
       BOND FUND 
      LOOMIS SAYLES SMALL  
       CAP VALUE FUND 
      ADMIN CLASS
 
 
      PROSPECTUS
         
      APRIL 1, 1997, AS REVISED 
      JANUARY 2, 1998     
<PAGE>
 
                [LOGO OF LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS(TM) APPEARS HERE]

 ONE FINANCIAL CENTER . BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02111 . (617) 482-2450
 
THE LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS
 
 ADMIN CLASS SHARES OF:
 
  LOOMIS SAYLES BOND FUND
 
  LOOMIS SAYLES SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
    (FORMERLY, LOOMIS SAYLES SMALL CAP FUND)
<PAGE>
 
PROSPECTUS                        
                                     
                                  APRIL 1, 1997 AS REVISED JANUARY 2, 1998     
 
THE LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS--ADMIN CLASS
   
  Loomis Sayles Bond Fund and Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund (the "Funds"
and each a "Fund"), each a series of Loomis Sayles Funds (the "Trust"), are
separately managed, no-load mutual funds and each Fund has its own investment
objective and policies. Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. ("Loomis Sayles") is
the investment adviser of each Fund.     
   
  The Funds offer three classes of shares: an Admin Class that is described in
this Prospectus and an Institutional Class and a Retail Class that are
described in separate prospectuses. This Prospectus concisely describes the
information that an investor should know before investing in the Admin Class
shares of the Fund. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
A Statement of Additional Information dated April 1, 1997 is available free of
charge; write to Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P. (the "Distributor"), One
Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111 or telephone 800-633-3330,
option 4. The Statement of Additional Information, which contains more
detailed information about the Funds, has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and is incorporated by reference into this
Prospectus. To obtain more information about the Institutional Class or Retail
Class, please call the Distributor toll-free at 800-633-3330, option 4 or
contact your financial intermediary.     
 
  For information about:                    For all other information about
   .Establishing an account                 the Funds:
   .Account procedures and status           CALL 800-633-3330
   .Exchanges
   .Shareholder services
  CALL 800-626-9390
 
  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.
 
 
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----
<S>                                                                        <C>
SUMMARY OF EXPENSES.......................................................   3
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS......................................................   4
THE TRUST.................................................................   6
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES........................................   6
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS.....   7
THE FUND'S INVESTMENT ADVISER.............................................  16
FUND EXPENSES.............................................................  16
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS....................................................  17
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES....................................................  18
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES......................................................  19
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES......................................................  20
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION....................................  22
DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES...........................  22
APPENDIX A
  DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS.............................................  24
</TABLE>    
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                              SUMMARY OF EXPENSES
 
  The following information is provided as an aid in understanding the various
expenses that an investor in a Fund will bear indirectly. The information
about each Fund shown below is based on projected expenses for the 1998 fiscal
year. The information below should not be considered a representation of past
or future expenses, as actual expenses may be greater or less than those
shown. Also, the 5% annual return assumed in the Example should not be
considered a representation of investment performance, as actual performance
will vary.
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                                        SMALL CAP
                                                               BOND       VALUE
                                                               FUND       FUND
                                                               ----     ---------
 <S>                                                           <C>      <C>
 Shareholder Transaction Expenses:
 Maximum Sales Load Imposed on Purchases (as % of offering
  price)....................................................   none       none
 Maximum Sales Load Imposed on Reinvested Dividends (as % of
  offering price)...........................................   none       none
 Maximum Deferred Sales Load (as % of original purchase
  price or redemption proceeds).............................   none       none
 Redemption Fees/1/.........................................   none       none
 Exchange Fees..............................................   none       none
 Annual Operating Expenses (as a percentage of average net
  assets):
 Management Fees............................................    .60%       .75%
 12b-1 Fees.................................................    .25%       .25%
 Administrative Fees/3/.....................................    .25%       .25%
 Other Operating Expenses...................................    .15%/2/    .44%
 Total Operating Expenses...................................   1.25%/2/   1.69%
 Example:
 An investor would pay the following expenses on a $1,000
  investment assuming a 5% annual return (with or without a
  redemption at the end of each time period):
 One Year...................................................   $
 Three Years................................................
</TABLE>    
- -----------
/1/A $5 charge applies to any wire transfer of redemption proceeds.
   
/2/Loomis Sayles has voluntarily agreed, for an indefinite period, to limit the
   Total Operating Expenses, exclusive of Administrative Fees, of the Admin
   Class of the Bond Fund to 1.00%.     
   
/3/Administrativefees shown represent the maximum amount presently authorized
   by the Trustees.     
 
                                       3
<PAGE>

                             FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                 
              (FOR AN INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARE OF THE FUND     
                 OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT THE INDICATED PERIODS)
   
  The information presented below for the six months ended June 30, 1997 is
unaudited. The information presented below for prior periods is included in
financial statements of the Fund that have been audited by Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P., independent accountants. The following information should be read in
conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained in
the Funds' 1997 Semiannual and 1996 Annual Reports, which are incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information.
Neither of the Funds had commenced investment operations with respect to Admin
Class shares as of June 30, 1997. The information shown below is for
Institutional Class shares of each indicated Fund; Admin Class shares bear
higher expenses than Institutional Class shares, and are expected to have a
lower total return than Institutional Class shares.     
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                    BOND FUND
                          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                          SIX MONTHS                                                   MAY 16*
                             ENDED                 YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,                    TO
                           JUNE 30,     ---------------------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                             1997         1996      1995     1994     1993     1992      1991
                          -----------   --------  --------  -------  -------  -------  --------
                          (UNAUDITED)
<S>                       <C>           <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
Net asset value,
 beginning of period....   $  12.38     $  12.29  $  10.05  $ 11.37  $ 10.36  $ 10.23   $10.00
                           --------     --------  --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
Income from investment
 operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss)................       0.42         0.86      0.82     0.83     0.84     0.76     0.52
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments........       0.26         0.35      2.32    (1.29)    1.43     0.67     0.36
                           --------     --------  --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Total from investment
  operations............       0.68         1.21      3.14    (0.46)    2.27     1.43     0.88
                           --------     --------  --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income.....      (0.23)       (0.86)    (0.82)   (0.84)   (0.81)   (0.76)   (0.52)
 Distributions in excess
  of net investment
  income................       0.00         0.00      0.00    (0.02)    0.00     0.00     0.00
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains.................       0.00        (0.26)    (0.08)    0.00    (0.45)   (0.54)   (0.13)
                           --------     --------  --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Total distributions....      (0.23)       (1.12)    (0.90)   (0.86)   (1.26)   (1.30)   (0.65)
                           --------     --------  --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
Net asset value, end of
 period.................   $  12.83     $  12.38  $  12.29  $ 10.05  $ 11.37  $ 10.36   $10.23
                           ========     ========  ========  =======  =======  =======   ======
Total return (%)........        5.6**       10.3      32.0     (4.1)    22.2     14.3      8.9**
Net assets, end of
 period (000)...........   $867,282     $541,244  $255,710  $82,985  $64,222  $18,472   $9,922
Ratio of operating
 expenses to average net
 assets (%).............       0.75***      0.75      0.79     0.84     0.94     1.00     1.00***
Ratio of net investment
 income to average net
 assets (%).............       7.61***      7.93      8.34     7.92     8.26     7.50     8.97***
Portfolio turnover rate
 (%)....................         14           42        35       87      170      101      126
Without giving effect to
 voluntary expense
 limitations:
 The ratio of operating
  expenses to average
  net assets would have
  been (%)..............       0.80***      0.75      0.79     0.84     0.94     1.55     1.78***
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been..................   $   0.38     $   0.86  $   0.82  $  0.83  $  0.84  $  0.70   $ 0.47
</TABLE>    
- -----------
   
  * Commencement of investment operations.     
   
 ** Not annualized.     
   
*** Computed on an annualized basis.     
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                              SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
                          --------------------------------------------------------------------
                          SIX MONTHS                                                  MAY 13*
                             ENDED                YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,                    TO
                           JUNE 30,     --------------------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                             1997         1996     1995     1994     1993     1992      1991
                          -----------   --------  -------  -------  -------  -------  --------
                          (UNAUDITED)
<S>                       <C>           <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
Net asset value,
 beginning of period....   $  17.39     $  15.33  $ 12.86  $ 14.13  $ 12.88  $ 12.49  $ 10.00
                           --------     --------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
Income from investment
 operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss)................       0.07         0.11     0.04    (0.04)    0.00    (0.06)   (0.01)
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments........       2.19         4.47     4.06    (1.12)    3.15     1.67     3.03
                           --------     --------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
 Total from investment
  operations............       2.26         4.58     4.10    (1.16)    3.15     1.61     3.02
                           --------     --------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income.....       0.00        (0.11)   (0.04)    0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains.................       0.00        (2.41)   (1.59)   (0.11)   (1.90)   (1.22)   (0.53)
                           --------     --------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
 Total distributions....       0.00        (2.52)   (1.63)   (0.11)   (1.90)   (1.22)   (0.53)
                           --------     --------  -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
Net asset value, end of
 period.................   $  19.65     $  17.39  $ 15.33  $ 12.86  $ 14.13  $ 12.88  $ 12.49
                           ========     ========  =======  =======  =======  =======  =======
Total return (%)........       13.0**       30.4     32.1     (8.2)    24.7     13.1     30.5**
Net assets, end of
 period (000)...........   $189,962     $163,625  $90,455  $73,126  $67,553  $39,244  $14,581
Ratio of operating
 expenses to average net
 assets (%).............       0.97***      1.19     1.25     1.27     1.35     1.50     1.50***
Ratio of net investment
 income to average net
 assets (%).............       0.84***      0.80     0.29    (0.30)   (0.38)   (0.79)   (0.19)***
Portfolio turnover rate
 (%)....................         47           73      155       87      106      109       56
Average commission
 rate ****..............   $ 0.0548     $ 0.0567      --       --       --       --       --
Without giving effect to
 voluntary expense
 limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average
  net assets would have
  been (%)..............       0.97***      1.19     1.25     1.27     1.35     1.66     2.43***
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been..................   $   0.07     $   0.11  $  0.04  $ (0.04) $  0.00  $ (0.07) $ (0.06)
</TABLE>    
- -----------
   
   * Commencement of investment operations.     
   
  ** Not annualized.     
 *** Computed on an annualized basis.
   
**** For fiscal periods beginning on or after September 1, 1995, a fund is
     required to disclose its average commission rate per share for trades
     upon which commissions are charged. This rate generally does not reflect
     mark-ups, mark-downs, or spreads on shares traded on a principal basis.
            
NOTE: Further information about each Fund's performance is contained in the
Funds' 1997 Semiannual and 1996 Annual Reports to shareholders, which may be
obtained without charge.     
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                                   THE TRUST
   
  Each Fund is a series of the Trust. The Trust is a diversified open-end
management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on
February 20, 1991. The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of
full and fractional shares of beneficial interest in multiple series. Shares
are freely transferable and entitle shareholders to receive dividends as
determined by the Trust's board of trustees and to cast a vote for each share
held at shareholder meetings. The Trust does not generally hold shareholder
meetings and will do so only when required by law. Shareholders may call
meetings to consider removal of the Trust's trustees.     
 
                       INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
 
LOOMIS SAYLES BOND FUND
 
  The Fund's investment objective is high total investment return through a
combination of current income and capital appreciation.
 
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by normally investing substantially
all of its assets in fixed income securities, although up to 20% of its assets
may be invested in preferred stocks. At least 65% of the Fund's total assets
will normally be invested in bonds. The fixed income securities in which the
Fund may invest include corporate securities, securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. Government or its authorities or instrumentalities ("U.S.
Government Securities"), commercial paper, zero coupon securities, mortgage-
backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"), asset-backed
securities, when-issued securities, Rule 144A securities, repurchase
agreements and convertible securities. The Fund may engage in options and
futures transactions, repurchase transactions, foreign currency hedging
transactions and swap transactions.
 
  The Fund may invest any portion of its assets in securities of Canadian
issuers, and up to 20% of its assets in securities of other foreign issuers.
The Fund may also invest up to 35% of its assets in securities of below
investment grade quality (commonly known as "junk bonds"). Securities of below
investment grade quality are securities rated below the top four rating
categories by each major rating agency that has rated the security, including
securities in the lowest rating categories, and unrated securities that Loomis
Sayles determines to be of comparable quality.
 
  The percentages of the Fund's assets invested as of December 31, 1996 in
securities assigned to the various rating categories by Standard & Poor's and
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") were as follows: "AAA"/"Aaa":
5.2%; "AA"/"Aa": 11.1%; "A"/"A": 9.5%; "BBB"/"Baa": 27.3%; "BB"/"Ba": 13.5%;
"B"/"B": 12.1%; "CCC"/"Caa": 5.1%.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
LOOMIS SAYLES SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
 
  The Fund's investment objective is long-term capital growth from investments
in common stocks or their equivalent.
 
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in equity
securities of small capitalization companies with good earnings growth
potential that Loomis Sayles believes are undervalued by the market. The Fund
will normally invest at least 65% of its total assets in companies with market
capitalization of less than $1 billion and may invest up to 35% of its assets
in larger companies. Loomis Sayles seeks to build a core small capitalization
portfolio of stocks of solid companies with reasonable growth prospects and
that are attractively priced in relation to the companies' earnings with a
smaller emphasis on special situations and turnarounds (companies that have
experienced significant business problems but which Loomis Sayles believes
have favorable prospects for recovery), as well as unrecognized stocks.
Current income is not a consideration in selecting the Fund's investments. The
Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities of foreign issuers. The
Fund may also engage in foreign currency hedging transactions and Rule 144A
securities.
   
BOTH FUNDS     
 
  For temporary defensive purposes, each Fund may invest any portion of its
assets in fixed income securities, cash or any other securities deemed
appropriate by Loomis Sayles.
   
  Except for each Fund's investment objective, and any investment policies
that are identified as "fundamental," all of the investment policies of each
Fund may be changed without a vote of Fund shareholders.     
 
                 MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS
                            AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS
   
COMMON STOCKS AND OTHER EQUITY SECURITIES     
   
  Each Fund may invest in common stocks and similar equity securities, such as
warrants and convertibles. These securities are volatile and more risky than
some other forms of investment. The value of an investment in a Fund that
invests in equity securities may sometimes decrease. Equity securities of
companies with relatively small market capitalization may be more volatile
than the securities of larger, more established companies and than the broad
equity market indexes.     
   
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES     
   
  Each Fund may purchase securities on a "when-issued" basis. This means that
the Fund will enter into a commitment to buy the security before the     
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
   
security has been issued. The Fund's payment obligation and the interest rate
on the security are determined when the Fund enters into the commitment. The
security is typically delivered to the Fund 15 to 120 days later. No interest
accrues on the security between the time the Fund enters into the commitment
and the time the security is delivered. If the value of the security being
purchased falls between the time a Fund commits to buy it and the payment
date, the Fund may sustain a loss. The risk of this loss is in addition to the
Fund's risk of loss on the securities actually in its portfolio at the time.
In addition, when the Fund buys a security on a when-issued basis, it is
subject to the risk that market rates of interest will increase before the
time the security is delivered, with the result that the yield on the security
delivered to the Fund may be lower than the yield available on other,
comparable securities at the time of delivery. If a Fund has outstanding
obligations to buy when-issued securities, it will maintain liquid assets in a
segregated account at its custodian bank in an amount sufficient to satisfy
these obligations.     
   
RULE 144A SECURITIES     
   
  Each Fund may invest in Rule 144A securities, which are privately offered
securities that can be resold only to certain qualified institutional buyers.
Rule 144A securities are treated as illiquid, unless Loomis Sayles has
determined, under guidelines established by the Trust's trustees, that the
particular issue of Rule 144A securities is liquid.     
   
FOREIGN SECURITIES     
   
  Each Fund may invest in securities of issuers organized or headquartered
outside the United States ("foreign securities"). The Small Cap Value Fund
will not purchase a foreign security if, as a result, the Fund's holdings of
foreign securities would exceed 20% of the Fund's assets. The Bond Fund may
invest any portion of its assets in securities of Canadian issuers, but will
not purchase foreign securities other than those of Canadian issuers if, as a
result, such Fund's holdings of non-U.S. and non-Canadian securities would
exceed 20% of the Fund's total assets.     
   
  Although investing in foreign securities may increase a Fund's
diversification and reduce portfolio volatility, foreign securities may
present risks not associated with investments in comparable securities of U.S.
issuers. There may be less information publicly available about a foreign
corporate or government issuer than about a U.S. issuer, and foreign corporate
issuers are not generally subject to accounting, auditing and financial
reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the United States.
The securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and at times more
volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign brokerage
commissions and securities custody costs are often higher than in the United
States. With respect to certain foreign     
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
   
countries, there is a possibility of governmental expropriation of assets,
confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability and diplomatic
developments that could affect the value of investments in those countries. A
Fund's receipt of interest on foreign government securities may depend on the
availability of tax or other revenues to satisfy the issuer's obligations.
       
  A Fund's investments in foreign securities may include investments in
countries whose economies or securities markets are not yet highly developed.
Special considerations associated with these investments (in addition to the
considerations regarding foreign investments generally) may include, among
others, greater political uncertainties, an economy's dependence on revenues
from particular commodities or on international aid or development assistance,
currency transfer restrictions, highly limited numbers of potential buyers for
such securities and delays and disruptions in securities settlement
procedures.     
   
  Since most foreign securities are denominated in foreign currencies or
traded primarily in securities markets in which settlements are made in
foreign currencies, the value of these investments and the net investment
income available for distribution to shareholders of a Fund investing in these
securities may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency
exchange rates or exchange control regulations. Changes in the value relative
to the U.S. dollar of a foreign currency in which a Fund's holdings are
denominated will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's
assets and the Fund's income available for distribution.     
   
  In addition, although part of a Fund's income may be received or realized in
foreign currencies, the Fund will be required to compute and distribute its
income in U.S. dollars. Therefore, if the value of a currency relative to the
U.S. dollar declines after the Fund's income has been earned in that currency,
translated into U.S. dollars and declared as a dividend, but before payment of
the dividend, the Fund could be required to liquidate portfolio securities to
pay the dividend. Similarly, if the value of a currency relative to the U.S.
dollar declines between the time the Fund accrues expenses in U.S. dollars and
the time such expenses are paid, the amount of such currency required to be
converted into U.S. dollars will be greater than the equivalent amount in such
currency of such expenses at the time they were incurred.     
   
  In determining whether to invest assets of a Fund in securities of a
particular foreign issuer, Loomis Sayles will consider the likely effects of
foreign taxes on the net yield available to the Fund and its shareholders.
Compliance with foreign tax law may reduce a Fund's net income available for
distribution to shareholders.     
 
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
   
FOREIGN CURRENCY HEDGING TRANSACTIONS     
   
  Each Fund may engage in foreign currency exchange transactions to protect
the value of specific portfolio positions or in anticipation of changes in
relative values of currencies in which current or future Fund portfolio
holdings are denominated or quoted. For example, to protect against a change
in the foreign currency exchange rate between the date on which a Fund
contracts to purchase or sell a security and the settlement date for the
purchase or sale, or to "lock in" the equivalent of a dividend or interest
payment in another currency, a Fund might purchase or sell a foreign currency
on a spot (that is, cash) basis at the prevailing spot rate. If conditions
warrant, the Funds may also enter into private contracts to purchase or sell
foreign currencies at a future date ("forward contracts"). The Funds might
also purchase exchange-listed and over-the-counter call and put options on
foreign currencies. Over-the-counter currency options are generally less
liquid than exchange-listed options, and will be treated as illiquid assets.
The Funds may not be able to dispose of over-the-counter options readily.     
   
  Foreign currency transactions involve costs and may result in losses. In
addition, each Fund's ability to engage in currency hedging transactions may
be limited by tax considerations.     
   
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS     
   
  Each Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. In repurchase agreements, the
Fund buys securities from a seller, usually a bank or brokerage firm, with the
understanding that the seller will repurchase the securities at a higher price
at a later date. Such transactions afford an opportunity for the Fund to earn
a return on available cash at minimal market risk, although the Fund may be
subject to various delays and risks of loss if the seller is unable to meet
its obligations to repurchase.     
 
DEBT AND OTHER FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
 
  The Bond Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity. Fixed
income securities pay a specified rate of interest or dividends, or a rate
that is adjusted periodically by reference to some specified index or market
rate. Fixed income securities include securities issued by federal, state,
local and foreign governments and related agencies, and by a wide range of
private issuers. Because interest rates vary, it is impossible to predict the
income of a Fund that invests in fixed income securities for any particular
period. The net asset value of such a Fund's shares will vary as a result of
changes in the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio.
 
  Fixed income securities are subject to market and credit risk. Market risk
relates to changes in a security's value as a result of changes in interest
rates
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
generally. In general, the values of fixed income securities increase when
prevailing interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. Credit
risk relates to the ability of the issuer to make payments of principal and
interest.
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
   
  The Bond Fund may invest in U.S. Government Securities. U.S. Government
Securities have different kinds of government support. For example, some U.S.
Government Securities, such as U.S. Treasury bonds, are supported by the full
faith and credit of the United States, whereas certain other U.S. Government
Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or government-sponsored
enterprises are not supported by the full faith and credit of the United
States.     
 
  Although U.S. Government Securities generally do not involve the credit
risks associated with other types of fixed income securities, the market
values of U.S. Government Securities do go up and down as interest rates
change. Thus, for example, the value of an investment in a Fund that holds
U.S. Government Securities may fall during times of rising interest rates.
Yields on U.S. Government Securities tend to be lower than those on corporate
securities of comparable maturities.
   
  Some U.S. Government Securities, such as Government National Mortgage
Association Certificates ("GNMA"), are known as "mortgage-backed" securities.
Interest and principal payments on the mortgages underlying mortgage-backed
U.S. Government Securities are passed through to the holders of the security.
If the Fund purchases mortgage-backed securities at a discount or a premium,
the Fund will recognize a gain or loss when the payments of principal, through
prepayment or otherwise, are passed through to the Fund and, if the payment
occurs in a period of falling interest rates, the Fund may not be able to
reinvest the payment at as favorable an interest rate. As a result of these
principal prepayment features, mortgage-backed securities are generally more
volatile investments than many other fixed income securities.     
 
  In addition to investing directly in U.S. Government Securities, the Fund
may purchase certificates of accrual or similar instruments ("strips")
evidencing undivided ownership interests in interest payments or principal
payments, or both, in U.S. Government Securities. These investment instruments
may be highly volatile.
 
LOWER RATED FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
 
  The Bond Fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in securities rated below
investment grade (commonly referred to as "junk bonds"). A security will be
treated as being of investment grade quality if at the time the Bond Fund
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
acquires it at least one major rating agency has rated the security in its top
four rating categories (even if another such agency has issued a lower
rating), or if the security is unrated but Loomis Sayles determines it to be
of investment grade quality. Lower rated fixed income securities generally
provide higher yields, but are subject to greater credit and market risk, than
higher quality fixed income securities. Lower rated fixed income securities
are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the ability of the
issuer to meet principal and interest payments. Achievement of the investment
objective of a Fund investing in lower rated fixed income securities may be
more dependent on Loomis Sayles' own credit analysis than is the case with
higher quality bonds. The market for lower rated fixed income securities may
be more severely affected than some other financial markets by economic
recession or substantial interest rate increases, by changing public
perceptions of this market or by legislation that limits the ability of
certain categories of financial institutions to invest in these securities. In
addition, the secondary market may be less liquid for lower rated fixed income
securities. This lack of liquidity at certain times may affect the values of
these securities and may make the evaluation and sale of these securities more
difficult. Securities in the lowest rating categories may be in poor standing
or in default. Securities in the lowest investment grade category (BBB or Baa)
have some speculative characteristics.
 
  For more information about the ratings services' descriptions of the various
rating categories, see Appendix A.
 
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES
   
  The Bond Fund may invest in "zero coupon" fixed income securities. These
securities accrue interest at a specified rate, but do not pay interest in
cash on a current basis. The Fund is required to distribute the income on
these securities to Fund shareholders as the income accrues, even though the
Fund is not receiving the income in cash on a current basis. Thus the Fund may
have to sell other investments to obtain cash to make income distributions at
times when Loomis Sayles would not otherwise deem it advisable to do so. The
market value of zero coupon securities is often more volatile than that of
non-zero coupon fixed income securities of comparable quality and maturity.
    
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES
   
  The Bond Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities, such as GNMA or
Federal National Mortgage Association certificates, which differ from
traditional debt securities. Among the major differences are that interest and
principal payments are made more frequently, usually monthly, and that
principal may be prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage loans
generally may be prepaid at any time. As a result, if the Fund purchases these
assets at a premium, a faster-than-expected prepayment rate will reduce yield
to     
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
   
maturity, and a slower-than-expected prepayment rate will increase yield to
maturity. If the Fund purchases mortgage-backed securities at a discount,
faster-than-expected prepayments will increase, and slower-than-expected
prepayments will reduce, yield to maturity. Prepayments, and resulting amounts
available for reinvestment by the Fund, are likely to be greater during a
period of declining interest rates and, as a result, are likely to be
reinvested at lower interest rates. Accelerated prepayments on securities
purchased at a premium may result in a loss of principal if the premium has
not been fully amortized at the time of prepayment. Although these securities
will decrease in value as a result of increases in interest rates generally,
they are likely to appreciate less than other fixed-income securities when
interest rates decline because of the risk of prepayments.     
 
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS
   
  The Bond Fund may invest in CMOs. A CMO is a security backed by a portfolio
of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities held under an indenture. CMOs may
be issued either by U.S. Government instrumentalities or by non-governmental
entities. The issuer's obligation to make interest and principal payments is
secured by the underlying portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-backed
securities. CMOs are issued with a number of classes or series which have
different maturities and which may represent interests in some or all of the
interest or principal on the underlying collateral or a combination thereof.
CMOs of different classes are generally retired in sequence as the underlying
mortgage loans in the mortgage pool are repaid. In the event of sufficient
early prepayments on such mortgages, the class or series of CMOs first to
mature generally will be retired prior to its maturity. As with other
mortgage-backed securities, the early retirement of a particular class or
series of CMOs held by the Fund could involve the loss of any premium the Fund
paid when it acquired the investment and could result in the Fund's
reinvesting the proceeds at a lower interest rate than the retired CMO paid.
Because of the early retirement feature, CMOs may be more volatile than many
other fixed-income investments.     
 
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES
 
  The Bond Fund may invest in asset-backed securities. Through the use of
trusts and special purpose corporations, automobile and credit card
receivables are securitized in pass-through structures similar to mortgage
pass-through structures or in a pass-through structure similar to the CMO
structure. Generally, the issuers of asset-backed bonds, notes or pass-through
certificates are special purpose entities and do not have any significant
assets other than the receivables securing such obligations. In general, the
collateral supporting asset-backed securities is of shorter maturity than
mortgage loans. Instruments backed by pools of receivables are similar to
mortgage-backed securities in that they are subject to unscheduled prepayments
of principal prior to maturity. When the
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
   
obligations are prepaid, the Fund will ordinarily reinvest the prepaid amounts
in securities the yields of which reflect interest rates prevailing at the
time. Therefore, the Fund's ability to maintain a portfolio that includes
high-yielding asset-backed securities will be adversely affected to the extent
that prepayments of principal must be reinvested in securities that have lower
yields than the prepaid obligations. Moreover, prepayments of securities
purchased at a premium could result in a realized loss.     
 
SWAP TRANSACTIONS
   
  The Bond Fund may enter into interest rate or currency swaps. The Fund will
enter into these transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a
particular investment or portion of its portfolio, to protect against currency
fluctuations, as a duration management technique or to protect against any
increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later
date. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of
their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (for example, an
exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments with respect to a
notional amount of principal). A currency swap is an agreement to exchange
cash flows on a notional amount based on changes in the relative values of the
specified currencies. The Fund will maintain liquid assets in a segregated
custodial account to cover its current obligations under swap agreements.
Because swap agreements are not exchange-traded, but are private contracts
into which the Fund and a swap counterparty enter as principals, the Fund may
experience a loss or delay in recovering assets if the counter party were to
default on its obligations.     
 
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS
   
  The Bond Fund may buy, sell or write options on securities, securities
indexes, currencies or futures contracts and may buy and sell futures
contracts on securities, securities indexes or currencies. The Fund may engage
in these transactions either for the purpose of enhancing investment return,
or to hedge against changes in the value of other assets that the Fund owns or
intends to acquire. Options and futures fall into the broad category of
financial instruments known as "derivatives" and involve special risks. Use of
options or futures for other than hedging purposes may be considered a
speculative activity, involving greater risks than are involved in hedging.
    
  Options can generally be classified as either "call" or "put" options. There
are two parties to a typical options transaction: the "writer" and the
"buyer." A call option gives the buyer the right to buy a security or other
asset (such as an amount of currency or a futures contract) from, and a put
option gives the buyer the right to sell a security or other asset to, the
option writer at a specified price, on or before a specified date. The buyer
of an option pays a
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
   
premium when purchasing the option, which reduces the return on the underlying
security or other asset if the option is exercised, and results in a loss if
the option expires unexercised. The writer of an option receives a premium
from writing an option, which may increase its return if the option expires or
is closed out at a profit. If the Fund as the writer of an option is unable to
close out an unexpired option, it must continue to hold the underlying
security or other asset until the option expires, to "cover" its obligation
under the option.     
   
  A futures contract creates an obligation by the seller to deliver and the
buyer to take delivery of the type of instrument or cash at the time and in
the amount specified in the contract. Although many futures contracts call for
the delivery (or acceptance) of the specified instrument, futures are usually
closed out before the settlement date through the purchase (or sale) of a
comparable contract. If the price of the sale of the futures contract by the
Fund exceeds (or is less than) the price of the offsetting purchase, the Fund
will realize a gain (or loss).     
   
  The value of options purchased by the Fund and futures contracts held by the
Fund may fluctuate based on a variety of market and economic factors. In some
cases, the fluctuations may offset (or be offset by) changes in the value of
securities held in the Fund's portfolio. All transactions in options and
futures involve the possible risk of loss to the Fund of all or a significant
part of the value of its investment. In some cases, the risk of loss may
exceed the amount of the Fund's investment. When the Fund writes a call option
or sells a futures contract without holding the underlying securities,
currencies or futures contracts, its potential loss is unlimited. The Fund
will be required, however, to set aside with its custodian bank certain assets
in amounts sufficient at all times to satisfy its obligations under options,
futures and contracts.     
   
  The successful use of options and futures will usually depend on Loomis
Sayles' ability to forecast stock market, currency or other financial market
movements correctly. The Fund's ability to hedge against adverse changes in
the value of securities held in its portfolio through options and futures also
depends on the degree of correlation between changes in the value of futures
or options positions and changes in the values of the portfolio securities.
The successful use of futures and exchange traded options also depends on the
availability of a liquid secondary market to enable the Fund to close its
positions on a timely basis. There can be no assurance that such a market will
exist at any particular time. In the case of options that are not traded on an
exchange ("over-the-counter" options), the Fund is at risk that the other
party to the transaction will default on its obligations, or will not permit
the Fund to terminate the transaction before its scheduled maturity. As a
result of these characteristics, the Fund will treat most over-the-counter
options (and the assets it segregates to cover its obligations thereunder) as
illiquid.     
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
  The options and futures markets of foreign countries are small compared to
those of the United States and consequently are characterized in most cases by
less liquidity than are the U.S. markets. In addition, foreign markets may be
subject to less detailed reporting requirements and regulatory controls than
U.S. markets. Furthermore, investments in options in foreign markets are
subject to many of the same risks as other foreign investments. See "Foreign
Securities" above.
 
                         THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT ADVISER
 
  The Funds' investment adviser is Loomis Sayles, One Financial Center,
Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Founded in 1926, Loomis Sayles is one of the
country's oldest and largest investment firms. Loomis Sayles' general partner
is indirectly owned by New England Investment Companies, L.P., a publicly-
traded limited partnership whose general partner is indirectly owned by
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
   
  In addition to selecting and reviewing the Fund's investments, Loomis Sayles
provides executive and other personnel for the management of the Funds. The
Trust's board of trustees supervises Loomis Sayles' conduct of the affairs of
the Funds.     
   
  Daniel J. Fuss, President of the Trust and Executive Vice President of
Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio manager of the Bond Fund since its
commencement of investment operations in 1991. Kathleen C. Gaffney, Vice
President of Loomis Sayles, has served as associate portfolio manager of the
Bond Fund since October, 1997.     
   
  Jeffrey C. Petherick, Vice President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has
served as a portfolio manager of the Small Cap Value Fund since 1993, and Mary
C. Champagne, Vice President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as
a portfolio manager of the Small Cap Value Fund since 1995. Before joining
Loomis Sayles in 1993, Ms. Champagne was a portfolio manager at NBD Bank.     
 
                                 FUND EXPENSES
 
  The Bond Fund pays Loomis Sayles a monthly investment advisory fee of .60%
of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Small Cap Value Fund pays Loomis
Sayles a monthly investment advisory fee of .75% of the Fund's average daily
net assets. In addition to the investment advisory fee, each Fund pays all
expenses not expressly assumed by Loomis Sayles, including taxes, brokerage
commissions, fees and expenses of registering or qualifying the Fund's shares
under federal and state securities laws, fees of the Fund's custodian,
transfer agent, independent accountants and legal counsel, expenses of
shareholders' and
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
   
trustees' meetings, 12b-1 fees, administrative fees, expenses of preparing,
printing and mailing prospectuses to existing shareholders and fees of
trustees who are not directors, officers or employees of Loomis Sayles or its
affiliated companies.     
   
  Under a Distribution Plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, each of the Funds pays the Distributor, a
subsidiary of Loomis Sayles, a monthly distribution fee at an annual rate not
to exceed 0.25% of the Fund's average net assets attributable to the Admin
Class shares. The Distributor may pay all or any portion of the Distribution
Fee to securities dealers or other organizations (including, but not limited
to, any affiliate of the Distributor) as commissions, asset-based sales
charges or other compensation with respect to the sale of Admin Class shares
of the Funds, or for providing personal services to investors in Admin Class
shares of the Funds and/or the maintenance of accounts, and may retain all or
any portion of the Distribution Fee as compensation for the Distributor's
services as principal underwriter of the Admin Class shares of the Funds.     
   
  Each of the Funds may also pay an "administrative fee" at the annual rate of
up to 0.25% of its average daily net assets attributable to the Admin Class to
certain securities dealers or financial intermediaries for providing personal
service and account maintenance for their customers who are shareholders of
the Funds. Loomis Sayles may also pay these parties a continuing fee at an
annual rate of up to 0.25% of the value of Fund shares held for those
customers' accounts, which fees are paid by Loomis Sayles out of its own
assets and are not assessed against the Funds.     
       
                            PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
 
  Portfolio turnover considerations will not limit Loomis Sayles' investment
discretion in managing the Funds' assets. The Funds anticipate that their
portfolio turnover rates will vary significantly from time to time depending
on the volatility of economic and market conditions. High portfolio turnover
may involve higher costs and higher levels of taxable gains.
 
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
                            HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES
 
  An investor may make an initial purchase of shares of any Fund by submitting
a completed application form and payment to:
 
      Boston Financial Data Services
      P.O. Box 8314
      Boston, Massachusetts 02266-8314
      Attn: Loomis Sayles Funds
                
  Shares of the Fund may be purchased exclusively through intermediaries, who
will be the record owner of the shares. The intermediary may purchase shares
by paying cash or by exchanging Admin Class shares of any Fund (or any other
series of Loomis Sayles Funds).     
       
  All purchases made by check should be in U.S. dollars and made payable to
State Street Bank and Trust Company. Third party checks will not be accepted.
When purchases are made by check or periodic account investment, redemption
will not be allowed until the investment being redeemed has been in the
account for 15 calendar days.
 
  Upon acceptance of an investor's order, BFDS opens an account, applies the
payment to the purchase of full and fractional Fund shares and mails a
statement of the account confirming the transaction.
   
  After an account has been established, the intermediary may send subsequent
investments at any time directly to BFDS at the above address. The remittance
must be accompanied by either the account identification slip detached from a
statement of account or a note containing sufficient information to identify
the account, i.e., the Fund name and the investor's account number or name and
social security number.     
   
  Initial or subsequent investments can also be made by federal funds wire.
For initial investment by wire, contact the Distributor at 800-633-3330,
option 4 for an account number before sending the wire. The intermediary
should instruct its bank to wire federal funds to State Street Bank and Trust
Company, ABA #011000028. The text of the wire should read as follows: "$
amount, STATE STREET BOS ATTN Mutual Funds. Credit Fund (Fund Name and Admin
Class), DDA #9904-622-9, Account Name, Account Number." A bank may charge a
fee for transmitting funds by wire.     
 
  Each Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase
order, including orders in connection with exchanges, for any reason which the
Fund or the Distributor in its sole discretion deems appropriate. Although the
Funds do not presently anticipate that they will do so, each Fund reserves the
right to suspend or change the terms of the offering of its shares.
 
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
 
  The price an investor pays will be the per share net asset value next
calculated after a proper investment order is received by the Trust's transfer
or other agent or subagent. Shares of each Fund are sold with no sales charge.
The net asset value of each Fund's shares is calculated once daily as of the
close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on each day the
Exchange is open for trading, by dividing the Fund's net assets by the number
of shares outstanding. Portfolio securities are valued at their market value
as more fully described in the Statement of Additional Information.
 
  The Distributor may accept telephone orders from broker-dealers who have
been previously approved by the Distributor. It is the responsibility of such
broker-dealers to promptly forward purchase or redemption orders to the
Distributor. Although there is no sales charge imposed by the Fund or the
Distributor, broker-dealers may charge the investor a transaction-based fee or
other fee for their services at either the time of purchase or the time of
redemption. Such charges may vary among broker-dealers but in all cases will
be retained by the broker-dealer and not remitted to the Fund.
   
  Each Fund also offers (i) a Retail Class of shares that has a $250,000
minimum investment for certain categories of investors and does not bear
administrative fees, and (ii) an Institutional Class of shares that has a
$1 million minimum investment for certain investors and does not bear 12b-1
fees or administrative fees. Because of its higher expenses, the Admin Class
of shares of each Fund is expected to have a lower total return than either of
the Institutional Class or Retail Class of shares.     
 
                             SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
   
  The Funds offer the following shareholder services, which are more fully
described in the Statement of Additional Information. Explanations and forms
are available from the Distributor. Telephone redemption and exchange
privileges will be established automatically when an investor opens an account
unless an investor elects on the application to decline the privileges. Other
privileges must be specifically elected. A signature guarantee will be
required to establish a privilege after an account is opened.     
 
  FREE EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE. Admin Class shares of any Fund may be exchanged for
Admin Class shares of any other fund that is a series of Loomis Sayles Funds
and that offers Admin Class shares or for shares of certain money market funds
advised by New England Funds Management, L.P., an affiliate of Loomis Sayles.
Exchanges may be made by written instructions or by telephone, unless an
investor elected on the application to decline telephone exchange privileges.
The exchange privilege should not be viewed as a means for taking advantage of
short-term swings in the market, and the Funds reserve the right to
 
                                      19
<PAGE>
 
terminate or limit the privilege of any shareholder who makes more than four
exchanges in any calendar year. The Funds may terminate or change the terms of
the exchange privilege at any time, upon 60 days' notice to shareholders.
       
                             HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
   
  An investor can, through their intermediary or their intermediary can on the
investor's behalf, redeem shares by sending a written request to the
Distributor. Proceeds from a written request may be sent to the investor in
the form of a check. As described below, an investor may also redeem shares by
calling the Distributor at 800-633-3330, option 4. Proceeds resulting from a
telephone redemption request can be wired to an investor's bank account or
sent by check in the name of the registered owners to their record address.
    
  The written request must include the name of the Fund, the account number,
the exact name(s) in which the shares are registered, and the number of shares
or the dollar amount to be redeemed. All owners of the shares must sign the
request in the exact names in which the shares are registered (this appears on
an investor's confirmation statement) and should indicate any special capacity
in which they are signing (such as trustee or custodian or on behalf of a
partnership, corporation or other entity). Shareholders requesting that
redemption proceeds be wired to their bank accounts must provide specific wire
instructions.
   
  If (1) an investor is requesting that the proceeds check be made out to
someone other than the registered owners or be sent to an address other than
the record address, (2) the account registration has changed within the last
30 days or (3) an investor is instructing us to wire the proceeds to a bank
account not designated on the application, the investor must have his or her
signature guaranteed by an eligible guarantor. Eligible guarantors include
commercial banks, trust companies, savings associations, credit unions and
brokerage firms that are members of domestic securities exchanges. Before
submitting the redemption request, an investor should verify with the
guarantor institution that it is an eligible guarantor. Signature guarantees
by notaries public are not acceptable.     
          
  When an investor telephones a redemption request, the proceeds are wired to
the bank account previously chosen by the investor. A wire fee (currently $5)
will be deducted from the proceeds. A telephonic redemption request must be
received by the Distributor prior to the close of regular trading on the New
York Stock Exchange. If an investor telephones a request to the Distributor
after the Exchange closes or on a day when the Exchange is not open for
business, the Distributor cannot accept the request and a new one will be
necessary.     
 
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
   
  If an investor decides to change the bank account to which proceeds are to
be wired, the investor must send in this change in writing with a signature
guarantee. Telephonic redemptions may only be made if the investor's bank is a
member of the Federal Reserve System or has a correspondent bank that is a
member of the System. Unless an investor indicates otherwise on the account
application, the Distributor will be authorized to act upon redemption and
exchange instructions received by telephone from the investor or any person
claiming to act as the investor's representative who can provide the
Distributor with the investor's account registration and address as it appears
on the records of State Street Bank. The Distributor will employ these or
other reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by
telephone are genuine; the Fund, State Street Bank, BFDS, the Distributor and
Loomis Sayles will not be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or
fraudulent instructions if these or other reasonable procedures are followed.
For information, consult the Distributor. In times of heavy market activity,
an investor who encounters difficulty in placing a redemption or exchange
order by telephone may wish to place the order by mail as described above.
       
  The redemption price will be the net asset value per share next determined
after the redemption request and any necessary special documentation are
received by the Distributor in proper form.     
 
  Proceeds resulting from a written redemption request will normally be mailed
to an investor within seven days after receipt of the investor's request in
good order. Telephonic redemption proceeds will normally be wired to an
investor's bank on the first business day following receipt of a proper
redemption request. If an investor purchased shares by check and the check was
deposited less than 15 days prior to the redemption request, the Fund may
withhold redemption proceeds until the check has cleared.
 
  The Fund may suspend the right of redemption and may postpone payment for
more than seven days when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than
weekends or holidays, or if permitted by the rules of the SEC when trading on
the Exchange is restricted or during an emergency which makes it impracticable
for the Fund to dispose of its securities or to determine fairly the value of
its net assets, or during any other period permitted by the SEC for the
protection of investors.
 
  Loomis Sayles may pay certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries
whose customers own shares of the Funds a continuing fee in an amount of up to
0.25% annually of the value of Fund shares held for those customers' accounts.
These fees are paid by Loomis Sayles out of its own assets and are not
assessed against the customers' accounts with the Funds.
 
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
                    CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
 
  The Funds' investment performance may from time to time be included in
advertisements about the Funds or Loomis Sayles Funds. "Yield" for each class
of shares is calculated by dividing the annualized net investment income per
share during a recent 30-day period by the maximum public offering price per
share of the class on the last day of that period.
 
  For purposes of calculating yield, net investment income is calculated in
accordance with SEC regulations and may differ from net investment income as
determined for financial reporting purposes. SEC regulations require that net
investment income be calculated on a "yield-to-maturity" basis, which has the
effect of amortizing any premiums or discounts in the current market value of
fixed income securities. The current dividend rate is based on net investment
income as determined for tax purposes, which may not reflect amortization in
the same manner.
 
  "Total return" for the one-, five- and ten-year periods (or for the life of
a class, if shorter) through the most recent calendar quarter represents the
average annual compounded rate of return on an investment of $1,000 in a Fund.
Total return may also be presented for other periods.
 
                DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
 
  The Bond Fund declares and pays dividends quarterly. The Small Cap Value
Fund declares and pays dividends annually. Each Fund also distributes all of
its net capital gains realized from the sale of portfolio securities. Any
capital gain distributions are normally made annually, but may, to the extent
permitted by law, be made more frequently as deemed advisable by the trustees
of the Trust. The Trust's trustees may change the frequency with which the
Fund declares or pays dividends.
 
  Dividends and capital gain distributions will automatically be reinvested in
additional shares of the same Fund on the record date unless an investor has
elected to receive cash.
 
  Each Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. As such, so long as a Fund
distributes substantially all its net investment income and net capital gains
to its shareholders, the Fund itself does not pay any federal income tax to
the extent such income and gains are so distributed.
   
  An investor's income dividends and short-term capital gain distributions
(that is, net gains from securities held for not more than a year) are taxable
as     
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
   
ordinary income whether distributed in cash or additional shares.
Distributions designated by all Funds as deriving from net gains on securities
held for more than one year but not more than 18 months and from net gains on
securities held for more than 18 months will be taxable as such whether
distributed in cash or additional shares and regardless of how long an
investor has owned shares of the Fund.     
 
  Each Fund is required to withhold 31% of any redemption proceeds (including
the value of shares exchanged) and all income dividends and capital gain
distributions it pays (1) if an investor does not provide a correct, certified
taxpayer identification number, (2) if the Fund is notified that an investor
has underreported income in the past, or (3) if an investor fails to certify
to the Fund that he or she is not subject to such withholding.
 
  Dividends derived from interest on U.S. Government Securities may be exempt
from state and local taxes.
 
  State Street Bank will send investors and the IRS an annual statement
detailing federal tax information, including information about dividends and
distributions paid during the preceding year. An investor should keep this
statement as a permanent record. A fee may be charged for any duplicate
information requested.
   
NOTE: The foregoing summarizes certain tax consequences of investing in the
      Funds. Before investing, an investor should consult his or her own
      tax adviser for more information concerning the federal, state and
      local tax consequences of investing in, redeeming or exchanging Fund
      shares.     
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     APPENDIX A
 
                    DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS ASSIGNED BY
                             STANDARD & POOR'S AND
                        MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.
 
STANDARD & POOR'S
 
                                      AAA
 
  This is the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's to a debt
obligation and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay interest and
repay principal.
 
                                      AA
 
  Bonds rated AA also qualify as high quality debt obligations. Capacity to
pay interest and repay principal 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 interest and repay principal,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes
in circumstances and economic conditions.
 
                                      BBB
 
  Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest
and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to repay principal and pay interest for
bonds in this category than for bonds in higher rated categories.
 
                                BB, B, CCC, CC
 
  Bonds rated BB, B, CCC and CC are regarded, on balance, as predominantly
speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in
accordance with the terms of the obligation. BB indicates the lowest degree of
speculation and CC the highest degree of speculation. While such bonds will
likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed
by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
                                       C
 
  The rating C is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being
paid.
 
                                       D
 
  Bonds rated D are in default, and payment of interest and/or repayment of
principal is in arrears.
 
  Plus (+) or Minus (-): The ratings from "AA" to "B" may be modified by the
addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major
rating categories.
 
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.
 
                                      Aaa
 
  Bonds that are 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
edge." 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 that are rated Aa are judged to be 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 that make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa
securities.
 
                                       A
 
  Bonds that are 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
that suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
 
 
                                      25
<PAGE>
 
                                      Baa
 
  Bonds that are 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 which are 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 which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable
investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of
other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
 
                                      Caa
 
  Bonds which are 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.
 
                                      Ca
 
  Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a
high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked
shortcomings.
 
                                       C
 
  Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so
rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any
real investment standing.
 
 
                                      26
<PAGE>
 
  Should no rating be assigned by Moody's, the reason may be one of the
following:
 
 1. An application for rating was not received or accepted.
 
 2. The issue or issuer belongs to a group of securities that are not rated
    as a matter of policy.
 
 3. There is a lack of essential data pertaining to the issue or issuer.
 
 4. The issue was privately placed in which case the rating is not published
    in Moody's publications.
 
  Suspension or withdrawal may occur if new and material circumstances arise,
the effects of which preclude satisfactory analysis; if there is no longer
available reasonable up-to-date data to permit a judgment to be formed; if a
bond is called for redemption; or for other reasons.
 
Note:  Those bonds in the Aa, A, Baa, Ba and B groups which Moody's believes
       possess the strongest investment attributes are designated by the
       symbols Aa1, A1, Baa1, Ba1 and B1.
 
 
                                      27
<PAGE>
 
INVESTMENT ADVISER 
Loomis, Sayles &
Company, L.P. 
One Financial Center Boston,
Massachusetts 02111
 
DISTRIBUTOR 
Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P. 
One Financial Center 
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
 
TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND PAYING AGENT 
AND CUSTODIAN OF ASSETS 
State Street Bank and Trust Company 
Boston, Massachusetts 02102
 
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGENT FOR 
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY 
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. 
P.O. Box 8314
Boston, Massachusetts 02266
 
LEGAL COUNSEL 
Ropes & Gray 
One International Place 
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
 
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. 
One Post Office Square 
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
<PAGE>
 
                [LOGO OF LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS(TM) APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
 
         
      BOSTON PRIVATE BANK 
      HIGH YIELD FUND,     
         
      A CLASS OF SHARES OF 
      LOOMIS SAYLES HIGH YIELD  
        FUND, 
      A SERIES OF LOOMIS SAYLES  
        FUNDS     
 
      
      PROSPECTUS
         
      APRIL 1, 1997, AS REVISED 
      JANUARY 2, 1998     
<PAGE>
 
   
BOSTON PRIVATE BANK HIGH YIELD FUND 
PROSPECTUS                       APRIL 1, 1997, AS REVISED JANUARY 2, 1998     
   
BOSTON PRIVATE BANK HIGH YIELD FUND, A CLASS OF SHARES OF LOOMIS SAYLES HIGH
YIELD FUND (the "Fund"), which is a series of Loomis Sayles Funds (the
"Trust"), a registered open-end management investment company, and is a no-
load mutual fund. Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. ("Loomis Sayles") is the
investment adviser of the Fund.     
   
  The Fund offers three classes of shares: the Boston Private Bank High Yield
Fund that is described in this Prospectus and an Institutional Class and a
Retail Class that are described in separate prospectuses. This Prospectus
concisely describes the information that an investor should know before
investing in the Boston Private Bank High Yield Fund shares of the Fund.
Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference. A Statement of
Additional Information dated April 1, 1997 is available free of charge; write
to Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P. (the "Distributor"), One Financial Center,
Boston, Massachusetts 02111 or telephone 800-633-3330; option 4. The Statement
of Additional Information, which contains more detailed information about the
Fund, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. To obtain more
information about the Fund's Institutional Class or Retail Class, please call
the Distributor toll-free at 800-633-3330, option 4 or contact your financial
intermediary.     
     
  For information about:                    
   .Establishing an account                 For all other information about
   .Account procedures and status           the Fund: 
   .Exchanges                               CALL 800-633-3330
   .Shareholder services
  CALL 800-626-9390
      
  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.
   
  THE FUND WILL NORMALLY INVEST AT LEAST 65% OF ITS ASSETS IN LOWER-RATED
SECURITIES, COMMONLY KNOWN AS "JUNK BONDS" AND MAY INVEST SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF
ITS ASSETS IN SUCH SECURITIES. INVESTMENTS OF THIS TYPE ARE SUBJECT TO A
GREATER RISK OF LOSS OF PRINCIPAL AND NON-PAYMENT OF INTEREST. INVESTORS
SHOULD ASSESS CAREFULLY THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE HIGH
YIELD FUND. SEE "MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS AND RISK
CONSIDERATIONS--LOWER RATED FIXED INCOME SECURITIES" AND "APPENDIX A."     
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----
<S>                                                                        <C>
SUMMARY OF EXPENSES.......................................................   3
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS......................................................   4
THE TRUST.................................................................   5
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES........................................   5
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS.....   6
THE FUND'S INVESTMENT ADVISER.............................................  14
FUND EXPENSES.............................................................  14
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS....................................................  15
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES....................................................  16
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES......................................................  17
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES......................................................  17
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION....................................  19
DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES...........................  20
APPENDIX A
  DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS.............................................  22
</TABLE>    
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                              SUMMARY OF EXPENSES
   
  The following information is provided as an aid in understanding the various
expenses that an investor in the Fund will bear indirectly. The information is
based on projected expenses for the 1998 fiscal year. The information below
should not be considered a representation of past or future expenses, as
actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown. Also, the 5% annual
return assumed in the Example should not be considered a representation of
investment performance, as actual performance will vary.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 <S>                                                                    <C>
 Shareholder Transaction Expenses:
 Maximum Sales Load Imposed on Purchases (as % of offering price).....  none
 Maximum Sales Load Imposed on Reinvested Dividends (as % of
  offering price).....................................................  none
 Maximum Deferred Sales Load (as % of original purchase price or
  redemption proceeds)................................................  none
 Redemption Fees/1/...................................................  none
 Exchange Fees........................................................  none
 Annual Operating Expenses (as a percentage of average net assets):
 Management Fees......................................................   .60%
 Other Operating Expenses.............................................   .15%
 Total Operating Expenses.............................................   .75%/2/
 Example:
 An investor would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment
  assuming a 5% annual return (with or without a redemption at the end
  of each time period):
 One Year.............................................................   $
 Three Years..........................................................
</TABLE>    
- -----------
/1/ A $5 charge applies to any wire transfer of redemption proceeds.
   
/2/ Loomis Sayles has voluntarily agreed, for an indefinite period, to limit the
    Total Operating Expenses of the Boston Private Bank High Yield Fund shares
    to .75%.     
       
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                             FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                 (FOR AN INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARE OF THE FUND
                 OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT THE INDICATED PERIODS)
   
  The information presented below for the period ended June 30, 1997 is
unaudited. The information presented below for the period ended December 31,
1996 is included in financial statements of the Fund that have been audited by
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., independent accountants. The following information
should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes
thereto contained in the Fund's 1997 Semiannual and 1996 Annual Reports, which
are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and the Statement of
Additional Information. The Fund had not commenced investment operations with
respect to the Boston Private Bank High Yield Fund shares as of June 30, 1997.
The information shown below is for Institutional Class shares of the High
Yield Fund; the Boston Private Bank High Yield Fund shares bear higher
expenses than Institutional Class shares, and are expected to have a lower
total return than Institutional Class shares.     
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                         SIX MONTHS   SEPT. 11*
                                                            ENDED        TO
                                                          JUNE 30,    DEC. 31,
                                                            1997        1996
                                                         -----------  ---------
                                                         (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                      <C>          <C>
Net asset value, beginning of period...................    $10.11      $10.00
                                                           ------      ------
Income from investment operations--
 Net investment income (loss)..........................      0.36        0.20
 Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on
  investments..........................................      0.21        0.11
                                                           ------      ------
 Total from investment operations......................      0.57        0.31
                                                           ------      ------
Less distributions--
 Dividends from net investment income..................     (0.21)      (0.20)
 Distributions in excess of net investment income......      0.00        0.00
 Distributions from net realized capital gains.........      0.00        0.00
                                                           ------      ------
 Total distributions...................................     (0.21)      (0.20)
                                                           ------      ------
Net asset value, end of period.........................    $10.47      $10.11
                                                           ======      ======
Total return (%).......................................       5.7**       3.1**
Net assets, end of period (000)........................    $3,945      $1,939
Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets (%)..      0.75***     0.75***
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets
 (%)...................................................      9.06***     8.85***
Portfolio turnover rate (%)............................        34           0
Without giving effect to voluntary expense limitations:
 The ratio of operating expenses to average net assets
  would have been (%)..................................      4.81***    12.06***
 Net investment income per share would have been.......    $ 0.21      $(0.05)
</TABLE>    
- -----------
   
  * Commencement of investment operations.     
   
 ** Not annualized.     
   
*** Computed on an annualized basis.     
   
NOTE: Further information about the Fund's performance is contained in the
       Fund's 1997 Semiannual and 1996 Annual Reports to shareholders, which
       may be obtained without charge.     
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                   THE TRUST
   
  The Fund is a series of Loomis Sayles Funds (the "Trust"). The Trust is a
diversified open-end management investment company organized as a
Massachusetts business trust on February 20, 1991. The Trust is authorized to
issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest
in multiple series. Shares are freely transferable and entitle shareholders to
receive dividends as determined by the Trust's board of trustees and to cast a
vote for each share held at shareholder meetings. The Trust does not generally
hold shareholder meetings and will do so only when required by law.
Shareholders may call meetings to consider removal of the Trust's trustees.
    
                       INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
          
  The Fund's investment objective is high total investment return through a
combination of current income and capital appreciation.     
   
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by normally investing substantially
all of its assets in fixed income securities, although up to 20% of its assets
may be invested in preferred stocks and up to 10% of its assets may be
invested in common stocks. The fixed income securities in which the Fund may
invest include corporate securities, U.S. Government Securities, commercial
paper, zero coupon securities, mortgage-backed securities, CMOs, asset-backed
securities, when-issued securities, Rule 144A securities, repurchase
agreements and convertible securities. The Fund may engage in options and
futures transactions, repurchase transactions, foreign currency hedging
transactions and swap transactions. The Fund may invest any portion of its
assets in securities of Canadian issuers and up to 50% of its assets in the
securities of other foreign issuers.     
   
  The Fund will normally invest at least 65% of its assets in fixed income
securities of below investment grade quality (commonly referred to as "junk
bonds").     
   
  For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest any portion of its
assets in fixed income securities, cash or any other securities deemed
appropriate by Loomis Sayles.     
   
  Except for the Fund's investment objective, and any investment policies that
are identified as "fundamental," all of the investment policies of the Fund
may be changed without a vote of Fund shareholders.     
 
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                 MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND'S INVESTMENTS
                            AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS
 
DEBT AND OTHER FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
   
  The Fund may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity. Fixed income
securities pay a specified rate of interest or dividends, or a rate that is
adjusted periodically by reference to some specified index or market rate.
Fixed income securities include securities issued by federal, state, local and
foreign governments and related agencies, and by a wide range of private
issuers. Because interest rates vary, it is impossible to predict the income
of a fund that invests in fixed income securities for any particular period.
The net asset value of such a fund's shares will vary as a result of changes
in the value of the securities in the Fund's portfolio.     
 
  Fixed income securities are subject to market and credit risk. Market risk
relates to changes in a security's value as a result of changes in interest
rates generally. In general, the values of fixed income securities increase
when prevailing interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise.
Credit risk relates to the ability of the issuer to make payments of principal
and interest.
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
 
  U.S. Government Securities have different kinds of government support. For
example, some U.S. Government Securities, such as U.S. Treasury bonds, are
supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, whereas certain
other U.S. Government Securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or
government-sponsored enterprises are not supported by the full faith and
credit of the United States.
 
  Although U.S. Government Securities generally do not involve the credit
risks associated with other types of fixed income securities, the market
values of U.S. Government Securities do go up and down as interest rates
change. Thus, for example, the value of an investment in a Fund that holds
U.S. Government Securities may fall during times of rising interest rates.
Yields on U.S. Government Securities tend to be lower than those on corporate
securities of comparable maturities.
 
  Some U.S. Government Securities, such as Government National Mortgage
Association Certificates ("GNMA"), are known as "mortgage-backed" securities.
Interest and principal payments on the mortgages underlying mortgage-backed
U.S. Government Securities are passed through to the holders of the security.
If the Fund purchases mortgage-backed securities at a discount or a premium,
the Fund will recognize a gain or loss when the payments of principal, through
prepayment or otherwise, are passed through to the Fund and, if the payment
occurs in a period of falling interest rates, the Fund may not be
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
able to reinvest the payment at as favorable an interest rate. As a result of
these principal prepayment features, mortgage-backed securities are generally
more volatile investments than many other fixed income securities.
 
  In addition to investing directly in U.S. Government Securities, the Fund
may purchase certificates of accrual or similar instruments ("strips")
evidencing undivided ownership interests in interest payments or principal
payments, or both, in U.S. Government Securities. These investment instruments
may be highly volatile.
 
LOWER RATED FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
   
  The Fund will normally invest at least 65% of its assets in securities of
below investment grade quality (commonly referred to as "junk bonds"). A
security will be treated as being of investment grade quality if at the time
the Fund acquires it at least one major rating agency has rated the security
in its top four rating categories (even if another such agency has issued a
lower rating), or if the security is unrated but Loomis Sayles determines it
to be of investment grade quality. Lower rated fixed income securities
generally provide higher yields, but are subject to greater credit and market
risk, than higher quality fixed income securities. Lower rated fixed income
securities are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the
ability of the issuer to meet principal and interest payments. Achievement of
the investment objective of a fund investing in lower rated fixed income
securities may be more dependent on Loomis Sayles' own credit analysis than is
the case with higher quality bonds. The market for lower rated fixed income
securities may be more severely affected than some other financial markets by
economic recession or substantial interest rate increases, by changing public
perceptions of this market or by legislation that limits the ability of
certain categories of financial institutions to invest in these securities. In
addition, the secondary market may be less liquid for lower rated fixed income
securities. This lack of liquidity at certain times may affect the values of
these securities and may make the evaluation and sale of these securities more
difficult. Securities in the lowest rating categories may be in poor standing
or in default. Securities in the lowest investment grade category (BBB or Baa)
have some speculative characteristics.     
 
  For more information about the ratings services' descriptions of the various
rating categories, see Appendix A.
 
COMMON STOCKS AND OTHER EQUITY SECURITIES
   
  Common stocks and similar equity securities, such as warrants and
convertibles, are volatile and more risky than some other forms of investment.
The value of an investment in a fund that invests in equity securities may
sometimes decrease. Equity securities of companies with relatively small
market     
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
capitalization may be more volatile than the securities of larger, more
established companies and than the broad equity market indexes.
 
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES
 
  The Fund may invest in "zero coupon" fixed income securities. These
securities accrue interest at a specified rate, but do not pay interest in
cash on a current basis. The Fund is required to distribute the income on
these securities to Fund shareholders as the income accrues, even though the
Fund is not receiving the income in cash on a current basis. Thus the Fund may
have to sell other investments to obtain cash to make income distributions at
times when Loomis Sayles would not otherwise deem it advisable to do so. The
market value of zero coupon securities is often more volatile than that of
non-zero coupon fixed income securities of comparable quality and maturity.
 
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES
 
  The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities, such as GNMA or Federal
National Mortgage Association certificates, which differ from traditional debt
securities. Among the major differences are that interest and principal
payments are made more frequently, usually monthly, and that principal may be
prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage loans generally may be
prepaid at any time. As a result, if the Fund purchases these assets at a
premium, a faster-than-expected prepayment rate will reduce yield to maturity,
and a slower-than-expected prepayment rate will increase yield to maturity. If
the Fund purchases mortgage-backed securities at a discount, faster-than-
expected prepayments will increase, and slower-than-expected prepayments will
reduce, yield to maturity. Prepayments, and resulting amounts available for
reinvestment by the Fund, are likely to be greater during a period of
declining interest rates and, as a result, are likely to be reinvested at
lower interest rates. Accelerated prepayments on securities purchased at a
premium may result in a loss of principal if the premium has not been fully
amortized at the time of prepayment. Although these securities will decrease
in value as a result of increases in interest rates generally, they are likely
to appreciate less than other fixed-income securities when interest rates
decline because of the risk of prepayments.
 
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS
 
  The Fund may invest in CMOs. A CMO is a security backed by a portfolio of
mortgages or mortgage-backed securities held under an indenture. CMOs may be
issued either by U.S. Government instrumentalities or by non-governmental
entities. The issuer's obligation to make interest and principal payments is
secured by the underlying portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-backed
securities. CMOs are issued with a number of classes or series which have
different maturities and which may represent interests in some or all of the
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
interest or principal on the underlying collateral or a combination thereof.
CMOs of different classes are generally retired in sequence as the underlying
mortgage loans in the mortgage pool are repaid. In the event of sufficient
early prepayments on such mortgages, the class or series of CMOs first to
mature generally will be retired prior to its maturity. As with other
mortgage-backed securities, the early retirement of a particular class or
series of CMOs held by the Fund could involve the loss of any premium the Fund
paid when it acquired the investment and could result in the Fund's
reinvesting the proceeds at a lower interest rate than the retired CMO paid.
Because of the early retirement feature, CMOs may be more volatile than many
other fixed-income investments.
 
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES
 
  The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities. Through the use of trusts
and special purpose corporations, automobile and credit card receivables are
securitized in pass-through structures similar to mortgage pass-through
structures or in a pass-through structure similar to the CMO structure.
Generally, the issuers of asset-backed bonds, notes or pass-through
certificates are special purpose entities and do not have any significant
assets other than the receivables securing such obligations. In general, the
collateral supporting asset-backed securities is of shorter maturity than
mortgage loans. Instruments backed by pools of receivables are similar to
mortgage-backed securities in that they are subject to unscheduled prepayments
of principal prior to maturity. When the obligations are prepaid, the Fund
will ordinarily reinvest the prepaid amounts in securities the yields of which
reflect interest rates prevailing at the time. Therefore, the Fund's ability
to maintain a portfolio that includes high-yielding asset-backed securities
will be adversely affected to the extent that prepayments of principal must be
reinvested in securities that have lower yields than the prepaid obligations.
Moreover, prepayments of securities purchased at a premium could result in a
realized loss.
 
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES
 
  The Fund may purchase securities on a "when-issued" basis. This means that
the Fund will enter into a commitment to buy the security before the security
has been issued. The Fund's payment obligation and the interest rate on the
security are determined when the Fund enters into the commitment. The security
is typically delivered to the Fund 15 to 120 days later. No interest accrues
on the security between the time the Fund enters into the commitment and the
time the security is delivered. If the value of the security being purchased
falls between the time the Fund commits to buy it and the payment date, the
Fund may sustain a loss. The risk of this loss is in addition to the Fund's
risk of loss on the securities actually in its portfolio at the time. In
addition, when the Fund buys a security on a when-issued basis, it is subject
to the risk that market rates of interest will increase before the time the
security is
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
delivered, with the result that the yield on the security delivered to the
Fund may be lower than the yield available on other, comparable securities at
the time of delivery. If the Fund has outstanding obligations to buy when-
issued securities, it will maintain liquid assets in a segregated account at
its custodian bank in an amount sufficient to satisfy these obligations.
 
RULE 144A SECURITIES
 
  The Fund may invest in Rule 144A securities, which are privately offered
securities that can be resold only to certain qualified institutional buyers.
Rule 144A securities are treated as illiquid, unless Loomis Sayles has
determined, under guidelines established by the Trust's trustees, that the
particular issue of Rule 144A securities is liquid.
 
FOREIGN SECURITIES
   
  The Fund may invest in securities of issuers organized or headquartered
outside the United States ("foreign securities"). The Fund may invest any
portion of its assets in securities of Canadian issuers, but will not purchase
foreign securities other than those of Canadian issuers if, as a result, the
Fund's holdings of non-U.S. and non-Canadian securities would exceed 50% of
the Fund's total assets.     
 
  Although investing in foreign securities may increase the Fund's
diversification and reduce portfolio volatility, foreign securities may
present risks not associated with investments in comparable securities of U.S.
issuers. There may be less information publicly available about a foreign
corporate or government issuer than about a U.S. issuer, and foreign corporate
issuers are not generally subject to accounting, auditing and financial
reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the United States.
The securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and at times more
volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign brokerage
commissions and securities custody costs are often higher than in the United
States. With respect to certain foreign countries, there is a possibility of
governmental expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or
financial instability and diplomatic developments that could affect the value
of investments in those countries. The Fund's receipt of interest on foreign
government securities may depend on the availability of tax or other revenues
to satisfy the issuer's obligations.
 
  The Fund's investments in foreign securities may include investments in
countries whose economies or securities markets are not yet highly developed.
Special considerations associated with these investments (in addition to the
considerations regarding foreign investments generally) may include, among
others, greater political uncertainties, an economy's dependence on revenues
from particular commodities or on international aid or development assistance,
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
currency transfer restrictions, highly limited numbers of potential buyers for
such securities and delays and disruptions in securities settlement
procedures.
 
  Since most foreign securities are denominated in foreign currencies or
traded primarily in securities markets in which settlements are made in
foreign currencies, the value of these investments and the net investment
income available for distribution to shareholders of a Fund investing in these
securities may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency
exchange rates or exchange control regulations. Changes in the value relative
to the U.S. dollar of a foreign currency in which the Fund's holdings are
denominated will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund's
assets and the Fund's income available for distribution.
 
  In addition, although part of the Fund's income may be received or realized
in foreign currencies, the Fund will be required to compute and distribute its
income in U.S. dollars. Therefore, if the value of a currency relative to the
U.S. dollar declines after the Fund's income has been earned in that currency,
translated into U.S. dollars and declared as a dividend, but before payment of
the dividend, the Fund could be required to liquidate portfolio securities to
pay the dividend. Similarly, if the value of a currency relative to the U.S.
dollar declines between the time the Fund accrues expenses in U.S. dollars and
the time such expenses are paid, the amount of such currency required to be
converted into U.S. dollars will be greater than the equivalent amount in such
currency of such expenses at the time they were incurred.
   
  In determining whether to invest assets of the Funds in securities of a
particular foreign issuer, Loomis Sayles will consider the likely effects of
foreign taxes on the net yield available to the Fund and its shareholders.
Compliance with foreign tax law may reduce the Fund's net income available for
distribution to shareholders.     
 
FOREIGN CURRENCY HEDGING TRANSACTIONS
 
  The Fund may engage in foreign currency exchange transactions to protect the
value of specific portfolio positions or in anticipation of changes in
relative values of currencies in which current or future Fund portfolio
holdings are denominated or quoted. For example, to protect against a change
in the foreign currency exchange rate between the date on which the Fund
contracts to purchase or sell a security and the settlement date for the
purchase or sale, or to "lock in" the equivalent of a dividend or interest
payment in another currency, the Fund might purchase or sell a foreign
currency on a spot (that is, cash) basis at the prevailing spot rate. If
conditions warrant, the Fund may also enter into private contracts to purchase
or sell foreign currencies at a future date ("forward contracts"). The Fund
might also purchase exchange-listed and over-the-counter call and put options
on foreign currencies. Over-the-counter currency options
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
are generally less liquid than exchange-listed options, and will be treated as
illiquid assets. The Fund may not be able to dispose of over-the-counter
options readily.
 
  Foreign currency transactions involve costs and may result in losses. In
addition, the Fund's ability to engage in currency hedging transactions may be
limited by tax considerations.
 
SWAP TRANSACTIONS
 
  The Fund may enter into interest rate or currency swaps. The Fund will enter
into these transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a
particular investment or portion of its portfolio, to protect against currency
fluctuations, as a duration management technique or to protect against any
increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later
date. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a Fund with another party of
their respective commitments to pay or receive interest (for example, an
exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments with respect to a
notional amount of principal). A currency swap is an agreement to exchange
cash flows on a notional amount based on changes in the relative values of the
specified currencies. The Fund will maintain liquid assets in a segregated
custodial account to cover its current obligations under swap agreements.
Because swap agreements are not exchange-traded, but are private contracts
into which the Fund and a swap counterparty enter as principals, the Fund may
experience a loss or delay in recovering assets if the counter party were to
default on its obligations.
 
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS
   
  The Fund may buy, sell or write options on securities, securities indexes,
currencies or futures contracts and may buy and sell futures contracts on
securities, securities indexes or currencies. The Fund may engage in these
transactions either for the purpose of enhancing investment return, or to
hedge against changes in the value of other assets that the Fund owns or
intends to acquire. Options and futures fall into the broad category of
financial instruments known as "derivatives" and involve special risks. Use of
options or futures for other than hedging purposes may be considered a
speculative activity, involving greater risks than are involved in hedging.
    
  Options can generally be classified as either "call" or "put" options. There
are two parties to a typical options transaction: the "writer" and the
"buyer." A call option gives the buyer the right to buy a security or other
asset (such as an amount of currency or a futures contract) from, and a put
option gives the buyer the right to sell a security or other asset to, the
option writer at a specified price, on or before a specified date. The buyer
of an option pays a
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
premium when purchasing the option, which reduces the return on the underlying
security or other asset if the option is exercised, and results in a loss if
the option expires unexercised. The writer of an option receives a premium
from writing an option, which may increase its return if the option expires or
is closed out at a profit. If the Fund as the writer of an option is unable to
close out an unexpired option, it must continue to hold the underlying
security or other asset until the option expires, to "cover" its obligation
under the option.
 
  A futures contract creates an obligation by the seller to deliver and the
buyer to take delivery of the type of instrument or cash at the time and in
the amount specified in the contract. Although many futures contracts call for
the delivery (or acceptance) of the specified instrument, futures are usually
closed out before the settlement date through the purchase (or sale) of a
comparable contract. If the price of the sale of the futures contract by the
Fund exceeds (or is less than) the price of the offsetting purchase, the Fund
will realize a gain (or loss).
   
  The value of options purchased by the Fund and futures contracts held by the
Fund may fluctuate based on a variety of market and economic factors. In some
cases, the fluctuations may offset (or be offset by) changes in the value of
securities held in the Fund's portfolio. All transactions in options and
futures involve the possible risk of loss to the Fund of all or a significant
part of the value of its investment. In some cases, the risk of loss may
exceed the amount of the Fund's investment. When the Fund writes a call option
or sells a futures contract without holding the underlying securities,
currencies or futures contracts, its potential loss is unlimited. The Fund
will be required, however, to set aside with its custodian bank certain assets
in amounts sufficient at all times to satisfy its obligations under options,
futures and contracts.     
 
  The successful use of options and futures will usually depend on Loomis
Sayles' ability to forecast stock market, currency or other financial market
movements correctly. The Fund's ability to hedge against adverse changes in
the value of securities held in its portfolio through options and futures also
depends on the degree of correlation between changes in the value of futures
or options positions and changes in the values of the portfolio securities.
The successful use of futures and exchange traded options also depends on the
availability of a liquid secondary market to enable the Fund to close its
positions on a timely basis. There can be no assurance that such a market will
exist at any particular time. In the case of options that are not traded on an
exchange ("over-the-counter" options), the Fund is at risk that the other
party to the transaction will default on its obligations, or will not permit
the Fund to terminate the transaction before its scheduled maturity. As a
result of these characteristics, the Fund will treat most over-the-counter
options (and the assets it segregates to cover its obligations thereunder) as
illiquid.
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
  The options and futures markets of foreign countries are small compared to
those of the United States and consequently are characterized in most cases by
less liquidity than are the U.S. markets. In addition, foreign markets may be
subject to less detailed reporting requirements and regulatory controls than
U.S. markets. Furthermore, investments in options in foreign markets are
subject to many of the same risks as other foreign investments. See "Foreign
Securities" above.
 
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
 
  The Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. In repurchase agreements, the
Fund buys securities from a seller, usually a bank or brokerage firm, with the
understanding that the seller will repurchase the securities at a higher price
at a later date. Such transactions afford an opportunity for the Fund to earn
a return on available cash at minimal market risk, although the Fund may be
subject to various delays and risks of loss if the seller is unable to meet
its obligations to repurchase.
 
                         THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT ADVISER
 
  The Fund's investment adviser is Loomis Sayles, One Financial Center,
Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Founded in 1926, Loomis Sayles is one of the
country's oldest and largest investment firms. Loomis Sayles' general partner
is indirectly owned by New England Investment Companies, L.P., a publicly-
traded limited partnership whose general partner is indirectly owned by
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
   
  In addition to selecting and reviewing the Fund's investments, Loomis Sayles
provides executive and other personnel for the management of the Fund. The
Trust's board of trustees supervises Loomis Sayles' conduct of the affairs of
the Fund.     
   
  Daniel J. Fuss, President of the Trust and Executive Vice President of
Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio manager of the Fund since its
commencement of investment operations in 1996. Kathleen C. Gaffney, Vice
President of Loomis Sayles, has served as associate portfolio manager of the
Fund since its commencement of investment operations in 1996.     
 
                                 FUND EXPENSES
 
  The Fund pays Loomis Sayles a monthly investment advisory fee of .60% of the
Fund's average daily net assets. In addition to the investment advisory fee,
the Fund pays all expenses not expressly assumed by Loomis Sayles,
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
   
including taxes, brokerage commissions, fees and expenses of registering or
qualifying the Fund's shares under federal and state securities laws, fees of
the Fund's custodian, transfer agent, independent accountants and legal
counsel, expenses of shareholders' and trustees' meetings, expenses of
preparing, printing and mailing prospectuses to existing shareholders and fees
of trustees who are not directors, officers or employees of Loomis Sayles or
its affiliated companies.     
   
  Loomis Sayles has voluntarily agreed, for an indefinite period, to reduce
its advisory fees and/or bear other Fund expenses to the extent necessary to
limit total annual operating expenses of the Boston Private Bank High Yield
Fund shares of the Fund to .75% of the Fund's average net assets. Loomis
Sayles may change or terminate this voluntary arrangement at any time, but
this Prospectus would be supplemented to describe the change.     
       
                            PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
 
  Portfolio turnover considerations will not limit Loomis Sayles' investment
discretion in managing the Fund's assets. The Fund anticipates that its
portfolio turnover rates will vary significantly from time to time depending
on the volatility of economic and market conditions. High portfolio turnover
may involve higher costs and higher levels of taxable gains.
 
                            HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES
   
  This class of shares is only available to clients of Boston Private Bank.
    
  An investor may make an initial purchase of shares of the Fund by submitting
a completed application form and payment to:
          
  The minimum initial investment for the Boston Private Bank High Yield Fund
shares of the Fund is $    .     
       
       
  All purchases made by check should be in U.S. dollars and made payable to
State Street Bank and Trust Company. Third party checks will not be accepted.
When purchases are made by check or periodic account investment, redemption
will not be allowed until the investment being redeemed has been in the
account for 15 calendar days.
 
  Upon acceptance of an investor's order, BFDS opens an account, applies the
payment to the purchase of full and fractional Fund shares and mails a
statement of the account confirming the transaction.
 
  After an account has been established, an investor may send subsequent
investments at any time directly to BFDS at the above address. The remittance
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
must be accompanied by either the account identification slip detached from a
statement of account or a note containing sufficient information to identify
the account, i.e., the Fund name and the investor's account number or name and
social security number.
   
  Subsequent investments can also be made by federal funds wire. Investors
should instruct their banks to wire federal funds to State Street Bank and
Trust Company, ABA #011000028. The text of the wire should read as follows:
"$    amount, STATE STREET BOS ATTN Mutual Funds. Credit Fund (Fund Name and
Boston Private Bank High Yield Fund), DDA #9904-622-9, Shareholder Name,
Shareholder Account Number." A bank may charge a fee for transmitting funds by
wire.     
 
  The Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase order,
including orders in connection with exchanges, for any reason which the Fund
or the Distributor in its sole discretion deems appropriate. Although the Fund
does not presently anticipate that it will do so, the Fund reserves the right
to suspend or change the terms of the offering of its shares.
 
  The price an investor pays will be the per share net asset value next
calculated after a proper investment order is received by the Trust's transfer
or other agent or subagent. Shares of the Fund are sold with no sales charge.
The net asset value of the Fund's shares is calculated once daily as of the
close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on each day the
Exchange is open for trading, by dividing the Fund's net assets by the number
of shares outstanding. Portfolio securities are valued at their market value
as more fully described in the Statement of Additional Information.
 
  The Distributor may accept telephone orders from broker-dealers who have
been previously approved by the Distributor. It is the responsibility of such
broker-dealers to promptly forward purchase or redemption orders to the
Distributor. Although there is no sales charge imposed by the Fund or the
Distributor, broker-dealers may charge the investor a transaction-based fee or
other fee for their services at either the time of purchase or the time of
redemption. Such charges may vary among broker-dealers but in all cases will
be retained by the broker-dealer and not remitted to the Fund.
   
  The Fund also offers (i) a Retail Class of shares that has a $250,000
minimum investment for certain categories of investors, and (ii) an
Institutional Class of shares that has a $1 million minimum investment for
certain investors.     
 
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
                             SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
   
  The Fund offers the following shareholder services, which are more fully
described in the Statement of Additional Information. Explanations and forms
are available from   . The telephone redemption privilege will be established
automatically when an investor opens an account unless an investor elects on
the application to decline the privileges. Other privileges must be
specifically elected. A signature guarantee will be required to establish a
privilege after an account is opened.     
       
                             HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
   
  An investor can redeem shares by sending a written request to the
Distributor. Proceeds from a written request may be sent to the investor in
the form of a check. As described below, an investor may also redeem shares by
calling the Distributor at (800) 633-3330, option 4. Proceeds resulting from a
telephone redemption request can be wired to an investor's bank account or
sent by check in the name of the registered owners to their record address.
    
  The written request must include the name of the Fund, the account number,
the exact name(s) in which the shares are registered, and the number of shares
or the dollar amount to be redeemed. All owners of the shares must sign the
request in the exact names in which the shares are registered (this appears on
an investor's confirmation statement) and should indicate any special capacity
in which they are signing (such as trustee or custodian or on behalf of a
partnership, corporation or other entity). Shareholders requesting that
redemption proceeds be wired to their bank accounts must provide specific wire
instructions.
   
  If (1) an investor is requesting that the proceeds check be made out to
someone other than the registered owners or be sent to an address other than
the record address, (2) the account registration has changed within the last
30 days or (3) an investor is instructing us to wire the proceeds to a bank
account not designated on the application, the investor must have his or her
signature guaranteed by an eligible guarantor. Eligible guarantors include
commercial banks, trust companies, savings associations, credit unions and
brokerage firms that are members of domestic securities exchanges. Before
submitting the redemption request, an investor should verify with the
guarantor institution that it is an eligible guarantor. Signature guarantees
by notaries public are not acceptable.     
          
  When an investor telephones a redemption request, the proceeds are wired to
the bank account previously chosen by the investor. A wire fee (currently $5)
will be deducted from the proceeds. A telephonic redemption request must be
received by    prior to the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange. If an investor telephones a request to    after the Exchange closes
    
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
   
or on a day when the Exchange is not open for business,    cannot accept the
request and a new one will be necessary.     
   
  If an investor decides to change the bank account to which proceeds are to
be wired, the investor must send in this change in writing with a signature
guarantee. Telephonic redemptions may only be made if the investor's bank is a
member of the Federal Reserve System or has a correspondent bank that is a
member of the System. Unless an investor indicates otherwise on the account
application, BFDS will be authorized to act upon redemption and exchange
instructions received by telephone from the investor or any person claiming to
act as the investor's representative who can provide BFDS with the investor's
account registration and address as it appears on the records of State Street
Bank. BFDS will employ these or other reasonable procedures to confirm that
instructions communicated by telephone are genuine; the Fund, State Street
Bank, BFDS, the Distributor and Loomis Sayles will not be liable for any
losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions if these or other
reasonable procedures are followed. For information, consult BFDS. In times of
heavy market activity, an investor who encounters difficulty in placing a
redemption or exchange order by telephone may wish to place the order by mail
as described above.     
   
  The redemption price will be the net asset value per share next determined
after the redemption request and any necessary special documentation are
received by the Distributor in proper form.     
 
  Proceeds resulting from a written redemption request will normally be mailed
to an investor within seven days after receipt of the investor's request in
good order. Telephonic redemption proceeds will normally be wired to an
investor's bank on the first business day following receipt of a proper
redemption request. If an investor purchased shares by check and the check was
deposited less than 15 days prior to the redemption request, the Fund may
withhold redemption proceeds until the check has cleared.
 
  The Fund may suspend the right of redemption and may postpone payment for
more than seven days when the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than
weekends or holidays, or if permitted by the rules of the SEC when trading on
the Exchange is restricted or during an emergency which makes it impracticable
for the Fund to dispose of its securities or to determine fairly the value of
its net assets, or during any other period permitted by the SEC for the
protection of investors.
       
                    CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
 
  The Fund's investment performance may from time to time be included in
advertisements about the Fund or Loomis Sayles Funds. "Yield" for each class
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
 
of shares is calculated by dividing the annualized net investment income per
share during a recent 30-day period by the maximum public offering price per
share of the class on the last day of that period.
 
  For purposes of calculating yield, net investment income is calculated in
accordance with SEC regulations and may differ from net investment income as
determined for financial reporting purposes. SEC regulations require that net
investment income be calculated on a "yield-to-maturity" basis, which has the
effect of amortizing any premiums or discounts in the current market value of
fixed income securities. The current dividend rate is based on net investment
income as determined for tax purposes, which may not reflect amortization in
the same manner.
 
  "Total return" for the one-, five- and ten-year periods (or for the life of
a class, if shorter) through the most recent calendar quarter represents the
average annual compounded rate of return on an investment of $1,000 in the
Fund. Total return may also be presented for other periods.
 
                DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
 
  The Fund declares and pays dividends quarterly. The Fund also distributes
all of its net capital gains realized from the sale of portfolio securities.
Any capital gain distributions are normally made annually, but may, to the
extent permitted by law, be made more frequently as deemed advisable by the
trustees of the Trust. The Trust's trustees may change the frequency with
which the Fund declares or pays dividends.
 
  Dividends and capital gain distributions will automatically be reinvested in
additional shares of the Fund on the record date unless an investor has
elected to receive cash.
 
  The Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. As such, so long as the Fund
distributes substantially all its net investment income and net capital gains
to its shareholders, the Fund itself does not pay any federal income tax to
the extent such income and gains are so distributed.
   
  An investor's income dividends and short-term capital gain distributions
(that is, net gains from securities held for not more than a year) are taxable
as ordinary income whether distributed in cash or additional shares.
Distributions designated by the Fund as deriving from net gains on securities
held for more than one year but not more than 18 months and from net gains on
securities held for more than 18 months will be taxable as such whether
distributed in cash or additional shares and regardless of how long an
investor has owned shares of the Fund.     
 
                                      19
<PAGE>
 
  The Fund is required to withhold 31% of any redemption proceeds (including
the value of shares exchanged) and all income dividends and capital gain
distributions it pays (1) if an investor does not provide a correct, certified
taxpayer identification number, (2) if the Fund is notified that an investor
has underreported income in the past, or (3) if an investor fails to certify
to the Fund that he or she is not subject to such withholding.
 
  Dividends derived from interest on U.S. Government Securities may be exempt
from state and local taxes.
 
  State Street Bank will send investors and the IRS an annual statement
detailing federal tax information, including information about dividends and
distributions paid during the preceding year. An investor should keep this
statement as a permanent record. A fee may be charged for any duplicate
information requested.
   
NOTE: The foregoing summarizes certain tax consequences of investing in the
         Fund. Before investing, an investor should consult his or her own tax
         adviser for more information concerning the federal, state and local
         tax consequences of investing in or redeeming Fund shares.     
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     APPENDIX A
 
                    DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS ASSIGNED BY
                             STANDARD & POOR'S AND
                        MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.
 
STANDARD & POOR'S
 
                                      AAA
 
  This is the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor's to a debt
obligation and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay interest and
repay principal.
 
                                      AA
 
  Bonds rated AA also qualify as high quality debt obligations. Capacity to
pay interest and repay principal 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 interest and repay principal,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes
in circumstances and economic conditions.
 
                                      BBB
 
  Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest
and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to repay principal and pay interest for
bonds in this category than for bonds in higher rated categories.
 
                                BB, B, CCC, CC
 
  Bonds rated BB, B, CCC and CC are regarded, on balance, as predominantly
speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in
accordance with the terms of the obligation. BB indicates the lowest degree of
speculation and CC the highest degree of speculation. While such bonds will
likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed
by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
                                       C
 
  The rating C is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being
paid.
 
                                       D
 
  Bonds rated D are in default, and payment of interest and/or repayment of
principal is in arrears.
 
  Plus (+) or Minus (-): The ratings from "AA" to "B" may be modified by the
addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major
rating categories.
 
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.
 
                                      Aaa
 
  Bonds that are 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
edge." 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 that are rated Aa are judged to be 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 that make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa
securities.
 
                                       A
 
  Bonds that are 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
that suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
 
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
                                      Baa
 
  Bonds that are 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 which are 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 which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable
investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of
other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
 
                                      Caa
 
  Bonds which are 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.
 
                                      Ca
 
  Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a
high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked
shortcomings.
 
                                       C
 
  Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so
rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any
real investment standing.
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
  Should no rating be assigned by Moody's, the reason may be one of the
following:
 
 1. An application for rating was not received or accepted.
 
 2. The issue or issuer belongs to a group of securities that are not rated
    as a matter of policy.
 
 3. There is a lack of essential data pertaining to the issue or issuer.
 
 4. The issue was privately placed in which case the rating is not published
    in Moody's publications.
 
  Suspension or withdrawal may occur if new and material circumstances arise,
the effects of which preclude satisfactory analysis; if there is no longer
available reasonable up-to-date data to permit a judgment to be formed; if a
bond is called for redemption; or for other reasons.
 
Note: Those bonds in the Aa, A, Baa, Ba and B groups which Moody's believes
       possess the strongest investment attributes are designated by the
       symbols Aa1, A1, Baa1, Ba1 and B1.
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
INVESTMENT ADVISER 
Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. 
One Financial Center 
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
 
DISTRIBUTOR 
Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P. 
One Financial Center 
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
 
TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND PAYING AGENT 
AND CUSTODIAN OF ASSETS 
State Street Bank and Trust Company 
Boston, Massachusetts 02102
 
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING AGENT FOR 
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY 
Boston Financial Data Services, 
Inc. P.O. Box 8314
Boston, Massachusetts 02266
 
LEGAL COUNSEL 
Ropes & Gray 
One International Place 
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
 
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS 
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. 
One Post Office Square 
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
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                [LOGO OF LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS(TM) APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
 
                  [LOGO OF LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS/TM/ APPEARS HERE]
 

                            STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
                                  INFORMATION
                                     
                                  APRIL 1, 1997 AS AMENDED JANUARY 2, 1998     
 
  THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT A PROSPECTUS. THIS STATEMENT
OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATES TO THE PROSPECTUS OR PROSPECTUSES OF EACH
SERIES ("FUND") OF LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS DATED APRIL 1, 1997, AS REVISED FROM
TIME TO TIME. EACH REFERENCE TO THE PROSPECTUS IN THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION SHALL INCLUDE ALL OF THE FUNDS' CURRENT PROSPECTUSES, UNLESS
OTHERWISE NOTED. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SHOULD BE READ IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS. A COPY OF EACH PROSPECTUS MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS, ONE FINANCIAL CENTER, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
02111.
 
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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>   
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                                                                            PAGE
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<S>                                                                         <C>
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS...........................   3
MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST....................................................  10
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES.....................................  20
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE.......................................  23
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST...................................................  25
  How to Buy Shares........................................................  27
  Net Asset Value..........................................................  27
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES.......................................................  28
  Open Accounts............................................................  28
  Systematic Withdrawal Plan...............................................  28
  Exchange Privilege.......................................................  28
  IRAs.....................................................................  29
  Redemptions..............................................................  29
INCOME DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAX STATUS ...............  30
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.......................................................  32
CALCULATION OF YIELD AND TOTAL RETURN......................................  32
PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS....................................................  33
PERFORMANCE DATA...........................................................  35
APPENDIX A--PUBLICATIONS THAT MAY CONTAIN FUND INFORMATION.................  37
APPENDIX B--ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL LITERATURE.........................  39
</TABLE>    
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
               INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS
 
  The investment objective and policies of each series ("Fund") of Loomis
Sayles Funds (the "Trust"), are summarized in the Prospectus under "Investment
Objectives and Policies" and "More Information About the Funds' Investments
and Risk Factors." The investment policies of each Fund set forth in the
Prospectus and in this Statement of Additional Information may be changed by
the Funds' adviser, subject to review and approval by the Trust's board of
trustees, without shareholder approval except that the investment objective of
each Fund as set forth in the Prospectus and any Fund policy explicitly
identified as "fundamental" may not be changed without the approval of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the relevant Fund (which in
the Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information means the lesser
of (i) 67% of the shares of that Fund represented at a meeting at which 50% of
the outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the
outstanding shares). Except in the case of the 15% limitation on illiquid
securities, the percentage limitations set forth below and in the Prospectuses
will apply at the time a security is purchased and will not be considered
violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and
as a result of such purchase.
 
  In addition to its investment objective and policies set forth in the
Prospectus, the following investment restrictions are policies of each Fund
(and those marked with an asterisk are fundamental policies of each Fund):
 
Each Fund will not:
 
    (1) Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control or
  management.
 
    *(2) Act as underwriter, except to the extent that, in connection with
  the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an
  underwriter under certain federal securities laws.
 
    *(3) Invest in oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalty
  contracts or in real estate, commodities or commodity contracts. (This
  restriction does not prevent any Fund from engaging in transactions in
  futures contracts relating to securities indexes, interest rates or
  financial instruments or options, or from investing in issuers that invest
  or deal in the foregoing types of assets or from purchasing securities that
  are secured by real estate.)
 
    *(4) Make loans, except that each of the Mid-Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value,
  Small Cap Growth, Strategic Value, Investment Grade Bond and Intermediate
  Maturity Bond Funds may lend its portfolio securities to the extent
  permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"). (For
  purposes of this investment restriction, neither (i) entering into
  repurchase agreements nor (ii) purchasing bonds, debentures, commercial
  paper, corporate notes and similar evidences of indebtedness, which are a
  part of an issue to the public, is considered the making of a loan.)
 
    (5) With respect to 75% of its assets, purchase any security (other than
  a U.S. Government Security) if, as a result, more than 5% of the Fund's
  total assets (taken at current value) would then be invested in securities
  of a single issuer. (For purposes of this restriction, the Municipal Bond
  Fund treats each state and each separate political subdivision, agency,
  authority or instrumentality of such state, each multistate agency or
  authority, and each guarantor, if any, of obligations of any such issuer,
  as a separate issuer, provided that the assets and revenues of the issuer
  are separate from those of the government(s) that created the subdivision,
  agency, authority or instrumentality.)
 
    (6) With respect to 75% of its assets, acquire more than 10% of the
  outstanding voting securities of an issuer.
 
    (7) Pledge, mortgage, hypothecate or otherwise encumber any of its
  assets, except that each Fund may pledge assets having a value not
  exceeding 10% of its total assets to secure borrowings permitted by
  restriction (9) below. (For the purpose of this restriction, collateral
  arrangements with respect to options, futures contracts and options on
  futures contracts and with respect to initial and variation margin are not
  deemed to be a pledge or other encumbrance of assets.)
 
    *(8) Purchase any security (other than U.S. Government Securities) if, as
  a result, more than 25% of the Fund's total assets (taken at current value)
  would be invested in any one industry (in the utilities
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
  category, gas, electric, water and telephone companies will be considered
  as being in separate industries.) Tax-exempt securities issued by
  governments or political subdivisions of governments and purchased by the
  Municipal Bond Fund are not subject to this restriction, since such issuers
  are not members of any industry.
 
    *(9) Borrow money in excess of 10% of its total assets (taken at cost) or
  5% of its total assets (taken at current value), whichever is lower, nor
  borrow any money except as a temporary measure for extraordinary or
  emergency purposes.
 
    (10) Purchase securities on margin (except such short term credits as are
  necessary for clearance of transactions); or make short sales (except
  where, by virtue of ownership of other securities, it has the right to
  obtain, without payment of additional consideration, securities equivalent
  in kind and amount to those sold).
 
    (11) Participate on a joint or joint and several basis in any trading
  account in securities. (The "bunching" of orders for the purchase or sale
  of portfolio securities with Loomis Sayles or accounts under its management
  to reduce brokerage commissions, to average prices among them or to
  facilitate such transactions is not considered a trading account in
  securities for purposes of this restriction.)
 
    (12) Purchase any illiquid security, including any security that is not
  readily marketable, if, as a result, more than 15% of the Fund's net assets
  (based on current value) would then be invested in such securities.
 
    (13) Write or purchase puts, calls or combinations of both except that
  each Fund may (1) acquire warrants or rights to subscribe to securities of
  companies issuing such warrants or rights, or of parents or subsidiaries of
  such companies, (2) purchase and sell put and call options on securities
  and (3) write, purchase and sell put and call options on currencies and may
  enter into currency forward contracts.
    *(14) Issue senior securities. (For the purpose of this restriction none
  of the following is deemed to be a senior security: any pledge or other
  encumbrance of assets permitted by restriction (7) above; any borrowing
  permitted by restriction (9) above; any collateral arrangements with
  respect to options, futures contracts and options on futures contracts and
  with respect to initial and variation margin; and the purchase or sale of
  options, forward contracts, futures contracts or options on futures
  contracts.)
 
  Although the Funds have no current intention of investing in repurchase
agreements, they intend, based on the views of the staff of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), to restrict their investments in repurchase
agreements maturing in more than seven days, together with other investments
in illiquid securities, to the percentage permitted by restriction (12) above.
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
 
  U.S. Government Securities include direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury,
as well as securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies,
authorities and instrumentalities, including, among others, the Government
National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the
Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Housing Administration, the
Resolution Funding Corporation, the Federal Farm Credit Banks, the Federal
Home Loan Bank, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Student Loan Marketing
Association and the Small Business Administration. More detailed information
about some of these categories of U.S. Government Securities follows.
 
  U.S. Treasury Bills--Direct obligations of the United States Treasury which
are issued in maturities of one year or less. No interest is paid on Treasury
bills; instead, they are issued at a discount and repaid at full face value
when they mature. They are backed by the full faith and credit of the United
States Government.
 
  U.S. Treasury Notes and Bonds--Direct obligations of the United States
Treasury issued in maturities that vary between one and forty years, with
interest normally payable every six months. They are backed by the full faith
and credit of the United States Government.
 
  "Ginnie Maes"--Debt securities issued by a mortgage banker or other
mortgagee which represent an interest in a pool of mortgages insured by the
Federal Housing Administration or the Farmer's Home
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. The Government
National Mortgage Association ("GNMA") guarantees the timely payment of
principal and interest when such payments are due, whether or not these
amounts are collected by the issuer of these certificates on the underlying
mortgages. An assistant attorney general of the United States has rendered an
opinion that the guarantee by GNMA is a general obligation of the United
States backed by its full faith and credit. Mortgages included in single
family or multi-family residential mortgage pools backing an issue of Ginnie
Maes have a maximum maturity of up to 30 years. Scheduled payments of
principal and interest are made to the registered holders of Ginnie Maes (such
as the Fund) each month. Unscheduled prepayments may be made by homeowners, or
as a result of a default. Prepayments are passed through to the registered
holder of Ginnie Maes along with regular monthly payments of principal and
interest.
 
  "Fannie Maes"--The Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA") is a
government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders that
purchases residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers.
Fannie Maes are pass-through securities issued by FNMA that are guaranteed as
to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the
full faith and credit of the United States Government.
 
  "Freddie Macs"--The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC") is a
corporate instrumentality of the United States Government. Freddie Macs are
participation certificates issued by FHLMC that represent an interest in
residential mortgages from FHLMC's National Portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the
timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but Freddie
Macs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States
Government.
 
  As described in the Prospectus, U.S. Government Securities generally do not
involve the same credit risks associated with investments in other types of
fixed-income securities, although, as a result, the yields available from U.S.
Government Securities are generally lower than the yields available from
corporate fixed-income securities. Like other fixed-income securities,
however, the values of U.S. Government Securities change as interest rates
fluctuate. Fluctuations in the value of portfolio securities will not affect
interest income on existing portfolio securities but will be reflected in the
Fund's net asset value.
 
WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES
 
  As described in the Prospectus, each Fund may enter into agreements with
banks or broker-dealers for the purchase or sale of securities at an agreed-
upon price on a specified future date. Such agreements might be entered into,
for example, when a Fund that invests in fixed income securities anticipates a
decline in interest rates and is able to obtain a more advantageous yield by
committing currently to purchase securities to be issued later. When a Fund
purchases securities in this manner (i.e. on a when-issued or delayed-delivery
basis), it is required to create a segregated account with the Trust's
custodian and to maintain in that account cash or U.S. Government Securities
in an amount equal to or greater than, on a daily basis, the amount of the
Fund's when-issued or delayed-delivery commitments. Each Fund will make
commitments to purchase on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis only
securities meeting that Fund's investment criteria. The Fund may take delivery
of these securities or, if it is deemed advisable as a matter of investment
strategy, the Fund may sell these securities before the settlement date. When
the time comes to pay for when-issued or delayed-delivery securities, the Fund
will meet its obligations from then available cash flow or the sale of
securities, or from the sale of the when-issued or delayed-delivery securities
themselves (which may have a value greater or less than the Fund's payment
obligation).
 
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES
 
  Convertible securities include corporate bonds, notes or preferred stocks of
U.S. or foreign issuers that can be converted into (that is, exchanged for)
common stocks or other equity securities. Convertible securities also include
other securities, such as warrants, that provide an opportunity for equity
participation. Because convertible securities can be converted into equity
securities, their values will normally vary in some proportion
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
with those of the underlying equity securities. Convertible securities usually
provide a higher yield than the underlying equity, however, so that the price
decline of a convertible security may sometimes be less substantial than that
of the underlying equity security.
 
ZERO COUPON BONDS
 
  Zero coupon bonds are debt obligations that do not entitle the holder to any
periodic payments of interest either for the entire life of the obligation or
for an initial period after the issuance of the obligations. Such bonds are
issued and traded at a discount from their face amounts. The amount of the
discount varies depending on such factors as the time remaining until maturity
of the bonds, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the
perceived credit quality of the issuer. The market prices of zero coupon bonds
generally are more volatile than the market prices of securities that pay
interest periodically and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates
to a greater degree than do non-zero coupon bonds having similar maturities
and credit quality. In order to satisfy a requirement for qualification as a
"regulated investment company" under the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"),
each Fund must distribute each year at least 90% of its net investment income,
including the original issue discount accrued on zero coupon bonds. Because a
Fund investing in zero coupon bonds will not on a current basis receive cash
payments from the issuer in respect of accrued original issue discount, the
Fund may have to distribute cash obtained from other sources in order to
satisfy the 90% distribution requirement under the Code. Such cash might be
obtained from selling other portfolio holdings of the Fund. In some
circumstances, such sales might be necessary in order to satisfy cash
distribution requirements even though investment considerations might
otherwise make it undesirable for the Fund to sell such securities at such
time.
 
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
 
  Each Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, by which the Fund purchases
a security and obtains a simultaneous commitment from the seller (a bank or,
to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, a recognized securities dealer) to
repurchase the security at an agreed upon price and date (usually seven days
or less from the date of original purchase). The resale price is in excess of
the purchase price and reflects an agreed upon market rate unrelated to the
coupon rate on the purchased security. Such transactions afford the Funds the
opportunity to earn a return on temporarily available cash at minimal market
risk. While the underlying security may be a bill, certificate of
indebtedness, note or bond issued by an agency, authority or instrumentality
of the United States Government, the obligation of the seller is not
guaranteed by the U.S. Government and there is a risk that the seller may fail
to repurchase the underlying security. In such event, the Fund would attempt
to exercise rights with respect to the underlying security, including possible
disposition in the market. However, the Fund may be subject to various delays
and risks of loss, including (a) possible declines in the value of the
underlying security during the period while the Fund seeks to enforce its
rights thereto, (b) possible reduced levels of income and lack of income
during this period and (c) inability to enforce rights and the expenses
involved in attempted enforcement.
 
RULE 144A SECURITIES
 
  Each of the Funds may purchase Rule 144A securities. These are privately
offered securities that can be resold only to certain qualified institutional
buyers. Rule 144A securities are treated as illiquid, unless Loomis Sayles has
determined, under guidelines established by the Trust's trustees, that the
particular issue of Rule 144A securities is liquid. Under the guidelines,
Loomis Sayles considers such factors as: (1) the frequency of trades and
quotes for a security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell
the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (3) dealer
undertakings to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the
security and the nature of the marketplace trades therefor.
 
TAX EXEMPT BONDS
 
  Tax exempt bonds include debt obligations issued to obtain funds for various
public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public
facilities such as bridges, highways, hospitals, housing, mass
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
transportation, schools, streets, and water and sewer works. Other public
purposes for which tax exempt bonds may be issued include the refunding of
outstanding obligations, obtaining funds for general operating expenses, and
obtaining funds to lend to other public institutions and facilities. In
addition, prior to the Tax Reform Act of 1986, certain debt obligations known
as industrial development bonds could be issued by or on behalf of public
authorities to obtain funds to provide privately operated housing facilities,
sports facilities, convention or trade show facilities, airport, mass transit,
port or parking facilities, air or water pollution control facilities and
certain local facilities for water supply, gas, electricity, or sewage or
solid waste disposal. Such obligations are included within the term tax exempt
bonds if the interest paid thereon is, in the opinion of bond counsel, exempt
from federal income tax. Interest on certain industrial development bonds used
to fund the construction, equipment, repair or improvement of privately
operated industrial or commercial facilities may also be exempt from federal
income tax. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 eliminated some types of tax exempt
industrial revenue bonds but retained others under the general category of
"private activity bonds." The interest on so-called "private activity bonds"
is exempt from ordinary federal income taxation but is treated as a tax
preference item in computing a shareholder's alternative minimum tax
liability. The Municipal Bond Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in
private activity bonds.
 
  The Municipal Bond Fund may not be a desirable investment for "substantial
users" of facilities financed by industrial development bonds or for "related
persons" of substantial users. See "Income Dividends, Capital Gain
Distributions and Tax Status."
 
  The two principal classifications of tax exempt bonds are general obligation
bonds and limited obligation (or revenue) bonds. General obligation bonds are
obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing power and are
payable from the issuer's general unrestricted revenues and not from any
particular fund or source. The characteristics and method of enforcement of
general obligation bonds vary according to the law applicable to the
particular issuer, and payment may be dependent upon an appropriation by the
issuer's legislative body. Limited obligation bonds are payable only from the
revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities, or in some
cases from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source
such as the user of the facility. Tax exempt industrial development bonds and
private activity bonds are in most cases revenue bonds and generally are not
payable from the unrestricted revenues of the issuer. The credit and quality
of such bonds are usually directly related to the credit standing of the
corporate user of the facilities. Principal and interest on such bonds is the
responsibility of the corporate user (and any guarantor).
 
  Prices and yields on tax exempt bonds are dependent on a variety of factors,
including general money market conditions, the financial condition of the
issuer, general conditions of the tax exempt bond market, the size of a
particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the
issue. A number of these factors, including the ratings of particular issues,
are subject to change from time to time. Information about the financial
condition of an issuer of tax exempt bonds may not be as extensive as that
made available by corporations whose securities are publicly traded.
 
  As noted in the Prospectus, obligations of issuers of tax exempt bonds are
subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws, such as
the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, affecting the rights and remedies
of creditors. Congress or state legislatures may seek to extend the time for
payment of principal or interest, or both, or to impose other constraints upon
enforcement of such obligations. There is also the possibility that, as a
result of litigation or other conditions, the power or ability of issuers to
meet their obligations for the payment of interest and principal on their tax
exempt bonds may be materially affected, or their obligations may be found to
be invalid or unenforceable. Such litigation or conditions may from time to
time have the effect of introducing uncertainties in the market for tax exempt
bonds or certain segments thereof, or materially affecting the credit risk
with respect to particular bonds. Adverse economic, business, legal or
political developments might affect all or a substantial portion of the Fund's
tax exempt bonds in the same manner.
 
  From time to time the Municipal Bond Fund may have less than 80% of its net
assets invested in tax exempt bonds (1) for defensive purposes when deemed
prudent in the judgment of Loomis Sayles to protect shareholders' capital or
(2) on a temporary basis for liquidity purposes or pending the investment of
proceeds
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
from sales of Fund shares. The ability of the Fund to invest in securities
other than tax exempt bonds is limited by a requirement of the Code that at
least 50% of the Fund's total assets be invested in tax exempt securities at
the end of each calendar quarter. See "Income Dividends, Capital Gain
Distributions and Tax Status."
 
  The Municipal Bond Fund may purchase and sell portfolio investments to take
advantage of changes or anticipated changes in yield relationships, markets or
economic conditions. The Fund may also sell tax exempt bonds due to changes in
the adviser's evaluation of the issuer or cash needs resulting from redemption
requests for Fund shares. The secondary market for tax exempt bonds typically
has been less liquid than that for taxable debt securities, and this may
affect the Fund's ability to sell particular tax exempt bonds, especially in
periods when other investors are attempting to sell the same securities.
 
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS
 
  Each of the Funds may invest in securities of foreign issuers and may enter
into forward foreign currency exchange contracts, or buy or sell options on
foreign currencies, in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of
future foreign exchange rates. Since investment in securities of foreign
issuers will usually involve currencies of foreign countries, and since a Fund
may temporarily hold funds in bank deposits in foreign currencies during the
course of investment programs, the value of the assets of a Fund as measured
in United States dollars may be affected by changes in currency exchange rates
and exchange control regulations, and a Fund may incur costs in connection
with conversion between various currencies.
 
  A Fund may enter into forward contracts under two circumstances. First, when
a Fund enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security
denominated or traded in a market in which settlement is made in a foreign
currency, it may desire to "lock in" the U.S. dollar price of the security. By
entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed amount
of dollars, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying
transactions, the Fund will be able to protect itself against a possible loss
resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar
and the subject foreign currency during the period between the date on which
the investment is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or
received.
 
  Second, when Loomis Sayles believes that the currency of a particular
country may suffer a substantial decline against another currency, it may
enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of another currency,
the amount of the first currency approximating the value of some or all of the
Fund's portfolio investments denominated in the first currency. The precise
matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities
involved will not generally be possible since the future value of such
securities in a currency will change as a consequence of market movements in
the value of those investments between the date the forward contract is
entered into and the date it matures.
 
  The Funds generally will not enter into forward contracts with a term of
greater than one year.
 
  Options on foreign currencies are similar to forward contracts, except that
one party to the option (the holder) is not contractually bound to buy or sell
the specified currency. Instead, the holder has discretion whether to
"exercise" the option and thereby require the other party to buy or sell the
currency on the terms specified in the option. Options transactions involve
transaction costs and, like forward contract transactions, involve the risk
that the other party may default on its obligations (if the options are not
traded on an established exchange) and the risk that expected movements in the
relative value of currencies may not occur, resulting in an imperfect hedge or
a loss to the Fund.
 
  The Funds' ability to engage in transactions in currency forward contracts
and options may be limited by tax considerations.
 
  Each Fund, in conjunction with its transactions in forward contracts,
options and futures (including the International Equity, Worldwide and Global
Bond Funds' transactions in options on securities described below), will
maintain in a segregated account with its custodian cash or certain liquid
assets with a value, marked to market on a daily basis, sufficient to satisfy
the Fund's outstanding obligations under such contracts, options and futures.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
OPTIONS
 
  As described in the Prospectus, each of the Funds, may for hedging purposes
or to enhance investment return, purchase and sell call and put options.
 
  An option entitles the holder to receive (in the case of a call option) or
to sell (in the case of a put option) a particular security at a specified
exercise price. An "American style" option allows exercise of the option at
any time during the term of the option. A "European style" option allows an
option to be exercised only at the end of its term. Options may be traded on
or off an established securities exchange.
 
  If the holder of an option wishes to terminate its position, it may seek to
effect a closing sale transaction by selling an option identical to the option
previously purchased. The effect of the purchase is that the previous option
position will be canceled. A Fund will realize a profit from closing out an
option if the price received for selling the offsetting position is more than
the premium paid to purchase the option; the Fund will realize a loss from
closing out an option transaction if the price received for selling the
offsetting option is less than the premium paid to purchase the option.
 
  The use of options involves risks. One risk arises because of the imperfect
correlation between movements in the price of options and movements in the
price of the securities that are the subject of the hedge. The Fund's hedging
strategies will not be fully effective if such imperfect correlation occurs.
 
  Price movement correlation may be distorted by illiquidity in the options
markets and the participation of speculators in such markets. If an
insufficient number of contracts are traded, commercial users may not deal in
options because they do not want to assume the risk that they may not be able
to close out their positions within a reasonable amount of time. In such
instances, options market prices may be driven by different forces than those
driving the market in the underlying securities, and price spreads between
these markets may widen. The participation of speculators in the market
enhances its liquidity. Nonetheless, the trading activities of speculators in
the options markets may create temporary price distortions unrelated to the
market in the underlying securities.
 
  An exchange-traded option may be closed out only on an exchange which
generally provides a liquid secondary market for an option of the same series.
If a liquid secondary market for an exchange-traded option does not exist, it
might not be possible to effect a closing transaction with respect to a
particular option, with the result that the Fund would have to exercise the
option in order to accomplish the desired hedge. Reasons for the 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 the Options
Clearing Corporation or other clearing organization 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 a particular class or series of
options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that
class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options
on that exchange that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a
result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in
accordance with their terms.
 
  The successful use of options depends in part on the ability of Loomis
Sayles to forecast correctly the direction and extent of interest rate, stock
price or currency value movements within a given time frame. To the extent
interest rates, stock prices or currency values move in a direction opposite
to that anticipated, the Fund may realize a loss on the hedging transaction
that is not fully or partially offset by an increase in the value of portfolio
securities. In addition, whether or not interest rates or the relevant stock
price or relevant currency values move during the period that the Fund holds
options positions, the Fund will pay the cost of taking those positions (i.e.,
brokerage costs). As a result of these factors, the Fund's total return for
such period may be less than if it had not engaged in the hedging transaction.
 
  An over-the-counter option (an option not traded on an established exchange)
may be closed out only with the other party to the original option
transaction. While the Fund will seek to enter into over-the-counter options
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
only with dealers who agree to or are expected to be capable of entering into
closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund
will be able to liquidate an over-the-counter option at a favorable price at
any time prior to its expiration. Accordingly, the Fund might have to exercise
an over-the-counter option it holds in order to achieve the intended hedge.
Over-the- counter options are not subject to the protections afforded
purchasers of listed options by the Options Clearing Corporation or other
clearing organization.
 
  The staff of the SEC has taken the position that over-the-counter options
should be treated as illiquid securities for purposes of each Fund's
investment restriction prohibiting it from investing more than 15% of its net
assets in illiquid securities. The Funds intend to comply with this position.
 
  Income earned by a Fund from its hedging activities will be treated as
capital gain and, if not offset by net recognized capital losses incurred by
the Fund, will be distributed to shareholders in taxable distributions.
Although gain from options transactions may hedge against a decline in the
value of a Fund's portfolio securities, that gain, to the extent not offset by
losses, will be distributed in light of certain tax considerations and will
constitute a distribution of that portion of the value preserved against
decline.
 
SMALL COMPANIES
 
  Investments in companies with relatively small capitalization may involve
greater risk than is usually associated with more established companies. These
companies often have limited product lines, markets or financial resources and
they may be dependent upon a relatively small management group. Their
securities may have limited marketability and may be subject to more abrupt or
erratic movements in price than securities of companies with larger
capitalization or market averages in general. The net asset values of funds
that invest in companies with smaller capitalization therefore may fluctuate
more widely than market averages.
 
                            MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST
 
  The trustees and officers of the Trust and their principal occupations
during the past five years are as follows:
 
  EARL W. FOELL--Trustee. 43 Black Horse Lane, Cohasset, Massachusetts.
Retired; formerly Editor in-Chief, World Monitor Magazine and Editor-in-Chief,
The Christian Science Monitor.
 
  RICHARD S. HOLWAY--Trustee. 1314 Seaspray Lane, Sanibel, Florida. Retired;
formerly, Vice President, Loomis Sayles. Director, Sandwich Cooperative Bank.
 
  TERRY R. LAUTENBACH--Trustee. Shennamere Road, Darien, Connecticut. Retired;
formerly Senior Vice President, International Business Machines Corporation.
Director, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Melville Corp., and Varian
Associates, Inc.
 
  MICHAEL T. MURRAY--Trustee. 404 N. Western Ave., Lake Forest, Illinois.
Retired; formerly, Vice President, Loomis Sayles.
 
  *DANIEL J. FUSS--President and Trustee. Executive Vice President and
Director, Loomis Sayles.
 
  SHEILA M. BARRY--Secretary and Compliance Officer. Assistant General Counsel
and Vice President, Loomis Sayles. Formerly, Senior Counsel and Vice
President, New England Funds, L.P.
 
  ROBERT J. BLANDING--Executive Vice President. 465 First Street West, Sonoma,
California. President, Chairman, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Loomis
Sayles.
 
  JEROME A. CASTELLINI--Vice President. Three 1st National Plaza, Chicago,
Illinois. Vice President and Director, Loomis Sayles.
 
  MARY C. CHAMPAGNE--Vice President. 1533 N. Woodward, Bloomfield Hills,
Michigan. Vice President, Loomis Sayles; formerly, portfolio manager, NBD
Bank.
- --------
* Trustee deemed an "interested person" of the Trust, as defined by the 1940
Act.
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
  E. JOHN DEBEER--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles.
 
  PAUL H. DREXLER--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles; formerly
Deputy Manager, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
 
  WILLIAM H. EIGEN, JR.--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles;
formerly Vice President, INVESCO Funds Group and Vice President, The Travelers
Corp.
 
  CHRISTOPHER R. ELY--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles; formerly
Senior Vice President and portfolio manager, Keystone Investment Management
Company, Inc.
 
  QUENTIN P. FAULKNER--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles.
 
  PHILIP C. FINE--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles; formerly Vice
President and portfolio manager, Keystone Investment Management Company, Inc.
 
  MARTHA F. HODGMAN--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles.
 
  MARK W. HOLLAND--Treasurer. Vice President--Finance and Administration and
Director, Loomis Sayles.
 
  JOHN HYLL--Vice President. 35 North Lake Avenue, Pasadena, California. Vice
President, Loomis Sayles.
 
  JEFFREY L. MEADE--Vice President. Executive Vice President, Chief Operating
Officer and Director, Loomis Sayles.
 
  KENT P. NEWMARK--Vice President. 555 California Street, San Francisco,
California. Vice President and Director, Loomis Sayles.
 
  SCOTT S. PAPE--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles.
 
  JEFFREY C. PETHERICK--Vice President. 1533 N. Woodward, Bloomfield Hills,
Michigan. Vice President, Loomis Sayles.
 
  PHILIP J. SCHETTEWI--Vice President. Vice President and Director, Loomis
Sayles.
 
  DAVID L. SMITH--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles; formerly Vice
President and portfolio manager, Keystone Investment Management Company, Inc.
 
  SANDRA P. TICHENOR--Vice President. 465 First Street West, Sonoma,
California. General Counsel, Vice President, Secretary and Clerk, Loomis
Sayles. Formerly, Partner, Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe.
 
  JEFFREY W. WARDLOW--Vice President. 1533 N. Woodward, Bloomfield Hills,
Michigan. Vice President, Loomis Sayles.
 
  GREGG D. WATKINS--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles.
 
  ANTHONY J. WILKINS--Vice President. Vice President and Director, Loomis
Sayles.
 
  JOHN F. YEAGER III--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles; formerly
Vice President--Marketing, INVESCO Funds Group and Assistant Comptroller,
INVESCO Capital Management.
 
  Previous positions during the past five years with Loomis Sayles are
omitted, if not materially different.
 
  Except as indicated above, the address of each trustee and officer of the
Trust affiliated with Loomis Sayles is One Financial Center, Boston,
Massachusetts. The Trust pays no compensation to its officers or to the
trustees listed above who are directors, officers or employees of Loomis
Sayles. Each trustee who is not a director, officer or employee of Loomis
Sayles is compensated at the rate of $1,250 per fund per annum.
 
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
                              COMPENSATION TABLE
 
                     FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              (5)
                                                                             TOTAL
                                               (3)              (4)       COMPENSATION
                              (2)          PENSION OR        ESTIMATED   FROM TRUST AND
          (1)              AGGREGATE   RETIREMENT BENEFITS    ANNUAL     FUND COMPLEX*
    NAME OF PERSON,       COMPENSATION ACCRUED AS PART OF  BENEFITS UPON    PAID TO
        POSITION           FROM TRUST     FUND EXPENSES     RETIREMENT      TRUSTEE
    ---------------       ------------ ------------------- ------------- --------------
<S>                       <C>          <C>                 <C>           <C>
Earl W. Foell, Trustee..   $12,812.50          N/A              N/A        $12,812.50
Richard S. Holway,
 Trustee................   $12,812.50          N/A              N/A        $12,812.50
Terry R. Lautenbach,
 Trustee................   $12,812.50          N/A              N/A        $12,812.50
Michael T. Murray,
 Trustee................   $12,812.50          N/A              N/A        $12,812.50
</TABLE>
- --------
* No Trustee receives any compensation from any mutual funds affiliated with
  Loomis Sayles, other than the Trust.
 
  As of February 10, 1997 the officers and trustees of the Trust owned
beneficially shares of each Fund as follows: 11,766.561 shares of the Growth
Fund, 18,055.379 shares of the Core Value Fund, 29,531.022 shares of the Small
Cap Value Fund, 15,624.137 shares of the International Equity Fund, 11,906.835
shares of the Worldwide Fund, 217,036.885 shares of the Bond Fund, 21,514.129
shares of the Global Bond Fund, 2,165.523 shares of the U.S. Government
Securities Fund, 68,868.779 shares of the Municipal Bond Fund, 58,542.753
shares of the Short-Term Bond Fund, 50,964.392 shares of the High Yield Fund,
5.061 shares of the Investment Grade Bond Fund, 4.883 of the Mid-Cap Value
Fund, and 1,000.000 shares of the Small Cap Growth Fund. These amounts include
shares held by the Loomis Sayles Employees' Profit Sharing Plan (the "Profit
Sharing Plan") for the accounts of officers and trustees of the Trust, but
exclude all other holdings of the Profit Sharing Plan and the Loomis-Sayles
Funded Pension Plan (the "Pension Plan"). As of February 10, 1997, the Pension
Plan owned 20.59% of the High Yield Fund's, and 73.42% of the Investment Grade
Bond Fund's, outstanding Institutional Class shares, respectively. As of
February 10, 1997, the Profit Sharing Plan owned the following percentages of
the outstanding Institutional Class shares of the indicated Funds: 17.30% of
the Core Value Fund, 9.07% of the Global Bond Fund, 25.51% of the Growth Fund,
13.40% of the High Yield Fund, 87.20% of the Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund,
6.60% of the International Equity Fund, 15.17% of the Investment Grade Bond
Fund, 91.80% of the Mid-Cap Growth Fund, 33.96% of the Mid-Cap Value Fund,
13.13% of the Short-Term Bond Fund, 58.65% of the Small Cap Growth Fund, 8.53%
of the Small Cap Value Fund, 99.56% of the Strategic Value Fund, 8.12% of the
U.S. Government Securities Fund, and 26.70% of the Worldwide Fund. As of
February 10, 1997, the Pension Plan owned 100.00% of each of the Intermediate
Maturity Bond Fund's, the Strategic Value Fund's and the Worldwide Fund's
outstanding Retail Class shares. These amounts include shares of the Profit
Sharing Plan held for the accounts of employees and former employees of Loomis
Sayles who are trustees or officers of the Trust. The trustee of the Pension
Plan is Fleet Investment Management. The Pension Plan's Advisory Committee,
which is composed of the same individuals listed below as trustees of the
Profit Sharing Plan, has the sole voting and investment power with respect to
the Pension Plan's shares. The trustees of the Profit Sharing Plan are E. John
deBeer, Quentin P. Faulkner, Sandra P. Tichenor, Larry K. Shaw, Kathleen C.
Gaffney, Mark W. Holland, and Patrick P. Hurley, all of whom are officers and
employees of Loomis Sayles and (except for Messrs. Hurley and Shaw and Ms.
Gaffney) trustees or officers of the Trust. Plan participants are entitled to
exercise investment and voting power over shares owned of record by the Profit
Sharing Plan. Shares not voted by participants are voted in the same
proportion as the shares voted by the voting participants. The address for the
Profit Sharing Plan and the Pension Plan is One Financial Center, Boston,
Massachusetts. At the date of this Statement of Additional Information, no
officer or trustee, and as of February 10, 1997, except as noted below, no
person, owns more than 5% of the outstanding shares of any Fund.
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
                           INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              PERCENTAGE OF
SHAREHOLDER                               ADDRESS                              SHARES HELD
- -----------                               -------                             -------------
<S>                                       <C>                                 <C>
BOND FUND
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.                 101 Montgomery St.                      41.22%
                                          San Francisco, CA 94104

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.                 101 Montgomery St.                       8.19%
                                          San Francisco, CA 94104
CORE VALUE FUND
Loomis Sayles Employees                   One Financial Center                    17.30%
Profit Sharing Plan                       Boston, MA 02111

Olsen & Co.                               P.O. Box 92800                          14.95%
C/O A/C 1556802070                        Rochester, NY 14692
Attn: Mutual Fund Ops

Asbestos Workers Local                    C/O Loomis Sayles & Co. Inc.             8.34%
#84 Pension Fund                          1593 North Woodward, Ste 300
                                          Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
GLOBAL BOND FUND
Olsen & Co.                               P.O. Box 92800                          28.68%
C/O A/C 07-920-1556802                    Rochester, NY 14692
Att: Mutual Fund Ops

Northwest Bank MN NA                      P.O. Box 1450 NW 8477                   19.98%
C/F Desert States UFCW Union              Minneapolis, MN 55480
Employees Pension AC#1327982D

Fleet National Bank TTEE                  P.O. Box 92800                          15.26%
Kaman Corp Master Trust Fixed             Rochester, NY 14692
Income Fund U/A/D 10-1-96
Attn A/C# 0004884410

Loomis Sayles                             One Financial Center                     9.07%
Employees Profit Sharing Plan             Boston, MA 02111

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.                 101 Montgomery St.                       8.83%
                                          San Francisco, CA 94104
GROWTH FUND
Loomis Sayles Employees                   One Financial Center                    25.51%
Profit Sharing Plan                       Boston, MA 02111

Olsen & Co.                               P.O. Box 92800                          13.48%
C/O A/C 07 925 4076300                    Rochester, NY 14692

Comerica Bank Cust                        P.O. Box 75000 MC 3446                   7.25%
FBO Grosse Pointe Woods                   Detroit, MI 48275
Employees Retirement System

First of America Bank --                  P.O. Box 4042                            5.24%
Michigan FBO                              Kalamazoo, MI 49003
International Assoc of Machinists
& Aerospace Workers Local Lodge
# 2848 Defined Benefit Pension Plan
</TABLE>
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              PERCENTAGE OF
SHAREHOLDER                               ADDRESS                              SHARES HELD
- -----------                               -------                             -------------
<S>                                       <C>                                 <C>
HIGH YIELD FUND
Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.            One Financial Center                    20.59%
                                          Boston, MA 02111

Daniel J. Fuss                            44 Longfellow Road                      20.59%
                                          Wellesley, MA 02181

Loomis Sayles                             One Financial Center                    13.40%
Employees Profit Sharing Plan             Boston, MA 02111

MetroMed Anestheseology                   770 Lexington Avenue                     8.07%
K. Rosenbaum, M.D., Trustee               New York, NY 10021

INTERMEDIATE MATURITY BOND FUND
Loomis Sayles                             One Financial Center                    87.20%
Employees Profit Sharing Plan             Boston, MA 02111

David B. Tukel                            31725 Nottingham                         5.49%
Debra L. Tukel JT TEN                     Franklin, MI 48025

Pomona College                            Alexander Hall                           5.36%
                                          550 N. College Ave.
                                          Claremont, CA 91711

INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Comerica Bank FBO                         P.O. Box 75000 MC 3446                  11.10%
City of Livonia Employee                  Detroit, MI 48275
Retirement System A/C 82150B

Olsen & Co.                               P.O. Box 92800                           8.64%
C/O A/C 07 925 4076800                    Rochester, NY 14692
Att: Mutual Fund Ops

Misericordia Home                         6300 N. Ridge Ave.                       8.18%
                                          Chicago, IL 60660

Bank of New York                          P.O. Box 30772                           6.68%
Western Tr FBO IATSE                      Los Angeles, CA 90030
Att: Mutual Fund 316226721

Loomis Sayles                             One Financial Center                     6.60%
Employees Profit Sharing Plan             Boston, MA 02111

INVESTMENT GRADE BOND FUND
Loomis Sayles & Company, L.P.             Attn: Paul Sherba                       73.42%
                                          One Financial Center
                                          Boston, MA 02111

Loomis Sayles                             One Financial Center                    15.17%
Employees Profit Sharing Plan             Boston, MA 02111

Pomona College                            Alexander Hall                           5.73%
                                          550 N. College Ave.
                                          Claremont, CA 91711

MID-CAP GROWTH FUND
Loomis Sayles                             One Financial Center                    91.80%
Employees Profit Sharing Plan             Boston, MA 02111
</TABLE>
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              PERCENTAGE OF
SHAREHOLDER                               ADDRESS                              SHARES HELD
- -----------                               -------                             -------------
<S>                                       <C>                                 <C>
MID-CAP VALUE FUND
Loomis Sayles                             One Financial Center                    33.96%
Employees Profit Sharing Plan             Boston, MA 02111

East Jordan Iron Works Inc.               P.O. Box 439                            19.97%
Retirement Trust                          East Jordan, MI 49727

John W. George Jr. Trustee                590 Renaud                              12.92%
John W. George Jr. Trust                  Grosse Pointe, MI 48236
U/A/D 12/6/90

Kathleen Carpenter, M.D.                  612 South Bay Shore                      6.66%
William R Church, M.D., TTEES             Elk Rapids, MI 49629
Grand Traverse Radiologist's
PC PSP

Floyd Tukel, Trustee                      2862 Chestnut Run Dr.                    5.99%
Drs. Butler & Tukel                       Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
Ophthamology PC
Employees Profit Sharing Trust

MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
Sally B. Searle                           Kinship Capital                         13.49%
                                          400 Skokie Blvd.; Ste. 675
                                          Northbrook, IL 60062

Ann A. Morris Trustee                     General Delivery                        12.99%
Ann A. Morris Trust                       Lummi Island, WA 98262

John W. George Jr. Trustee                590 Renaud                               5.56%
John W. George Jr. Trust                  Grosse Pointe, MI 48236
U/A/D 12/6/90

SHORT-TERM BOND FUND
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.                 101 Montgomery St.                      15.53%
                                          San Francisco, CA 94104

John W. George Jr. Trustee                590 Renaud                              13.78%
John W. George Jr. Trust                  Grosse Pointe, MI 48236
U/A/D 12/6/90

Loomis Sayles                             One Financial Center                    13.13%
Employees Profit Sharing Plan             Boston, MA 02111

SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
Loomis Sayles                             One Financial Center                    58.65%
Employees Profit Sharing Plan             Boston, MA 02111

YMCA of Greater Boston                    316 Huntington Ave.                     25.84%
                                          Boston, MA 02216

National Investor Services Corp.          55 Water St.                            10.02%
For the Exclusive Benefit of              New York, NY 10041
Our Customers
</TABLE>
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              PERCENTAGE OF
SHAREHOLDER                               ADDRESS                              SHARES HELD
- -----------                               -------                             -------------
<S>                                       <C>                                 <C>
SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
Smith Barney Inc.                         333 West 34th St.; 7th Fl.              11.55%
Book Entry Account                        New York, NY 10001

Loomis Sayles                             One Financial Center                     8.53%
Employees Profit Sharing Plan             Boston, MA 02111

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.                 101 Montgomery St.                       6.70%
                                          San Francisco, CA 94104

F M Kirby                                 17 Dehart St.; P.O. Box 151              5.99%
                                          Morristown, NJ 07963
STRATEGIC VALUE FUND
Loomis Sayles                             One Financial Center                    99.56%
Employees Profit Sharing Plan             Boston, MA 02111

U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND
Olsen & Co.                               P.O. Box 92800                          38.89%
C/O A/C 07-920-1556802                    Rochester, NY 14692
Att: Mutual Fund Ops

Loomis Sayles                             One Financial Center                     8.12%
Employees Profit Sharing Plan             Boston, MA 02111

National City Bank Columbus               P.O. Box 94777                           6.79%
Trustee Columbus Distributing             Cleveland, OH 44101
Co. PSP

WORLDWIDE FUND
Olsen & Co.                               P.O. Box 92800                          71.51%
C/O A/C 10-07-920-1556802                 Rochester, NY 14692

Loomis Sayles                             One Financial Center                    26.70%
Employees Profit Sharing Plan             Boston, MA 02111
 
                              RETAIL CLASS SHARES
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                              PERCENTAGE OF
SHAREHOLDER                               ADDRESS                              SHARES HELD
- -----------                               -------                             -------------
<S>                                       <C>                                 <C>
BOND FUND
UMBSC & Co.                               P.O. Box 419260                         11.71%
FBO The Episcopal                         Kansas City, MO 64141
Diocese of Kansas
370164014

National Investor Services Corp.          55 Water Street                          9.91%
For the Exclusive Benefit of              New York, NY 10041
Our Customers

CORE VALUE FUND
NFSC FEBO #110-415740                     55 Falmouth Rd                          54.74%
Christa M. Gaehde                         Arlington, MA 02174
FMT CO TTEE FRP MP A/C

Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette                 P.O. Box 2052                           23.35%
Securities Corporation Inc.               Jersey City, 07303
</TABLE>
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              PERCENTAGE OF
SHAREHOLDER                               ADDRESS                              SHARES HELD
- -----------                               -------                             -------------
<S>                                       <C>                                 <C>
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.                 101 Montgomery St.                      17.09%
Attn. Mutual Fund Dept.                   San Francisco, CA 94104

GLOBAL BOND FUND
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.                 101 Montgomery St.                      15.53%
Attn. Mutual Fund Dept.                   San Francisco, CA 94104
A/C 8700012578-8

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.                 101 Montgomery St.                      15.01%
Attn. Mutual Fund Dept.                   San Francisco, CA 94104
A/C 8700012576-2

NFSC FEBO # X42-090735                    2219 Calusa Lakes Blvd.                  8.21%
Peter S. Price                            Nokomis, FL 34275

Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette                 P.O. Box 2052                            7.07%
Securities Corporation Inc.               Jersey City, 07303

NFSC FEBO #153-307734                     2404 Angle Ct.                           5.53%
FMT CO CUST IRA Rollover                  Decatur, IL 62521

GROWTH FUND
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.                 101 Montgomery St.                      31.00%
Attn. Mutual Fund Dept.                   San Francisco, CA 94104

Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette                 P.O. Box 2052                           10.29%
Securities Corporation Inc.               Jersey City, 07303
A/C 7710000004-3

Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette                 P.O. Box 2052                            9.33%
Securities Corporation Inc.               Jersey City, 07303
A/C 7710000002-7

National Investor Services Corp.          55 Water Street                          8.53%
For the Exclusive Benefit of              New York, NY 10041
Our Customers                             Mutual Funds Dept. 32nd Floor

HIGH YIELD FUND
NFSC FEBO # 125-254282                    533 Coal Creek Lane                     19.13%
FMT CO CUST IRA                           Louisville, CO 80027
FBO Bruce R. Becker

Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette                 P.O. Box 2052                           19.04%
Securities Corporation Inc.               Jersey City, 07303
A/C 4340000003-6

Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette                 P.O. Box 2052                           11.14%
Securities Corporation Inc.               Jersey City, 07303
A/C 1000020331-8

NFSC FEBO # X67-191930                    P.O Box 190444                           9.62%
Martha I. Bennett Irrev. Trust            Dallas, TX 75219
Paul Wilton Bennett, Trustee
U/A 08/24/84

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.                 101 Montgomery St.                       9.29%
Attn. Mutual Fund Dept.                   San Francisco, CA 94104
</TABLE>
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              PERCENTAGE OF
SHAREHOLDER                               ADDRESS                              SHARES HELD
- -----------                               -------                             -------------
<S>                                       <C>                                 <C>
Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette                 P.O. Box 2052                            6.90%
Securities Corporation Inc.               Jersey City, 07303
A/C 4340000000-7

NFSC FEBO # 175-135704                    5305 Bennett Rd.                         6.43%
FMT CO CUST IRA                           Chattanooga, TN 37412
FBO James J. Hinkle

INTERMEDIATE MATURITY BOND FUND
Loomis Sayles & Co. L.P                   One Financial Center                   100.00%
Attn: Paul Sherba                         Boston, MA 02111

INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.                 101 Montgomery St.                      83.84%
Attn. Mutual Fund Dept.                   San Francisco, CA 94104

National Investor Services Corp.          55 Water Street                         13.26%
For the Exclusive Benefit of              New York, NY 10041
Our Customers                             Mutual Funds Dept. 32nd Floor

INVESTMENT GRADE BOND FUND
Carolyn D. Cavanaugh                      3141 Pine Branch Drive                  99.80%
                                          Kissimmee, FL 34741
MID-CAP GROWTH FUND
Tricia H. Mills CUST                      155 N. Lake #1030                       49.89%
Tyra Hunter Mills                         Pasadena, CA 91101
Unif Trans Min Act -CA

Tricia H. Mills CUST                      155 N. Lake #1030                       49.89%
Brigitte Easton Mills                     Pasadena, CA 91101
Unif Trans Min Act -CA

MID-CAP VALUE FUND
Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette                 P.O. Box 2052                           99.97%
Securities Corporation Inc.               Jersey City, 07303

SHORT-TERM BOND FUND
Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette                 P.O. Box 2052                           35.20%
Securities Corporation Inc.               Jersey City, 07303
A/C 7700000000-4

Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette                 P.O. Box 2052                            9.54%
Securities Corporation Inc.               Jersey City, 07303

Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette                 P.O. Box 2052                           16.60%
Securities Corporation Inc.               Jersey City, 07303
A/C 1000020323-7

Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette                 P.O. Box 2052                            9.54%
Securities Corporation Inc.               Jersey City, 07303
A/C 1000020327-9

NFSC FEBO # 137-326321                    8310 Holly Haven Lane                    7.78%
Stephanie S. Lord Cust                    Fairfax Station, VA 22039
Matthew Charles Lord UTMA VA
</TABLE>
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              PERCENTAGE OF
SHAREHOLDER                               ADDRESS                              SHARES HELD
- -----------                               -------                             -------------
 
<S>                                       <C>                                 <C>
SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND
Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette                 P.O. Box 2052                           68.10%
Securities Corporation Inc.               Jersey City, 07303

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.                 101 Montgomery St.                      25.47%
Attn. Mutual Fund Dept.                   San Francisco, CA 94104

State Bank of the Lakes Trustee           440 West Lake Street                     6.41%
U/W Of Louise Murrie                      Antioch, IL 60002
FBO William Slater DTD 6-27-88
Trust Department

SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
Chase Manhattan Bank Trustee              770 Broadway                            30.87%
Metlife Defined Contribution              10th Floor
Group; Attn: Judith Trepanowski           New York, NY 10003

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.                 101 Montgomery St.                      27.37%
Att: Mutual Fund Dept.                    San Francisco, CA 94104
A/C 8700012578-8

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.                 101 Montgomery St.                       13.40%
Att: Mutual Fund Dept.                    San Francisco, CA 94104
A/C 87000012576-2

STRATEGIC VALUE FUND
Loomis Sayles & Co. L.P.                  One Financial Center                   100.00%
Attn: Paul Sherba                         Boston, MA 02111

WORLDWIDE FUND
Loomis Sayles & Co. L.P.                  One Financial Center                   100.00%
Attn: Paul Sherba                         Boston, MA 02111
</TABLE>
 
  To the extent any of the shareholders listed above beneficially owns more
than 25% of a Fund, it may be deemed to "control" such Fund.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
 
                    INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES
 
  Advisory Agreements. Loomis Sayles serves as investment adviser under a
separate advisory agreement relating to each of the Bond and High Yield Funds,
each dated August 30, 1996, relating to the Growth, Core Value, Small Cap
Value, International Equity, Worldwide, Global Bond, U.S. Government
Securities, Municipal Bond and Short-Term Bond Funds, each dated August 30,
1996, as amended January 1, 1997, and relating to each of the Small Cap
Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Mid-Cap Growth, Strategic Value, Investment Grade Bond,
and Intermediate Maturity Bond Funds, each dated December 1, 1996. The
advisory agreements relating to each of the Growth, Core Value, Small Cap
Value, International Equity, Worldwide, Global Bond, U.S. Government
Securities, Municipal Bond and Short-Term Bond Funds were amended effective
January 1, 1997 solely for the purpose of reducing the fees payable
thereunder. Under each advisory agreement, Loomis Sayles manages the
investment and reinvestment of the assets of the relevant Fund and generally
administers its affairs, subject to supervision by the board of trustees of
the Trust. Loomis Sayles furnishes, at its own expense, all necessary office
space, facilities and equipment, services of executive and other personnel of
the Fund and certain administrative services. For these services, the advisory
agreements provide that each Fund shall pay Loomis Sayles a monthly investment
advisory fee at the following annual percentage rates of the particular Fund's
average daily net assets:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      FUND                                                                 RATE
      ----                                                                 ----
      <S>                                                                  <C>
      Growth.............................................................. .50%
      Core Value.......................................................... .50
      Small Cap Value..................................................... .75
      International Equity................................................ .75
      Worldwide........................................................... .75
      Small Cap Growth.................................................... .75
      Mid-Cap Value....................................................... .75
      Mid-Cap Growth...................................................... .75
      Strategic Value..................................................... .50
      Bond................................................................ .60
      High Yield.......................................................... .60
      Global Bond......................................................... .60
      U.S. Government Securities.......................................... .40
      Municipal Bond...................................................... .40
      Short-Term Bond..................................................... .25
      Investment Grade Bond............................................... .40
      Intermediate Maturity Bond.......................................... .40
</TABLE>
 
  During the periods shown below, pursuant to advisory agreements in effect
prior to January 1, 1997 under which fees were payable to Loomis Sayles at the
following annual rates by the indicated Funds (expressed as a percentage of
average daily net assets): Growth, 0.75%; Core Value, 0.75%; International
Equity, 1.00%; Small Cap Value, 1.00%; Bond, 0.60%; Global Bond, 0.75%; U.S.
Government, 0.60%; Municipal Bond, 0.60%; Short Term Bond, 0.50%; Worldwide,
0.75%; High Yield, 0.60%, Loomis Sayles received the following amount of
investment advisory fees from each Fund (before voluntary fee reductions and
expense assumptions) and bore the following amounts of fee reductions and
expense assumptions for each Fund:
 
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          FISCAL YEAR ENDED 12/31/94   FISCAL YEAR ENDED 12/31/95   FISCAL YEAR ENDED 12/31/96
                          ---------------------------- ---------------------------- -----------------------------
                                         FEE WAIVERS                  FEE WAIVERS                   FEE WAIVERS
                           ADVISORY      AND EXPENSE    ADVISORY      AND EXPENSE     ADVISORY      AND EXPENSE
        FUND                 FEES        ASSUMPTIONS      FEES        ASSUMPTIONS       FEES        ASSUMPTIONS
        ----              ------------- -------------- ------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
<S>                       <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>            <C>
Growth..................  $     248,311   $          0 $     319,009   $          0 $      318,602  $          0
Core Value..............        188,066              0       243,025              0        297,001             0
Small Cap Value.........        790,607              0       839,470              0      1,125,160             0
International Equity....        670,041              0       781,765              0        848,205             0
Worldwide...............            N/A            N/A           N/A            N/A         23,335        84,635
Small Cap Growth*.......            N/A            N/A           N/A            N/A            N/A           N/A
Mid-Cap Value*..........            N/A            N/A           N/A            N/A            N/A           N/A
Mid-Cap Growth*.........            N/A            N/A           N/A            N/A            N/A           N/A
Strategic Value*........            N/A            N/A           N/A            N/A            N/A           N/A
Bond....................        511,925              0       917,444              0      2,205,461             0
Global Bond.............        196,543              0       106,447         26,849        119,648        43,855
U.S. Government Securi-
 ties...................        106,524         39,088       107,644         39,836        130,189        40,922
Municipal Bond..........         36,708         83,642        45,872         77,750         48,518       105,784
Short-Term Bond.........         81,344         53,010       124,536          6,383        100,693        34,987
High Yield..............            N/A            N/A           N/A            N/A          2,544        47,964
Investment Grade Bond*..            N/A            N/A           N/A            N/A            N/A           N/A
Intermediate Maturity
 Bond*..................            N/A            N/A           N/A            N/A            N/A           N/A
</TABLE>
- --------
* The Small Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Mid-Cap Growth, Strategic Value,
  Investment Grade Bond and Intermediate Maturity Bond Funds commenced
  investment operations on January 2, 1997.
 
  The Trust pays the compensation of its trustees who are not directors,
officers or employees of Loomis Sayles or its affiliates (other than
registered investment companies); registration, filing and other fees in
connection with requirements of regulatory authorities; all charges and
expenses of its custodian and transfer agent; the charges and expenses of its
independent accountants; all brokerage commissions and transfer taxes in
connection with portfolio transactions; all taxes and fees payable to
governmental agencies; the cost of any certificates representing shares of the
Funds; the expenses of meetings of the shareholders and trustees of the Trust;
the charges and expenses of the Trust's legal counsel; interest on any
borrowings by the Funds; the cost of services, including services of counsel,
required in connection with the preparation of, and the cost of printing, the
Trust's registration statements and prospectuses, including amendments and
revisions thereto, annual, semiannual and other periodic reports of the Trust,
and notices and proxy solicitation material furnished to shareholders or
regulatory authorities, to the extent that any such materials relate to the
Trust or its shareholders; and the Trust's expenses of bookkeeping,
accounting, auditing and financial reporting, including related clerical
expenses.
 
  Under each advisory agreement, if the total ordinary business expenses of a
Fund or the Trust as a whole for any fiscal year exceed the lowest applicable
limitation (based on percentage of average net assets or income) prescribed by
any state in which the shares of the Fund or the Trust are qualified for sale,
Loomis Sayles shall pay such excess. Loomis Sayles will not be required to
reduce its fee or pay such expenses to an extent or under circumstances which
would result in any Fund's inability to qualify as a regulated investment
company under the Code. The term "expenses" is defined in the advisory
agreements or in relevant state regulations and excludes brokerage
commissions, taxes, interest, distribution-related expenses and extraordinary
expenses.
 
  As described in the Prospectus, Loomis Sayles has agreed to certain
additional, voluntary arrangements to limit Fund expenses. These arrangements
may be modified or terminated by Loomis Sayles at any time.
 
  Each advisory agreement provides that it will continue in effect for two
years from its date of execution and thereafter from year to year if its
continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the Board of Trustees of the
Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
relevant Fund and (ii) by vote of a
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
majority of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Trust, as
that term is defined in the 1940 Act, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of voting on such approval. Any amendment to an advisory agreement
must be approved by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the relevant Fund and by vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not such
interested persons, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval. Each agreement may be terminated without penalty by
vote of the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the relevant Fund, upon sixty days' written notice, or by
Loomis Sayles upon ninety days' written notice, and each terminates
automatically in the event of its assignment. In addition, each agreement will
automatically terminate if the Trust or the Fund shall at any time be required
by Loomis Sayles to eliminate all reference to the words "Loomis" and "Sayles"
in the name of the Trust or the Fund, unless the continuance of the agreement
after such change of name is approved by a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the relevant Fund and by a majority of the Trustees who are not
interested persons of the Trust or Loomis Sayles.
 
  Each advisory agreement provides that Loomis Sayles shall not be subject to
any liability in connection with the performance of its services thereunder in
the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of its obligations and duties.
 
  Loomis Sayles acts as investment adviser or subadviser to New England Value
Fund, New England Capital Growth Fund, New England Strategic Income Fund, New
England Star Advisers Fund; New England Star Small Cap Fund and New England
Balanced Fund, which are series of New England Funds Trust I, a registered
open- end management investment company, New England High Income Fund, a
series of New England Fund Trust II, a registered, open-end management
investment company, New England Equity Income Fund, a series of New England
Funds Trust III, a registered open-end management investment company, and to
the Balanced Series, the Avanti Growth Series and the Small Cap Series of New
England Zenith Fund, which is also a registered open-end management investment
company, as well as to Loomis Sayles Investment Trust, also a registered open-
end management investment company. Loomis Sayles also provides investment
advice to certain other open-end management investment companies and numerous
other corporate and fiduciary clients.
 
  Loomis Sayles' sole general partner is Loomis Sayles & Company, Inc., which
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of New England Investment Companies, L.P.
("NEIC"). NEIC's sole general partner is New England Investment Companies,
Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEIC Holdings, Inc., a wholly-
owned subsidiary of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
 
  Certain officers and trustees of the Trust also serve as officers, directors
and trustees of other investment companies and clients advised by Loomis
Sayles. The other investment companies and clients sometimes invest in
securities in which the Funds also invest. If a Fund and such other investment
companies or clients desire to buy or sell the same portfolio securities at
the same time, purchases and sales may be allocated, to the extent
practicable, on a pro rata basis in proportion to the amounts desired to be
purchased or sold for each. It is recognized that in some cases the practices
described in this paragraph could have a detrimental effect on the price or
amount of the securities which a Fund purchases or sells. In other cases,
however, it is believed that these practices may benefit the Funds. It is the
opinion of the trustees that the desirability of retaining Loomis Sayles as
adviser for the Funds outweighs the disadvantages, if any, which might result
from these practices.
 
  Distribution Agreement and Rule 12b-1 Plans. Under an agreement with the
Trust (the "Distribution Agreement"), Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P. serves
as the general distributor of each class of shares of the Funds. Under this
agreement, Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P. is not obligated to sell a
specific number of shares. Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P. bears the cost of
making information about the Funds available through advertising and other
means and the cost of printing and mailing prospectuses to persons other than
shareholders. The Funds pay the cost of registering and qualifying their
shares under state and federal securities laws and the distribution of
prospectuses to existing shareholders.
   
  As described in the Prospectuses, the Funds (other than the U.S. Government
Securities and Municipal Bond Funds) have adopted Rule 12b-1 plans ("Plans")
for their Retail Class shares. The Bond and Small Cap Value Funds have adopted
Plans for their Admin Class shares. The Plans, among other things, permit the
relevant     
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
   
classes of the Funds to pay the Funds' distributor (currently Loomis Sayles
Distributors, L.P.) monthly fees, at annual rates not exceeding 0.25% of the
assets of the Retail Class and Admin Class respectively. Pursuant to Rule 12b-
1 under the 1940 Act, each Plan (together with the Distribution Agreement) was
approved by the board of trustees, including a majority of the trustees who
are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who
have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Plan or
the Distribution Agreement (the "Independent Trustees").     
   
  Each Plan may be terminated by vote of a majority of the Independent
Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Retail Class shares of the Fund to which the Plan relates. Each Plan may be
amended by vote of the trustees, including a majority of the Independent
Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose. Any change in
any Plan that would materially increase the fees payable thereunder by the
Retail Class or Admin Class shares of a Fund requires approval of the Retail
Class or Admin Class shareholders of that Fund. The Trust's trustees review
quarterly written reports of such costs and the purposes for which such costs
have been incurred. Each Plan provides that, for so long as that Plan is in
effect, selection and nomination of those trustees who are not interested
persons of the Trust shall be committed to the discretion of such
disinterested persons.     
 
  The Distribution Agreement may be terminated at any time with respect to a
Fund on 60 days' written notice without payment of any penalty by the Trust or
by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Fund or by
vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees.
 
  The Distribution Agreement and the Plans will continue in effect for
successive one-year periods, provided that each such continuance is
specifically approved (i) by the vote of a majority of the entire board of
trustees and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, in
each case cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose.
 
  Custodial Arrangements. State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street
Bank"), Boston, Massachusetts 02102, is the Trust's custodian. As such, State
Street Bank holds in safekeeping certificated securities and cash belonging to
the Funds and, in such capacity, is the registered owner of securities held in
book entry form belonging to the Funds. Upon instruction, State Street Bank
receives and delivers cash and securities of the Funds in connection with Fund
transactions and collects all dividends and other distributions made with
respect to Fund portfolio securities. State Street Bank also maintains certain
accounts and records of the Funds and calculates the total net asset value,
total net income and net asset value per share of each Fund on a daily basis.
   
  Independent Accountants. The Fund's independent accountants are Coopers &
Lybrand L.L.P., One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts. Coopers &
Lybrand conducts an annual audit of the Trust's financial statements, assists
in the preparation of the Funds' federal and state income tax returns and
consults with the Funds as to matters of accounting and federal and state
income taxation. The information under the caption "Financial Highlights"
included in the Prospectus has been so included, and the financial statements
incorporated by reference herein from the Fund's 1996 Annual Report have been
so incorporated, in reliance on the reports of Coopers & Lybrand, independent
accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.     
 
                     PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
 
  In placing orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities for each
Fund, Loomis Sayles always seeks the best price and execution. Transactions in
unlisted securities are carried out through broker-dealers who make the
primary market for such securities unless, in the judgment of Loomis Sayles, a
more favorable price can be obtained by carrying out such transactions through
other brokers or dealers.
 
  Loomis Sayles selects only brokers or dealers which it believes are
financially responsible, will provide efficient and effective services in
executing, clearing and settling an order and will charge commission rates
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
which, when combined with the quality of the foregoing services, will produce
best price and execution for the transaction. This does not necessarily mean
that the lowest available brokerage commission will be paid. However, the
commissions are believed to be competitive with generally prevailing rates.
Loomis Sayles will use its best efforts to obtain information as to the
general level of commission rates being charged by the brokerage community
from time to time and will evaluate the overall reasonableness of brokerage
commissions paid on transactions by reference to such data. In making such
evaluation, all factors affecting liquidity and execution of the order, as
well as the amount of the capital commitment by the broker in connection with
the order, are taken into account. The Funds, other than the International
Equity and Worldwide Funds, will not pay a broker a commission at a higher
rate than otherwise available for the same transaction in recognition of the
value of research services provided by the broker or in recognition of the
value of any other services provided by the broker which do not contribute to
the best price and execution of the transaction.
 
  Receipt of research services from brokers may sometimes be a factor in
selecting a broker which Loomis Sayles believes will provide best price and
execution for a transaction. These research services include not only a wide
variety of reports on such matters as economic and political developments,
industries, companies, securities, portfolio strategy, account performance,
daily prices of securities, stock and bond market conditions and projections,
asset allocation and portfolio structure, but also meetings with management
representatives of issuers and with other analysts and specialists. Although
it is not possible to assign an exact dollar value to these services, they
may, to the extent used, tend to reduce Loomis Sayles' expenses. Such services
may be used by Loomis Sayles in servicing other client accounts and in some
cases may not be used with respect to the Funds. Receipt of services or
products other than research from brokers is not a factor in the selection of
brokers.
 
  International Equity and Worldwide Funds. In placing orders for the purchase
and sale of securities for the International Equity and Worldwide Funds,
Loomis Sayles follows the same policies as for the other Funds, except that
Loomis Sayles may cause the International Equity and Worldwide Funds to pay a
broker-dealer that provides brokerage and research services to Loomis Sayles
an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction for those Funds
in excess of the amount another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting
that transaction. Loomis Sayles must determine in good faith that such greater
commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and
research services provided by the executing broker-dealer viewed in terms of
that particular transaction or Loomis Sayles' overall responsibilities to the
Trust and its other clients. Loomis Sayles's authority to cause the
International Equity and Worldwide Funds to pay such greater commissions is
also subject to such policies as the Trustees of the Trust may adopt from time
to time.
 
  The following three tables set forth, for the fiscal years ended December
31, 1994, December 31, 1995 and December 31, 1996, respectively, (1) the
aggregate dollar amount of brokerage commissions paid on portfolio
transactions during such period, (2) the dollar amount of transactions on
which brokerage commissions were paid during such period that were directed to
brokers providing research services ("directed transactions") and (3) the
dollar amount of commissions paid on directed transactions during such period.
Funds not listed in a table did not pay brokerage commissions during the
relevant period.
 
                      FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               (1)                      (3)
                                            AGGREGATE      (2)      COMMISSIONS
                                            BROKERAGE    DIRECTED   ON DIRECTED
      FUND                                 COMMISSIONS TRANSACTIONS TRANSACTIONS
      ----                                 ----------- ------------ ------------
      <S>                                  <C>         <C>          <C>
      Growth..............................  $ 44,867   $ 35,606,334   $ 44,867
      Core Value..........................  $ 50,131   $ 28,909,781   $ 50,131
      Small Cap Value.....................  $179,677   $130,509,692   $179,677
      International Equity................  $712,614   $158,862,963   $712,614
</TABLE>
 
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
                      FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               (1)                      (3)
                                            AGGREGATE      (2)      COMMISSIONS
                                            BROKERAGE    DIRECTED   ON DIRECTED
      FUND                                 COMMISSIONS TRANSACTIONS TRANSACTIONS
      ----                                 ----------- ------------ ------------
      <S>                                  <C>         <C>          <C>
      Growth.............................. $   49,657  $ 43,318,381  $   49,657
      Core Value.......................... $   55,978  $ 13,062,283  $   20,980
      Small Cap Value..................... $  584,643  $  8,919,867  $   21,655
      International Equity................ $  824,038  $198,137,121  $  824,038
 
                      FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
<CAPTION>
                                               (1)                      (3)
                                            AGGREGATE      (2)      COMMISSIONS
                                            BROKERAGE    DIRECTED   ON DIRECTED
      FUND                                 COMMISSIONS TRANSACTIONS TRANSACTIONS
      ----                                 ----------- ------------ ------------
      <S>                                  <C>         <C>          <C>
      Growth.............................. $   81,708   $97,799,290  $   81,708
      Core Value.......................... $   64,033   $17,907,024  $   28,782
      Small Cap Value..................... $  248,992   $15,896,278  $   45,316
      International Equity................ $1,002,393  $257,530,857  $1,002,393
      Worldwide........................... $    9,631  $          0  $        0
</TABLE>
 
                           DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST
 
  The Trust, registered with the SEC as a diversified open-end management
investment company, is organized as a Massachusetts business trust under the
laws of Massachusetts by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the
"Declaration of Trust") dated February 20, 1991.
 
  The Declaration of Trust currently permits the trustees to issue an
unlimited number of full and fractional shares of each series. Each share of
each Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in such Fund with each
other share of that Fund and is entitled to a proportionate interest in the
dividends and distributions from that Fund. The shares of each Fund do not
have any preemptive rights. Upon termination of any Fund, whether pursuant to
liquidation of the Trust or otherwise, shareholders of that Fund are entitled
to share pro rata in the net assets of that Fund available for distribution to
shareholders. The Declaration of Trust also permits the trustees to charge
shareholders directly for custodial, transfer agency and servicing expenses.
 
  The assets received by each Fund for the issue or sale of its shares and all
income, earnings, profits, losses and proceeds therefrom, subject only to the
rights of creditors, are allocated to, and constitute the underlying assets
of, that Fund. The underlying assets are segregated and are charged with the
expenses with respect to that Fund and with a share of the general expenses of
the Trust. Any general expenses of the Trust that are not readily identifiable
as belonging to a particular Fund are allocated by or under the direction of
the trustees in such manner as the trustees determine to be fair and
equitable. While the expenses of the Trust are allocated to the separate books
of account of each Fund, certain expenses may be legally chargeable against
the assets of all Funds.
   
  The Declaration of Trust also permits the trustees, without shareholder
approval, to subdivide any series of shares or Fund into various classes of
shares with such dividend preferences and other rights as the trustees may
designate. Shares of each Fund (other than the U.S. Government Securities and
Municipal Bond Funds) are currently divided into two classes, designated
Retail Class and Institutional Class. Additionally, the Bond Fund and Small
Cap Value Fund offer a third class of shares designated the Admin Class and
the High Yield Fund offers a third class designated the Boston Private Bank
High Yield Fund. The trustees may also, without shareholder approval,
establish one or more additional separate portfolios for investments in the
Trust or merge two or more existing portfolios. Shareholders' investments in
such an additional or merged portfolio would be evidenced by a separate series
of shares (i.e., a new "Fund").     
 
 
                                      25
<PAGE>
 
  The Declaration of Trust provides for the perpetual existence of the Trust.
The Trust or any Fund, however, may be terminated at any time by vote of at
least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of each Fund affected. The
Declaration of Trust further provides that the trustees may also terminate the
Trust or any Fund upon written notice to the shareholders. As a matter of
policy, however, the trustees will not terminate the Trust or any Fund without
submitting the matter to a vote of the shareholders of the Trust or the
relevant Fund.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
 
  As summarized in the Prospectus, shareholders are entitled to one vote for
each full share held (with fractional votes for each fractional share held)
and may vote (to the extent provided in the Declaration of Trust) on the
election of trustees and the termination of the Trust and on other matters
submitted to the vote of shareholders.
 
  The Declaration of Trust provides that on any matter submitted to a vote of
all Trust shareholders, all Trust shares entitled to vote shall be voted
together irrespective of series or sub-series unless the rights of a
particular series or sub-series would be adversely affected by the vote, in
which case a separate vote of that series or sub-series shall also be required
to decide the question. Also, a separate vote shall be held whenever required
by the 1940 Act or any rule thereunder. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides
in effect that a class shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is
clear that the interests of each class in the matter are substantially
identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of such class. On
matters affecting an individual series, only shareholders of that series are
entitled to vote. Consistent with the current position of the SEC,
shareholders of all series vote together, irrespective of series, on the
election of trustees and the selection of the Trust's independent accountants,
but shareholders of each series vote separately on other matters requiring
shareholder approval, such as certain changes in investment policies of that
series or the approval of the investment advisory agreement relating to that
series.
 
  There will normally be no meetings of shareholders for the purpose of
electing trustees except that, in accordance with the 1940 Act, (i) the Trust
will hold a shareholders' meeting for the election of trustees at such time as
less than a majority of the trustees holding office have been elected by
shareholders, and (ii) if, as a result of a vacancy on the board of trustees,
less than two-thirds of the trustees holding office have been elected by the
shareholders, that vacancy may be filled only by a vote of the shareholders.
In addition, trustees may be removed from office by a written consent signed
by the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares and filed with the
Trust's custodian or by a vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding
shares at a meeting duly called for that purpose, which meeting shall be held
upon the written request of the holders of not less than 10% of the
outstanding shares.
 
  Upon written request by the holders of shares having a net asset value
constituting 1% of the outstanding shares stating that such shareholders wish
to communicate with the other shareholders for the purpose of obtaining the
signatures necessary to demand a meeting to consider removal of a trustee, the
Trust has undertaken to provide a list of shareholders or to disseminate
appropriate materials (at the expense of the requesting shareholders).
 
  Except as set forth above, the trustees shall continue to hold office and
may appoint successor trustees. Voting rights are not cumulative.
 
  No amendment may be made to the Declaration of Trust without the affirmative
vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Trust, except (i) to
change the Trust's name or to cure technical problems in the Declaration of
Trust and (ii) to establish, change or eliminate the par value of any shares
(currently all shares have no par value).
 
SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY
 
  Under Massachusetts law shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be
held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund of which they are
shareholders. However, the Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder
 
                                      26
<PAGE>
 
liability for acts or obligations of each Fund and requires that notice of
such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered
into or executed by the Trust or the trustees. The Declaration of Trust
provides for indemnification out of Fund property for all loss and expense of
any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus,
the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder
liability is considered remote since it is limited to circumstances in which
the disclaimer is inoperative and the Fund itself would be unable to meet its
obligations.
 
  The Declaration of Trust further provides that the trustees will not be
liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. However, nothing in
the Declaration of Trust protects a trustee against any liability to which the
trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of his office. The By-Laws of the Trust provide for indemnification by
the Trust of the trustees and officers of the Trust except with respect to any
matter as to which any such person did not act in good faith in the reasonable
belief that such action was in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Trust. No officer or trustee may be indemnified against any liability to the
Trust or the Trust's shareholders to which such person would otherwise be
subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
 
HOW TO BUY SHARES
 
  The procedures for purchasing shares of each Fund are summarized in the
Prospectus under "How to Purchase Shares."
 
NET ASSET VALUE
   
  The net asset value of the shares of each Fund is determined by dividing
that Fund's total net assets (the excess of its assets over its liabilities)
by the total number of shares of the Fund outstanding and rounding to the
nearest cent. Such determination is made as of the close of regular trading on
the New York Stock Exchange on each day on which that Exchange is open for
unrestricted trading, and no less frequently than once daily on each day
during which there is sufficient trading in a Fund's portfolio securities that
the value of that Fund's shares might be materially affected. During the 12
months following the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the New
York Stock Exchange is expected to be closed on the following weekdays: New
Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Equity securities listed on an established securities exchange or on the
Nasdaq National Market System are normally valued at their last sale price on
the exchange where primarily traded or, if there is no reported sale during
the day, and in the case of over-the-counter securities not so listed, at the
last bid price. Long-term debt securities are valued by a pricing service,
which determines valuations of normal institutional-size trading units of
long-term debt securities. Such valuations are determined using methods based
on market transactions for comparable securities and on various relationships
between securities which are generally recognized by institutional traders.
Other securities for which current market quotations are not readily available
(including restricted securities, if any) and all other assets are taken at
fair value as determined in good faith by the board of trustees, although the
actual calculations may be made by persons acting pursuant to the direction of
the board.     
 
  Generally, trading in foreign securities markets is substantially completed
each day at various times prior to the close of regular trading on the New
York Stock Exchange. Occasionally, events affecting the value of foreign fixed
income securities and of equity securities of non-U.S. issuers not traded on a
U.S. exchange may occur between the completion of substantial trading of such
securities for the day and the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, which events will not be reflected in the computation of the Fund's
net asset value. If events materially affecting the value of any Fund's
portfolio securities occur during such period, then these securities will be
valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by or in accordance
with procedures approved by the trustees.
 
                                      27
<PAGE>
 
                             SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
 
OPEN ACCOUNTS
 
  A shareholder's investment in any Fund is automatically credited to an open
account maintained for the shareholder by Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.
("BFDS"), the shareholder servicing agent for State Street Bank. Certificates
representing shares are issued only upon written request to BFDS but are not
issued for fractional shares. Following each transaction in the account, a
shareholder will receive an account statement disclosing the current balance
of shares owned and the details of recent transactions in the account. After
the close of each fiscal year State Street Bank will send each shareholder a
statement providing federal tax information on dividends and distributions
paid to the shareholder during the year. This should be retained as a
permanent record. Shareholders will be charged a fee for duplicate
information.
 
  The open account system permits the purchase of full and fractional shares
and, by making the issuance and delivery of certificates representing shares
unnecessary, eliminates the problems of handling and safekeeping certificates,
and the cost and inconvenience of replacing lost, stolen, mutilated or
destroyed certificates.
 
  The costs of maintaining the open account system are borne by the Trust, and
no direct charges are made to shareholders. Although the Trust has no present
intention of making such direct charges to shareholders, it reserves the right
to do so. Shareholders will receive prior notice before any such charges are
made.
 
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN
 
  A Systematic Withdrawal Plan, referred to in the Prospectus under
"Shareholder Services--Systematic Withdrawal Plan," provides for monthly,
quarterly, semiannual or annual withdrawal payments of $50 or more from the
account of an eligible shareholder, as provided therein, provided that the
account has a value of at least $10,000 at the time the plan is established.
 
  Payments will be made either to the shareholder or to any other person
designated by the shareholder. If payments are issued to an individual other
than the registered owner(s), a signature guarantee will be required on the
Plan application. All shares in an account that is subject to a Systematic
Withdrawal Plan must be held in an open account rather than in certificated
form. Income dividends and capital gain distributions will be reinvested at
the net asset value determined as of the close of regular trading on the New
York Stock Exchange on the record date for the dividend or distribution.
 
  Since withdrawal payments represent proceeds from liquidation of shares, the
shareholder should recognize that withdrawals may reduce and possibly exhaust
the value of the account, particularly in the event of a decline in net asset
value. Accordingly, the shareholder should consider whether a Systematic
Withdrawal Plan and the specified amounts to be withdrawn are appropriate in
the circumstances. The Fund makes no recommendations or representations in
this regard. It may be appropriate for the shareholder to consult a tax
adviser before establishing such a plan. See "Redemptions" and "Income
Dividends, Capital Gain Distributions and Tax Status" below for certain
information as to federal income taxes.
 
EXCHANGE PRIVILAGE
 
  Shareholders may redeem their shares of any Fund and have the proceeds
applied on the same day to purchase shares of any other Fund or of New England
Cash Management Trust or New England Tax Exempt Money Market Trust. Exchange
of shares of the High Yield Fund purchased within one year of such exchanges
will be subject to a redemption fee of 2.00% of the amount exchanged. For
purposes of determining whether a redemption fee is payable with respect to
shares of the High Yield Fund purchased by exchange of shares of another fund,
the one-year period shall be deemed to begin on the date of such purchase by
exchange. This option is summarized in the Prospectus under "Shareholder
Services--Free Exchange Privilege."
 
 
                                      28
<PAGE>
 
  Exchanges may be effected by (1) making a telephone request by calling 800-
633-3330, provided that a special authorization form is on file with BFDS, or
(2) sending a written exchange request to BFDS accompanied by an account
application for the appropriate fund. The Trust reserves the right to modify
this exchange privilege without prior notice. An exchange constitutes a sale
of the shares for federal income tax purposes on which the investor may
realize a capital gain or loss.
 
IRAS
 
  Under "Shareholder Services--Retirement Plans," the Prospectus refers to
IRAs established under a prototype plan made available by Loomis Sayles. These
plans may be funded with shares of any Fund, although it is expected that
shares of the Municipal Bond Fund would ordinarily not be an appropriate
investment for these plans.
 
  All income dividends and capital gain distributions of plan participants
must be reinvested. Plan documents and further information can be obtained
from Loomis Sayles.
 
  Check with your financial or tax adviser as to the suitability of Fund
shares for your retirement plan.
 
REDEMPTIONS
 
  The procedures for redemption of Fund shares are summarized in the
Prospectus under "How to Redeem Shares."
 
  Except as noted below, signatures on redemption requests must be guaranteed
by commercial banks, trust companies, savings associations, credit unions or
brokerage firms that are members of domestic securities exchanges. Signature
guarantees by notaries public are not acceptable. However, as noted in the
Prospectus, a signature guarantee will not be required if the proceeds of the
redemption do not exceed $50,000 and the proceeds check is made payable to the
registered owner(s) and mailed to the record address.
 
  If a shareholder selects the telephone redemption service in the manner
described in the next paragraph, Fund shares may be redeemed by making a
telephone call directly to BFDS at 800-626-9390. When a telephonic redemption
request is received, the proceeds are wired to the bank account previously
chosen by the shareholder and a nominal wire fee (currently $5.00) is
deducted. Telephonic redemption requests must be received by BFDS prior to the
close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on a day when the
Exchange is open for business. Requests made after that time or on a day when
the New York Stock Exchange is not open for business cannot be accepted by
BFDS and a new request will be necessary.
 
  In order to redeem shares by telephone, a shareholder must either select
this service when completing the Fund application or must do so subsequently
on the Service Options Form available from BFDS. When selecting the service, a
shareholder must designate a bank account to which the redemption proceeds
should be wired. Any change in the bank account so designated must be made by
furnishing to BFDS a completed Service Options Form with a signature
guarantee. Whenever the Service Options Form is used, the shareholder's
signature must be guaranteed as described above. Telephone redemptions may
only be made if an investor's bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System
or has a correspondent bank that is a member of the System. If the account is
with a savings bank, it must have only one correspondent bank that is a member
of the System. The Trust, BFDS, Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P. and State
Street Bank are not responsible for the authenticity of withdrawal
instructions received by telephone.
   
  The redemption price will be the net asset value per share next determined
after the redemption request and any necessary special documentation are
received by BFDS in proper form, less, in the case of the High Yield Fund, a
redemption fee of 2.00% of the amount redeemed with respect to shares of that
Fund redeemed within one (1) year of purchase, if applicable. Proceeds
resulting from a written redemption request will normally be mailed to the
shareholder within seven days after receipt of a request in good order.
Telephonic redemption     
 
                                      29
<PAGE>
 
   
proceeds will normally be wired on the first business day following receipt of
a proper redemption request. In those cases where a shareholder has recently
purchased shares by check and the check was received less than fifteen days
prior to the redemption request, the Fund may withhold redemption proceeds
until the check has cleared.     
 
  Each Fund will normally redeem shares for cash; however, each Fund reserves
the right to pay the redemption price wholly or partly in kind if the board of
trustees of the Trust determines it to be advisable in the interest of the
remaining shareholders. If portfolio securities are distributed in lieu of
cash, the shareholder will normally incur brokerage commissions upon subsequent
disposition of any such securities. However, the Trust has elected to be
governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which the Trust is
obligated to redeem shares solely in cash for any shareholder during any 90-day
period up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the total net asset value of the
Trust at the beginning of such period.
 
  A redemption constitutes a sale of the shares for federal income tax purposes
on which the investor may realize a long- or short-term capital gain or loss.
See "Income Dividends, Capital Gain Distributions and Tax Status."
 
          INCOME DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAX STATUS
 
  As described in the Prospectus under "Dividends, Capital Gain Distributions
and Taxes" it is the policy of each Fund to pay its shareholders, as dividends,
substantially all net investment income and to distribute annually all net
realized capital gains, if any, after offsetting any capital loss carryovers.
 
  Income dividends and capital gain distributions are payable in full and
fractional shares of the particular Fund based upon the net asset value
determined as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on
the record date for each dividend or distribution. Shareholders, however, may
elect to receive their income dividends or capital gain distributions, or both,
in cash. The election may be made at any time by submitting a written request
directly to BFDS. In order for a change to be in effect for any dividend or
distribution, it must be received by BFDS on or before the record date for such
dividend or distribution.
 
  As required by federal law, detailed federal tax information will be
furnished to each shareholder for each calendar year on or before January 31 of
the succeeding year.
 
  Each Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company
under Subchapter M of the Code. In order so to qualify, the Fund must, among
other things, (i) derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends,
interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the
sale of securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not
limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with
respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies;
(ii) derive less than 30% of its gross income from gains from the sale or other
disposition of securities held for less than three months; (iii) distribute at
least 90% of its dividend, interest and certain other taxable income each year;
and (iv) at the end of each fiscal quarter maintain at least 50% of the value
of its total assets in cash, government securities, securities of other
regulated investment companies, and other securities of issuers which
represent, with respect to each issuer, no more than 5% of the value of the
Fund's total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such
issuer, and with no more than 25% of its assets invested in the securities
(other than those of the U.S. government or other regulated investment
companies) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers which the Fund controls
and which are engaged in the same, similar or related trades and businesses. To
the extent it qualifies for treatment as a regulated investment company, the
Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on income paid to its
shareholders in the form of dividends or capital gain distributions.
 
  An excise tax at the rate of 4% will be imposed on the excess, if any, of
each Fund's "required distribution" over its actual distributions in any
calendar year. Generally, the "required distribution" is 98% of the Fund's
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
 
ordinary income for the calendar year plus 98% of its capital gain net income
recognized during the one-year period ending on October 31 (or December 31, if
the Fund so elects) plus undistributed amounts from prior years. Each Fund
intends to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the excise
tax. Distributions declared by a Fund during October, November or December to
shareholders of record on a date in any such month and paid by the Fund during
the following January will be treated for federal tax purposes as paid by the
Fund and received by shareholders on December 31 of the year in which
declared.
 
  Shareholders of each Fund will be subject to federal income taxes on
distributions made by the Fund (other than "exempt-interest dividends" paid by
the Municipal Bond Fund, as described in the Prospectus) whether received in
cash or additional shares of the Fund. Distributions by each Fund of net
income and short-term capital gains, if any, will be taxable to shareholders
as ordinary income. Distributions of long-term capital gains, if any, will be
taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains, without regard to how long
a shareholder has held shares of the Fund. A loss on the sale of shares held
for 12 months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the
extent of any long-term capital gain dividend paid to the shareholder with
respect to such shares.
 
  Dividends and distributions on Fund shares received shortly after their
purchase, although in effect a return of capital, are subject to federal
income taxes.
 
  The International Equity, Worldwide and Global Bond Funds each may be
eligible to make an election under Section 853 of the Code so that its
shareholders will be able to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax
returns for, and will be required to treat as part of the amounts distributed
to them, their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the relevant Fund
to foreign countries. The ability of shareholders of the Fund to claim a
foreign tax credit is subject to certain limitations imposed by Section 904 of
the Code, which in general limit the amount of foreign tax that may be used to
reduce a shareholder's U.S. tax liability to that amount of U.S. tax which
would be imposed on the amount and type of income in respect of which the
foreign tax was paid. A shareholder who for U.S. income tax purposes claims a
foreign tax credit in respect of Fund distributions may not claim a deduction
for foreign taxes paid by the Fund, regardless of whether the shareholder
itemizes deductions. Also, under Section 63 of the Code, no deduction for
foreign taxes may be claimed by shareholders who do not itemize deductions on
their federal income tax returns. It should also be noted that a tax-exempt
shareholder, like other shareholders, will be required to treat as part of the
amounts distributed to it a pro rata portion of the income taxes paid by the
Fund to foreign countries. However, that income will generally be exempt from
United States taxation by virtue of such shareholder's tax-exempt status and
such a shareholder will not be entitled to either a tax credit or a deduction
with respect to such income. The International Equity, Worldwide and Global
Bond Funds will notify shareholders each year of the amount of dividends and
distributions and the shareholder's pro rata share of qualified taxes paid by
each such Fund to foreign countries.
 
  Each Fund's transactions, if any, in foreign currencies are likely to result
in a difference between the Fund's book income and taxable income. This
difference may cause a portion of the Fund's income distributions to
constitute a return of capital for tax purposes or require the Fund to make
distributions exceeding book income to avoid excise tax liability and to
qualify as a regulated investment company.
 
  Each Fund may limit its investments in certain "passive foreign investment
companies" in order to avoid certain taxes that arise as a result of such
investments.
 
  Redemptions and exchanges of each Fund's shares are taxable events and,
accordingly, shareholders may realize gains and losses on these transactions.
If shares have been held for more than one year, gain or loss realized will be
long-term capital gain or loss, provided the shareholder holds the shares as a
capital asset. However, if a shareholder sells Fund shares at a loss within
six months after purchasing the shares, the loss will be treated as a long-
term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions
received by the shareholder. Furthermore, no loss will be allowed on the sale
of Fund shares to the extent the shareholder acquired other shares of the same
Fund within 30 days prior to the sale of the loss shares or 30 days after such
sale.
 
                                      31
<PAGE>
 
  The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the applicable
provisions of the Code and regulations currently in effect. For the complete
provisions, reference should be made to the pertinent Code sections and
regulations. The Code and regulations are subject to change by legislative or
administrative action.
 
  Dividends and distributions also may be subject to state and local taxes.
Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding specific
questions as to federal, state or local taxes.
 
  The foregoing discussion relates solely to U.S. federal income tax law. Non-
U.S. investors should consult their tax advisers concerning the tax
consequences of ownership of shares of the Fund, including the possibility
that distributions may be subject to a 30% United States withholding tax (or a
reduced rate of withholding provided by treaty).
 
                             FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
  The financial statements of each Fund included in the Trust's 1996 Annual
Report, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 1997,
are incorporated by reference to such Report.
 
                     CALCULATION OF YIELD AND TOTAL RETURN
 
  Yield. Yield with respect to a Fund will be computed by dividing such Fund's
net investment income for a recent 30-day period by the maximum offering price
(reduced by any undeclared earned income expected to be paid shortly as a
dividend) on the last trading day of that period. Net investment income will
reflect amortization of any market value premium or discount of fixed income
securities (except for obligations backed by mortgages or other assets) and
may include recognition of a pro rata portion of the stated dividend rate of
dividend paying portfolio securities. The Funds' yields will vary from time to
time depending upon market conditions, the composition of the Funds'
portfolios and operating expenses of the Trust allocated to each Fund. These
factors, and possible differences in the methods used in calculating yield,
should be considered when comparing a Fund's yield to yields published for
other investment companies and other investment vehicles. Yield should also be
considered relative to changes in the value of the Funds' shares and to the
relative risks associated with the investment objectives and policies of the
Funds.
 
  At any time in the future, yields may be higher or lower than past yields
and there can be no assurance that any historical results will continue.
 
  Investors in the Funds are specifically advised that the net asset value per
share of each Fund may vary, just as yields for each Fund may vary. An
investor's focus on yield to the exclusion of the consideration of the value
of shares of that Fund may result in the investor's misunderstanding the total
return he or she may derive from that Fund.
 
  Total Return. Total Return with respect to a Fund is a measure of the change
in value of an investment in such Fund over the period covered, and assumes
any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested immediately,
rather than paid to the investor in cash. The formula for total return used
herein includes four steps: (1) adding to the total number of shares purchased
through a hypothetical $1,000 investment in the Fund all additional shares
which would have been purchased if all dividends and distributions paid or
distributed during the period had been immediately reinvested; (2) calculating
the value of the hypothetical initial investment of $1,000 as of the end of
the period by multiplying the total number of shares owned at the end of the
period by the net asset value per share on the last trading day of the period;
(3) assuming redemption at the end of the period; and (4) dividing the
resulting account value by the initial $1,000 investment.
 
                                      32
<PAGE>
 
                            PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS
 
  Yield and Total Return. Each Fund may from time to time include its total
return information in advertisements or in information furnished to present or
prospective shareholders. Each of the Bond, Global Bond, U.S. Government
Securities, Municipal Bond, Short-Term Bond, Investment Grade Bond,
Intermediate Maturity Bond, High Yield and Worldwide Funds may from time to
time include the yield and/or total return of its shares in advertisements or
information furnished to present or prospective shareholders. Each Fund may
from time to time include in advertisements or information furnished to
present or prospective shareholders (i) the ranking of performance figures
relative to such figures for groups of mutual funds categorized by Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc. or Micropal, Inc. as having similar investment
objectives, (ii) the rating assigned to the Fund by Morningstar, Inc. based on
the Fund's risk-adjusted performance relative to other mutual funds in its
broad investment class, and/or (iii) the ranking of performance figures
relative to such figures for mutual funds in its general investment category
as determined by CDA/Weisenberger's Management Results.
 
  Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. distributes mutual fund rankings monthly.
The rankings are based on total return performance calculated by Lipper,
generally reflecting changes in net asset value adjusted for reinvestment of
capital gains and income dividends. They do not reflect deduction of any sales
charges. Lipper rankings cover a variety of performance periods, including
year-to-date, 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year performance. Lipper classifies
mutual funds by investment objective and asset category.
 
  Micropal, Inc. distributes mutual fund rankings weekly and monthly. The
rankings are based upon performance calculated by Micropal, generally
reflecting changes in net asset value that can be adjusted for the
reinvestment of capital gains and dividends. If deemed appropriate by the
user, performance can also reflect deductions for sales charges. Micropal
rankings cover a variety of performance periods, including year-to-date, 1-
year, 5-year and 10-year performance. Micropal classifies mutual funds by
investment objective and asset category.
 
  Morningstar, Inc. distributes mutual fund ratings twice a month. The ratings
are divided into five groups: highest, above average, neutral, below average
and lowest. They represent a fund's historical risk/reward ratio relative to
other funds in its broad investment class as determined by Morningstar, Inc.
Morningstar ratings cover a variety of performance periods, including 3-year,
5-year, 10-year and overall performance. The performance factor for the
overall rating is a weighted-average return performance (if available)
reflecting deduction of expenses and sales charges. Performance is adjusted
using quantitative techniques to reflect the risk profile of the fund. The
ratings are derived from a purely quantitative system that does not utilize
the subjective criteria customarily employed by rating agencies such as
Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investor Service, Inc.
 
  CDA/Weisenberger's Management Results publishes mutual fund rankings and is
distributed monthly. The rankings are based entirely on total return
calculated by Weisenberger for periods such as year-to-date, 1-year, 3-year,
5-year and 10-year Mutual funds are ranked in general categories (e.g.,
international bond, international equity, municipal bond, and maximum capital
gain). Weisenberger rankings do not reflect deduction of sales charges or
fees.
 
  Performance information may also be used to compare the performance of the
Fund to certain widely acknowledged standards or indices for stock and bond
market performance, such as those listed below.
 
  Consumer Price Index. The Consumer Price Index, published by the U.S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics, is a statistical measure of changes, over time, in the
prices of goods and services in major expenditure groups.
 
  Dow Jones Industrial Average. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a market
value-weighted and unmanaged index of 30 large industrial stocks traded on the
New York Stock Exchange.
 
  Lehman Brothers Government/Corporate Bond Index. The Lehman Brothers
Government/Corporate Bond Index is an index of publicly issued U.S. Treasury
obligations, debt obligations of U.S. government
 
                                      33
<PAGE>
 
agencies (excluding mortgage-backed securities), fixed-rate, non-convertible,
investment-grade corporate debt securities and U.S. dollar-denominated, SEC-
registered non-convertible debt issued by foreign governmental entities or
international agencies used as a general measure of the performance of fixed-
income securities.
 
  Lehman Brothers 1-3 Year Government Index. The Index contains fixed rate
debt issues of the U.S. government or its agencies rated investment grade or
higher with at least one year maturity and an outstanding par value of at
least $100 million for U.S. government issues.
 
  Lehman Brothers Government Bond Index. The Lehman Brothers Government Bond
Index is composed of all publicly issued, nonconvertible, domestic debt of the
U.S. government or any of its agencies, quasi-federal corporations, or
corporate debt guaranteed by the U.S. government.
 
  Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index. The Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond
Index is computed from the prices of approximately 21,000 bonds consisting of
roughly 30% revenue bonds, 30% government obligation bonds, 27% insured bonds
and 13% prerefunded bonds.
 
  MSCI-EAFE Index. The MSCI-EAFE Index contains over 1000 stocks from 20
different countries with Japan (approximately 50%), United Kingdom, France and
Germany being the most heavily weighted.
 
  MSCI-EAFE ex-Japan Index. The MSCI-EAFE ex-Japan Index consists of all
stocks contained in the MSCI-EAFE Index, other than stocks from Japan.
 
  Merrill Lynch Government/Corporate Index. The Merrill Lynch
Government/Corporate Index is a composite of approximately 4,900 U.S.
government and corporate debt issues with at least $25 million outstanding,
greater than one year maturity, and credit ratings of investment grade or
higher.
 
  Merrill Lynch High Yield Index. The Merrill Lynch High Yield Index includes
over 750 issues and represents public debt greater than $10 million (original
issuance rated BBB/BB and below).
 
  Russell 2000 Index. The Russell 2000 Index is comprised of the 2000 smallest
of the 3000 largest U.S.-domiciled corporations, ranked by market
capitalization.
 
  Salomon Brothers World Government Bond Index. The Salomon Brothers World
Government Bond Index includes a broad range of institutionally-traded fixed-
rate government securities issued by the national governments of the nine
countries whose securities are most actively traded. The index generally
excludes floating- or variable-rate bonds, securities aimed principally at
non-institutional investors (such as U.S. Savings Bonds) and private-placement
type securities.
 
  Standard & Poor's/Barra Growth Index. The Standard & Poor's/Barra Growth
Index is constructed by ranking the securities in the S&P 500 by price-to-book
ratio and including the securities with the highest price-to-book ratios that
represent approximately half of the market capitalization of the S&P 500.
 
  Standard & Poor's/Barra Value Index. The Standard & Poor's/Barra Value Index
is constructed by ranking the securities in the S&P 500 by price-to-book ratio
and including the securities with the lowest price-to-book ratios that
represent approximately half of the market capitalization of the S&P 500.
 
  Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (the "S&P 500"). The S&P
500 is a market value-weighted and unmanaged index showing the changes in the
aggregate market value of 500 stocks relative to the base period 1941-43. The
S&P 500 is composed almost entirely of common stocks of companies listed on
the New York Stock Exchange, although the common stocks of a few companies
listed on the American Stock Exchange or traded over-the-counter are included.
The 500 companies represented include 400 industrial, 60 transportation and 40
financial services concerns. The S&P 500 represents about 80% of the market
value of all issues traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The S&P 500 is the
most common index for the overall U.S. stock market.
 
 
                                      34
<PAGE>
 
  From time to time, articles about the Funds regarding performance, rankings
and other characteristics of the Funds may appear in publications including,
but not limited to, the publications included in Appendix A. In particular,
some or all of these publications may publish their own rankings or
performance reviews of mutual funds, including the Funds. References to or
reprints of such articles may be used in the Funds' promotional literature.
References to articles regarding personnel of Loomis Sayles who have portfolio
management responsibility may also be used in the Funds' promotional
literature. For additional information about the Funds' advertising and
promotional literature, see Appendix B.
 
                               PERFORMANCE DATA*
   
  The manner in which total return and yield of the Funds will be calculated
for public use is described above. The following table summarizes the
calculation of total return and yield for Institutional Class shares of the
Funds, where applicable, (i) for the one-year period ended December 31, 1996,
(ii) for the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, (iii) the five-year
period ended December 31, 1996 and (iv) since the commencement of investment
operations (May, 1991 for all Funds other than the Intermediate Maturity Bond,
Investment Grade Bond, Mid-Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Short-Term Bond, Small
Cap Growth, Strategic Value, and Worldwide Funds, January, 1997 for the
Intermediate Bond, Investment Grade Bond, Mid-Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Small
Cap Growth and Strategic Value Funds, August, 1992 for the Short-Term Bond
Fund, and May, 1996 for the Worldwide Fund) through December 31, 1996. None of
the Funds had commenced investment operations with respect to Retail Class
Shares, and the Intermediate Maturity Bond, Investment Grade Bond, Mid-Cap
Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Small Cap Growth, and Strategic Value Funds had not
commenced investment operations with respect to Institutional Class shares as
of December 31, 1996. The Bond Fund and Small Cap Value Fund had not commenced
investment operations with respect to Admin Class shares and High Yield Fund
had not commenced investment operations with respect to Boston Private Bank
High Yield Fund shares as of December 31, 1996.     
 
                               PERFORMANCE DATA
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN
                         ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              FOR THE
                                     FOR THE   THREE-                    FROM          FROM
                                     ONE-YEAR   YEAR      FOR THE      MODIFIED    COMMENCEMENT
                         CURRENT SEC  PERIOD   PERIOD    FIVE-YEAR    INCEPTION  OF OPERATIONS***
                            YIELD     ENDED    ENDED       PERIOD      THROUGH       THROUGH
                         AT 12/31/96 12/31/96 12/31/96 ENDED 12/31/96 12/31/96**     12/31/96
                         ----------- -------- -------- -------------- ---------- ----------------
<S>                      <C>         <C>      <C>      <C>            <C>        <C>
FUND
Growth..................     N/A      19.86%   14.77%      11.39%       13.27%        14.42%
Core Value..............     N/A      21.16%   17.54%      15.70%       14.27%        15.21%
Small Cap Value.........     N/A      30.35%   16.47%      17.38%       20.59%        20.85%
International Equity....     N/A      18.30%    8.11%      10.69%       10.33%        10.11%
Worldwide...............     N/A        N/A      N/A         N/A         8.26%         9.24%
Bond....................    7.88%     10.29%   11.77%      14.29%       14.52%        14.32%
Global Bond.............    5.92%     15.02%    9.17%       8.50%       10.63%        10.51%
U.S. Government Securi-
 ties...................    6.05%      1.32%    5.33%       8.02%        9.86%         9.86%
Municipal Bond..........    4.57%      3.33%    4.45%       6.80%        7.51%         7.55%
Short-Term Bond.........    5.51%      4.68%    5.62%        N/A         5.59%         5.60%
High Yield..............    9.34%       N/A      N/A         N/A         1.73%         3.05%
</TABLE>
- --------
  * Performance (for other than the one-year and three-year periods for the
    Growth, Core Value, Small Cap Value and Bond Funds, and the one-year
    period for the International Equity Fund) would have been lower if a
    portion of the management fee had not been waived by Loomis Sayles. In the
    absence of this limitation, actual yield and total return would have been
    as follows: Growth, 11.38%, 13.26% and 14.41% for the five-year period,
    the period since modified inception and the period since commencement of
    operations, respectively; Core Value, 15.61%, 14.14% and 15.08% for the
    five-year period, the period since modified inception and the period since
    commencement of operations, respectively; Small Cap
 
                                      35
<PAGE>
 
    Value, 17.36%, 20.53% and 20.79% for the five-year period, the period
    since modified inception and the period since commencement of operations,
    respectively; International Equity, 8.11%, 10.49%, 10.01% and 9.79% for
    the three-year period, the five-year period, the period since modified
    inception and the period since commencement of operations, respectively;
    Worldwide, 6.45% and 7.43% for the period since modified inception and the
    period since commencement of operations; Bond, 14.23%, 14.42% and 14.22%
    for the five-year period, the period since modified inception, and the
    period since commencement of operations, respectively; Global Bond, 5.65%
    (yield), and 14.75%, 9.04%, 8.28%, 10.27% and 10.15% for the one-year
    period, the three-year period, the five-year period, the period since
    modified inception and the period since commencement of operations,
    respectively; U.S. Government Securities, 5.86% (yield), and 1.13%, 5.14%,
    7.74%, 9.54% and 9.54% for the one-year period, the three-year period, the
    five-year period, the period since modified inception and the period since
    commencement of operations, respectively; Municipal Bond, 5.26% (yield),
    and 2.01%, 3.29%, 4.81%, 4.11% and 4.15% for the one-year period, the
    three-year period, the five-year period, the period since modifiefd
    inception and the period since commencement of operations, respectively;
    Short- Term Bond, 5.34% (yield), and 4.51%, 5.47%, 5.18% and 5.19% for the
    one-year period, the three-year period, the period since modified
    inception and the period since commencement of investment operations,
    respectively; and High Yield, 6.62% (yield), (1.11)% and (.38)% for the
    period since modified inception and the period since commencement of
    operations.
 ** The modified inception date is the nearest month end date following actual
    commencement of operations. For the Short-Term Bond Fund the modified
    inception date is August 31, 1992, for the Worldwide Fund--May 31, 1996,
    for the High Yield Fund--September 30, 1996 and for all other Funds--May
    31, 1991.
*** Actual Inception Dates:
 
<TABLE>
      <S>                                                     <C>
      Growth................................................. May 16, 1991
      Core Value............................................. May 13, 1991
      Small Cap Value........................................ May 13, 1991
      International Equity................................... May 10, 1991
      Worldwide.............................................. May 1, 1996
      Bond................................................... May 16, 1991
      Global Bond............................................ May 10, 1991
      U.S. Government Securities............................. May 21, 1991
      Municipal Bond......................................... May 29, 1991
      Short-Term Bond........................................ August 3, 1992
      High Yield............................................. September 11, 1996
</TABLE>
       
                                      36
<PAGE>
 
                                   APPENDIX A
 
                 PUBLICATIONS THAT MAY CONTAIN FUND INFORMATION
 
ABC and affiliates                        Financial Services Week
Adam Smith's Money World                  Financial World
America On Line                           Fitch Insights
Anchorage Daily News                      Forbes
Atlanta Constitution                      Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Atlanta Journal                           Fortune
Arizona Republic                          Fox Network and affiliates
Austin American Statesman                 Fund Action
Baltimore Sun                             Fund Decoder
Bank Investment Marketing                 Global Finance
Barron's                                  (the) Guarantor
Bergen County Record (NJ)                 Hartford Courant
Bloomberg Business News                   Houston Chronicle
Bond Buyer                                INC
Boston Business Journal                   Indianapolis Star
Boston Globe                              Individual Investor
Boston Herald                             Institutional Investor
Broker World                              International Herald Tribune
Business Radio Network                    Internet
Business Week                             Investment Advisor
CBS and affiliates                        Investment Company Institute
CDA Investment Technologies               Investment Dealers Digest
CFO                                       Investment Profiles
Changing Times                            Investment Vision
Chicago Sun Times                         Investor's Daily
Chicago Tribune                           IRA Reporter
Christian Science Monitor                 Journal of Commerce
Christian Science Monitor News Service    Kansas City Star
Cincinnati Enquirer                       KCMO (Kansas City)
Cincinnati Post                           KOA-AM (Denver)
CNBC                                      LA Times
CNN                                       Leckey, Andrew (syndicated column)
Columbus Dispatch                         Life Association News
CompuServe                                Lifetime Channel
Dallas Morning News                       Miami Herald
Dallas Times-Herald                       Milwaukee Sentinel
Denver Post                               Money Magazine
Des Moines Register                       Money Maker
Detroit Free Press                        Money Management Letter
Donoghues Money Fund Report               Morningstar
Economist                                 Mutual Fund Market News
Dorfman, Dan (syndicated column)          Mutual Funds Magazine
Dow Jones News Service                    National Public Radio
FACS of the Week                          National Underwriter
Fee Adviser                               NBC and affiliates
Financial News Network                    New England Business
Financial Planning                        New England Cable News
Financial Planning on Wall Street         New Orleans Times-Picayune
Financial Research Corp.                  New York Daily News
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
 
New York Times                            Smart Money
Newark Star Ledger                        St. Louis Post Dispatch
Newsday                                   St. Petersburg Times
Newsweek                                  Standard & Poor's Outlook
Nightly Business Report                   Standard & Poor's Stock Guide
Orange County Register                    Stanger's Investment Advisor
Orlando Sentinel                          Stockbroker's Register
Palm Beach Post                           Strategic Insight
Pension World                             Tampa Tribune
Pensions and Investments                  Time
Personal Investor                         Tobias, Andrew (syndicated column)
Philadelphia Inquirer                     Toledo Blade
Porter, Sylvia (syndicated column)        UP
Portland Oregonian                        US News and World Report
Prodigy                                   USA Today
Public Broadcasting Service               USA TV Network
Quinn, Jane Bryant (syndicated column)    Value Line
Registered Representative                 Wall Street Journal
Research Magazine                         Wall Street Letter
Resource                                  Wall Street Week
Reuters                                   Washington Post
Rocky Mountain News                       WBZ
Rukeyser's Business (syndicated column)   WBZ-TV
Sacramento Bee                            WCVB-TV
San Diego Tribune                         WEEI
San Francisco Chronicle                   WHDH
San Francisco Examiner                    Worcester Telegram
San Jose Mercury                          World Wide Web
Seattle Post-Intelligencer                Worth Magazine
Seattle Times                             WRKO
Securities Industry Management
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
 
                                                                      APPENDIX B
 
                     ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL LITERATURE
 
  Loomis Sayles Funds' advertising and promotional material may include, but is
not limited to, discussions of the following information:
 
    Loomis Sayles Funds' participation in wrap fee and no transaction fee
  programs
 
    Characteristics of Loomis Sayles including the number and locations of
  its offices, its investment practices and clients
 
    Specific and general investment philosophies, strategies, processes and
  techniques
 
    Specific and general sources of information, economic models, forecasts
  and data services utilized, consulted or considered in the course of
  providing advisory or other services
 
    Industry conferences at which Loomis Sayles participates
 
    Current capitalization, levels of profitability and other financial
  information
 
    Identification of portfolio managers, researchers, economists, principals
  and other staff members and employees
 
    The specific credentials of the above individuals, including but not
  limited to, previous employment, current and past positions, titles and
  duties performed, industry experience, educational background and degrees,
  awards and honors
 
    Specific identification of, and general reference to, current individual,
  corporate and institutional clients, including pension and profit sharing
  plans
 
    Current and historical statistics relating to:
 
    --total dollar amount of assets managed
    --Loomis Sayles assets managed in total and by Fund
    --the growth of assets
    --asset types managed
 
  Individuals who have achieved business, professional or personal success
through the "Power of a Passion." These individuals may not necessarily be
investors in the Funds, and may not have any other relationship to the Funds or
their adviser. In instances where advertisements describe these individuals,
their success is not attributable to the Funds or their adviser. In instances
where advertisements describe successful business ventures, the Funds or Loomis
Sayles may or may not invest in these ventures.
 
  References may be included in Loomis Sayles Funds' advertising and
promotional literature about 401(k) and retirement plans that offer the Funds.
The information may include, but is not limited to:
 
    Specific and general references to industry statistics regarding 401(k)
  and retirement plans including historical information and industry trends
  and forecasts regarding the growth of assets, numbers or plans, funding
  vehicles, participants, sponsors and other demographic data relating to
  plans, participants and sponsors, third party and other administrators,
  benefits consultants and firms with whom Loomis Sayles may or may not have
  a relationship.
 
    Specific and general reference to comparative ratings, rankings and other
  forms of evaluation as well as statistics regarding the Fund as 401(k) or
  retirement plan funding vehicles produced by industry authorities, research
  organizations and publications.
 
 
                                       39
<PAGE>

PART C

The information required to be included in Part C is set forth under the 
appropriate Item, so numbered, in Part C of the Registration Statement.


 
Part C.       OTHER INFORMATION
      --------------------------

Item 24.      Financial Statements and Exhibits
      ------------------------------------------

 (a)     Financial statements:  See "Financial Highlights" contained in the
          Prospectus.

 (b)     Exhibits:
    
 1.      Agreement and Declaration of Trust.        
    
 2.      By-Laws.         

 3.      Not Applicable.
    
 4.      Not Applicable.       
    
 5(a).   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement.       
    
 5(b).   Form of Amendment No. 1 to Investment Advisory Agreement for the Growth
         Fund.(2)        
    
 5(c).   Form of Amendment No. 1 to Investment Advisory Agreement for the Core
         Value Fund.(2)        
     
 5(d).   Form of Amendment No. 1 to Investment Advisory Agreement for the
         Small Cap Value Fund.(2)         
     
 5(e).   Form of Amendment No. 1 to Investment Advisory Agreement for the
         International Equity Fund.(2)        
         
 5(f).   Form of Amendment No. 1 to Investment Advisory Agreement for the
         Worldwide Fund.(2)         
    
 5(g).   Form of Amendment No. 1 to Investment Advisory Agreement for the
         Global Bond Fund.(2)        
    
 5(h).   Form of Amendment No. 1 to Investment Advisory Agreement for the U.S.
         Government Securities Fund.(2)      
     
 5(i).   Form of Amendment No. 1 to Investment Advisory Agreement for the
         Municipal Bond Fund.(2)        
     
 5(j).   Form of Amendment No. 1 to Investment Advisory Agreement for the 
         Short-Term Bond Fund.(2)        
    
 5(k).   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement for the Small Cap Growth
         Fund.(2)       
<PAGE>
 
    
 5(l).   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement for the Investment Grade Bond
         Fund.(2)       
    
 5(m).   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement for the Mid-Cap Value Fund.(2)
       
    
 5(n).   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement for the Mid-Cap Growth Fund.(2)
    
      
 5(o).   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement for the Strategic Value Fund.(2)
     
     
 5(p).   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement for the Intermediate Maturity
         Bond Fund.(2)        
    
 6.      Form of Distribution Agreement.(2)       
    
 7.      Not Applicable.       
    
 8(a).   Form of Custodian Agreement.        
    
 8(b).   Letter Agreement between relating to the the Registrant and State
         applicability of the Street Bank and Trust Custodian Agreement to
         Company Loomis Sayles Short-Term Bond Fund. (3)        
    
 8(c).   Letter Agreement between relating to the the Registrant and State
         applicability of the Street Bank and Trust Custodian Agreement to
         Company Loomis Sayles High Yield Fund. (3)       

 8(d).   Letter Agreement between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust
         Company relating to the applicability of the Custodian Agreement to
         Loomis Sayles Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles Investment
         Grade Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Loomis Sayles Mid-
         Cap Value Fund, Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund and Loomis Sayles
         Strategic Value Fund. (3)

8(e).    Form of Letter Agreement between the Registrant and State Street Bank
         and Trust Company relating to the applicability of the Custodian
         Agreement to Loomis Sayles Worldwide Fund. (3)                         
    
9(a).   Form of Shareholder's Servicing and Transfer Agent Agreement.      
 
9(b).   Letter Agreement between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust
        Company relating to the applicability of the Transfer Agency and Service
        Agreement to Loomis Sayles Short-Term Bond Fund. (3)

9(c).   Letter Agreement between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust
        Company relating to the applicability of the Transfer Agency and Service
        Agreement to Loomis Sayles High Yield Fund and Loomis Sayles Worldwide
        Fund. (3)
        
9(d).   Letter Agreement between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust
        Company relating to the applicability of the Transfer Agency and Service
        Agreement to Loomis Sayles Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund, Loomis 
        Sayles Investment Grade Bond
<PAGE>
 
       Fund, Loomis Sayles Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Loomis Sayles Mid-Cap Value
       Fund, Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund and Loomis Sayles Strategic
       Value Fund. (3)

    
10.    Opinion and Consent of Counsel.(2)      
    
11.    Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
    
12.    Not Applicable.
    
13(a). Investment Representation Regarding Initial Shares.      
    
13(b). Form of Organizational Expense Reimbursement Agreement.      
    
14.    Form of IRA prototype documents.      
    
15.    Form of Distribution Plan - Retail Class.(2)      
    
15(a). Form of Distribution Plan - Admin Class.      
    
16.    Schedule for Performance Computations.(2)      
     
17(a). Financial Data Schedule for Institutional Class Fund. shares of Loomis
       Sayles Small Cap Value Fund.      
     
17(b). Financial Data Schedule for Institutional Class shares of  
       Loomis Sayles Bond Fund.      
     
17(c). Financial Data Schedule for Institutional Class shares of Loomis Sayles
       High Yield Fund.      
    
18.    Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3(d) Plan.      
     
19.    Powers of Attorney.(1)      
- --------------------
    
(1)    Incorporated by reference to the similarly numbered Exhibit to Post-
       Effective 16, 1996.      
     
(2)    Incorporated by reference to the similarly numbered Exhibit to Post-
       Effective Amendment No. 11 to this Registration Statement filed with the
       Commission on October 9, 1996.      
 
         
<PAGE>
 
Item 25.   Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant
           -------------------------------------------------------------
           Not Applicable.
 
 
Item 26.    Number of Holders of Securities
            -------------------------------

<TABLE>     
<CAPTION> 

 Fund                   Number of Record Holders (as of October 15, 1997)
 ----                   ------------------------------------------------- 
                         Institutional Class            Retail Class
                         -------------------            ------------
<S>                                <C>                     <C>
Bond Fund                          16,498                  1,097
Core Value Fund                       614                     47
Global Bond Fund                      266                    268
Growth Fund                           490                     22
High Yield Fund                       101                     67
Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund        19                      8
International Equity Fund             692                     16
Investment Grade Bond Fund             20                     20
Mid-Cap Growth Fund                    20                     11
Mid-Cap Value Fund                     49                     11
Municipal Bond Fund                    97                    N/A
Short-Term Bond Fund                  192                     15
Small Cap Growth Fund                  40                     22
Small Cap Value Fund                2,112                    344
Strategic Value Fund                   20                     10
U.S. Government Securities Fund       135                  N/A
Worldwide Fund                         38                      8
</TABLE>     


Item 27.   Indemnification
           ---------------

Incorporated by reference to Item 27 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to this
Registration Statement filed on November 7, 1991.
<PAGE>
 
Item 28.   Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
           ----------------------------------------------------
    
(a)  Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. ("Loomis Sayles"), the adviser of the
Registrant, provides investment advice to the eight series of Loomis Sayles
Investment Trust, seven series of New England Funds Trust I, two series of New
England Funds Trust III, and three series of New England Zenith Funds, all of
which are  registered investment companies, and to other organizations and
individuals.      

The sole general partner of Loomis Sayles is Loomis, Sayles & Company,
Incorporated, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

Item 29.   Principal Underwriters
           ----------------------
The Trust's principal underwriter is Loomis Sayles Distributors,  L.P., the sole
general partner of which is Loomis Sayles Distributors, Incorporated.

Item 30.   Location of Accounts and Records
           --------------------------------
The following companies maintain possession of the documents required by the
specified rules:

(a) Registrant
Rule 31a-1(b)(4), (9), (10), (11)
Rule 31a-2(a)

(b) State Street Bank and Trust Company
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
Rule 31a-1(a)
Rule 31a-1(b)(1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (7), (8)
Rule 31a-2(a)

(c) Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.
One Financial Center
Boston, MA  02111
Rule 31a-1(f)
Rule 31a-2(e)

(d) Loomis, Sayles Distributors, L.P.
One Financial Center
Boston, MA 02111
Rule 31a-1(d)
Rule 31a-2(c)
<PAGE>
 
Item 31.   Management Services
           -------------------
Not applicable.

Item 32.   Undertakings
 ------------
(i)  The Registrant undertakes to comply with Section 16(c) of the Investment
     Company Act of 1940 as though such provisions of the Act were applicable to
     the Registrant.

(ii) The Registrant undertakes to furnish each person to whom a prospectus is
     delivered a copy of Registrant's most recent annual report upon request and
     without charge.

********************
NOTICE


A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of Loomis Sayles Funds (the
"Trust") is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that this Registration Statement has
been executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer of the Trust as an officer
and by its Trustees as trustees and not individually and the obligations of or
arising out of this Registration Statement are not binding upon any of the
Trustees, officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the
assets and property of the Trust.
<PAGE>
 
SIGNATURES
    
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this amendment to its
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Boston, in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on
the 31st day of October, 1997.      

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS

By: DANIEL J. FUSS*
- -----------------------------
Daniel J. Fuss, President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940, this amendment to the Registration Statement of Loomis
Sayles Funds has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities
and on the date indicated.
 

Signature                                   Title
- ---------                                   -----
DANIEL J. FUSS*                          President and Trustee
- -------------------------------                           
Daniel J. Fuss

MARK W. HOLLAND*                         Treasurer
- ------------------------            
Mark W. Holland

EARL W. FOELL*                           Trustee
- -----------------------------          
Earl W. Foell

RICHARD S. HOLWAY*                       Trustee
- ------------------------          
Richard S. Holway

MICHAEL T. MURRAY*                       Trustee
- ------------------------          
Michael T. Murray

TERRY R. LAUTENBACH*                     Trustee
- -------------------------            
Terry R. Lautenbach
<PAGE>
 
*By

    
/s/MARK W. HOLLAND
- -----------------------------------
Mark W. Holland, for himself and as Attorney-in-fact
October 31, 1997      
<PAGE>
 
    
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NO.
     -------------

1.     Agreement and Declaration of Trust.

2.     By-Laws.

5(a).  Form of Investment Advisory Agreement.

8(a).  Form of Custodian Agreement.

9(a).  Form of Shareholder's Servicing and Transfer Agent Agreement.

11.    Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.

13(a). Investment Representation Regarding Initial Shares.

13(b)  Form of Organizational Expense Reimbursement Agreement.

14.    IRA prototype documents.

15(a). Form of Distribution Plan - Admin Class.

17(a). Financial Data Schedule for Institutional Class shares of Loomis Sayles
       Small Cap Value Fund.

17(b). Financial Data Schedule for Institutional Class shares of Loomis
       Sayles Bond Fund.

17(c). Financial Data Schedule for Institutional Class shares of Loomis
       Sayles High Yield Fund.

18.    Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3(d) Plan.      

<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 1

 
                              LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS

                       AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST


     AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST made at Boston, Massachusetts, this 20th
day of February, 1991 by the Trustees hereunder and by the holders of shares of
beneficial interest to be issued hereunder as hereinafter provided.

     WITNESSETH that

     WHEREAS, this Trust has been formed to carry on the business of an
investment company; and

     WHEREAS, the Trustees have agreed to manage all property coming into their
hands as trustees of a Massachusetts voluntary association with transferable
shares in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees hereby declare that they will hold all cash,
securities and other assets, which they may from time to time acquire in any
manner as Trustees hereunder, IN TRUST to manage and dispose of the same upon
the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to
time of Shares in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.

                                   ARTICLE I
                              Name and Definitions

Name

     Section 1.  This Trust shall be known as "Loomis Sayles Funds", and the
Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other
name as they may from time to time determine.

Definitions

     Section 2.  Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the context
or specifically provided:

     (a)  "Trust" refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by this
     Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time;

     (b)  "Trustees" refers to the Trustees of the Trust named herein or elected
     in accordance with Article IV hereof;

     (c)  "Shares" means the equal proportionate transferable units of interest
     into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time
     to time or, if more than one series or class of Shares is authorized by the
     Trustees, the equal proportionate transferable units into which each series
     or class of Shares shall be divided from time to time;

     (d)  "Shareholder" means a record owner of Shares;
<PAGE>
 
     (e)  "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules
     and Regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time;

     (f)  The terms "Affiliated Person", "Assignment", "Commission", "Interested
     Person", "Principal Underwriter" and "Majority Shareholder Vote" (the
     sixty-seven percent (67%) or fifty percent (50%) requirement of the third
     sentence of Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act, whichever may be applicable)
     shall have the meanings given them in the 1940 Act;

     (g)  "Declaration of Trust" shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of
     Trust as amended or restated from time to time;

     (h)  "By-Laws" shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from time to
     time;

     (i)  "Series" or "Series of Shares" refers to the one or more separate
     investment portfolios of the Trust into which the assets and liabilities of
     the Trust may be divided and the Shares of the Trust representing the
     beneficial interest of Shareholders in such respective portfolios; and

     (j)  "Class" or "Class of Shares" refers to the division of Shares
     representing any Series into two or more Classes as provided in Article
     III, Section 1 hereof.

                                   ARTICLE II
                                Purpose of Trust

     The purpose of the Trust is to provide investors a managed investment
primarily in securities, debt instruments and other instruments and rights of a
financial character and to carry on such other business as the Trustees may from
time to time determine pursuant to their authority under this Declaration of
Trust.

                                  ARTICLE III
                                     Shares

Division of Beneficial Interest

          Section 1.  The Shares of the Trust shall be issued in one or more
Series as the Trustees may, without shareholder approval, authorize.  Each
Series shall be preferred over all other Series in respect of the assets
specifically allocated to that Series within the meaning of the 1940 Act and
shall represent a separate investment portfolio of the Trust.  The beneficial
interest in each Series shall at all times be divided into Shares, without par
value, each of which shall, except as provided in the following sentence,
represent an equal proportionate interest in the Series with each other Share of
the same Series, none having priority or preference over another.  The Trustees
may, without Shareholder approval, divide the Shares of any Series into two or
more Classes, Shares of each such Class having such preferences and special or
relative rights and privileges (including conversion rights, if any) as the
Trustees may determine or as shall be set forth in the By-Laws.  The number of
Shares authorized shall be unlimited.  The Trustees may from time to time divide
or combine the Shares of any Series or Class into a greater or lesser number
without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in the Series or
Class.

Ownership of Shares

          Section 2.  The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on the books of
the Trust or a transfer or similar agent.  No certificates certifying the
ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise
determine from time to time.  The Trustees may make such rules as they consider
appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, the transfer of Shares and
similar matters.  The record books of the

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
Trust as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be,
shall be conclusive as to who are the Shareholders of each Series and Class and
as to the number of Shares of each Series and Class held from time to time by
each Shareholder.

Investment in the Trust

          Section 3.  The Trustees shall accept investments in the Trust from
such persons and on such terms and for such consideration, which may consist of
cash or tangible or intangible property or a combination thereof, as they or the
By-Laws from time to time authorize.

          All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of
Shares of each Series, together with all income, earnings, profits and proceeds
thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation
thereof, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such
proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall irrevocably belong to the
Series of Shares with respect to which the same were received by the Trust for
all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors, and shall be so handled
upon the books of account of the Trust and are herein referred to as "assets of"
such Series.

No Preemptive Rights

          Section 4.  Shareholders shall have no preemptive or other right to
subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the Trust.

Status of Shares and Limitation of Personal Liability

          Section 5.  Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only
the rights provided in this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws.  Every
Shareholder by virtue of having become a Shareholder shall be held to have
expressly assented and agreed to the terms of this Declaration of Trust and the
By-Laws and to have become a party hereto.  The death of a Shareholder during
the continuance of the Trust shall not operate to terminate the same nor entitle
the representative of any deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any
action in court or elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but such
representative shall be entitled only to the rights of said decedent under this
Declaration of Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle the Shareholder to
any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust property or right to call
for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the
ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders partners.  Neither the Trust nor
the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust, shall have any
power to bind personally any Shareholder, nor except as specifically provided in
this Declaration of Trust to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any
sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at
any time personally agree to pay.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                                  The Trustees

Election, Tenure and Removal

          Section 1.  The initial Trustee shall be Charles J. Finlayson.  The
Trustees may fix the number of Trustees, fill vacancies in the Trustees,
including vacancies arising from an increase in the number of Trustees, or
remove Trustees with or without cause.  Each Trustee shall serve during the
continued lifetime of the Trust until he or she dies, resigns or is removed, or,
if sooner, until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of
electing Trustees and until the election and qualification of his or her
successor.  Any Trustee may resign at any time by written instrument signed by
him or her and delivered to any officer of the Trust or to a meeting of the
Trustees.  Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to
be effective at some other time.  Except to the extent expressly provided in a
written

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
agreement with the Trust, no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have
any right to any compensation for any period following his or her resignation or
removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal.  The Shareholders
may fix the number of Trustees and elect Trustees at any meeting of Shareholders
called by the Trustees for that purpose and to the extent required by applicable
law, including paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 16 of the 1940 Act.

          No natural person shall serve as Trustee after the holders of record
of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding Shares have declared that such
Trustee be removed from that office either by declaration in writing filed with
the Trust's custodian or by votes cast in person or by proxy at a meeting called
for the purpose.  The Trustees shall promptly call a meeting of Shareholders for
the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of any Trustee when requested
to do so in writing by the record holders of not less than ten percent (10%) of
the outstanding Shares.

          Whenever ten or more Shareholders of record, who have been such for at
least six months preceding the date of application and who hold Shares in the
aggregate having a net asset value of at least one percent (1%) of the
outstanding Shares, shall apply to the Trustees in writing, stating that they
wish to communicate with other Shareholders with a view to obtaining signatures
to request a meeting pursuant to this Section and accompanied by a form of
communication and request which they wish to transmit, the Trustees shall within
five business days after receipt of such application either (a) afford to such
applicants access to a list of the names and addresses of all Shareholders as
recorded on the books of the Trust; or (b) inform such applicants as to the
approximate cost of mailing to all Shareholders the proposed communication and
form of request.  If the Trustees elect to follow the course specified in clause
(b), the Trustees, upon the written request of such applicants, accompanied by a
tender of the material to be mailed and of the reasonable expenses of mailing,
shall, with reasonable promptness, mail such material to all Shareholders of
record at their addresses as recorded on the books of the Trust, unless within
five business days after such tender the Trustees shall mail to such applicants
and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material proposed to
be mailed, a written statement signed by at least a majority of the Trustees to
the effect that in their opinion either such material contains untrue statements
of fact or omits to state facts necessary to make the statements contained
therein not misleading, or would be in violation of applicable law, and
specifying the basis of such opinion.  If the Commission shall enter an order
refusing to sustain any of the objections specified in the written statement so
filed, or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such
objections, the Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing,
that all objections so sustained have been met, and shall enter an order so
declaring, the Trustees shall mail copies of such material to all Shareholders
with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such
tender.

Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee

          Section 2.  The death, declination, resignation, retirement, removal
or incapacity of the Trustees, or any one of them, shall not operate to annul
the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this
Declaration of Trust.

Powers

          Section 3.  Subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust,
the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees, and they shall have
all powers necessary or convenient to carry out that responsibility.  Without
limiting the foregoing, the Trustees may adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with
this Declaration of Trust providing for the conduct of the business of the Trust
and may amend and repeal them to the extent that such By-Laws do not reserve
that right to the Shareholders; they may fill vacancies, including vacancies
caused by enlargement of their number, and may remove Trustees with or without
cause; they may elect and remove, with or without cause, such officers and
appoint and terminate such agents as they consider appropriate; they may appoint
from their own number, and terminate, any one or

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
more committees consisting of two or more Trustees, including an executive
committee which may, when the Trustees are not in session, exercise some or all
of the power and authority of the Trustees as the Trustees may determine; they
may employ one or more custodians of the assets of the Trust and may authorize
such custodians to employ subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such
assets in a system or systems for the central handling of securities, retain a
transfer agent or a Shareholder servicing agent, or both, provide for the
distribution of Shares by the Trust, through one or more principal underwriters
or otherwise, set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with
respect to various matters, and in general delegate such authority as they
consider desirable to any officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees
and to any agent or employee of the Trust or to any such custodian or
underwriter.

     Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power and 
     authority:

     (a)  To invest and reinvest cash, and to hold cash uninvested;

     (b)  To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, write options
     on and lease any or all of the assets of the Trust;

     (c)  To act as a distributor of shares and as underwriter of, or broker or
     dealer in, securities and other property;

     (d)  To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with
     respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and
     deliver proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the
     Trustees shall deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power
     and discretion with relation to securities or property as the Trustees
     shall deem proper;

     (e)  To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in
     any manner arise out of ownership of securities;

     (f)  To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust,
     whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, or in the name of
     the Trustees or of the Trust or in the name of a custodian, subcustodian or
     other depositary or a nominee or nominees or otherwise;

     (g)  To allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of the Trust to a
     particular Series of Shares or to apportion the same among two or more
     Series, provided that any liabilities or expenses incurred by a particular
     Series of Shares shall be payable solely out of the assets of that Series;
     and, to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the
     preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any Classes of
     Shares, to allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of a Series to
     a particular Class of Shares of that Series or to apportion the same among
     two or more Classes of Shares of that Series;

     (h)  To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization,
     consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer, any security of which
     is or was held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage,
     purchase or sale of property by such corporation or issuer, and to pay
     calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;

     (i)  To join other security holders in acting through a committee,
     depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit
     any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee,
     depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
     power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so
     deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree
     to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such
     committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper;

     (j)  To compromise, arbitrate or otherwise adjust claims in favor of or
     against the Trust or any matter in controversy, including but not limited
     to claims for taxes;

     (k)  To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and any
     other combinations or associations;

     (l)  To borrow funds;

     (m)  To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other obligations
     of any person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or otherwise
     assume liability for payment thereof; and to mortgage and pledge the Trust
     property or any part thereof to secure any of or all such obligations;

     (n)  To purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust property such insurance
     as they may deem necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the Trust's
     business, including, without limitation, insurance policies insuring the
     assets of the Trust and payment of distributions and principal on its
     portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the Shareholders,
     Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers or managers,
     principal underwriters or independent contractors of the Trust individually
     against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of
     holding or having held any such office or position, or by reason of any
     action alleged to have been taken or omitted by any such person as
     Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, agent, investment adviser or
     manager, principal underwriter or independent contractor, including any
     action taken or omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence,
     whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such person
     against such liability;

     (o)  To pay pensions for faithful service, as deemed appropriate by the
     Trustees, and to adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing,
     share bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement,
     incentive and benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the
     purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing
     such retirement and other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees,
     officers, employees and agents of the Trust; and

     (p)  To engage in any other lawful act or activity in which corporations
     organized under the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act may engage.

     The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or
future law or custom in regard to investments by trustees.

     Except as otherwise provided herein or from time to time in the By-Laws,
any action to be taken by the Trustees may be taken (A) by a majority of the
Trustees present at a meeting of the Trustees (a quorum being present), within
or without Massachusetts, including any meeting held by means of a conference
telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time (participation
by which means shall for all purposes constitute presence in person at a
meeting), or (B) by written consents of a majority of the Trustees then in
office (which written consents shall be filed with the records of the meetings
of the Trustees and shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a
meeting of Trustees).

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
Payment of Expenses by Trust and by Shareholders

     Section 4.  The Trustees are authorized to pay or to cause to be paid out
of the principal or income of the Trust, or partly out of principal and partly
out of income, as they deem fair, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and
liabilities incurred or arising in connection with the Trust, in connection with
the management thereof, or in connection with the financing of the sale of
Shares, including, but not limited to, the Trustees' compensation and such
expenses and charges for the services of the Trust's officers, employees, any
investment adviser, manager or sub-adviser, principal underwriter, auditor,
counsel, custodian, transfer agent, shareholder servicing agent, and such other
agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the
Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur, provided, however, that all
expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred by or arising in
connection with a particular Series of Shares, as determined by the Trustees,
shall be payable solely out of the assets of that Series and may, as the
Trustees from time to time may determine, be allocated to a particular Class of
Shares of a Series or apportioned among two or more Classes of Shares of a
Series.

     The Trustees shall have the power, as frequently as they may determine, to
cause each Shareholder, or each Shareholder of any particular Series or Class,
to pay directly, in advance or arrears, for charges of the Trust's custodian or
transfer, shareholder servicing or similar agent, an amount fixed from time to
time by the Trustees, by setting off such charges due from such Shareholder from
declared but unpaid dividends owed such Shareholder and/or by reducing the
number of Shares in the account of such Shareholder by that number of full
and/or fractional Shares which represents the outstanding amount of such charges
due from such Shareholder.

Ownership of Assets of the Trust

     Section 5.  Title to all of the assets of each Series of Shares and of the
Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees.

Advisory, Management and Distribution

     Section 6.  The Trustees may, at any time and from time to time, contract
for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory and/or management services with any
corporation, trust, association or other organization (the "Manager"), every
such contract to comply with such requirements and restrictions as may be set
forth in the By-Laws; and any such contract may provide for one or more sub-
advisers who shall perform all or part of the obligations of the Manager under
such contract and may contain such other terms interpretive of or in addition to
said requirements and restrictions as the Trustees may determine, including,
without limitation, authority to determine from time to time what investments
shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion, if any, of the
assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes in the Trust's
investments.  The Trustees may also, at any time and from time to time, contract
with the Manager or any other corporation, trust, association or other
organization, appointing it exclusive or nonexclusive distributor or principal
underwriter for the Shares, every such contract to comply with such requirements
and restrictions as may be set forth in the By-Laws; and any such contract may
contain such other terms interpretive of or in addition to said requirements and
restrictions as the Trustees may determine.

     The fact that:

     (i)  any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust is a
     shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, manager,
     adviser, principal underwriter or distributor or agent of or for any
     corporation, trust, association or other organization, or of or for any
     parent or affiliate of any organization, with which an advisory or
     management contract, or principal underwriter's or distributor's contract,
     or transfer, shareholder

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
     servicing or other agency contract may have been or may hereafter be made,
     or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a
     Shareholder or has an interest in the Trust, or that

     (ii) any corporation, trust, association or other organization with which
     an advisory or management contract or principal underwriter's or
     distributor's contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency
     contract may have been or may hereafter be made also has an advisory or
     management contract, or principal underwriter's or distributor's contract,
     or transfer, shareholder servicing or other agency contract with one or
     more other corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, or
     has other business or interests

shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any
Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the
same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.

                                   ARTICLE V
                    Shareholders' Voting Powers and Meetings

Voting Powers

     Section 1.  The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the
election of Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1 of this Declaration of
Trust, provided, however, that no meeting of Shareholders is required to be
       --------  -------                                                   
called for the purpose of electing Trustees unless and until such time as less
than a majority of the Trustees have been elected by the Shareholders, (ii) with
respect to any Manager or Sub-Adviser as provided in Article IV, Section 6 of
this Declaration of Trust to the extent required by the 1940 Act, (iii) with
respect to any termination of this Trust to the extent and as provided in
Article IX, Section 4 of this Declaration of Trust, (iv) with respect to any
amendment of this Declaration of Trust to the extent and as provided in Article
IX, Section 7 of this Declaration of Trust, (v) to the same extent as the
stockholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a
court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained
derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or the Shareholders,
and (vi) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be
required by law, this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws or any registration of
the Trust with the Commission (or any successor agency) or any state, or as the
Trustees may consider necessary or desirable.  Each whole Share shall be
entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is entitled to vote and each
fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote.  On any
matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders all Shares of the Trust then entitled
to vote shall be voted by individual Series, except (i) when required by the
1940 Act, Shares shall be voted in the aggregate and not by individual Series
and (ii) when the Trustees have determined that the matter affects only the
interests of one or more Series or Classes, then only Shareholders of such
Series or Classes shall be entitled to vote thereon.  There shall be no
cumulative voting in the election of Trustees.  Shares may be voted in person or
by proxy.  A proxy with respect to Shares held in the name of two or more
persons shall be valid if executed by any one of them unless at or prior to
exercise of the proxy the Trust receives a specific written notice to the
contrary from any one of them.  A proxy purporting to be executed by or on
behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to
its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger.
Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders
and may take any action permitted or required of the Shareholders by law, this
Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
Meetings

     Section 2.  Meetings of the Shareholders may be called by the Trustees for
the purpose of electing Trustees as provided in Article IV, Section 1 of this
Declaration of Trust and for such other purposes as may be prescribed by law, by
this Declaration of Trust or by the By-Laws.  Meetings of the Shareholders may
also be called by the Trustees from time to time for the purpose of taking
action upon any other matter deemed by the Trustees to be necessary or
desirable.  A meeting of Shareholders may be held at any place designated by the
Trustees.  Written notice of any meeting of Shareholders shall be given or
caused to be given by the Trustees by mailing such notice at least seven days
before such meeting, postage prepaid, stating the time and place of the meeting,
to each Shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting at the Shareholder's
address as it appears on the records of the Trust.  Whenever notice of a meeting
is required to be given to a Shareholder under this Declaration of Trust or the
By-Laws, a written waiver thereof, executed before or after the meeting by such
Shareholder or his or her attorney thereunto authorized and filed with the
records of the meeting, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice.

Quorum and Required Vote

     Section 3.  Forty percent (40%) of the Shares entitled to vote shall be a
quorum for the transaction of business at a Shareholders' meeting, except that
where any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws
permits or requires that holders of any Series or Class shall vote as a Series
or Class, then forty percent (40%) of the aggregate number of Shares of that
Series or Class entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business by that Series or Class.  Any lesser number shall be
sufficient for adjournments.  Any adjourned session or sessions may be held,
within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting, without
the necessity of further notice.  Except when a larger vote is required by any
provision of law or this Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws, a majority of the
Shares voted shall decide any questions and a plurality shall elect a Trustee,
provided that where any provision of law or of this Declaration of Trust or the
By-Laws permits or requires that the holders of any Series or Class shall vote
as a Series or Class, then a majority of the Shares of that Series or Class
voted on the matter (or a plurality with respect to the election of a Trustee)
shall decide that matter insofar as that Series or Class is concerned.

Action by Written Consent

     Section 4.  Any action taken by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting
if a majority of Shareholders entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger
proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of law or this
Declaration of Trust or the By-Laws) consent to the action in writing and such
written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Shareholders.
Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of
Shareholders.

Additional Provisions

     Section 5.  The By-Laws may include further provisions for Shareholders'
votes and meetings and related matters.
 

                                   ARTICLE VI
                   Distributions, Redemptions and Repurchases

Distributions

     Section 1.  The Trustees may each year, or more frequently if they so
determine, distribute to the Shareholders of each Series out of the assets of
such Series such amounts as the Trustees may determine.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
Any such distribution to the Shareholders of a particular Series shall be made
to said Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such
Series held by each of them, except to the extent otherwise required or
permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of
any Classes of Shares of that Series, and any distribution to the Shareholders
of a particular Class of Shares shall be made to such Shareholders pro rata in
proportion to the number of Shares of such Class held by each of them. Such
distributions shall be made in cash, Shares or other property, or a combination
thereof, as determined by the Trustees.  Any such distribution paid in Shares
will be paid at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with the
By-Laws.

Redemptions and Repurchases

     Section 2.  The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any
Shareholder for redemption, upon the presentation of any certificate for the
Shares to be purchased, a proper instrument of transfer and a request directed
to the Trust or a person designated by the Trust that the Trust purchase such
Shares, or in accordance with such other procedures for redemption as the
Trustees may from time to time authorize; and the Trust will pay therefor the
net asset value thereof, as next determined in accordance with the By-Laws, less
any redemption charge or fee as the Trustees may from time to time authorize.
Payment for said Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder within
seven days after the date on which the request is made.  The obligation set
forth in this Section 2 is subject to the provision that in the event that any
time the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than customary weekends or
holidays, or, if permitted by rules of the Commission, during periods when
trading on the Exchange is restricted or during any emergency which makes it
impractical for the Trust to dispose of its investments or to determine fairly
the value of its net assets, or during any other period permitted by order or
other action of the Commission for the protection of investors, such obligation
may be suspended or postponed by the Trustees.  The Trust may also purchase or
repurchase Shares at a price not exceeding the net asset value of such Shares in
effect when the purchase or repurchase or any contract to purchase or repurchase
is made.

Redemption at the Option of the Trust

     Section 3.  The Trust shall have the right at its option and at any time to
redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the net asset value thereof as determined in
accordance with the By-Laws: (i) if at such time such Shareholder owns fewer
Shares than, or Shares having an aggregate net asset value of less than, an
amount determined from time to time by the Trustees; or (ii) to the extent that
such Shareholder owns Shares of a particular Series or Class of Shares equal to
or in excess of a percentage of the outstanding Shares of that Series or Class
determined from time to time by the Trustees; or (iii) to the extent that such
Shareholder owns Shares of the Trust representing a percentage equal to or in
excess of such percentage of the aggregate number of outstanding Shares of the
Trust or the aggregate net asset value of the Trust determined from time to time
by the Trustees.

                                  ARTICLE VII
              Compensation and Limitation of Liability of Trustees

Compensation

     Section 1.  The Trustees as such shall be entitled to reasonable
compensation from the Trust; they may fix the amount of their compensation.
Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any Trustee for
advisory, management, legal, accounting, investment banking, underwriting,
brokerage or other services and payment for the same by the Trust.

Limitation of Liability

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 2.  The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event
for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, manager or
principal underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the
act or omission of any other Trustee, but nothing herein contained shall protect
any Trustee against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

     Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and
every other act or thing whatsoever executed or done by or on behalf of the
Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust shall be
conclusively deemed to have been executed or done only in or with respect to
their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such Trustees or
Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                Indemnification

Trustees, Officers, etc.

     Section 1.  The By-Laws may include provisions whereby the Trust may
provide indemnity to its Trustees and officers, including persons who serve at
the Trust's request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization
in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise
(each such Trustee, officer or person hereinafter referred to as a "Covered
Person"), against all liabilities and expenses, including but not limited to
amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and
penalties, and counsel fees reasonably incurred by any Covered Person in
connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other
proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or
legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved
as a party or otherwise or with which such Covered Person may be or may have
been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having
been such a Covered Person.  Any indemnity provided to Covered Persons by the
By-Laws may, if the By-Laws so provide, be in addition to any other indemnity to
which such persons may be entitled by law, contract or otherwise.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                 Miscellaneous

Trustees, Shareholders etc. Not Personally Liable; Notice

     Section 1.  All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any
claim against the Trust or a particular Series of Shares shall look only to the
assets of the Trust or the assets of that particular Series of Shares for
payment under such credit, contract or claim, and neither the Shareholders nor
the Trustees, nor any of the Trust's officers, employees or agents, whether
past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor.  Nothing in this
Declaration of Trust shall protect any Trustee against any liability to which
such Trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of the office of Trustee.
 
     Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking made or
issued by the Trustees or by any officer or officers shall give notice that this
Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth
of Massachusetts and shall recite that the same was executed or made by or on
behalf of the Trust or by them as Trustee or Trustees or as officer or officers
and not individually and that the obligations of such instrument are not binding
upon any of them or the Shareholders individually but are binding only upon the
assets and property of the Trust, and may contain such further recital as he or
she or they may deem appropriate, but the omission thereof shall not operate to
bind any Trustee or Trustees or officer or officers or Shareholder or
Shareholders individually.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
Shareholders

     Section 2.  In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be held to
be personally liable solely by reason of his or her being or having been a
Shareholder and not because of his or her acts or omissions or for some other
reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his or her heirs, executors,
administrators or other legal representative or, in the case of a corporation or
other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled to be
held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from
such liability, but only out of the assets of the particular Series of Shares of
which he or she is or was a Shareholder.

Trustee's Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety

     Section 3.  The exercise by the Trustees of their powers and discretions
hereunder shall be binding upon everyone interested.  A Trustee shall be liable
for his or her own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and
for nothing else, and shall not be liable for the errors of judgment or mistakes
of fact or law.  The Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with
respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust, and shall be
under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice or for
failing to follow such advice.  The Trustees as such shall not be required to
give any bond, nor any surety if a bond is required.

Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees

     Section 4.  No person dealing with the Trustees shall be bound to make any
inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction made or to be made by the
Trustees or to see to the application of any payments made or property
transferred to the Trust or upon its order.

Duration and Termination of Trust

     Section 5.  Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue
without limitation of time.  The Trust may be terminated at any time by vote of
Shareholders holding at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the
Shares entitled to vote, or by the Trustees by written notice to the
Shareholders.  Any Series or Class of Shares may be terminated at any time by
vote of Shareholders holding at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%)
of the Shares of such Series or Class entitled to vote, or by the Trustees by
written notice to the Shareholders of such Series or Class.  Upon termination of
the Trust or of any one or more Series or Classes of Shares, after paying or
otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and liabilities, whether
due or accrued or anticipated, of the Trust or of the particular Series or Class
as may be determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall in accordance with such
procedures as the Trustees consider appropriate reduce the remaining assets to
distributable form in cash or shares or other property, or any combination
thereof, and distribute the proceeds to the Shareholders of the Series involved,
ratably according to the number of Shares of such Series held by the several
Shareholders of such Series on the date of termination, except to the extent
otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative
rights and privileges of any Classes of Shares of that Series, provided that any
distribution to the Shareholders of a particular Class of Shares shall be made
to such Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such
Class held by each of them.

Filing and Copies, References, Headings

     Section 6.  The original or a copy of this instrument and of each amendment
hereto shall be kept at the office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any
Shareholder.  A copy of this instrument and of each amendment hereto shall be
filed by the Trust with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and with the Boston City Clerk, as well as any other governmental
office where such filing

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
may from time to time be required.  Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a
certificate by an officer of the Trust as to whether or not any such amendments
have been made and as to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder,
and, with the same effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy
certified by an officer of the Trust to be a copy of this instrument or of any
such amendments.  In this instrument and in any such amendment, references to
this instrument and all expressions like "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder"
shall be deemed to refer to this instrument as amended or affected by any such
amendments. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and
shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the meaning,
construction or effect of this instrument.  This instrument may be executed in
any number of counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original.

Applicable Law

     Section 7.  This Declaration of Trust is made in The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by and construed
and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth.  The Trust shall be
of the type commonly called a Massachusetts business trust and, without limiting
the provisions hereof, the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily
exercised by such a trust.

Amendments

     Section 8.  This Declaration of Trust may be amended at any time by an
instrument in writing signed by a majority of the then Trustees when authorized
to do so by vote of Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled to
vote, except that an amendment which in the determination of the Trustees shall
affect the holders of one or more Series or Classes of Shares but not the
holders of all outstanding Series and Classes shall be authorized by vote of the
Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares entitled to vote of each Series
and Class affected and no vote of Shareholders of a Series or Class not affected
shall be required.  Amendments having the purpose of changing the name of the
Trust, of establishing, changing or eliminating the par value of any Shares or
of supplying any omission, curing any ambiguity or curing, correcting or
supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision contained herein shall not
require authorization by vote of any Shareholders.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand and seal in
the City of Boston, Massachusetts for himself and his assigns, as of the day and
year first above written.

                                   /s/ Charles J. Finlayson
                                   ------------------------------------
                                   Charles J. Finlayson


                       THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

Suffolk, ss.                  Boston, February 20, 1991

     Then personally appeared the above named Charles J. Finlayson and
acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be his free act and deed, before me,

                                   /s/ Joan D. Searfoss
                                   --------------------------------
                                   Notary Public
                                   My Commission Expires: January 29, 1993

                                      -14-

<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit 2

                                    BY-LAWS
                                      OF
                              LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS


                                   ARTICLE 1
                           Agreement and Declaration
                         of Trust and Principal Office

1.1  Agreement and Declaration of Trust.  These By-Laws shall be subject to the
     ----------------------------------                                        
Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as from time to time in effect (the
"Declaration of Trust"), of Loomis Sayles Funds (the "Trust"), the Massachusetts
business trust established by the Declaration of Trust.

1.2  Principal Office of the Trust.  The principal office of the Trust shall be
     -----------------------------                                             
located in Boston, Massachusetts.

                                   ARTICLE 2
                             Meetings of Trustees

2.1  Regular Meetings.  Regular meetings of the Trustees may be held without
     ----------------                                                       
call or notice at such places and at such times as the Trustees may from time to
time determine, provided that notice of the first regular meeting following any
such determination shall be given to absent Trustees.

2.2  Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the Trustees may be held, at any
     ----------------                                                       
time and at any place designated in the call of the meeting, when called by the
Chairman of the Board, if any, the President or the Treasurer or by two or more
Trustees, sufficient notice thereof being given to each Trustee by the Clerk or
an Assistant Clerk or by the officer or the Trustees calling the meeting.

2.3  Notice.  It shall be sufficient notice to a Trustee of a special meeting to
     ------                                                                     
send notice by mail at least forty-eight hours or by telegram at least twenty-
four hours before the meeting addressed to the Trustee at his or her usual or
last known business or residence address or to give notice to him or her in
person or by telephone at least twenty-four hours before the meeting.  Notice of
a meeting need not be given (a) to any Trustee if a written waiver of notice,
executed by him before or after the meeting, is filed with the records of the
meeting; or (b) to any Trustee who attends the meeting without protesting prior
thereto or at its commencement the lack of notice to him or her.  Neither notice
of a meeting nor a waiver of a notice need specify the purposes of the meeting.
<PAGE>
 
2.4  Quorum.  At any meeting of the Trustees a majority of the Trustees then in
     ------                                                                    
office shall constitute a quorum.  Any meeting may be adjourned from time to
time by a majority of the votes cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum
is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.

                                   ARTICLE 3
                                   Officers

3.1  Enumeration; Qualification.  The officers of the Trust shall be a
     --------------------------                                       
President, a Treasurer, a Clerk, and such other officers, if any, as the
Trustees from time to time may in their discretion elect.  The Trust may also
have such agents as the Trustees may appoint from time to time in their
discretion.  If a Chairman of the Board is elected, he or she shall be a Trustee
and may but need not be a shareholder; and any other officer may be but none
need be a Trustee or shareholder.  Any two or more offices may be held by the
same person.

3.2  Election and Tenure.  The President, the Treasurer, the Clerk and such
     -------------------                                                   
other officers as the Trustees may in their discretion from time to time elect
shall each be elected by the Trustees to serve until his or her successor is
elected or qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or
becomes disqualified.  Each officer shall hold office and each agent shall
retain authority at the pleasure of the Trustees.

3.3  Powers.  Subject to the other provisions of these By-Laws, each officer
     ------                                                                 
shall have, in addition to the duties and powers herein and in the Declaration
of Trust set forth, such duties and powers as are commonly incident to the
office occupied by him or her as if the Trust were organized as a Massachusetts
business corporation and such other duties and powers as the Trustees may from
time to time designate.

3.4  President and Vice Presidents.  The President shall have the duties and
     -----------------------------                                          
powers specified in these By-Laws and shall have such other duties and powers as
may be determined by the Trustees.

Any Vice Presidents shall have such duties and powers as shall be designated
from time to time by the Trustees.

3.5  Chief Executive Officer.  The Chief Executive Officer of the Trust shall be
     -----------------------                                                    
the Chairman of the Board, the President or such other officer as is designated
by the Trustees and shall, subject to the control of the Trustees, have general
charge and supervision of the business of the Trust and, except as the Trustees
shall otherwise determine, preside at all meetings of the shareholders and of
the Trustees.  If no such designation is made, the President shall be the Chief
Executive Officer.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
3.6  Chairman of the Board.  If a Chairman of the Board of Trustees is elected,
     ---------------------                                                     
he or she shall have the duties and powers specified in these By-Laws and shall
have such other duties and powers as may be determined by the Trustees.

3.7  Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall be the chief financial and accounting
     ---------                                                            
officer of the Trust, and shall, subject to the provisions of the Declaration of
Trust and to any arrangement made by the Trustees with a custodian, investment
adviser or manager or transfer, shareholder servicing or similar agent, be in
charge of the valuable papers, books of account and accounting records of the
Trust, and shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from
time to time by the Trustees or by the President.

3.8  Clerk.  The Clerk shall record all proceedings of the Shareholders and the
     -----                                                                     
Trustees in books to be kept therefor, which books or a copy thereof shall be
kept at the principal office of the Trust.  In the absence of the Clerk from any
meeting of the Shareholders or Trustees, an assistant Clerk or, if there be none
or if he or she is absent, a temporary clerk chosen at such meeting shall record
the proceedings thereof in the aforesaid books.

3.9  Resignations and Removals.  Any officer may resign at any time by written
     -------------------------                                                
instrument signed by him or her and delivered to the President or the Clerk or
to a meeting of the Trustees.  Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt
unless specified to be effective at some other time.  The Trustees may remove
any officer with or without cause.  Except to the extent expressly provided in a
written agreement with the Trust, no officer resigning and no officer removed
shall have any right to any compensation for any period following his or her
resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal.

                                   ARTICLE 4
                                Indemnification

4.1  Trustees, Officers, etc.  The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees
     -----------------------                                                 
and officers (including persons who serve at the Trust's request as directors,
officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest
as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (each such Trustee, officer or person
hereinafter referred to as a "Covered Person") against all liabilities and
expenses, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of
judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees reasonably
incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of
any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any
court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be
or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such person may
be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of any
alleged act or omission as a Trustee or officer or by reason of his or her being
or having been such a Trustee or officer, except with respect to any matter as
to which such Covered Person shall have been finally adjudicated in any such
action, suit or other proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the
reasonable belief that such Covered Person's action was in the best 

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
interest of the Trust, and except that no Covered Person shall be indemnified
against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered
Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of
such Covered Person's office. Expenses, including counsel fees so incurred by
any such Covered Person, may be paid from time to time by the Trust in advance
of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding on the condition
that the amounts so paid shall be repaid to the Trust if it is ultimately
determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this
Article.

4.2  Compromise Payment.  As to any matter disposed of by a compromise payment
     ------------------                                                       
by any such Covered Person referred to in Section 4.1 above, pursuant to a
consent decree or otherwise, no such indemnification either for said payment or
for any other expenses shall be provided unless such compromise shall be
approved as in the best interests of the Trust, after notice that it involved
such indemnification, (a) by a disinterested majority of the Trustees then in
office; or (b) by a majority of the disinterested Trustees then in office; or
(c) by any disinterested person or persons to whom the question may be referred
by the Trustees; or (d) by vote of Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares
entitled to vote thereon, exclusive of any Shares beneficially owned by any
interested Covered Person; provided, however, that such indemnification would
not protect such person against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders
to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of office.  Approval by the Trustees pursuant to clause
(a) or (b) or by any disinterested person or persons pursuant to clause (c) of
this Section shall not prevent the recovery from any Covered Person of any
amount paid as indemnification to such Covered Person in accordance with any of
such clauses if such Covered Person is subsequently adjudicated by a court of
competent jurisdiction not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief
that such Covered Person's action was in the best interests of the Trust or to
have been liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of such Covered Person's office.

4.3  Indemnification Not Exclusive.  The right of indemnification hereby
     -----------------------------                                      
provided shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such
Covered Person may be entitled.  As used in this Article 4, the term "Covered
Person" shall include such person's heirs, executors and administrators; an
"interested Covered Person" is one against whom the action, suit or other
proceeding in question or another action, suit or other proceeding on the same
or similar grounds is then or has been pending; and a "disinterested Trustee" or
"disinterested person" is a Trustee or a person against whom none of such
actions, suits or other proceedings or another action, suit or other proceeding
on the same or similar grounds is then or has been pending. Nothing contained in
this Article shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of
the Trust, other than Trustees and officers, and other persons may be entitled
by contract or 

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
otherwise under law, or the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain
liability insurance on behalf of any such person.

                                   ARTICLE 5
                                    Reports

5.1  General.  The Trustees and officers shall render reports at the time and in
     -------                                                                    
the manner required by the Declaration of Trust or any applicable law.  Officers
shall render such additional reports as they may deem desirable or from time to
time as may be required by the Trustees.

                                   ARTICLE 6
                                  Fiscal Year

6.1  General.  Except as otherwise provided from time to time by the Trustees,
     -------                                                                  
the fiscal year of the Trust shall end on December 31 in each year.

                                   ARTICLE 7
                                     Seal

7.1  General.  The seal of the Trust shall consist of a flat-faced die with the
     -------                                                                   
word "Massachusetts", together with the name of the Trust and the year of its
organization cut or engraved thereon.  Unless otherwise required by the
Trustees, it shall not be necessary to place the seal on, and its absence shall
not impair the validity of, any document, instrument or other paper executed and
delivered by or on behalf of the Trust.

                                   ARTICLE 8
                              Execution of Papers

8.1  General.  Except as the Trustees, generally or in particular cases, may
     -------                                                                
have authorized the execution thereof in some other manner, all checks, notes,
drafts and other obligations and all registration statements and amendments
thereto and all applications and amendments thereto to the Securities and
Exchange Commission shall be signed by any of the President, any Vice-President,
the Treasurer or any of such other officers or agents as shall be designated for
that purpose by a vote of the Trustees.

                                   ARTICLE 9
                        Issuance of Share Certificates

9.1  Share Certificates.  In lieu of issuing certificates for shares, the
     ------------------                                                  
Trustees or the transfer agent may either issue receipts therefor or may keep
accounts upon the books of the Trust for the record holders of such shares, who
shall in either case be deemed, for all purposes 

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
hereunder, to be the holders of certificates for such shares as if they had
accepted such certificates and shall be held to have expressly assented and
agreed to the terms of this Article 9.

The Trustees may at any time authorize the issuance of share certificates.  In
that event, each shareholder shall be entitled to a certificate stating the
number of shares owned by him or her, in such form as shall be prescribed from
time to time by the Trustees.  Such certificates shall be signed by the
President or any Vice-President and by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer.
Such signatures may be facsimile if the certificate is signed by a transfer
agent, or by a registrar, other than a Trustee, officer or employee of the
Trust.  In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been
placed on such certificate shall cease to be such officer before such
certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Trust with the same effect as if
he or she were such officer at the time of its issue.

9.2  Loss of Certificates.  In case of the alleged loss or destruction or the
     --------------------                                                    
mutilation of a share certificate, a duplicate certificate may be issued in
place thereof, upon such terms as the Trustees shall prescribe.

9.3  Issuance of New Certificates to Pledgee.  A pledgee of shares transferred
     ---------------------------------------                                  
as collateral security shall be entitled to a new certificate if the instrument
of transfer substantially describes the debt or duty that is intended to be
secured thereby.  Such new certificate shall express on its face that it is held
as collateral security, and the name of the pledgor shall be stated thereon, who
alone shall be liable as a shareholder and entitled to vote thereon.

9.4  Discontinuance of Issuance of Certificates.  The Trustees may at any time
     ------------------------------------------                               
discontinue the issuance of share certificates and may, by written notice to
each shareholder, require the surrender of share certificates to the Trust for
cancellation. Such surrender and cancellation shall not effect the ownership of
shares in the Trust.

                                  ARTICLE 10
          Provisions Relating to the Conduct of the Trust's Business

10.1  Determination of Net Asset Value Per Share.  Net asset value per share of
      ------------------------------------------                               
each series or class of shares of the Trust shall be determined at the times and
in the manner specified from time to time by the Trustees.

                                  ARTICLE 11
                   Shareholders' Voting Powers and Meetings

11.1  Record Dates.  For the purpose of determining the shareholders who are
      ------------                                                          
entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, or who are
entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any other distribution, the
Trustees may from time to time fix a time, 

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
which shall be not more than 90 days before the date of any meeting of
shareholders or the date for the payment of any dividend or of any other
distribution, as the record date for determining the shareholders having the
right to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof or
the right to receive such dividend or distribution, and in such case only
shareholders of record on such record date shall have such right notwithstanding
any transfer of shares on the books of the Trust after the record date; or
without fixing such record date the Trustees may for any of such purposes close
the register or transfer books for all or any part of such period.

                                  ARTICLE 12
                           Amendments to the By-Laws

12.1  General.  These By-Laws may be amended or repealed, in whole or in part,
      -------                                                                 
by a majority of the Trustees then in office at any meeting of the Trustees.

                                      -7-

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 5(a)

                              ADVISORY AGREEMENT
                              ------------------

     AGREEMENT made this 31st day of July, 1992, by and between Loomis Sayles
Funds, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), with respect to its Short-
Term Bond Fund series (the "Series"), and Loomis, Sayles & Company,
Incorporated, a Massachusetts corporation (the "Adviser").

                                  WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, the Trust and the Adviser wish to enter into an agreement setting
forth the terms upon which the Adviser will perform certain services for the
Series;

     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and covenants hereinafter
contained, the parties agree as follows:

     1.  The Trust hereby employs the Adviser to manage the investment and
reinvestment of the assets belonging to the Series and to perform the other
services herein set forth, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees
of the Trust.  The Adviser hereby accepts such employment and agrees, at its own
expense, to render the services and to assume the obligations herein set forth,
for the compensation herein provided.  The Adviser shall for all purposes herein
be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly
provided or authorized, have no authority to act for or represent the Trust in
any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.

     2.  In carrying out its obligations to manage the investment and
reinvestment of the assets belonging to the Series, the Adviser shall:

         (a) obtain and evaluate such economic, statistical and financial data
     and information and undertake such additional investment research as it
     shall believe necessary or advisable for the management of the investment
     and reinvestment of the assets belonging to the Series in accordance with
     the Series' investment objective and policies;

         (b) take such steps as are necessary to implement the investment
     policies of the Series by purchase and sale of securities, including the
     placing of orders for such purchase and sale; and

         (c) regularly report to the Board of Trustees with respect to the
     implementation of the investment policies of the Series.
<PAGE>
 
     3.  All activities in connection with the management of the affairs of the
Series undertaken by the Adviser pursuant to this Agreement shall at all times
be subject to the supervision and control of the Board of Trustees, any duly
constituted committee thereof or any officer of the Trust acting pursuant to
like authority.

     4.  In addition to performing at its expense the obligations set forth in
section 2 hereof, the Adviser shall furnish to the Trust at the Adviser's own
expense or pay the expenses of the Trust for the following:

         (a) office space in such place or places as may be agreed upon from
     time to time, and all necessary office supplies, facilities and equipment;

         (b) necessary executive and other personnel for managing the affairs of
     the Series (exclusive of those related to and to be performed under
     contract for custodial, transfer, dividend and plan agency services by the
     entity or entities selected to perform such services and exclusive of any
     managerial functions described in section 5); and

         (c) compensation, if any, of Trustees of the Trust who are directors,
     officers, partners or employees of the Adviser or any affiliated person
     (other than a registered investment company) of the Adviser.

     5.  Except as the Adviser may otherwise agree from time to time, nothing in
section 4 hereof shall require the Adviser to bear, or to reimburse the Trust
for:

         (a) any of the costs of printing and distributing the items referred to
     in subsection (n) of this section 5;

         (b) any of the costs of preparing, printing and distributing sales
     literature;

         (c) compensation of Trustees of the Trust who are not directors,
     officers, partners or employees of the Adviser or of any affiliated person
     (other than a registered investment company) of the Adviser;

         (d) registration, filing and other fees in connection with requirements
     of regulatory authorities;

         (e) the charges and expenses of the custodian appointed by the Trust
     for custodial, paying agent, transfer agent and plan agent services;

         (f) charges and expenses of independent accountants retained by the
     Trust;

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
         (g) charges and expenses of any transfer agents and registrars
     appointed by the Trust;

         (h) brokers' commissions and issue and transfer taxes chargeable to the
     Trust in connection with securities transactions to which the Trust is a
     party;

         (i) taxes and fees payable by the Trust to Federal, State or other
     governmental agencies;
 
         (j) any cost of certificates representing shares of the Series;

         (k) legal fees and expenses in connection with the affairs of the Trust
     including registering and qualifying its shares with Federal and State
     regulatory authorities;

         (l) expenses of meetings of shareholders and Trustees of the Trust;

         (m) interest, including interest on borrowings by the Trust;

         (n) the cost of services, including services of counsel, required in
     connection with the preparation of the Trust's registration statements and
     prospectuses, including amendments and revisions thereto, annual,
     semiannual and other periodic reports of the Trust, and notices and proxy
     solicitation material furnished to shareholders of the Trust or regulatory
     authorities; and

         (o) the Trust's expenses of bookkeeping, accounting, auditing and
     financial reporting, including related clerical expenses.

     6.  The services of the Adviser to the Trust hereunder are not to be deemed
exclusive and the Adviser shall be free to render similar services to others, so
long as its services hereunder are not impaired thereby.

     7.  As full compensation for all services rendered, facilities furnished
and expenses borne by the Adviser hereunder, the Trust shall pay the Adviser
compensation at the annual percentage rate of 0.50%, or such lesser rate as the
Adviser may agree to from time to time. Such compensation shall be payable
monthly in arrears or at such other intervals, not less frequently than
quarterly, as the Board of Trustees of the Trust may from time to time determine
and specify in writing to the Adviser.   The Adviser hereby acknowledges that
the Trust's obligation to pay such compensation is binding only on the assets
and property belonging to the Series.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
     8.   If the total of all ordinary business expenses of the Series or the
Trust as a whole (including investment advisory fees but excluding taxes and
portfolio brokerage commissions) for any fiscal year exceeds the lowest
applicable percentage of average net assets or income limitations prescribed by
any state in which shares of the Series are qualified for sale, the Adviser
shall pay any such excess.  Solely for purposes of applying such limitations in
accordance with the foregoing sentence, the Series and the Trust shall each be
deemed to be a separate fund subject to such limitations.  Should the applicable
state limitation provisions fail to specify how the average net assets of the
Trust or belonging to the Series are to be calculated, that figure shall be
calculated by reference to the average daily net assets of the Trust or the
Series, as the case may be.

     9.   It is understood that any of the shareholders, trustees, officers,
employees and agents of the Trust may be a partner, shareholder, director,
officer, employee or agent of, or be otherwise interested in, the Adviser, any
affiliated person of the Adviser, any organization in which the Adviser may have
an interest or any organization which may have an interest in the Adviser; that
the Adviser, any such affiliated person or any such organization may have an
interest in the Trust; and that the existence of any such dual interest shall
not affect the validity hereof or of any transactions hereunder except as
otherwise provided in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust and
the Articles of Organization of the Adviser, respectively, or by specific
provisions of applicable law.

     10.  This Agreement shall become effective as of the date of its execution,
and

          (a) unless otherwise terminated, this Agreement shall continue in
     effect for two years from the date of execution, and from year to year
     thereafter only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at
     least annually (i) by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by vote of a
     majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Series, and (ii) by
     vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested
     persons of the Trust or the Adviser, cast in person at a meeting called for
     the purpose of voting on such approval;

          (b) this Agreement may at any time be terminated on sixty days'
     written notice to the Adviser either by vote of the Board of Trustees of
     the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
     the Series;

          (c) this Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its
     assignment;

          (d) this Agreement may be terminated by the Adviser on ninety days'
     written notice to the Trust;

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
          (e) if the Adviser requires the Trust or the Series to change its name
     so as to eliminate all references to the words "Loomis" or "Sayles," then
     this Agreement shall automatically terminate at the time of such change
     unless the continuance of this Agreement after such change shall have been
     specifically approved by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
     securities of the Series and by vote of a majority of the Trustees of the
     Trust who are not interested persons of the Trust or the Adviser, cast in
     person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
 
     Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this section 10 shall be without
payment of any penalty.

     11.  This Agreement may be amended at any time by mutual consent of the
parties, provided that such consent on the part of the Trust shall have been
approved by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Series and by vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not
interested persons of the Trust or the Adviser, cast in person at a meeting
called for the purposes of voting on such approval.

     12.  For the purposes of this Agreement, the terms "vote of a majority of
the outstanding voting securities," "interested person," "affiliated person" and
"assignment" shall have their respective meanings defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject, however,
to such exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission
under said Act.  References in this Agreement to any assets, property or
liabilities "belonging to" the Series shall have the meaning defined in the
Trust's Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws as amended from time to
time.

     13.  In the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence
on the part of the Adviser, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
hereunder, the Adviser shall not be subject to any liability to the Trust, to
any shareholder of the Trust or to any other person, firm or organization, for
any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services
hereunder.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the
day and year first above written.

                                       LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS,
                                        on behalf of its
                                        Short-Term Bond Fund series



                                       By /s/ Charles J. Finlayson
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          Charles J. Finlayson
                                          President
                                  
                                  
                                       LOOMIS, SAYLES & COMPANY, 
                                       INCORPORATED
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                       By /s/ Charles J. Finlayson
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          Charles J. Finlayson
                                          Vice President

          A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust establishing the
Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed with
respect to the Trust's Short-Term Bond Fund series on behalf of the Trust by
officers of the Trust as officers and not individually and that the obligations
of or arising out of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trustees,
officers or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and
property belonging to the Series.

                                      -6-

<PAGE>
 
                                                                  Exhibit 8(a)


                              CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
                                    Between
                              LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS
                                      and
                      STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                -----------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----
<C>     <S>                                                               <C>
1.      Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held By It...........   2

2.      Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Fund
        Held by the Custodian in the United States......................   3
        2.1     Holding Securities......................................   3
        2.2     Delivery of Securities..................................   3
        2.3     Registration of Securities..............................   9
        2.4     Bank Accounts...........................................   9
        2.5     Availability of Federal Funds...........................  10
        2.6     Collection of Income....................................  11
        2.7     Payment of Fund Monies..................................  11
        2.8     Liability for Payment in Advance of
                Receipt of Securities Purchased.........................  15
        2.9     Appointment of Agents...................................  15
        2.10    Deposit of Fund Assets in Securities System.............  15
        2.10A   Fund Assets Held in the Custodian's Direct
                Paper System............................................  18
         2.11   Segregated Account......................................  20
         2.12   Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes.................  22
         2.13   Proxies.................................................  22
         2.14   Communications Relating to Portfolio
                Securities..............................................  22

3.       Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of
         the Fund Held Outside the United States........................  23

         3.1    Appointment of Foreign Sub-Custodians...................  23
         3.2    Assets to be Held.......................................  24
         3.3    Foreign Securities Depositories.........................  24
         3.4    Segregation of Securities...............................  24
         3.5    Agreements with Foreign Banking Institutions............  25
         3.6    Access of Independent Accountants of the Fund...........  26
         3.7    Reports by Custodian....................................  26
         3.8    Transactions in Foreign Custody Accounts................  26
         3.9    Liability on Foreign Sub-Custodians.....................  27
         3.10   Liability of Custodian..................................  28
         3.11   Reimbursement for Advances..............................  29
         3.12   Monitoring Responsibilities.............................  29
         3.13   Branches of U.S. Banks..................................  30
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>

<C>      <S>                                                              <C>
         3.14   Tax Law.................................................  31


4.       Payments for Sales or Repurchase or Redemptions
         of Shares of the Fund..........................................  31

5.       Proper Instructions............................................  32

6.       Actions Permitted Without Express Authority....................  33

7.       Evidence of Authority..........................................  34

8.       Duties of Custodian With Respect to the Books of Account and
         Calculation of Net Asset Value and Net Income..................  34

9.       Records........................................................  35

10.      Opinion of Fund's Independent Accountants......................  36

11.      Reports to Fund by Independent Public Accountants..............  36

12.      Compensation of Custodian......................................  37

13.      Responsibility of Custodian....................................  37

14.      Effective Period, Termination and Amendment....................  40

15.      Successor Custodian............................................  41

16.      Interpretive and Additional Provisions.........................  43

17.      Additional Funds...............................................  43

18.      Massachusetts Law to Apply.....................................  44

19.      Prior Contracts................................................  44
</TABLE>

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                              CUSTODIAN CONTRACT
                              ------------------

     This Contract between Loomis Sayles Funds, a business trust organized and
existing under the laws of Massachusetts, having its principal place of business
at one Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts hereinafter called the "Fund",
and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company, having
its principal place of business at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts,
02110, hereinafter called the "Custodian",

                                  WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue shares in separate series, with
each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of securities
and other assets; and

     WHEREAS, the Fund intends to initially offer shares in eight series, the
Loomis Sayles Growth Fund, Loomis Sayles Growth & Income Fund, Loomis Sayles
Small Capital Fund, Loomis Sayles International Equity Fund, Loomis Sayles Bond
Fund, Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles Municipal Bond Fund and
Loomis Sayles U.S. Government Securities Fund (such series together with all
other series subsequently established by the Fund and made subject to this
Contract in accordance with paragraph 17, being herein referred to as the
"Portfolio(s)");

     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.   Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held by It
     -----------------------------------------------------

     The Fund hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of the assets of the
Portfolios of the Fund, including securities which the Fund, on behalf of the
applicable Portfolio, desires to be held in places within the United States
("domestic securities") and securities it desires to be held

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
outside the United States ("foreign securities") pursuant to the provisions of
the Declaration of Trust. The Fund on behalf of the Portfolio(s) agrees to
deliver to the Custodian all securities and cash of the Portfolios, and all
payments of income, payments of principal or capital distributions received by
it with respect to all securities owned by the Portfolio(s) from time to time,
and the cash consideration received by it for such new or treasury shares of
beneficial interest of the Fund representing interests in the Portfolios
("Shares") as may be issued or sold from time to time. The Custodian shall not
be responsible for any property of a Portfolio held or received by the Portfolio
and not delivered to the Custodian.

     Upon receipt of "Proper Instructions" (within the meaning of Article 5),
the Custodian shall on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s) from time to time
employ one or more sub-custodians, located in the United States but only in
accordance with an applicable vote by the Board of Trustees of the Fund on
behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s), and provided that the Custodian shall
have no more or less responsibility or liability to the Fund on account of any
actions or omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any such sub-
custodian has to the Custodian. The Custodian may employ as sub-custodian for
the Fund's foreign securities on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s) the
foreign banking institutions and foreign securities depositories designated in
Schedule A hereto but only in accordance with the provisions of Article 3. 

2.   Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Fund Held By the
     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Custodian in the United States
- ------------------------------

2.1     Holding securities. The Custodian shall hold and physically segregate
        ------------------
        for the account of each Portfolio all non-cash property, to be held by
        it in the United States

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
        including all domestic securities owned by such Portfolio, other than
        (a) securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.10 in a
        clearing agency which acts as a securities depository or in a book-entry
        system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, collectively
        referred to herein as "Securities System" and (b) commercial paper of an
        issuer for which State Street Bank and Trust Company acts as issuing and
        paying agent ("Direct Paper") which is deposited and/or maintained in
        the Direct Paper System of the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.10A. 

2.2     Delivery of Securities. The Custodian shall release and deliver domestic
        ----------------------
        securities owned by a Portfolio held by the Custodian or in a Securities
        System account of the Custodian or in the Custodians Direct Paper book
        entry system account ("Direct Paper System Account") only upon receipt
        of Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the applicable
        Portfolio, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate
        by the parties, and only in the following cases:

            1)  Upon sale of such securities for the account of the Portfolio
                and receipt of payment therefor;

            2)  Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase
                agreement relate to such securities entered into by the
                Portfolio;

            3)  In the case of a sale effected through a Securities System, in
                accordance with the provisions of Section 2.10 hereof;

            4)  To the depository agent in connection with tender or other
                similar offers for securities of the Portfolio;

            5)  To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are
                called, 

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided that, in
                any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be
                delivered to the Custodian;

            6)  To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name
                of the Portfolio or into the name of any nominee or nominees of
                the Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent
                appointed pursuant to Section 2.9 or into the name or nominee
                name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Article 1; or
                for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or
                other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or
                number of units; provided that, in any such case, the new
                                 --------
                securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;

            7)  Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the
                Portfolio, to the broker or its clearing agent, against a
                receipt, for examination in accordance with "street delivery"
                custom; provided that in any such case, the Custodian shall have
                no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the
                delivery of such securities prior to receiving payment for such
                securities except as may arise from the Custodian's own
                negligence or willful misconduct;

            8)  For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger,
                consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment
                of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant
                to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or
                pursuant to any deposit agreement; provided that, in any such
                case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to 

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
                be delivered to the Custodian;


           9)   In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the
                surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or
                similar securities or the surrender of receipts or temporary
                securities for definitive securities; provided that, in any such
                case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered
                to the Custodian;

           10)  For delivery in connection with any loans of securities made by
                the Portfolio, but only against receipt of adequate collateral
                as agreed upon from time to time by the Custodian and the Fund
                on behalf of the Portfolio, which may be in the form of cash or
                obligations issued by the United States government, its agencies
                or instrumentalities, except that in connection with any loans
                for which collateral is to be credited to the Custodians account
                in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of
                the Treasury, the Custodian will not be held liable or
                responsible for the delivery of securities owned by the
                Portfolio prior to the receipt of such collateral;

           11)  For delivery as security in connection with any borrowings by
                the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio requiring a pledge of assets
                by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, but only against receipt
                                                        --- ----
                of amounts borrowed;

           12)  For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
                among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian and a
                broker-dealer registered under the securities Exchange Act of
                1934 (the "Exchange 

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
                Act") and a member of The National Association of securities
                Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), relating to compliance with the rules of
                The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national
                securities exchange, or of any similar organization or
                organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in
                connection with transactions by the Portfolio of the Fund;

           13)  For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement
                among the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Custodian and a
                Futures Commission Merchant registered under the Commodity
                Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the
                Commodity Futures Trading Commission and/or any Contract Market,
                or any siorganization ortionor organizations, regarding account
                deposits in connection with transactions by the Portfolio of the
                Fund;

           14)  Upon receipt of instructions from the transfer agent ("Transfer
                Agent") for the Fund, for delivery to such Transfer Agent or to
                the holders of shares in connection with distributions in kind,
                as may be described from time to time in the currently effective
                prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund,
                related to the Portfolio ("Prospectus"), in satisfaction of
                requests by holders of Shares for repurchase or redemption; and

           15)  For any other proper corporate purpose, but only upon receipt
                                                        --- ----
                of, in addition to Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf
                of the applicable

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                Portfolio, a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of
                Trustees or of the Executive Committee signed by an officer of
                the Fund and certified by the Secretary or an Assistant
                Secretary, specifying the securities of the Portfolio to be
                delivered, setting forth the purpose for which such delivery is
                to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper corporate
                purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of
                such securities shall be made.

        2.3 Registration of Securities. Domestic securities held by the
            --------------------------
            Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the
            name of the Portfolio or in the name of any nominee of the Fund on
            behalf of the Portfolio or of any nominee of the Custodian which
            nominee shall be assigned exclusively to the Portfolio, unless the
                                                                    ------
            Fund has authorized in writing the appointment of a nominee to be
            used in common with other registered investment companies having the
            same investment adviser as the Portfolio, or in the name or nominee
            name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.9 or in the name
            or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Article
            1. All securities accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the
            Portfolio under the terms of this Contract shall be in "street
            name" or other good delivery form. If, however, the Fund directs the
            Custodian to maintain securities in "street name", the Custodian
            shall utilize its best efforts only to timely collect income due the
            Fund on such securities and to notify the Fund on a best efforts
            basis only of relevant corporate actions including, without
            limitation, pendency of calls, maturities and tender or exchange
            offers.

        2.4 Bank Accounts. The custodian shall open and maintain a separate bank
            ---- --------
            account or accounts in the United States in the name of each
            Portfolio of the Fund, subject only to draft or order

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
            by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Contract, and
            shall hold in such account or accounts, subject to the provisions
            hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the
            Portfolio, other than cash maintained by the Portfolio in a bank
            account established and used in accordance with Rule 17f-3 under the
            Investment Company Act of 1940. Funds held by the Custodian for a
            Portfolio may be deposited by it to its credit as Custodian in the
            Banking Department of the Custodian or in such other banks or trust
            companies as it may in its discretion deem necessary or desirable;
            provided, however, that every such bank or trust company shall be
            --------
            qualified to act as a custodian under the Investment Company Act of
            1940 and that each such bank or trust company and the funds to be
            deposited with each such bank or trust company shall on behalf of
            each applicable Portfolio be approved by vote of a majority of the
            Board of Trustees of the Fund. Such funds shall be deposited by the
            Custodian in its capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by
            the Custodian only in that capacity.

        2.5 Availability of Federal Funds. Upon mutual agreement between the
            -----------------------------
            Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio and the Custodian, the
            Custodian shall, upon the receipt of Proper Instructions from the
            Fund on behalf of a Portfolio, make federal funds available to such
            Portfolio as of specified times agreed upon from time to time by the
            Fund and the Custodian in the amount of checks received in payment
            for Shares of such Portfolio which are deposited into the
            Portfolio's account.

        2.6 Collection of Income. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3, the
            --------------------
            Custodian shall collect on a timely basis all income and other
            payments with respect to registered domestic securities held
            hereunder to which each Portfolio shall be entitled either by law or
            pursuant

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
            to custom in the securities business, and shall collect on a timely
            basis all income and other payments with respect to bearer domestic
            securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer, such securities
            are held by the Custodian or its agent and shall credit such income,
            as collected, to such Portfolios custodian account. Without
            limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach
            and present for payment all coupons and other income items requiring
            presentation as and when they become due and shall collect interest
            when due on securities held hereunder. Income due each Portfolio on
            securities loaned pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 (10)
            shall be the responsibility of the Fund. The Custodian will have no
            duty or responsibility in connection therewith, other than to
            provide the Fund with such information or data as may be necessary
            to assist the Fund in arranging for the timely delivery to the
            Custodian of the income to which the Portfolio is properly entitled.

        2.7 Payment of Fund Monies. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions from the
            ----------------------
            Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, which may be continuing
            instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian
            shall pay out monies of a Portfolio in the following cases only:

                1)  Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures
                    contracts or options on futures contracts for the account of
                    the Portfolio but only (a) against the delivery of such
                    securities or evidence of title to such options, futures
                    contracts or options on futures contracts to the Custodian
                    (or any bank, banking firm or trust company doing business
                    in the United States or abroad which is qualified under the
                    Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, to act as a
                    custodian and has been designated by the Custodian as its
                    agent for this purpose) registered in the name of the
                    Portfolio or in the

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
                    name of a nominee of the Custodian referred to in Section
                    2.3 hereof or in proper form for transfer; (b) in the case
                    of a purchase effected through a Securities System, in
                    accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.10
                    hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase involving the Direct
                    Paper System, in accordance with the conditions set forth in
                    Section 2.10A; (d) in the case of repurchase agreements
                    entered into between the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio and
                    the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is
                    a member of NASD, (i) against delivery of the securities
                    either in certificate form or through an entry crediting the
                    Custodian's account at the Federal Reserve Bank with such
                    securities or (ii) against delivery of the receipt
                    evidencing purchase by the Portfolio of securities owned by
                    the Custodian along with written evidence of the agreement
                    by the Custodian to repurchase such securities from the
                    Portfolio; or (e) for transfer to a time deposit account of
                    the Fund in any bank, whether domestic or foreign; such
                    transfer may be effected prior to receipt of a confirmation
                    from a broker and/or the applicable bank pursuant to Proper
                    Instructions from the Fund as defined in Article 5;

                2)  In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of
                    securities owned by the Portfolio as set forth in Section
                    2.2 hereof;

                3)  For the redemption or repurchase of Shares issued by the
                    Portfolio as set forth in Article 4 hereof;

                4)  For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the
                    Portfolio, including but not limited to the following
                    payments for the account of the Portfolio: interest, taxes,
                    management, accounting, transfer agent and legal

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
 
            fees, and operating expenses of the Fund whether or not such
            expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or treated as
            deferred expenses;            

      5)    For the payment of any dividends on shares of the Portfolio declared
            pursuant to the governing documents of the Fund;            

      6)    For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of
            securities sold short;
            
      7)    For any other proper purpose, but only upon receipt of, in addition
                                          --- ----
            to Proper Instructions from the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, a
            certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Trustees or of the
            Executive Committee of the Fund signed by an officer of the Fund and
            certified by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, specifying the
            amount of such payment, setting forth the purpose for which such
            payment is to be made, declaring such purpose to be a proper
            purpose, and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to
            be made.


  2.8   Liability for Payment in Advance of Receipt of Securities Purchased.
        --------------------------------------------------------------------
        Except as specifically stated otherwise in this Contract, in
        any and every case where payment for purchase of domestic securities
        for the account of a Portfolio is made by the Custodian in advance of
        receipt of the securities purchased in the absence of specific written
        instructions from the Fund on behalf of such Portfolio to so pay in
        advance, the Custodian shall be absolutely liable to the Fund for such
        securities to the same extent as if the securities had been received by
        the Custodian.

  2.9   Appointment of Agents. The Custodian may at any time or times in its
        ---------------------  
        discretion appoint

                                      14
<PAGE>
 
       (and may at any time remove) any other bank or trust company which is
       itself qualified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
       to act as a custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the provisions
       of this Article 2 as the Custodian may from time to time direct;
       provided, however, that the appointment of any agent shall not relieve
       the Custodian of its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder.


  2.10 Deposit of Fund Assets in Securities Systems. The Custodian may deposit
       --------------------------------------------
       and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio in a clearing agency
       registered with the Securities and Exchange commission under Section
       17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which acts as a securities
       depository, or in the book-entry system authorized by the U.S.
       Department of the Treasury and certain federal agencies, collectively
       referred to herein as "Securities System" in accordance with applicable
       Federal Reserve Board and Securities and Exchange commission rules and
       regulations, if any, and subject to the following provisions:


           1)   The Custodian may keep securities of the Portfolio in
                a Securities system provided that such securities are
                represented in an account ("Account") of the
                Custodian in the Securities System which shall not
                include any assets of the Custodian other than assets
                held as a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise for
                customers;

           2)   The records of the Custodian with respect to
                securities of the Portfolio which are maintained in a
                Securities System shall identify by book-entry those
                securities belonging to the Portfolio;

           3)   The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the account
                of the 


                                      15
<PAGE>
 
                Portfolio upon (i) receipt of advice from the Securities System
                that such securities have been transferred to the Account, and
                (ii) the making of an entry on the records of the Custodian to
                reflect such payment and transfer for the account of the
                Portfolio. The Custodian shall transfer securities sold for the
                account of the Portfolio upon (i) receipt of advice from the
                Securities System that payment for such securities has been
                transferred to the Account, and (ii) the making of an entry on
                the records of the Custodian to reflect such transfer and
                payment for the account of the Portfolio. Copies of all advices
                from the Securities System of transfers of securities for the
                account of the Portfolio shall identify the Portfolio, be
                maintained for the Portfolio by the Custodian and be provided to
                the Fund at its request. Upon request, the Custodian shall
                furnish the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio confirmation of each
                transfer to or from the account of the Portfolio in the form of
                a written advice or notice and shall furnish to the Fund on
                behalf of the Portfolio copies of daily transaction sheets
                reflecting each day's transactions in the Securities System for
                the account of the Portfolio;

          4)    The Custodian shall provide the Fund for the Portfolio with any
                report obtained by the Custodian on the Securities System's
                accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures
                for safeguarding securities deposited in the Securities System;
                
          5)    The Custodian shall have received from the Fund on behalf of the
                
                                      16


<PAGE>
 
                Portfolio the initial or annual certificate, as the case may be,
                required by Article 14 hereof;

           6)   Anything to the contrary in this Contract notwithstanding, the
                Custodian shall be liable to the Fund for the benefit of the
                Portfolio for any loss or damage to the Portfolio resulting from
                use of the securities system by reason of any negligence,
                misfeasance or misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents
                or of any of its or their employees or from failure of the
                Custodian or any such agent to enforce effectively such rights
                as it may have against the Securities System; at the election of
                the Fund, it shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of
                the Custodian with respect to any claim against the Securities
                System or any other person which the Custodian may have as a
                consequence of any such loss or damage if and to the extent that
                the Portfolio has not been made whole for any such loss or
                damage.
                
    2.10A Fund Assets Held in the Custodian's Direct Paper System The Custodian
          -------------------------------------------------------     
          may deposit and/or maintain securities owned by a Portfolio in the
          Direct Paper System of the Custodian subject to the following
          provisions:
          

            1) No transaction relating to securities in
               the Direct Paper System will be effected in the
               absence of Proper Instructions from the Fund on
               behalf of the Portfolio;
               
            2) The Custodian may keep securities of the
               Portfolio in the Direct Paper System only if such
               securities are represented in an account ("Account")
               of

                                      17

<PAGE>
 
               the Custodian in the Direct Paper System which shall
               not include any assets of the Custodian other than
               assets held as a fiduciary, custodian or otherwise
               for customers;
               
          3)   The records of the Custodian with respect to securities of the
               Portfolio which are maintained in the Direct Paper System shall
               identify by book-entry those securities belonging to the
               Portfolio;
               
          4)   The Custodian shall pay for securities purchased for the account
               of the Portfolio upon the making of an entry on the records of
               the Custodian to reflect such payment and transfer of securities
               to the account of the. Portfolio. The Custodian shall transfer
               securities sold for the account of the Portfolio upon the making
               of an entry on the records of the Custodian to reflect such
               transfer and receipt of payment for the account of the Portfolio;
               
          5)   The Custodian shall furnish the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio
               confirmation of each transfer or from the account of the
               Portfolio, in the form of a written advice or notice, of Direct
               Paper on the next business day following such transfer and shall
               furnish to the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio copies of daily
               transaction sheets reflecting each day's transaction in the
               Securities System for the account of the Portfolio;
               
          6)   The Custodian shall provide the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio
               with any report on its system of internal accounting control as
               the Fund may reasonably request from time to time.

                                      18

<PAGE>
 
2.11     Segregated Account. The Custodian shall upon receipt of Proper
         -------------------         
         Instructions from the Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio
         establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on
         transferred cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in
         an account by the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof, (i) in
         accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Fund on
         behalf of the Portfolio, the custodian and a broke r-dealer registered
         under the Exchange Act and a member of the NASD (or any futures
         commission merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act),
         relating to compliance with the rules of The options Clearing
         Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or the
         Commodity Futures Trading Commission or any registered contract
         market), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding
         escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the
         Portfolio, (ii) for purposes of segregating cash or government
         securities in connection with options purchased, sold or written by the
         Portfolio or commodity futures contracts or options thereon purchased
         or sold by the Portfolio, (iii) for the purposes of compliance by the
         Portfolio with the procedures required by Investment Company Act
         Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release or releases of the
         Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the maintenance of
         segregated accounts by registered investment companies and (iv) for
         other proper corporate purposes, but only, in the case of clause (iv),
         upon receipt of, in addition to Proper Instructions from the Fund on
         behalf of the applicable Portfolio, a certified copy of a resolution of
         the Board of Trustees or of the Executive Committee signed by an
         officer of the Fund and certified by the Secretary or an Assistant
         Secretary,

                                      19

<PAGE>
 
     setting forth the purpose or purposes of such segregated account and
     declaring such purposes to be proper corporate purposes.

2.12 Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes. The Custodian shall execute
     ---------------------------------------
     ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and state
     tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with
     respect to domestic securities of each Portfolio held by it and in
     connection with transfers of securities.


2.13 Proxies. The Custodian shall, with respect to the domestic securities held
     -------
     hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered holder of
     such securities, if the securities are registered otherwise than in the
     name of the Portfolio or a nominee of the Portfolio, all proxies,
     without indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted,
     and shall promptly deliver to the Portfolio such proxies, all proxy
     soliciting materials and all notices relating to such securities.


2.14 Communications Relating to Portfolio Securities. Subject to the provisions
     -----------------------------------------------
     of Section 2.3, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Fund for each
     Portfolio all written information (including, without limitation, pendency
     of calls and maturities of domestic securities and expirations of rights in
     connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options
     written by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio and the maturity of futures
     contracts purchased or sold by the Portfolio) received by the Custodian
     from issuers of the securities being held for the Portfolio. With respect
     to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the
     Portfolio all written information received by the Custodian from issuers of
     the securities whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or
     his agents) making the tender or exchange offer. If the Portfolio desires
     to take

                                      20

<PAGE>
 
 
     action with respect to any tender offer, exchange offer or any other
     similar transaction, the Portfolio shall notify the Custodian at least
     three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take
     such action.


3.   Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Fund Held
     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     Outside of the United States
     ----------------------------

3.1  Appointment of Foreign Sub-Custodians
     -------------------------------------
     The Fund hereby authorizes and instructs the Custodian to employ as sub-
     custodians for the Portfolios securities and other assets maintained
     outside the United States the foreign banking institutions and foreign
     securities depositories designated on Schedule A hereto ("foreign sub-
     custodians"). Upon receipt of "Proper Instructions", as defined in Section
     5 of this Contract, together with a certified resolution of the Fund's
     Board of Trustees, the Custodian and the Fund may agree to amend Schedule A
     hereto from time to time to designate additional foreign banking
     institutions and foreign securities depositories to act as sub-custodian.
     Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Fund may instruct the Custodian to
     cease the employment of any one or more such sub-custodians for maintaining
     custody of the Portfolio's assets.


3.2  Assets to be Held. The Custodian shall limit the securities and other
     -----------------
     assets maintained in the custody of the foreign sub-custodians to: (a)
     "foreign securities", as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of Rule 17f-5 under
     the Investment Company Act of 1940, and (b) cash and cash equivalents in
     such amounts as the Custodian or the Fund may determine to be reasonably
     necessary to effect the Portfolio's foreign securities transactions.


3.3  Foreign securities Depositories. Except as may otherwise be agreed upon
     -------------------------------    
     in writing by 

                                      21

<PAGE>
 
 
     the Custodian and the Fund, assets of the Portfolios shall be
     maintained in foreign securities depositories only through arrangements
     implemented by the foreign banking institutions serving as sub-
     custodians pursuant to the terms hereof. where possible, such
     arrangements shall include entry into agreements containing the
     provisions set forth in Section 3.5 hereof.


3.4  Segregation of Securities. The Custodian shall identify on its books as
     -------------------------
     belonging to each applicable Portfolio of the Fund, the foreign securities
     of such Portfolios held by each foreign sub-custodian. Each agreement
     pursuant to which the Custodian employs a foreign banking institution shall
     require that such institution establish a custody account for the Custodian
     on behalf of the Fund for each applicable Portfolio of the Fund and
     physically segregate in each account, securities and other assets of the
     Portfolios, and, in the event that such institution deposits the securities
     of one or more of the Portfolios in a foreign securities depository, that
     it shall identify on its books as belonging to the Custodian, as agent for
     each applicable Portfolio, the securities so deposited.

3.5  Agreements with Foreign Banking Institutions. Each agreement with a foreign
     --------------------------------------------
     banking institution shall be substantially in the form set forth in
     Exhibit 1 hereto and shall provide that: (a) the assets of each
     Portfolio will not be subject to any right, charge, security interest,
     lien or claim of any kind in favor of the foreign banking institution
     or its creditors or agent, except a claim of payment for their safe
     custody or administration; (b) beneficial ownership for the assets of
     each Portfolio will be freely transferable without the payment of money
     or value other than for custody or administration; (c) adequate records
     will be maintained identifying the assets as belonging to each
     applicable 

                                      22

<PAGE>
 
 
     Portfolio; (d) officers of or auditors employed by, or other
     representatives, of the Custodian, including to the extent permitted
     under applicable law the independent public accountants for the Fund,
     will be given access to the books and records of the foreign banking
     institution relating to its actions under its agreement with the
     Custodian; and (e) assets of the Portfolios held by the foreign sub-
     custodian will be subject only to the instructions of the Custodian or
     its agents.

3.6  Access of Independent Accountants of the Fund. Upon request of the
     ---------------------------------------------
     Fund, the Custodian will use its best efforts to arrange for the
     independent accountants of the Fund to be afforded access to the books
     and records of any foreign banking institution employed as a foreign
     sub-custodian insofar as such books and records relate to the
     performance of such foreign banking institution under its agreement
     with the Custodian.

3.7  Reports by Custodian. The Custodian will supply to the Fund from time to
     --------------------
     time, as mutually agreed upon, statements in respect of the securities and
     other assets of the Portfolio(s) held by foreign sub-custodians, including
     but not limited to an identification of entities having possession of the
     Portfolio(s) securities and other assets and advices or notifications of
     any transfers of securities to or from each custodial account maintained by
     a foreign banking institution for the Custodian on behalf of each
     applicable Portfolio indicating, as to securities acquired for a Portfolio,
     the identity of the entity having physical possession of such securities.

3.8  Transactions in Foreign Custody Account
     ---------------------------------------    
     (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 3.8,
     the provisions of Sections 2.2 and 2.7 of this Contract shall apply,
     mutatis mutandis, to the foreign 
     ------- --------

                                      23

<PAGE>
 

 
     securities of the Fund held outside the United states by foreign sub-
     custodians. (b) Notwithstanding any provision of this Contract to the
     contrary, settlement and payment for securities received for the account of
     each applicable Portfolio and delivery of securities maintained for the
     account of each applicable Portfolio may be effected in accordance with the
     customary established securities trading or securities processing practices
     and procedures in the jurisdiction or market in which the transaction
     occurs, including, without limitation, delivering securities to the
     purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefore (or an agent for such purchaser
     or dealer) against a receipt with the expectation of receiving later
     payment for such securities from such purchaser or dealer. (c) Securities
     maintained in the custody of a foreign sub-custodian may be maintained in
     the name of such entity's nominee to the same extent as set forth in
     Section 2.3 of this Contract, and the Fund agrees to hold any such nominee
     harmless from any liability as a holder of record of such securities.

3.9  Liability of Foreign Sub-Custodians. Each agreement pursuant to which the
     -----------------------------------
     Custodian employs a foreign banking institution as a foreign sub-custodian
     shall require the institution to exercise reasonable care in the
     performance of its duties and to indemnify, and hold harmless, the
     Custodian and the Fund from and against any loss, damage, cost, expense,
     liability or claim arising out of or in connection with the institution's
     performance of such obligations. At the election of the Fund, it shall be
     entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to
     any claims against a foreign banking institution as a consequence of any
     such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim if and to the extent
     that the Fund has not been made whole for any such loss, 

                                      24

<PAGE>
 
 
     damage, cost,expense, liability or claim.

3.10 Liability of Custodian. The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or
     ----------------------
     omissions of a foreign banking institution to the same extent as set forth
     with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Contract and, regardless
     of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a foreign banking
     institution, a foreign securities depository or a branch of a U.S. bank as
     contemplated by paragraph 3.13 hereof, the Custodian shall not be liable
     for any loss, damage, cost, expense,, liability or claim resulting from
     nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war or
     terrorism or any loss where the sub-custodian has otherwise exercised
     reasonable care. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph
     3.10, in delegating custody duties to State Street London Ltd., the
     Custodian shall not be relieved of any responsibility to the Fund for any
     loss due to such delegation, except such loss as may result from (a)
     political risk (including, but not limited to, exchange control
     restrictions, confiscation, expropriation, nationalization, insurrection,
     civil strife or armed hostilities) or (b) other losses (excluding a
     bankruptcy or insolvency of State Street London Ltd. not caused by
     political risk) due to Acts of God, nuclear incident or other losses under
     circumstances where the Custodian and State Street London Ltd. have
     exercised reasonable care.

3.11 Reimbursement for Advances. If the Fund requires the Custodian to advance
     --------------------------
     cash or securities for any purpose for the benefit of a Portfolio including
     the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or of contracts for foreign
     exchange, or in the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or
     be assessed any taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or
     liabilities in connection with the performance of this Contract, except
     such as 

                                      25

<PAGE>
 

     may arise from its or its nominee's own negligent action, negligent
     failure to act or willful misconduct, any property at any time held for the
     account of the applicable Portfolio shall be security therefor and should
     the Fund fail to repay the Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be
     entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of such Portfolios assets
     to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.

3.12 Monitoring Responsibilities. The Custodian shall furnish annually to the
     ---------------------------
     Fund, during the month of June, information concerning the foreign
     sub-custodians employed by the Custodian. Such information shall be similar
     in kind and scope to that furnished to the Fund in connection with the
     initial approval of this Contract. In addition, the Custodian will promptly
     inform the Fund in the event that the Custodian learns of a material
     adverse change in the financial condition of a foreign sub-custodian or any
     material loss of the assets of the Fund or in the case of any foreign
     sub-custodian not the subject of an exemptive order from the Securities and
     Exchange Commission is notified by such foreign sub-custodian that there
     appears to be a substantial likelihood that its shareholders' equity will
     decline below $200 million (U.S. dollars or the equivalent thereof) or that
     its shareholders' equity has declined below $200 million (in each case
     computed in accordance with generally accepted U.S. accounting principles).

3.13 Branches of U.S. Banks
     ----------------------   
     (a) Except as otherwise set forth in this Contract, the provisions of
     Article 3 hereof shall not apply where the custody of the Portfolios
     assets are maintained in a foreign branch of a banking institution
     which is a "bank" as defined by Section 2(a)(5) of the Investment
     Company Act of 1940 meeting the qualification set forth in Section
     26(a) of 

                                      26

<PAGE>
 
         said Act. The appointment of any such branch as a sub-custodian 
         shall be governed by Article 1 of this Contract. 

         (b) Cash held for each Portfolio of the Fund in the United Kingdom
         shall be maintained in an interest bearing account established for the
         Fund with the Custodian's London branch, which account shall be subject
         to the direction of the Custodian, State Street London Ltd. or both.

3.14     Tax Law
         -------

         The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any
         obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Fund or the Custodian as
         custodian of the Fund by the tax law of the United States of America or
         any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall be the
         responsibility of the Fund to notify the Custodian of the obligations
         imposed on the Fund or the Custodian as custodian of the Fund by the
         tax law of jurisdictions other than those mentioned in the above
         sentence, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes,
         assessments or other governmental charges, certifications and
         governmental reporting. The sole responsibility of the Custodian with
         regard to such tax law shall be to use reasonable efforts to assist the
         Fund with respect to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax
         law of jurisdictions for which the Fund has provided such information.

4.       Payments for Sales or Repurchases or Redemptions of Shares of the Fund
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------

         The Custodian shall receive from the distributor for the shares or from
         the Transfer Agent of the Fund and deposit into the account of the
         appropriate Portfolio such payments as are received for Shares of that
         Portfolio issued or sold from time to time by the Fund. The 

                                      27
<PAGE>
 
         Custodian will provide timely notification of the Fund on behalf of
         each such Portfolio and the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of
         payments for Shares of such Portfolio. From such funds as may be
         available for the purpose but subject to the limitations of the
         Declaration of Trust and any applicable votes of the Board of Trustees
         of the Fund pursuant thereto, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of
         instructions from the Transfer Agent, make funds available for payment
         to holders of Shares who have delivered to the Transfer Agent a request
         for redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In connection with the
         redemption or repurchase of Shares of a Portfolio, the Custodian is
         authorized upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent to wire
         funds to or through a commercial bank designated by the redeeming
         shareholders. In connection with the redemption or repurchase of Shares
         of the Fund, the Custodian shall honor checks drawn on the Custodian by
         a holder of Shares, which checks have been furnished by the Fund to the
         holder of Shares, when presented to the Custodian in accordance with
         such procedures and controls as are mutually agreed upon from time to
         time between the Fund and the Custodian.

5.       Proper Instructions
         -------------------

         Proper Instructions as used throughout this Contract means a writing
         signed or initialed by one or more person or persons as the Board of
         Trustees shall have from time to time authorized. Each such writing
         shall set forth the specific transaction or type of transaction
         involved, including a specific statement of the purpose for which such
         action is requested. Oral instructions will be considered Proper
         Instructions if the custodian reasonably believes them to have been
         given by a person authorized to give such 

                                      28
<PAGE>
 
         instructions with respect to the transaction involved. The Fund shall
         cause all oral instructions to be confirmed in writing, upon receipt of
         a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary as to the
         authorization by the Board of Trustees of the Fund accompanied by a
         detailed description of procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.
         Proper Instructions may include communications effected directly
         between electromechanical or electronic devices provided that the Board
         of Trustees and the Custodian are satisfied that such procedures afford
         adequate safeguards for the Portfolios' assets. For purposes of this
         Section, Proper Instructions shall include instructions received by the
         Custodian pursuant to any three-party agreement which requires a
         segregated asset account in accordance with Section 2.11.

6.       Actions Permitted without Express Authority
         -------------------------------------------

         The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the
Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio:

         1) make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling
securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this Contract,
provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to the Fund on behalf of
- --------
the Portfolio;

         2) surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive
form; 

         3) endorse for collection, in the name of the Portfolio, checks, drafts
and other negotiable instruments; and

         4) in general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection
with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings
with the securities and property of the Portfolio except as otherwise directed
by the Board of Trustees of the Fund.

                                      29
<PAGE>
 
7.     Evidence of Authority
       ---------------------

               The Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions,
notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf
of the Fund. The Custodian may receive and accept a certified copy of a vote of
the Board of Trustees of the Fund as conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of
any person to act in accordance with such vote or (b) of any determination or of
any action by the Board of Trustees pursuant to the Declaration of Trust as
described in such vote, and such vote may be considered as in full force and
effect until receipt by the Custodian of written notice to the contrary.

8.     Duties of Custodian with Respect to the Books of Account and
       ------------------------------------------------------------
       Calculation of Net Asset Value and Net Income
       ---------------------------------------------

       The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information
to the entity or entities appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Fund to keep
the books of account of each Portfolio and/or compute the net asset value per
share of the outstanding shares of each Portfolio or, if directed in writing to
do so by the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, shall itself keep such books of
account and/or compute such net asset value per share. If so directed, the
Custodian shall also calculate daily the net income of the Portfolio as
described in the Fund's currently effective prospectus related to such Portfolio
and shall advise the Fund and the Transfer Agent daily of the total amounts of
such net income and, if instructed in writing by an officer of the Fund to do
so, shall advise the Transfer Agent periodically of the division of such net
income among its various components. The calculations of the net asset value per
share and the daily income of each Portfolio shall be made at the time or times
described from time to time in the

                                      30
<PAGE>
 
Fund's currently effective prospectus related to such Portfolio.

9.     Records
       -------

       The Custodian shall with respect to each Portfolio create and maintain
all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Contract in
such manner as will meet the obligations of the Fund under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, with particular attention to Section 31 thereof and Rules
3la-1 and 3la-2 thereunder. All such records shall be the property of the Fund
and shall at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be
open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Fund
and employees and agents of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Custodian shall, at the Fund's request, supply the Fund with a tabulation of
securities owned by each Portfolio and held by the Custodian and shall, when
requested to do so by the Fund and for such compensation as shall be agreed upon
between the Fund and the Custodian, include certificate numbers in such
tabulations.

10.    Opinion of Fund's Independent Accountant
       ----------------------------------------

       The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Fund on behalf
of each applicable Portfolio may from time to time request, to obtain from year
to year favorable opinions from the Fund's independent accountants with respect
to its activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Fund's
Form N-lA, and Form N-SAR or other annual reports to the Securities and Exchange
Commission and with respect to any other requirements of such Commission.

11.    Reports to Fund by Independent Public Accountants
       -------------------------------------------------

       The Custodian shall provide the Fund, on behalf of each of the
Portfolios at such times as the Fund may reasonably require, with reports by
independent public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting
control and procedures for safeguarding securities,

                                      31
<PAGE>
 
futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including securities
deposited and/or maintained in a Securities System, relating to the services
provided by the Custodian under this Contract; such reports shall be of
sufficient scope and in sufficient detail, as may reasonably be required by the
Fund to provide reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be
disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the
reports shall so state.

12.    Compensation of Custodian
       -------------------------

       The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its
services and expenses as Custodian, as agreed upon from time to time between the
Fund on behalf of each applicable Portfolio and the Custodian.

13.    Responsibility of Custodian
       ---------------------------

       So long as and to the extent that it is in the exercise of reasonable
care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or
genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or
delivered by it pursuant to this Contract and shall be held harmless in acting
upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties,
including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a
three-party futures or options agreement. The Custodian shall be held to the
exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Contract, but
shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Fund for any
action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence. It shall be
entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for
the Fund) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action
reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice.

       The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a foreign 
banking institution

                                      32
<PAGE>
 
appointed pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 to the same extent as set
forth in Article 1 hereof with respect to sub-custodians located in the United
States (except as specifically provided in Article 3.10) and, regardless of
whether assets are maintained in the custody of a foreign banking institution, a
foreign securities depository or a branch of a U.S. bank as contemplated by
paragraph 3.11 hereof, the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage,
cost, expense, liability or claim resulting from, or caused by, the direction of
or authorization by the Fund to maintain custody or any securities or cash of
the Fund in a foreign country including, but not limited to, losses resulting
from nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war or
terrorism.

         If the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio requires the Custodian to take any
action with respect to securities, which action involves the payment of money or
which action may, in the opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or
its nominee assigned to the Fund or the Portfolio being liable for the payment
of money or incurring liability of some other form, the Fund on behalf of the
Portfolio, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action,
shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to
it.

         The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless State Street and its
nominee from and against all taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims and
liabilities (including counsel fees) incurred or assessed against it or its
nominee in connection with the performance of this Contract, except such as may
arise from it or its nominees own negligent action, negligent failure to act or
willful misconduct. State Street is authorized to charge any account of the Fund
for such items and its fees. To secure any such authorized charges and any
advances of cash or securities made by State Street to or for the benefit of the
Fund for any purposes which result in

                                      33
<PAGE>
 
the Fund incurring an overdraft at the end of any business day or for
extraordinary or emergency purposes during any business day, the Fund hereby
grants to State Street a security interest in and pledges to State Street
securities held for it by State Street, in an amount not to exceed the lesser of
the dollar amounts borrowed or ten percent of the Fund's gross assets, the
specific securities to be designated in writing from time to time by the Fund or
its investment adviser; provided, however, that (1) if from time to time neither
the Fund nor its investment adviser shall have designated in writing specific
securities in an amount at least equal to the lesser of the dollar amounts
borrowed or ten percent of the Fund's gross assets, or (2) if as a result of the
delivery by State Street out of its custody, pursuant to Proper Instructions, of
any securities previously so designated, the remaining amount of securities so
designated shall be less than the lesser of the dollar amounts borrowed or ten
percent of the Fund's gross assets, then State Street shall have a security
interest in the Fund's securities in an amount that, taken together with amounts
of securities from time to time designated in writing by the Fund or its
investment adviser that have not been delivered out of the custody of State
Street pursuant to Proper Instructions, does not exceed the lesser of the dollar
amounts borrowed or ten percent of the Fund's gross assets. Should the Fund fail
to repay promptly any advances of cash or securities, State Street shall be
entitled to use available cash and to dispose of pledged securities and property
as is necessary to repay any such advances.

14.    Effective Period.  Termination and Amendment
       --------------------------------------------

       This Contract shall become effective as of its execution, shall
continue in full force and effect until terminated as hereinafter provided, may
be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto and may be
terminated by either party by an instrument in writing delivered

                                      34
<PAGE>
 
or mailed, postage prepaid to the other party, such termination to take effect
not sooner than thirty (30) days after the date of such delivery or mailing;
provided, however that the Custodian shall not with respect to a Portfolio act
- --------
under Section 2.10 hereof in the absence of receipt of an initial certificate of
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary that the Board of Trustees of the Fund
has approved the initial use of a particular Securities System by such Portfolio
and the receipt of an annual certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary that the Board of Trustees has reviewed the use by such Portfolio of
such Securities System, as required in each case by Rule 17f-4 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and that the Custodian shall not
with respect to a Portfolio act under Section 2.10A hereof in the absence of
receipt of an initial certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
that the Board of Trustees has approved the initial use of the Direct Paper
System by such Portfolio and the receipt of an annual certificate of the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary that the Board of Trustees has reviewed the
use by such Portfolio of the Direct Paper System; provided further, however,
                                                  -------- -------
that the Fund shall not amend or terminate this Contract in contravention of any
applicable federal or state regulations, or any provision of the Declaration of
Trust, and further provided, that the Fund on behalf of one or more of the
Portfolios may at any time by action of its Board of Trustees (i) substitute
another bank or trust company for the Custodian by giving notice as described
above to the Custodian, or (ii) immediately terminate this Contract in the event
of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the Custodian by the
Comptroller of the Currency or upon the happening of a like event at the
direction of an appropriate regulatory agency or court of competent
jurisdiction.

         Upon termination of the Contract, the Fund on behalf of each applicable
Portfolio shall pay to the Custodian such compensation as may be due as of the
date of such termination and

                                      35
<PAGE>
 
shall likewise reimburse the Custodian for its costs, expenses and
disbursements.

15.    Successor Custodian
       -------------------

       If a successor custodian for the Fund, of one or more of the
Portfolios, shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Fund, the
Custodian shall, upon termination, deliver to such successor custodian at the
office of the custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for transfer, all
securities of each applicable Portfolio then held by it hereunder and shall
transfer to an account of the successor custodian all of the securities of each
such Portfolio held in a Securities System.

       If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall,
in like manner, upon receipt of a certified copy of a vote of the Board of
Trustees of the Fund, deliver at the office of the Custodian and transfer such
securities, funds and other properties in accordance with such vote.

         In the event that no written order designating a successor custodian or
certified copy of a vote of the Board of Trustees shall have been delivered to
the Custodian on or before the date when such termination shall become
effective, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust
company, which is a "bank" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940,
doing business in Boston, Massachusetts, of its own selection, having an
aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits, as shown by its last published
report, of not less than $25,000,000, all securities, funds and other properties
held by the custodian on behalf of each applicable Portfolio and all instruments
held by the Custodian relative thereto and all other property held by it under
this Contract on behalf of each applicable Portfolio and to transfer to an
account of such successor custodian all of the securities of each such Portfolio
held in any Securities System. Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be
the successor of the Custodian under this

                                      36
<PAGE>
 
Contract.

       In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the
possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to
failure of the Fund to procure the certified copy of the vote referred to or of
the Board of Trustees to appoint a successor custodian, the Custodian shall be
entitled to fair compensation for its services during such period as the
Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds and other properties and
the provisions of this contract relating to the duties and obligations of the
Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.

16.    Interpretive and Additional Provisions
       --------------------------------------

       In connection with the operation of this Contract, the Custodian and
the Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios may from time to time agree on such
provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this Contract as
may in their joint opinion be consistent with the cinereal tenor of this
Contract. Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing
signed by both parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no such
                                                    -------- 
interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable federal or
state regulations or any provision of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund. No
interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence
shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Contract.

17.    Additional Funds
       ----------------

       In the event that the Fund establishes one or more series of Shares in
addition to those specified on the first page of this Contract with respect to
which it desires to have the Custodian render services as custodian under the
terms hereof, it shall so notify the Custodian in writing, and if the Custodian
agrees in writing to provide such services, such series of Shares shall

                                      37
<PAGE>
 
become a Portfolio hereunder.

18.  Massachusetts Law to Apply
     --------------------------

     This Contract shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted
under and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

19.  Prior Contracts
     ---------------

     This Contract supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all prior
contracts between the Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios and the Custodian
relating to the custody of the Fund's assets.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be
executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative and its
seal to be hereunder affixed as of the 23rd day of April, 1991.


ATTEST                                 LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS


                                       By
- ------------------------------           -----------------------------------
    Assistant Secretary                                President


ATTEST                                 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY


                                       By
- ------------------------------           -----------------------------------
   Assistant Secretary                                Vice President

     A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust establishing Loomis Sayles
Funds (the "Trust") is on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this agreement is executed on
behalf of the Trust by officers of the Trust as officers and not individually
and that the obligations of or arising out of this agreement are not binding
upon any of the trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust individually but
are binding only upon the assets and property of the relevant series of the
Trust.

                                       38
<PAGE>
 
                                   Schedule A
                                   ----------

     The following foreign banking institutions and foreign securities
depositories have been approved by the Board of Trustees of Loomis Sayles Funds
for use as sub-custodians for the Fund's securities and other assets:



STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
- -----------------------------------

GLOBAL CUSTODY NETWORK
FOR MUTUAL FUND CLIENTS



            Country           Bank
            -------           ----

            Argentina         Citibank, N.A.


            Australia         Australia and New Zealand Banking Group United

            Austria           Girozentrale und Bank der oesteffeichischen
            Sparkassen AG

            Belgium           Banque Bruxelles Lambert

            Brazil            Citibank, N.A.

            Canada            Canada Trust Company

            Chile             Citibank, N.A.

            Denmark           Den Danske Bank

            Finland           Kansallis-Osake-Pankid

            France            Credit Commercial De France

                                       39
<PAGE>
 
            Germany           Berliner Handels- und Frankfurter Bank
            
            Greece            National Bank of Greece

            Hong Kong         Standard Chartered Bank

            Indonesia         Standard Chartered Bank

            Ireland           Bank of Ireland
            
            Italy             Credito ltallano
            
            Japan             Sumitomo Trust & Banking Co.. Ltd.
            
            Malaysia          Standard Chartered Bank

                                       40
<PAGE>
 
                                    EXHIBIT I
                                    ---------

                               CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
                               -------------------



TO:

Gentlemen:

        The undersigned ("State Street") hereby requests* that you (the "Bank))
establish a custody account and a cash account for each State Street client
whose account is identified to this Agreement. Each such Custody or cash account
as applicable will be referred to herein as the "Account'$ and will be subject
to the following terms and conditions:

         1. The Bank shall hold as agent for State Street and shall physically
segregate in the Account such cash, bullion, coin, stocks, shares, bonds,
debentures, notes and other securities and other property which is delivered to
the Bank for that State Street Account (the "Property").

         2. (a) Without the prior approval of State Street it will not deposit
securities in any securities depository or utilize a clearing agency,
incorporated or organized under the laws of a country other than the United
States, unless such depository or clearing house operates the central system for
handling of securities or equivalent back-entries in that country or operates a
transnational system for the central handling of securities or equivalent
book-entries.

            (b) When Securities hold for an Account are deposited in a
Securities depository or clearing agency by the Bank, the Bank shall identify on
its books as belonging to State Street as agent for such Account, the Securities
so deposited.

        The Bank represents that either:

        3. (a) It currently has stockholders' equity in excess of $200 million
(US dollars or the equivalent of US dollars computed in accordance with
generally accepted US accounting principles) and will promptly inform State
Street in the event that there appears to be a substantial likelihood that its
stockholders' equity will decline below $200 million. or in any event, at such
time as its stockholders' equity in fact declines below $200 million: or

           (b) It is the subject of an exemptive order issued by the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission, which such order permits State Street
to employ the Bank as a subcustodian, notwithstanding the fact that the Bank's
stockholders' equity is currently below $200 million or may in the future
decline below $200 million due to currency fluctuation.

                                       41
<PAGE>
 
        4. Upon the written instructions of State Street as permitted by 
Section 8, the Bank is authorized to pay out cash from the Account and to sell,
assign, transfer, deliver or exchange, or to purchase for the Account, any and
all stocks, shares, bonds, debentures, notes and other securities
("Securities"), bullion, coin and other property, but only as provided in such
written instructions. The Bank shall not be held liable for any act or omission
to act on instructions given or purported to be given should there be any error
in such instructions.

        5. Unless the Bank receives written instructions of State Street to the
contrary, the Bank is authorized:

         a. To promptly receive and collect all income and principal with
            respect to the Property and to credit cash receipts to the Account;

         b. To promptly exchange Securities where the exchange is purely
            ministerial (including, without limitation, the exchange of
            temporary Securities for those in definitive form and the exchange
            of warrants, or other documents of entitlement to Securities, for
            the Securities themselves);

         c. To promptly surrender Securities at maturity or when called for
            redemption upon receiving payment therefor;

         d. Whenever notification of a rights entitlement or a fractional
            interest resulting from a rights issue., stock dividend or stock
            split is received for the Account and such rights entitlement or
            fractional interest bears an expiration date, the Bank will endeavor
            to obtain State Street's instructions, but should these not be
            received in time for the Bank to take timely action, the Bank is
            authorized to sell such rights entitlement or fractional interest
            and to credit the Account;

         e. To hold registered in the name of the nominee of the Bank or its
            agents such Securities as are ordinarily held in registered form;

         f. To execute In State Street's name for the Account, whenever the Bank
            dews it appropriate, such ownership and other certificates as may be
            required to obtain the payment of Income from the Property; and

         g. To pay or cause to be paid from the Account any and all taxes and
            levies In the nature of taxes imposed on such assets by any
            governmental authority, and shall use reasonable efforts to promptly
            reclaim any foreign withholding tax relating to the Account.

        6.  If the Bank shall receive any proxies, notices, reports, or other
communications relative to any of the Securities of the Account in connection
with tender offers; reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, or similar events
which may have an impact upon the issuer thereof, the

                                       42
<PAGE>
 
Bank shall promptly transmit any such communication to State Street by means as
will permit State Street to take timely action with respect thereto.

        7.  The Bank is authorized in its discretion to appoint brokers and
agents in connection with the Bank's handling of transactions relating to the
Property provided that any such appointment shall not relieve the Bank of any of
its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder.

        8.  Written instructions shall include (i) instructions in writing
signed by such persons as are designated in writing by State Street (ii) telex
or tested telex instructions of State Street, (iii) other forms of instruction
in computer readable form as shall be customarily utilized for the transmission
of like information and (iv) such other forms of communication as from time to
time shall be agreed upon by State Street and the Bank.

        9.  The Bank shall supply periodic reports with respect to the
safekeeping of assets held by it under this Agreement. The content of Such
reports shall include but not be limited to any transfer to or from any Account
held by the Bank hereunder and such other information as State Street may
reasonably request.

        10. In addition to its obligations under Section 2 hereof, the Bank
shall maintain such other records as may be necessary to identify the assets
hereunder as belonging to each State Street client identified to this Agreement
from time to time.

        11. The Bank agrees that its books and records relating to its actions
under this Agreement shall be opened to the physical, on-premises inspection and
audit at reasonable times by officers of, auditors employed by or other
representatives of State Street (including to the extent permitted under law the
independent public accountants for any entity whose Property is being hold
hereunder) and shall be retained for such period as shall be agreed by State
Street and the Bank.

        12. The Bank shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its
services and expenses as custodian under this Agreement, as agreed upon from
time to time by the Bank and State Street.

        13. The Bank shall exercise reasonable care in the performance of its
duties as are set forth or contemplated herein or contained in instructions
given to the Bank which are not contrary to this Agreement, and shall maintain
adequate insurance and agree to indemnity and hold State Street and each Account
from and against any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out
of or in connection with the Bank's performance of its obligations hereunder.

        14. The Bank agrees that (i) the Property is not subject to any right,
charge, security interest, lien or claim of any kind In favor of the Bank or any
of Its agents or its creditors except a claim of payment for their safe custody
and administration and (ii) the beneficial ownership of

                                       43
<PAGE>
 
the Property shall be freely transferable without the payment of money or other
value other than for safe custody or administration.

        15. This Agreement may be terminated by the Bank or State Street by at
least 60 days' written notice to the other, sent by registered mail or express
courier. The Bank, upon the date this Agreement terminates pursuant to notice
which has been given in a timely fashion, shall deliver the Property in
accordance with written instructions of State Street specifying the name(s) of
the person(s) to whom the Property shall be delivered.

        16. The Bank and State Street shall each use its best efforts to
maintain the confidentiality of the Property in each Account, Subject, however,
to the provisions of any laws requiring the disclosure of the Property.

        17. The Bank agrees to follow such Operating Requirements as State
Street may require from time to time. A copy of the current State Street
Operating Requirements is attached as an exhibit to this Agreement.

        18. Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, all notices with
respect to matters contemplated by this Agreement shall be deemed duly given
when received in writing or by tested telex by the Bank or State Street at their
respective addresses set forth below, or at such other address as specified in
each case in a notice similarly given:



To State Street:                  Global Custody Services Division STATE STREET
                                  BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

                                  P. 0. BOX 470
                                  Boston, Massachusetts 02102

To the Bank:



         19. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of                       .
                 ----------------------

         Please acknowledge your agreement to the foregoing by executing a copy
of this letter.

                                       44
<PAGE>
 
                                          Very truly yours,

                                          STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST
                                          COMPANY



                                          By
                                            --------------------------------



Agreed to by :



By: 
   ---------------------------


Date: 
     -------------------------

                                       45

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 9(a)

                     TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
                                    between
                              LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS
                                      and
                      STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                               -----------------

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

Article 1       Terms of Appointment; Duties of the Bank.....................  2

Article 2       Fees and Expenses............................................  6

Article 3       Representations and Warranties of the Bank...................  7

Article 4       Representations and Warranties of the Fund...................  7

Article 5       Indemnification..............................................  8

Article 6       Covenants of the Fund and the Bank........................... 11

Article 7       Termination of Agreement..................................... 12

Article 8       Additional Funds............................................. 13

Article 9       Assignment................................................... 13

Article 10      Amendment.................................................... 14

Article 11      Massachusetts Law To Apply................................... 14

Article 12      Merger of Agreement.......................................... 14

Article 13      Counterparts................................................. 14
<PAGE>
 
                      TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
                      -------------------------------------


           AGREEMENT made as of the 23rd day of April, 1991, by and between
LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS, a Massachusetts business trust, having its principal office
and place of business at one Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (the
"Fund"), and STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company
having its principal office and place of business at 225 Franklin Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (the "Bank").

           WHEREAS, the Fund is authorized to issue shares in separate series,
with each such series representing interests in a separate portfolio of
securities and other assets; and

           WHEREAS, the Fund intends to initially offer shares in eight series,
the Loomis Sayles Growth Fund, Loomis Sayles Growth & Income Fund, Loomis Sayles
Small Capital Fund, Loomis Sayles International Equity Fund, Loomis Sayles Bond
Fund, Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles Municipal Bond Fund and
Loomis Sayles U.S. Government Securities Fund (each such series, together with
all other series subsequently established by the Fund and made subject to this
Agreement in accordance with Article 8, being herein referred to as a
"Portfolio", and collectively as the "Portfolios");

           WHEREAS, the Fund on behalf of the Portfolios desires to appoint the
Bank as its transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, custodian of certain
retirement plans and agent in connection with certain other activities and the
Bank desires to accept such appointment;

           NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
<PAGE>
 
Article 1   Terms of Appointment; Duties of the Bank

            1.01  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolios, hereby employs and appoints
the Bank to act as, and the Bank agrees to act as, the Fund's transfer agent for
the authorized and issued shares of beneficial interest of the Fund representing
interests in each of the respective Portfolios ("Shares"), dividend disbursing
agent, custodian of certain retirement plans and agent in connection with any
accumulation, open-account or similar plans provided to the shareholders of each
of the respective Portfolios of the Fund ("Shareholders") and set out in the
currently effective prospectus and statement of additional information
("prospectus") of the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio, including
without limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program.

            1.02  The Bank agrees that it will perform the following services:

            (a) In accordance with procedures established from time to time by
agreement between the Fund on behalf of each of the Portfolios, as applicable,
and the Bank, the Bank shall:

             (i)     Receive for acceptance, orders for the purchase of Shares,
                     and promptly deliver payment and appropriate documentation
                     thereof to the Custodian of the Fund authorized pursuant to
                     the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Fund (the
                     "Custodian");

             (ii)    Pursuant to purchase orders, issue the appropriate number
                     of Shares and hold such Shares in the appropriate
                     Shareholder account;

             (iii)   Receive for acceptance redemption requests and redemption
                     directions and 

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                     deliver the appropriate documentation thereof to the
                     Custodian;

            (iv)     In respect to the transactions in items (i), (ii) and (iii)
                     above, the Bank shall execute transactions directly with
                     broker-dealers authorized by the Fund who shall thereby be
                     deemed to be acting on behalf of the Fund;

            (v)      At the appropriate time as and when it receives monies paid
                     to it by the Custodian with respect to any redemption, pay
                     over or cause to be paid over in the appropriate manner
                     such monies as instructed by the redeeming Shareholders;

            (vi)     Effect transfers of Shares by the registered owners thereof
                     upon receipt of appropriate instructions;

            (vii)    Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and
                     distributions declared by the Fund on behalf of the
                     applicable Portfolio;

            (viii)   Issue replacement certificates for those certificates
                     alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon receipt
                     by the Bank of indemnification satisfactory to the Bank and
                     protecting the Bank and the Fund, and the Bank, at its
                     option, may issue replacement certificates in place of
                     mutilated stock certificates upon presentation thereof and
                     without such indemnity;

            (ix)     Report abandoned property to the various states as
                     authorized by the Fund per policies and principles agreed
                     upon by the Fund and the Bank; 

            (x)      Maintain records of account for and advise the Fund and its
                     Shareholders as to the foregoing; and

            (xi)     Record the issuance of Shares of the Fund and maintain
                     pursuant to SEC

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                     Rule 17Ad-10(e) a record of the total number of Shares of
                     the Fund which are authorized, based upon data provided to
                     it by the Fund, and issued and outstanding. The Bank shall
                     also provide the Fund on a regular basis with the total
                     number of Shares which are authorized and issued and
                     outstanding and shall have no obligation, when recording
                     the issuance of Shares, to monitor the issuance of such
                     Shares or to take cognizance of any laws relating to the
                     issue or sale of such Shares, which functions shall be the
                     sole responsibility of the Fund.

                     (b)  In addition to and neither in lieu nor in contra-
vention of the services set forth in the above paragraph (a), the Bank shall:
(i) perform the customary services of a transfer agent, dividend disbursing
agent, custodian of certain retirement plans and, as relevant, agent in
connection with accumulation, open-account or similar plans (including without
limitation any periodic investment plan or periodic withdrawal program),
including but not limited to: maintaining all Shareholder accounts, preparing
Shareholder meeting lists, mailing proxies, receiving and tabulating proxies,
mailing Shareholder reports and prospectuses to current Shareholders,
withholding taxes on U.S. resident and non-resident alien accounts, preparing
and filing U.S. Treasury Department Forms 1099 and other appropriate forms
required with respect to dividends and distributions by federal authorities for
all Shareholders, preparing and mailing confirmation forms and statements of
account to Shareholders for all purchases and redemptions of Shares and other
confirmable transactions in Shareholder accounts, preparing and mailing activity
statements for Shareholders, and providing Shareholder account information and
(ii) provide a system which will enable the Fund to monitor the total number of
Shares sold in each State.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                     (c)  In addition, the Fund shall (i) identify to the Bank
in writing those transactions and assets to be treated as exempt from blue sky
reporting for each State and (ii) verify the establishment of transactions for
each State on the system prior to activation and thereafter monitor the daily
activity for each State. The responsibility of the Bank for the Fund's blue sky
state registration status is solely limited to the initial establishment of
transactions subject to blue sky compliance by the Fund and the reporting of
such transactions to the Fund as provided above.

                     (d)  Procedures as to who shall provide certain of these
services in Article 1 may be established from time to time by agreement between
the Fund on behalf of each Portfolio and the Bank per the attached service
responsibility schedule. The Bank may at times perform only a portion of these
services and the Fund or its agent may perform these services on the Fund's
behalf. 

Article 2 Fees and Expenses
          -----------------

                     2.01 For the performance by the Bank pursuant to this
Agreement, the Fund agrees on behalf of each of the Portfolios to pay the Bank
an annual maintenance fee for each Shareholder account as set out in the initial
fee schedule attached hereto. Such fees and out-of-pocket expenses and advances
identified under Section 2.02 below may be changed from time to time subject to
mutual written agreement between the Fund and the Bank.

                     2.02 In addition to the fee paid under Section 2.01 above,
the Fund, agrees on behalf of each of the Portfolios to reimburse the Bank for
out-of-pocket expenses or advances incurred by the Bank for the items set out in
the fee schedule attached hereto. In addition, any other expenses incurred by
the Bank at the request or with the consent of the Fund will be

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
reimbursed by the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio.

                  2.03 The Fund agrees on behalf of each of the Portfolios to
pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within five days following the receipt of
the respective billing notice. Postage for receipt of dividends, proxies, Fund
reports and other mailings to all Shareholder accounts shall be advanced to the
Bank by the Fund at least seven (7) days prior to the mailing date of such
materials.

Article 3         Representations and Warranties of the Bank 
                  ------------------------------------------

                  The Bank represents and warrants to the Fund that:

                  3.01  It is a trust company duly organized and existing and in
good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

                  3.02  It is duly qualified to carry on its business in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

                  3.03  It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Charter
and By-Laws to enter into and perform this Agreement.

                  3.04  All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to
authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.

                  3.05  It has and will continue to have access to the necessary
facilities, equipment and personnel to perform its duties and obligations under
this Agreement. 

Article 4         Representations and Warranties of the Fund
                  ------------------------------------------

                  The Fund represents and warrants to the Bank that:

                  4.01  It is a voluntary association duly organized and
existing and in good standing under the laws of Massachusetts.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                  4.02  It is empowered under applicable laws and by its
Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws to enter into and perform this
Agreement.

                  4.03  All proceedings required by said Agreement and
Declaration of Trust and By-Laws have been taken to authorize it to enter into
and perform this Agreement.

                  4.04  It is an open-end and diversified management investment
company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                  4.05  A registration statement under the Securities Act Of
1933, as amended, on behalf of each of the Portfolios will become effective and
will remain effective, and appropriate state securities law filings have been
made and will continue to be made, with respect to all Shares of the Fund prior
to being offered for sale. 

Article 5 Indemnification
          ---------------
                  5.01  The Bank shall not be responsible for, and the Fund
shall on behalf of the applicable Portfolio indemnify and hold the Bank harmless
from and against, any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees,
payments, expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to:

                  (a)   All actions of the Bank or its agent or subcontractors
required to be taken pursuant to this Agreement, provided that such actions are
taken in good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct.

                  (b)   The Fund's lack of good faith, negligence or willful
misconduct which arise out of the breach of any representation or warranty of
the Fund hereunder.

                  (c)   The reliance on or use by the Bank or its agents or
subcontractors of information, records and documents or services which (i) are
received or relied upon by the

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
Bank or its agents or subcontractors and/or furnished to it or performed by or
on behalf of the Fund, and (ii) have been prepared, maintained and/or performed
by the Fund or any other person or firm on behalf of the Fund.

                  (d)  The reliance on, or the carrying out by the Bank or its
agents or subcontractors of, any instructions or requests of the Fund on behalf
of the applicable Portfolio.

                  (e)  The offer or sale of Shares in violation of any
requirement under the federal securities laws or regulations or the securities
laws or regulations of any state that such Shares be registered in such state or
in violation of any stop order or other determination or ruling by any federal
agency or any state with respect to the offer or sale of such Shares in such
state.

                  5.02  The Bank shall indemnify and hold the Fund harmless from
and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, counsel fees, payments,
expenses and liability arising out of or attributable to any action or failure
or omission to act by the Bank as a result of the Bank's lack of good faith,
negligence or willful misconduct.

                  5.03  At any time the Bank may apply to any officer of the
Fund for instructions, and may consult with legal counsel with respect to any
matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Bank under
this Agreement, and the Bank and its agents or subcontractors shall not be
liable and shall be indemnified by the Fund on behalf of the applicable
Portfolio for any action taken or omitted by it in reliance upon such
instructions or upon the opinion of such counsel. The Bank, its agents and
subcontractors shall be protected and indemnified in acting upon any paper or
document furnished by or on behalf of the Fund, reasonably believed to be
genuine and to have been signed by the proper person or persons, or

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
upon any instruction, information, data, records or documents provided the Bank
or its agents or subcontractors by machine readable input, telex, CRT data entry
or other similar means authorized by the Fund, and shall not be held to have
notice of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice
thereof from the Fund. The Bank, its agents and subcontractors shall also be
protected and indemnified in recognizing stock certificates which are reasonably
believed to bear the proper manual or facsimile signatures of the officers of
the Fund, and the proper countersignature of any former transfer agent or former
registrar, or of a co-transfer agent or co-registrar.

                  5.04  In the event either party is unable to perform its
obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes,
equipment or transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control, or
other causes reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for
damages to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or
otherwise from such causes.

                  5.05  Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable to the
other party for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement or
for any consequential damages arising out of any act or failure to act
hereunder.

                  5.06 In order that the indemnification provisions contained in
this Article 5 shall apply, upon the assertion of a claim for which either party
may be required to indemnify the other, the party seeking indemnification shall
promptly notify the other party of such assertion, and shall keep the other
partyadvised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The party
who may be required to indemnify shall have the option to participate with the
party seeking indemnification in the defense of such claim. The party seeking
indemnification shall in


                                       9
<PAGE>
 
no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the other
party may be required to indemnify it except with the other party's prior
written consent.

Article 6 Covenants of the Fund and the Bank
          ----------------------------------

                  6.01  The Fund shall on behalf of each of the Portfolios
promptly furnish to the Bank the following:

                  (a)   A certified copy of the resolution of the Trustees of
the Fund authorizing the appointment of the Bank and the execution and delivery
of this Agreement.

                  (b)   A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-
Laws of the Fund and all amendments thereto.

                  6.02  The Bank hereby agrees to establish and maintain
facilities and procedures reasonably acceptable to the Fund for safekeeping of
stock certificates, check forms and facsimile signature imprinting devices, if
any; and for the preparation or use, and for keeping account of, such
certificates, forms and devices.

                  6.03  The Bank shall keep records relating to the services to
be performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable. To the
extent required by Section 31 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
and the Rules thereunder, the Bank agrees that all such records prepared or
maintained by the Bank relating to the services to be performed by the Bank
hereunder are the property of the Fund and will be preserved, maintained and
made available in accordance with such Section and Rules, and will be
surrendered promptly to the Fund on and in accordance with its request.

                  6.04  The Bank and the Fund agree that all books, records,
information and data pertaining to the business of the other party which are
exchanged or received pursuant to the

                                      10
<PAGE>
 
negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement shall remain confidential, and
shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except as may be
required by law.

              6.05 In case of any requests or demands for the inspection of the
Shareholder records of the Fund, the Bank will endeavor to notify the Fund and
to secure instructions from an authorized officer of the Fund as to such
inspection.  The Bank reserves the right, however, to exhibit the Shareholder
records to any person whenever it is advised by its counsel that it may be held
liable for the failure to exhibit the Shareholder records to such person.

Article 7 Termination of Agreement
          ------------------------

              7.01 This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon one
hundred twenty (120) days written notice to the other.

              7.02  Should the Fund exercise its right to terminate, all out-of-
pocket expenses associated with the movement of records and material will be
borne by the Fund on behalf of the applicable Portfolio(s).  Additionally, the
Bank reserves the right to charge for any other reasonable expenses associated
with such termination.

 Article 8 Additional Funds
           ----------------

              8.01 In the event that the Fund establishes one or more series of
Shares in addition to those identified on page 1 of this Agreement with respect
to which it desires to have the Bank render services as transfer agent under the
terms hereof, it shall so notify the Bank in writing, and if the Bank agrees in
writing to provide such services, such series of Shares shall become a Portfolio
hereunder.

Article 9 Assignment
          ----------

              9.01 Except as provided in Section 9.03 below, neither this
Agreement nor any 

                                      11
<PAGE>
 
rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either party without the
written consent of the other party.

              9.02 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

              9.03 The Bank may, without further consent on the part of the
Fund, subcontract for the performance hereof with (I) Boston Financial Data
Services, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (BFDS), which is duly registered as
a transfer agent pursuant to Section 17A(c)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended ("Section 17A(c)(l)"), (ii) a BFDS subsidiary duly registered
as a transfer agent pursuant to Section 17A(c)(1) or (iii) a BFDS affiliate duly
registered as a transfer agent pursuant to Section 17A(c)(1); provided, however,
that the Bank shall be as fully responsible to the Fund for the acts and
omissions of any subcontractor as it is for its own acts and omissions.

 Article 10 Amendment
            ---------

              10.01 This Agreement may be amended or modified by a written
agreement executed by both parties and authorized or approved by a resolution of
the Trustees of the Fund.

Article 11 Massachusetts Law to Apply
           --------------------------

              11.01 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.

Article 12 Merger of Agreement
           -------------------

              12.01 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject
matter hereof whether oral or written.

                                      12
<PAGE>
 
Article 13 Counterparts
           ------------

              13.01 This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any
number of counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be
deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

                                      13
<PAGE>
 
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly
authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.

                                    LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS


                                    BY: /s/ Charles J. Finlayson
                                       -------------------------------          
                                               President
ATTEST:


/s/ Laurie M. Gallagher
- ------------------------------         
 Assistant Secretary


                                    STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST
                                    COMPANY


                                    BY: /s/ M.J Hayes
                                       -------------------------------
                                                Vice President
ATTEST:


/s/ A. Curley
- ------------------------------

      A copy he Agreement and Declaration of Trust establishing Loomis Sayles
Funds (the "Trust") is on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this agreement is executed on
behalf of the Trust by officers of the Trust as officers and not individually
and that the obligations of or arising out of this agreement are not binding
upon any of the trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust individually but
are binding only upon the assets and property of the relevant series of the
Trust.

                                      14
<PAGE>
 
                       STATE STREET BANK & TRUST COMPANY
                        FUND SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES*


Service Performed                            Responsibility
- -----------------                            --------------
                                         Bank           Fund
                                         ----           ----
 
1.   Receives orders for the purchase
     of Shares.

2.   Issue Shares and hold Shares in
     Shareholders accounts.

3.   Receive redemption requests.

4.   Effect transactions 1-3 above
     directly with broker-dealers.

5.   Pay over monies to redeeming
     Shareholders.

6.   Effect transfers of Shares.

7.   Prepare and transmit dividends and
     distributions.

8.   Issue Replacement Certificates.

9.   Reporting of abandoned property.

10.  Maintain records of account.

11.  Maintain and keep a current and accurate
     control book for each issue of securities.

12.  Mail proxies.

13.  Mail Shareholder reports.

14.  Mail prospectuses to current Shareholders.

15.  Withhold taxes on U.S. resident and
     non-resident alien accounts.


                                      15
<PAGE>
 
Service Performed                                     Responsibility 
- -----------------                                     -------------- 
                                                  Bank           Fund
                                                  ----           ---- 


16.  Prepare and file U.S. Treasury
     Department forms.

17.  Prepare and mail account and confirmation
     statements for Shareholders.

18.  Provide Shareholder account
     information.

19.  Blue sky reporting.


*  Such services are more fully described in Article 1.02 (a), (b) and (c) of
the Agreement.



                                    BY:
                                       -------------------------------
ATTEST:


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

                                    STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST
                                    COMPANY


                                    BY:
                                       --------------------------------------
                                           Vice President
                                           

ATTEST:



- ---------------------------------
    Assistant Secretary

                                      16

<PAGE>
 
    
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


To the Trustees of Loomis Sayles Funds:

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in Amendment No. 15 to the
Registration Statement of Loomis Sayles Funds with respect to its Loomis Sayles
Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles High Yield Fund and Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund
series (each a "Fund") on Form N-1A (File No. 811-6241) under The Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, and Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 to the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-39133) under The Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, of our reports dated February 21, 1997 on our audits of
the financial statements and financial highlights of the Funds, which reports
are incorporated by reference in the Amendment and Post-Effective Amendment to
the Registration Statement.  We consent to the references to our Firm under the
captions "Financial Highlights" in the Prospectuses and "Independent
Accountants" in the Statement of Additional Information for the aforementioned
Funds.



Boston, Massachusetts                         Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
October 30, 1997      

<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 13(a)
 
                    LOOMIS, SAYLES & COMPANY, INCORPORATED
                             One Financial Center
                         Boston, Massachusetts  02111



                                    April 29, 1991



Loomis Sayles Funds
One Financial Center
Boston, Massachusetts  02111

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     With respect to our purchase from you of 10,000 shares of beneficial
interest, no par value, of your Loomis Sayles Municipal Bond Fund series, we
hereby advise you that we are purchasing such shares with no present intention
to dispose of them either through resale to others or redemption by Loomis
Sayles Funds.

                                 Very truly yours,
 
                                 LOOMIS, SAYLES & COMPANY, INCORPORATED



                                  By   /s/ CHARLES J. FINLAYSON
                                      ----------------------------
Charles J. Finlayson
                                  Vice President and
                                  General Counsel

<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 13(b)

                            ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSE
                            REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT

     This Agreement, made this 31st day of July, 1992, by and between Loomis
Sayles Funds, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust") and Loomis, Sayles &
Company, Incorporated (the "Adviser").

     WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end diversified management
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and was and is in
the process of organizing the Loomis Sayles Short-Term Bond Fund series (the
"New Series");

     WHEREAS, there have been and will be certain organizational expenses
incurred as part of such organization, which are properly expenses of the Trust,
that have been and will in the future be paid by the Adviser by reason of the
fact that the Trust was not or will not be capitalized when such expenses
otherwise became or become due and payable;

     WHEREAS, such organizational expenses include expenses necessary to
organize and establish the New Series, including, without limitation, such
expenses as outside legal counsel's fees, Securities and Exchange Commission
filing and registration fees, independent public accountant fees and state blue
sky filing and registration fees (such expenses being hereinafter referred to as
"Organization Expenses"):

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants
herein contained, it is agreed as follows:

     1.  Upon the issuance and sale of shares of beneficial interest of the New
Series to the public, the Trust shall reimburse and pay to the Adviser up to
$_______ of the amounts expended by the Adviser for Organization Expenses for
the New Series.

     2.  Such reimbursement shall be paid by the Trust to the Adviser upon
demand, without interest, and in no event later than five years from the
commencement of operations of the New Series.  Upon demand for payment, the
Adviser shall present copies of invoices or receipts, and copies of cancelled
checks or other evidence of payment by the Adviser of the Organization Expenses
for which it is demanding reimbursement.
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the
day and year first above written.


                                                 LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS
                                                 on behalf of its
                                                 Short-Term Bond Fund series



                                                  /s/ Charles J. Finlayson
                                                 ------------------------------
                                                 Charles J. Finlayson
                                                 President



                                                 LOOMIS, SAYLES & COMPANY,  
                                                 INCORPORATED


                                                  /s/ Charles J. Finlayson
                                                 ------------------------------
                                                 Charles J. Finlayson
                                                 Vice President

                                      -2-

<PAGE>
                                                                      Exhibit 14
 
                              LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS
                         INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT



                                                                                
_____________________________________________  INDIVIDUAL AND SPOUSAL IRAS
                                               AND IRAS UNDER A SIMPLIFIED
<PAGE>
 
               EMPLOYEE PENSION (SEP) WITH  NO-LOAD MUTUAL FUNDS

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
THE LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT (the "Plan")
- ------------------------------------------------------------------


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Why Should I Set up a Loomis Sayles
  Funds IRA...............................   3
What is a Loomis Sayles Funds SEP.........   3
Selection of No-Load Funds................   4
Questions and Answers about IRAs..........   7
Features of the Plan......................  16
Copy of the Plan..........................  24
Account Application.......................  35
Beneficiary Designation...................  36
Transfer of Assets Form...................  38



Please note:

The Loomis Sayles Funds Individual Retirement Account (the "Plan"), as described
herein, has been approved by the Internal Revenue Service.  A copy of the
determination letter issued by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the
Plan is reproduced on the preceding page.

The Loomis Sayles Funds Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) incorporates Forms
5305-SEP and 5305A-SEP as issued by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS").
The use of these forms by Loomis Sayles does not represent a determination by
the IRS as to the merits of the IRA.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
WHY SHOULD I SET UP A LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS IRA?
- -----------------------------------------------------------------

Whether you are able to make deductible or non-deductible contributions to your
individual IRA, the Loomis Sayles Funds IRA can help you plan for your
retirement.  By utilizing our no-load funds, all of your money begins working
for you immediately.  In some cases this could mean a savings of up to 8.5% in
sales charges.  And, unlike most employer sponsored plans, you can choose when
to invest your money and where to invest your money.

- -----------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS A LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS SEP?
- ----------------------------------

In addition, the Loomis Sayles Funds IRA may be adopted for contributions under
an employer-sponsored Loomis Sayles Funds SEP.  A Loomis Sayles Funds SEP is a
simplified means by which employers can set aside income for retirement for
their employees on a tax-deferred basis.  Under a Loomis Sayles Funds SEP, an
employer may make contributions directly to their Loomis Sayles Funds IRA.
Please see the "Guide to Employers" for additional information about the types
of SEPs that Loomis Sayles sponsors.  The employee's Loomis Sayles Funds IRA
under a Loomis Sayles Funds SEP, in general, follows the rules described below
for individual Loomis Sayles Funds IRAs although certain nondiscrimination rules
and other requirements may apply to your employer's contribution.  The employee
may make individual contributions to a Loomis Sayles Funds IRA even if the
employer also makes contributions to it under a Loomis Sayles Funds SEP,
although the employee's contributions will be subject to the limits on amounts
and contributions described below.

We have a dedicated staff who can answer any questions that you may have and
assist you in completing the forms necessary to establish your account.  We hope
that you will find the enclosed information helpful and look forward to hearing
from you.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
SELECTION OF NO-LOAD FUNDS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------


NINE NO-LOAD  The nine no-load funds eligible for your IRA MUTUAL FUNDS
   investments are listed below. You may invest either in one, or in a
   combination, of the funds best suited to your circumstances.

              The funds have different investment objectives and offer a range
              of income and appreciation potential. A brief description of each
              fund is provided below. Additional information can be obtained
              from the prospectus of each fund which is available to you upon
              request.

 .  The investment objective of the Loomis Sayles Growth Fund is long-term growth
   of capital. The Growth Fund seeks to attain its objective by investing
   substantially all of its assets in common stocks or their equivalent.
   Investments are selected based on their growth potential; current income is
   not a consideration. The Growth Fund may invest in companies with relatively
   small market capitalization, as well as in larger companies. The Growth Fund
   may invest a limited portion of its assets in securities of foreign issuers.

 .  The investment objective of the Loomis Sayles Growth & Income Fund is long-
   term growth of capital and income. The Growth & Income Fund seeks to attain
   its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in common stocks
   or their equivalent which are considered to be undervalued in relation to the
   issuer's earnings, dividends, assets and growth prospects. The Growth &
   Income Fund may invest a limited portion of its assets in securities of
   foreign issuers.

 .  The investment objective of the Loomis Sayles Small Cap Fund is long-term
   capital growth from investments in common stocks or their equivalent. The
   Small Cap Fund seeks to achieve its objective by giving emphasis to both
   undervalued securities and securities of companies with significant growth
   potential. The Small Cap Fund will normally invest at least 65% of its assets
   in companies with market capitalization of less than $500 million and may
   invest up to 35% of its assets in larger companies. Current income is not a
   consideration when investments for the Small Cap Fund are selected. The Small
   Cap Fund may invest a limited portion of its assets in securities of foreign
   issuers.

 .  The investment objective of the Loomis Sayles International Equity Fund is
   high total investment return through a combination of capital appreciation
   and current income. The International Equity Fund seeks to attain its
   objective by investing primarily in equity securities of companies organized
   or headquartered outside the

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
   United States. Under normal conditions, the International Equity Fund will
   invest at least 65% of its assets in equity securities of issuers of at least
   three countries outside the United States, and no more than 40% of its assets
   in issuers headquartered in any one country. For temporary defensive
   purposes, the International Equity Fund may invest as much as 100% of its
   assets in issuers from one or two countries, which may include the United
   States.

 .  The investment objective of the Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund is high total
   investment return through a combination of high current income and capital
   appreciation. The Global Bond Fund seeks to attain its objective by investing
   primarily in investment grade fixed income obligations (including
   convertibles) denominated in various currencies including U.S. dollars or in
   multicurrency units. Under normal conditions, the Global Bond Fund will
   invest at least 65% of its assets in bonds of issuers of at least three
   countries which may include the United States, and no more than 40% of its
   assets in issuers headquartered in any one country. However, up to 100% of
   the Global Bond Fund's assets may be denominated in U.S. dollars. For
   temporary defensive purposes, the Global Bond Fund may invest as much as 100%
   of its assets in issuers from one or two countries, which may include the
   United States. The Global Bond Fund may engage in options and forward
   contract transactions to hedge against changes in the value of securities and
   the currencies in which they are denominated.

 .  The investment objective of the Loomis Sayles Bond Fund is high total
   investment return through a combination of current income and capital
   appreciation. The Bond Fund seeks to attain its objective by normally
   investing substantially all of its assets in investment-grade debt securities
   (including convertibles), although up to 20% of its assets may be invested in
   preferred stocks. At least 65% of the Bond Fund's assets will normally be
   invested in bonds. The Bond Fund may also invest a limited portion of its
   assets in lower rated debt securities and in securities of foreign issuers.

 .  The investment objective of the Loomis Sayles U.S. Government Securities Fund
   is high total investment return through a combination of current income and
   capital appreciation. The U.S. Government Securities Fund seeks to achieve
   its objective by investing substantially all its assets in securities issued
   or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its authorities, agencies or
   instrumentalities ("U.S. Government Securities"), and in certificates
   representing undivided interests in the interest or principal of securities
   of U.S. Treasury Securities. At least 65% of the U.S. Government Securities
   Fund will normally be invested in U.S. Government Securities.

 .  The investment objective of the New England Cash Management Trust, a money
   market fund, is to provide maximum current income consistent with
   preservation of 

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
   capital. The Loomis Sayles Funds IRA offers two series of the New England
   Cash Management Trust: (1) the Money Market Series, and (2) the U.S.
   Government Series. The Money Market Series invests in a variety of high-
   quality money market instruments. The U.S. Government Series invests only in
   obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government and in
   related repurchase agreements. Both the Money Market Series and the U.S.
   Government Series are managed by Back Bay Advisors, Inc.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT IRAS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------

ELIGIBILITY  Who can open an IRA?
                Anyone who earns income and is still under age 70 1/2 at the end
                of the calendar year can open an individual IRA.

                Can I simultaneously have two or more individual IRA accounts?
                Yes, as long as no more than a total of $2,000 is contributed to
                your IRA accounts in any one tax year.

                Can my spouse have an IRA?
                Yes. An IRA which is separate from but identical to your IRA (a
                "spousal IRA") can be set up for the benefit of your spouse if
                -    your spouse has no earnings for the year or elects to be
                     treated as having no earnings for the year
                -    your spouse has not attained age 70 1/2, and
                -    you and your spouse file a joint income tax return.


CONTRIBUTIONS   How has the Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed the amount of
                contributions that I can make to my individual IRA?
                No change has been made in the amount that you may contribute to
                your own IRA or an IRA for your spouse. What has changed is the
                amount of the contributions that can be deducted for income tax
                purposes, as explained below.

                What is the maximum annual contribution I can make to my
                individual IRA (deductible plus non-deductible)?
                You may contribute $2,000 or 100% of your earned income,
                whichever is less.

                What is the maximum annual contribution that can be made to my
                spouse's IRA?
                A total of $2,250 or 100% of your earned income can be
                contributed to your own IRA and your spouse's IRA. The
                contributions may be divided between the two separate IRAs in
                any way you wish, so long as neither IRA receives more than
                $2,000.

                Can I contribute less than the maximum?
                Yes, you can contribute any amount you wish up to the maximum
                amount for your individual IRA (and your spouse's IRA) for each
                taxable year.

                What is the maximum annual deductible contribution that I can
                make to my individual IRA?

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
                -   If you are not (or, if you are married, neither you nor your
                    spouse is) an active participant in a tax qualified
                    retirement plan or a government retirement plan, you will be
                    able to deduct your contribution in full.

                -   If you are (or, if you are married, either you or your
                    spouse is) an active participant in any such retirement plan
                    and your adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than $25,000
                    ($40,000, if married), you may still deduct your
                    contribution in full.

                -   If you are (or, if you are married either you or your spouse
                    is) an active participant in any such retirement plan and
                    your AGI is between $25,000 and $35,000 ($40,000 and
                    $50,000, if married) the maximum deductible contribution you
                    can deduct is reduced at the rate of 10% for each $1,000 of
                    income in excess of $25,000 ($40,000, if married). Thus if
                    you are single and your AGI is $31,500, your maximum
                    contribution would be $700. You could still make a $2,000
                    contribution, but the other $1,300 would be non-deductible.

                -   If you are (or, if you are married either you or your spouse
                    is) an active participant in any such retirement plan and
                    your AGI exceeds $35,000 ($50,000, if married) you will not
                    be permitted to deduct any part of your contribution. You
                    can still contribute any amount you wish up to $2,000 (or
                    $2,250 if you have a spousal IRA), but the entire
                    contribution will be non-deductible.

                Can both a husband and wife who work have individual IRAs? 
                Yes. If you both have earned income, you can each have your own
                IRA.

                How do I change the designation of my contribution after I file
                my taxes? 
                A contribution can be redesignated by filing an amended tax
                return and paying any taxes which may result from this change.

                When do I make my contribution?
                You can make your contribution any time from the beginning of
                the tax year to April 15 of the following year.

                Do I have to contribute to an individual IRA each year?
                No. You need not contribute to an IRA each year. You can also
                vary the amount of contributions to your IRA.

                What are the limits on contributions under a Loomis Sayles Funds
                SEP?

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
                If you establish a Loomis Sayles Funds IRA as part of a Loomis
                Sayles Funds SEP, different limits on contributions by the
                employer apply. See the "Guide to Employers" which describes the
                Loomis Sayles Funds SEP for an explanation of those limits. You
                may still make individual contributions to this IRA, but you
                will be subject to the limits on amounts and deductibility
                described above.

                What if I contribute more than the maximum allowed?
                If you withdraw the excess contribution and its earnings before
                you file your tax return (including extensions) for the year,
                you won't be subject to the 6% penalty on the excess
                contribution described below. You will be subject, however, to
                income taxes (and a 10% penalty tax if you are under age 59 1/2)
                on the earnings of the excess contribution.

                Another method for correcting the excess contribution is to
                leave the money in your IRA and to apply the excess to your next
                year's contribution. If you do that, however, you would be
                subject to a 6% penalty tax on the excess contribution in the
                year in which it was made and each subsequent year it remains an
                excess contribution.

                If your IRA is part of a Loomis Sayles Funds SEP and
                contributions are made in excess of the permissible limits
                established for a SEP, those contributions will be subject to
                the excess contributions rule described above. You may correct
                such an excess contribution through the procedures described
                above.

                May I make annual contributions to an IRA after I reach age 70
                1/2?
                No. If you reach age 70 1/2 by the end of the year you will not
                be able to contribute to your individual IRA. In addition, you
                may not contribute to your spouse's IRA after he or she reaches
                age 70 1/2.

                What money can I use to make my contributions to my individual
                IRA?
                The money can come from any source--it can be deducted from your
                paycheck or can come from another investment such as a savings
                account, checking account, etc.


TRANSFERS       What is a transfer of assets?
AND ROLLOVERS   A transfer of assets is the direct transfer from one IRA to
                another. The assets must be transferred directly from one
                trustee, custodian or insurance company to another.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
                What is an IRA rollover?
                An IRA rollover is a tax-free reinvestment of assets received by
                you from a retirement program into an IRA.

                An IRA rollover occurs

                        1) when the assets of an IRA are withdrawn by the
                investor and, within 60 days of receipt, are reinvested into
                another IRA. An IRA may be rolled over only once per year.

                        2) when a lump sum distribution from a qualified plan or
                tax-sheltered annuity (TSA) is reinvested within 60 days of
                receipt in an IRA rollover account. These distributions should
                not be commingled with your contributory IRA account if you ever
                plan to reinvest the assets in a qualified plan or TSA.

                Can I roll over a partial distribution from my retirement plan?
                Yes, if the distribution constitutes at least 50% of your
                account balance and is a result of separation from service with
                your employer or disability.

                How do I transfer my existing individual IRA to the Loomis
                Sayles Funds?
                Simply complete the IRA application, beneficiary designation
                form and transfer of assets form. Return all forms to us, along
                with a check for $5 made payable to State Street Bank and Trust
                Company, in the envelope provided.


DISTRIBUTIONS   When can I start to make withdrawals from my IRA?
                You may start to withdraw money without penalty from your IRA as
                early as age 59 1/2.
                Distribution must begin by April 1 following the year in which
                you attain age 70 1/2.

                What are the permissible methods of distribution?
                A lump sum payment, installment payments (monthly, quarterly or
                annual) or an annuity contract.

                Over what distribution period may my installment or annuity
                payments be made?
                If you do not choose a lump sum payment, distribution must be
                made over one of the following periods:

                        A.  Your life expectancy;
                        B.  The joint life expectancy of you and your designated
                            beneficiary;
                        C.  A period certain not longer than your life
                            expectancy;

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
                or  D.  A period certain not longer than the life expectancies
                        of you and your designated beneficiary.

                May I make withdrawals before I reach age 59 1/2?
                Yes. However, the IRS imposes a 10% penalty tax on the amount
                withdrawn and the distribution must also be reported in your
                income tax return for that year. Distributions which are due to
                death or disability, paid under a qualified domestic relations
                order, or as part of a series of substantially equal periodic
                (at least annual) payments over your life or the lives of you
                and your beneficiary are exempt from these penalties.

                May I use my IRA as collateral for a loan?
                No. If you use your IRA or any portion of it as collateral for a
                loan, it will be taxed immediately as if it were a payment to
                you.


DISTRIBUTION    What happens to my IRA if I die before age 59 1/2
AT DEATH        or before my benefits have been distributed to me from my IRA?

                Any amount in your IRA at the time of your death will be
                distributed to your designated beneficiary or beneficiaries. If
                you did not designate a beneficiary or your beneficiary
                predeceases you, payment will be made to your estate.

                How do I name a beneficiary?
                You name a beneficiary by completing a Beneficiary Designation
                form. You may change your beneficiary at any time by completing
                a new form.

                How can my beneficiary, who is my surviving spouse, receive
                death proceeds from my IRA?
                Your spouse can elect one of the following methods:

                       A.  Have the entire interest of the death proceeds
                           distributed by December 31 of the year which
                           includes the fifth anniversary of your death.
                       B.  Have the death proceeds rolled over into another IRA.
                       C.  Begin receiving the installment or annuity
                           distributions you previously were receiving by
                           December 31 of the year which includes the first
                           anniversary of your death.

                   or  D.  Have the death proceeds paid over your spouse's life
                           expectancy providing that the distribution starts no
                           later than December 31 of the year in which you would
                           have attained age 70 1/2.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
TAXATION        Will I have to itemize to get a reduction in my taxes if I make
                a deductible contribution to my individual IRA?
                No, because a deductible contribution to an IRA adjusts your
                gross income. As long as you indicate how much you invested in
                your IRA on the appropriate line of your 1040 form, you will
                reduce your taxes.

                How are my retirement distributions taxed?
                If the contributions to your IRA have all been tax-deductible,
                either to you or your employer, then each distribution will be
                taxed as ordinary income in the year it is received. In
                addition, if you receive a very large distribution (generally,
                in excess of $150,000) from your retirement plans and your IRA
                in any calendar year, you may be subject to a 15% penalty tax on
                the amount in excess of $150,000.

                If any of your contributions has been non-deductible, each
                distribution will consist of a non-taxable portion (return of
                non-deductible contributions) and a taxable portion (the return
                of deductible contributions and their earnings and earnings on
                non-deductible contributions).

                Lump sum distributions from an IRA are not eligible for the
                special 5-year or 10-year averaging procedures sometimes
                available for lump sum distributions from a qualified plan.

                Are IRA proceeds subject to estate taxes?
                The assets in your IRA plan at the time of your death will be
                included in your estate for federal estate tax purposes. In
                addition, if the total amount of benefits payable from your
                retirement plans and your IRA exceeds permissible levels, a 15%
                penalty tax may be assessed on the amount in excess of the
                permissible level.


FORMS    What is Form 5498?

                Form 5498 lists the amount of contributions made into an IRA or
                IRA rollover and is reported to the IRS. Form 5498 reflects
                contributions made for one calendar year and through April 15 of
                the following year.

                What is Form 8606?
                Form 8606 reports the amount of your IRA contribution which is
                non-deductible. Failure to file Form 8606 for each year in which
                you make a non-deductible IRA contribution may subject you to a
                $50 fee. If you overstate the amount of your non-deductible
                contributions on this form, you may be subject to a $100
                penalty.

                What form is issued when a distribution is made from an IRA?

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
                A distribution from an IRA is reported on a Form 1099-R.

                What is IRS Form 5329?
                Form 5329 must be filed when you owe penalty taxes on your IRA.
                The penalty taxes which must be reported on Form 5329 are excess
                contribution taxes, premature distribution taxes, taxes imposed
                because you did not receive a sufficient amount under the
                distribution rules, and taxes on excess distributions.


THE LOOMIS      Why fund an IRA with mutual funds?
SAYLES FUNDS    Mutual funds offer day-to-day professional management,
IRA AND YOU     a range of investment choices, and a variety of services
                that no other investment can match. For those who want to invest
                in some of the safest securities available, money market funds
                offer competitive interest rates with little risk. Our other
                funds invest in a broad range of common stock or fixed income
                securities. Those investing in mutual funds through an IRA can
                switch between different types of funds.

                In the Loomis Sayles Funds IRA, what investment choices are
                available?
                Nine no-load mutual funds:

                Stock funds     -      The Loomis Sayles Growth  Fund
                                       -   The Loomis Sayles Growth &
                                           Income Fund
                                       -   The Loomis Sayles Small Cap
                                           Fund
                                       -   The Loomis Sayles International 
                                           Equity Fund
                Bond funds      -      The Loomis Sayles Bond Fund
                                       -   The Loomis Sayles U.S. Government 
                                           Securities Fund
                                       -   The Loomis Sayles Global Bond
                                           Fund
                Money market funds     -   The New England Cash
                                           Management Trust:  Money
                                           Market Series
                                       -   The New England Cash Management 
                                           Trust:  U.S. Government Series

                Is there a sales charge involved in the purchase of shares in
                these funds?
                No.  All nine funds are no-load.

                What is the minimum investment in an individual IRA?

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
 
                The minimum investment is $250. If you wish to invest your
                contribution in more than one fund, you must invest at least
                $250 in each fund.

                Can I split my contributions?
                Yes. You can allocate portions of the contributions made to your
                IRA among any of the funds.

                Can I shift from one fund to another?
                Yes. You can exchange your existing shares or redirect your
                contributions among the funds.

                I already have an IRA account with another organization. Can I
                transfer it to the Loomis Sayles Funds IRA?
                Yes.  A form for transferring assets is enclosed in this kit.

                How do I keep track of my IRA?
                The Trustee will send you statements showing how much you have
                contributed, earnings and the number of shares in your account.
                In addition, you will receive shareholder reports containing
                current portfolio information to help you keep up to date on the
                investment activities of the fund(s) you are using.

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
 
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT
- -----------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURES OF THE PLAN   

       The tax features of an Individual Retirement Account ("IRA") have greatly
       expanded the opportunity to set aside dollars for your retirement years.
       You may get a current deduction on your tax return for the amount you
       invest in an individual IRA. You don't pay a tax on your contributions or
       contributions made by your employer until you draw out your accumulated
       funds at retirement. The earnings in the account are also tax-deferred
       until that time. Your right to your account, or, in the event of death,
       the right of your beneficiary or estate, is at all times non-forfeitable.
       Loomis Sayles ("Loomis Sayles") created this IRA as a convenient way for
       you to establish your own personal IRA and for your employer to make
       contributions on your behalf. The Plan has received a determination
       letter from the Internal Revenue Service that it meets the requirements
       of applicable law. (See the Internal Revenue Service determination letter
       (Serial No. D111143c) dated September 9, 1991 which is included in these
       materials.) IRS approval of the form of Plan does not however, represent
       any endorsement or determination by IRS as to the merits of the Plan or
       the Funds. If you think you would like to participate, please read on for
       a further explanation of the key features of applicable law and the Plan.
       This document, plus the prospectus of the fund(s) you have chosen for
       your IRA investment and the information provided above, constitute your
       disclosure statement as required by federal law.

       Right to Revoke

       You may revoke your enrollment in an IRA account by giving written notice
       within seven days after the account is established. Notice of revocation
       must be mailed to the Trustee, State Street Bank and Trust Company at
       P.O. Box 8314, Boston, Massachusetts 02266-8314 or hand delivered to the
       Trustee at 225 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02129. Notice will be deemed
       to have been mailed on the date of the postmark (or if sent by registered
       or certified mail, the date of registration or certification) when
       deposited in the mail in the United States, first class postage prepaid,
       properly addressed. If you revoke your account, the entire amount you
       paid in will be returned to you promptly, without deductions or
       adjustments of any kind. If your IRA has been established under a SEP
       sponsored by your employer, your seven-day withdrawal period will
       commence as of the date on which the first contribution on your behalf is
       made.

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
 
       Eligibility

       In general, everyone under age 70 1/2 who earns a wage or salary or earns
       a profit from his work is eligible to contribute to an individual IRA.
       Also married individuals who are eligible may establish a separate IRA on
       behalf of their non-working spouses (a "Spousal IRA"). Furthermore,
       divorced or legally separated individuals may contribute to an IRA based
       on the alimony payments they receive. See the "Guide to Employers" for an
       explanation of the eligibility requirements for an IRA under a Loomis
       Sayles Funds SEP.

       Contributions

       If you establish an IRA for your own benefit, each year until you attain
       age 70 1/2 you may contribute up to an amount equal to the lesser of your
       total annual compensation or $2000. Alimony payments may be treated as
       compensation. If an IRA is also established for the benefit of your
       spouse, the overall limit for contributions to both IRAs is $2,250 (but
       you still may not contribute more than 100% of your total annual
       compensation, and the amount contributed to either IRA may not exceed
       $2,000). Your contribution may be made at any time during the taxable
       year or after the end of the taxable year up to the time for filing your
       individual tax return for that year (without regard to any extension).
       For most individuals, the deadline would be April 15. You do not have to
       contribute each year, nor are you required to contribute the same amount
       each year. You may make your contributions in convenient installments as
       set forth in the Account Application. Your account will be in your name,
       your spouse's account, if any, will be in his or her name, and you are
       entitled to the tax deduction. To keep an IRA qualified, you will need to
       report your deduction on your annual IRS tax return, Form 1040. You do
       not have to itemize deductions in order to deduct an IRA contribution on
       your income tax return. See the "Guide to Employers" for a description of
       the rules concerning contributions under a Loomis Sayles Funds SEP.

       An IRA may be used to make a "rollover" contribution of funds received by
       you from a qualified employee benefit plan in which you previously
       participated. Anyone who receives a lump sum payment of accumulated
       benefits in a qualified employee benefit plan can preserve tax sheltered
       treatment of these funds by investing them in an IRA within 60 days of
       receipt. In this manner, assets transferred from another retirement
       program are kept invested, tax consequences stemming from the payment are
       deferred until distributions are made from your IRA account and you have
       the option to

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
 
       "rollover" the funds later to a tax-qualified program of a subsequent
       employer, a retirement annuity or another IRA. You can rollover the
       entire amount of your distribution from a qualified employee benefit plan
       (less any non-deductible contributions you made to the plan) to your IRA
       or you can rollover only a portion of the distribution. If you do not
       rollover the entire distribution, however, the portion of the
       distribution not included in the rollover will be taxed as ordinary
       income.

       This rollover contribution should be segregated from an IRA account into
       which current contributions are made if you wish to preserve the option
       to rollover such amount at a later time to a tax-qualified program of a
       subsequent employer. Anyone desiring to make such a segregation of a
       "rollover" contribution should open two separate IRA accounts. Rollover
       contributions may be made in the form of securities or other assets with
       the Trustee's approval.

       An IRA rollover also occurs in the case where assets from one IRA to
       which you have made current contributions are withdrawn by you and within
       60 days of receipt are reinvested into another IRA. A rollover can be
       made only once in any taxable year. Such rollover assets need not be
       segregated from an IRA account into which current contributions are being
       made.

       Earnings and Charges

       Your contributions and contributions made on your behalf by your employer
       will be used to purchase shares, as you direct, of Loomis Sayles Growth
       Fund, Loomis Sayles Growth & Income Fund, Loomis Sayles Small Cap Fund,
       Loomis Sayles International Equity Fund, Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund,
       Loomis Sayles Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles U.S. Government Securities Fund,
       New England Cash Management Trust: Money Market Series and New England
       Cash Management Trust: U.S. Government Series (the "Funds"). The Funds
       are no-load funds, which means that no sales commissions are charged; 100
       percent of your dollar contribution is invested for you. Any dividends or
       capital gains distributions on the Funds' shares will be invested in
       additional Funds' shares automatically. These additional shares will
       represent your earnings from the account. The funds available for
       distribution when you reach age 59 1/2, die, or become disabled will be
       the market value of the shares your contributions and earnings have
       purchased over the years. Due to the fluctuating value of the Funds'
       investments, it is not possible to make a projection of expected growth,
       and growth cannot be guaranteed.

                                      -18-
<PAGE>
 
       The law requires that the shares in your account be held by a trustee
       which is a bank or other organization approved by the IRS. The Trustee of
       the Plan meets this requirement. You will be entitled to vote the shares
       in your account. The Trustee charges $5.00 as an application fee, $10.00
       per year per account as a maintenance fee, and $5.00 for each lump sum
       distribution or return of an excess contribution but reserves the right
       to increase these charges at any time upon 30 days' advance notice. The
       Trustee will send you a statement of account annually informing you of
       the exact amount of contributions, earnings, distributions, and year-end
       value. The Trustee will also send a statement to the Internal Revenue
       Service as required by law.

       Distributions

       You may withdraw funds from your account at any time after age 59 1/2 and
       before age 70 1/2 without any restrictions. Penalties may apply in
       certain other circumstances. (See Account Restrictions and Penalties,
       below). You must begin to withdraw funds from your account no later than
       the April 1 following the year in which you attain age 70 1/2 (or the
       year you create a rollover IRA, if later).

       Your funds may at your option be distributed to you in the following
       ways: (1) a lump sum payment of your entire account, in cash or Fund
       shares; (2) installment payments over a period certain not extending
       beyond your life expectancy; (3) installment payments over a period
       certain not extending beyond the joint life and last survivor expectancy
       of you and your beneficiary; or (4) in the form of an annuity contract.

       If you die before distribution of your IRA begins, then the entire
       balance must be distributed in cash or Fund Shares to your beneficiary by
       December 31 of the year which contains the fifth anniversary of your
       death, or in installment payments over a period certain not exceeding
       your beneficiary's life expectancy, or in the form of an annuity contract
       for a similar period. Installment payments must begin either by December
       31 of the year following your death or, if your beneficiary is your
       surviving spouse, not later than December 31 of the year in which you
       would have attained age 70 1/2. If you die after distribution of your IRA
       begins but before it is completed, the remaining balance must be
       distributed to your beneficiary under a method which provides for payment
       at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution in use before
       your death.

       You may designate a beneficiary and change beneficiaries from time to
       time. If you do not designate a beneficiary,

                                      -19-
<PAGE>
 
       your estate will receive the balance in your account. Designating a
       beneficiary and changing beneficiaries is not considered the making of a
       taxable gift.

       A non-deductible 50% excise tax will be imposed on the difference between
       the minimum amount which should have been paid out in any year based on
       the form of payment selected and the amount actually paid out in that
       year. The tax is to be paid by the individual to whom the minimum
       payments should have been made.

       You will pay income taxes when your account is distributed. If the amount
       of distributions you receive in any one year from your IRA and other
       retirement plans exceeds $150,000, you will be subject to a 15% penalty
       tax on the amount distributed in excess of $150,000. Depending upon your
       particular circumstances, you may find it advantageous to withdraw your
       account in installments over a number of years. If you die before
       receiving all of the assets in your account, the remainder of the account
       is included in the assets of your estate for federal estate tax purposes.
       In addition, if the benefits in your IRA and other retirement plans
       exceed certain threshold amounts, your estate may be subject to a 15%
       excise tax on amounts in excess of the threshold amounts .

       The tax laws provide that payments received from your IRA plan are
       subject to federal income tax withholding unless you elect not to have
       withholding apply. Such election must be made in writing to the Trustee
       at the time you submit your authorization for distribution.

       Account Restrictions and Penalties

       If you withdraw funds from your account before age 59 1/2 (except upon
       your death or disability or if the withdrawal is made for purposes of a
       rollover transfer or as part of a series of substantially equal payments
       over your life or life expectancy), the distributions will not only be
       included in your gross income, but also you will pay a non-deductible
       excise tax equal to 10% of the amount withdrawn.

       There are very severe consequences if you use your Plan assets as
       security for a loan or borrow any money from or through your IRA account,
       or engage in other transactions prohibited by Section 4975(c) of the
       Internal Revenue Code. Not only would your account lose its tax-exempt
       status, but you would be required to include the entire value of the
       account's assets in your gross income for the year in which the
       prohibited transaction occurred and to pay a 10% penalty as well.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
 
       If you contribute more to the Plan than the law allows (as explained
       under "Contributions"), you may withdraw the excess without the 6%
       penalty (described below) if you do so by the due date for filing your
       federal income tax return (with extensions). You must also withdraw the
       earnings on the excess and pay taxes and a 10% penalty on the amount of
       earnings. Excess contributions in a taxable year can be corrected by
       withdrawing the excess contribution in any later year provided that a tax
       deduction has not been allowed for the excess contribution. Additionally,
       an excess contribution in one taxable year (for which no tax deduction
       was taken) will be deductible in a subsequent taxable year if, and to the
       extent that, you contribute less than the maximum deductible amount in
       that later year and you treat the excess contribution as a current
       contribution in that year. Excess contributions which are not withdrawn
       or utilized as a current contribution during the year will be subject to
       a non-deductible excise tax of 6% for each taxable year in which they
       remain uncorrected. See the "Guide to Employers" for an explanation of
       these rules as applied to a Loomis Sayles Funds SEP.

       You must begin to withdraw funds from your account no later than April 1
       following the year you reach age 70 1/2. If you do not, or if you
       withdraw less than the minimum amount described earlier under
       "Distributions," you will incur an excise tax equal to 50% of the amount
       you should have withdrawn but did not. The Secretary of the Treasury has
       the power to waive this 50% tax penalty, if the excess accumulation is
       due to reasonable cause and reasonable steps are being taken to correct
       the excess.

       If you receive a premature distribution, make an excess contribution
       which is not corrected in the time allowed, fail to withdraw the minimum
       amount required to be withdrawn upon attainment of age 70 1/2, or receive
       an excess distribution, you must file Form 5329 (return of excise tax)
       with the IRS along with your annual tax return, Form 1040. In addition,
       if you make a non-deductible contribution to your IRA in any year, you
       must file Form 8606 to report the amount of the non-deductible
       contribution.

       How to Participate

       You may establish your individual account simply by completing the
       Account Application and mailing it to State Street Bank and Trust Company
       at the address indicated on the Account Application with your first
       contribution. To establish an account under a Loomis Sayles Funds SEP,
       complete the Account Application and mail it to State Street Bank and
       Trust Company at the address indicated on the

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
 
       Account Application. If you need any assistance in completing the Account
       Application, please telephone Loomis Sayles at (800) 633-3330. Once an
       account has been established for you, you can send subsequent investments
       to your individual IRA at any time directly to: Boston Financial Data
       Services, Inc., P.O. Box 8314, Boston, Massachusetts 02102. You may also
       make subsequent investments by federal funds wire to: State Street Bank
       and Trust Company, ABA#011000028. The text of the wire should read as
       follows: "$ amount, STATE STREET BOS ATTN Mutual Fund. Credit [Name
       Fund], [Account Holder Name], [Account Number]." Your bank may charge you
       a fee for transmitting funds by wire.

       PLEASE NOTE: The foregoing is not a complete or definitive explanation of
       the Plan or of the provisions of applicable law. Please do not complete
       the application without reading the Plan and the Fund prospectus which
       must always accompany the Plan. Consult your financial or tax advisor if
       you are uncertain that a Loomis Sayles Funds IRA is an appropriate
       program for your investment needs.

                                      -22-
<PAGE>
 
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
THE LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT
(the "Plan")
- -----------------------------------------------------------------

       Loomis, Sayles & Company, Incorporated ("Loomis Sayles") has developed
       and is sponsoring this individual retirement plan for adoption by
       eligible individuals. Upon execution of the Account Application by the
       adopting individual and by his or her spouse (in the case of a "Spousal
       IRA"), a Plan and Trust Account shall be created for the exclusive
       benefit of the adopting Individual or his or her beneficiaries upon the
       following terms and conditions and in accordance with the provisions of
       the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (the
       "Act") and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
       Some words and phrases used herein have a technical meaning and are
       defined in Article IX.

       Eligibility

I.     Any person who receives Compensation for services rendered during the
       taxable year or for whom contributions are being made under his or her
       employer's simplified employee pension plan (within the meaning of
       Section 408(k) of the Code) is eligible to adopt this Plan. Any person
       for whom a Spousal IRA is being established is also eligible to adopt
       this Plan. In addition, any person making a Rollover Contribution, as
       defined in Article IX, below, may adopt the Plan.

       Participation

II.a.  Primary Participation. An eligible person who wishes to adopt this Plan
       (the "Individual") may do so by signing and mailing to the bank named in
       the Account Application as Trustee (the "Trustee") a counterpart copy of
       the Account Application (the "Application"). In addition, any such
       adopting Individual may designate the Plan as forming part of his or her
       employer's simplified employee pension plan (within the meaning of
       Section 408(k) of the Code) in which event such employer may make
       contributions to the Trust Account subject to the limitations described
       in Article III.a., below.

   b.  Spousal IRA. A spouse for whom a Spousal IRA is being established will be
       required to sign an Account Application. Such a spouse shall be
       considered the sole owner of all amounts contributed thereto and the
       earnings thereon; shall have the right to designate how the assets in the
       Plan are to be invested under the provisions of Article IV, below; and
       shall have the right to direct the time and manner of distribution
       pursuant to the provisions of Article V, below. The spouse for whom a
       Spousal IRA is established shall not have the right to contribute to the
       Plan or to amend the Plan without his or her spouse's consent. Any
       provision of this Plan which gives any person adopting the Plan a right,
       option or privilege, or imposes any duty, risk or limitation on such
       person, or relieves the Trustee or the

                                      -23-
<PAGE>
 
       Fund from liability to such person shall be deemed to extend to the
       spouse for whom a Spousal IRA has been established.

       Contributions

III.a. An Individual who receives Compensation for services rendered during the
       taxable year may contribute cash to his or her account (the "Trust
       Account" or "Account") in any such year prior to the year in which he or
       she attains 70 1/2 in an amount not in excess of the lesser of the
       Individual's Compensation includable in his or her gross income for such
       year or $2,000.

       The Fund and Trustee are not responsible for determining the amount such
       an Individual may contribute, but the Trustee will not accept more than
       $2,000 in any taxable year from such Individual, plus any permitted
       Rollover Contribution plus (where the Plan has been designated as a part
       of a simplified employee pension plan (within the meaning of Section
       408(k) of the Code)) contributions from such Individual's employer not in
       excess of the maximum dollar limitation applicable to defined
       contribution plans under Section 415(c)(1)(A) of the Code. The interest
       of such Individual in the Trust Account shall be non-forfeitable at all
       times. If during any taxable year such Individual contributes an amount
       which exceeds the deduction he or she is allowed under Section 219 of the
       Code, such excess contribution and any income attributable thereto shall,
       upon the written request at any time of such Individual, be paid to him
       or her by the Trustee .

       Such Individual may also at any age make a Rollover Contribution as
       defined in Article IX(c) below. If such Individual so directs on the
       Application, such Rollover Contribution and the earnings thereon shall be
       held by the Trustee in a separate account (the "Rollover Account") for
       the Individual. The interest of an Individual in his or her Rollover
       Account, if any, shall be non-forfeitable at all times.

   b.  Cash may also be contributed to the Trust Account on behalf of an
       Individual for whom a Spousal IRA has been established provided: (i) such
       Individual has no Compensation or elects to be treated as having no
       Compensation for such taxable year; and (ii) such Individual will not
       have attained age 70 1/2 prior to the close of such taxable year. The
       interest of an Individual for whom a Spousal IRA has been established in
       his or her Trust Account shall be non-forfeitable at all times.

       The amount contributed may not exceed (i) the lesser of the Compensation
       of such Individual's spouse which is includable in his or her gross
       income for such taxable year or $2,250, reduced by (ii) the amount
       contributed by the spouse to any individual retirement plan established
       for his or her benefit and deductible by him or her

                                      -24-
<PAGE>
 
       under Section 219 of the Code for such taxable year. However, in no case
       may the contribution under this Section exceed $2,000.

       Investment of Contributions

IV.a.  All contributions made by or on behalf of an Individual shall be invested
       by the Trustee in shares of one or more of the following registered
       investment companies (the "Funds") alone or in combination, in such
       percentage as the Individual shall specify in the Application or
       thereafter in writing to the Trustee from time to time.

              (1)    Loomis Sayles Growth Fund;
              (2)    Loomis Sayles Growth & Income Fund;
              (3)    Loomis Sayles Small Cap Fund;
              (4)    Loomis Sayles International Equity Fund;
              (5)    Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund;
              (6)    Loomis Sayles Bond Fund; and/or
              (7)    Loomis Sayles U.S. Government Securities Fund;
              (8)    New England Cash Management Trust:  Money Market Series;
              (9)    New England Cash Management Trust: U.S. Government 
                     Series; and
              (10)   such other registered investment company or companies as
                     may now or hereafter be sponsored by Loomis Sayles or any
                     of its affiliates and which Loomis Sayles designates in
                     writing to the Trustee as an eligible investment under this
                     Article IV.

       Prior to the date an Individual attains age 59 1/2, all income dividends
       and capital gains distributions from a Fund shall be reinvested in
       additional Fund Shares. On or after the date an Individual attains age 59
       1/2, he or she may elect to receive all income dividends and/or capital
       gains distributions from a Fund in cash.

   b.  A Rollover Contribution may be made in cash or in Shares of the Funds.

   c.  No part of the Trust Account shall at any time be commingled with other
       property, except in a common trust fund or common investment fund (within
       the meaning of Section 408(a)(5) of the Code), or invested in any of the
       following:

              (1)    A life insurance contract or contracts;
              (2)    A promissory note or other obligation issued by the
                     Individual;
              (3)    Any work of art, rug, antique, metal, gem, stamp, coin,
                     alcoholic beverage, or other tangible personal property
                     specified by the Secretary of the Treasury as a
                     "collectible" within the meaning of Section 408(m) of the
                     Code.

                                      -25-
<PAGE>
 
       Distributions

V.a.   All or any part of the interest of the Individual in the Trust account
       may be distributed at any time but must be, or commence to be,
       distributed by the Trustee no later than the first day of April following
       the calendar year in which the Individual attains 70 1/2 (the "Required
       Commencement Date"). Not later than the Required Commencement Date, the
       Individual shall specify, by written notice in a form and at such time as
       may be acceptable to the Trustee, that his or her interest in the Trust
       Account is to be distributed in:

              (1)     A single sum payment in cash or Fund Shares;
              (2)     Equal or substantially equal monthly, quarterly or annual
                      payments over a period certain not extending beyond the
                      life expectancy of the Individual or the joint life and
                      last survivor expectancy of the Individual and his or her
                      designated beneficiary; or
              (3)     In the form of a nontransferable annuity contract which
                      provides for payments over any period certain not
                      exceeding the periods described in (2) above or over the
                      life of the Individual or the joint lives of the
                      Individual and his or her designated beneficiary, which
                      contract shall be immediately distributed to the
                      Individual.

       If the Individual fails to elect any of the methods of distribution
       described above on or before the Required Commencement Date, distribution
       to the Individual will be made on or before the Required Commencement
       Date in a single sum payment.

   b.  If the Individual dies after distribution of his or her interest in the
       Trust Account commences but before his or her entire interest is
       distributed, the remaining portion of such interest will continue to be
       distributed to the Individual's designated beneficiary under a method of
       distribution elected by such beneficiary, provided such method provides
       for payment at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution
       employed prior to the Individual's death.

       If the Individual dies before distribution of his or her interest in the
       Trust Account commences, his or her entire interest will be distributed
       to his or her designated beneficiary under the method selected by such
       beneficiary from among those described below:

              (1)     A single sum payment in cash or Fund Shares made not later
                      than December 31 of the year in which occurs the fifth
                      anniversary of the Individual's death; or
              (2)     Equal or substantially equal monthly, quarterly or annual
                      payments over a period certain not extending beyond the
                      life expectancy of the designated beneficiary commencing,
                      in the case of a designated beneficiary who is the
                      Individual's surviving

                                      -26-
<PAGE>
 
                      spouse, not later than December 31 of the calendar year in
                      which the Individual would have attained age 70 1/2 or, in
                      the case of any other designated beneficiary, not later
                      than December 31 of the year in which occurs the first
                      anniversary of the Individual's death; or
              (3)     In the form of a nontransferable annuity contract which
                      provides for payments over any period certain not
                      exceeding the period described in (2) above or over the
                      life of the designated beneficiary, such payments to
                      commence not later than the applicable date described in
                      (2) above, which contract shall immediately be distributed
                      to the designated beneficiary.

       Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs, however, if the designated
       beneficiary is the Individual's surviving spouse, such spouse may at any
       time prior to December 31 of the year containing the fifth anniversary of
       the Individual's death elect to treat his or her interest in the Trust
       Account as his or her own individual retirement account, in which event
       he or she will thereafter succeed to all of the rights, and be subject to
       all of the restrictions, of the Individual with respect to his or her
       interest in the Trust Account. Such an election will be deemed to have
       been made in the event the surviving spouse makes an annual contribution
       to the Trust Account, makes a Rollover Contribution to or from the Trust
       Account, or fails to elect payment of his or her interest pursuant to any
       of the distribution options described above within the five-year period
       following the Individual's death.

   c.  Notwithstanding that distributions may have commenced to the Individual,
       or in the event of the Individual's death, to his or her designated
       beneficiary, pursuant to one of the above options, the Individual or, if
       applicable, his or her designated beneficiary, may receive a distribution
       of the balance or any part of the balance of his or her interest in the
       Trust Account either in cash or in Fund Shares at any time upon written
       notice to the Trustee. If the Individual or a designated beneficiary
       elects a mode of distribution under (a)(2) or (b)(2) above, the total
       amount paid (in the case of payments due to the Individual) in the
       calendar year containing the Required Commencement Date and each
       subsequent year, or (in the case of payments due to a designated
       beneficiary) in the twelve consecutive month period beginning on the date
       payment commences and on each anniversary of such date, shall not be less
       than the lesser of the entire interest of the Individual or designated
       beneficiary in the Trust Account and an amount determined by dividing the
       entire interest of the Individual or designated beneficiary in the Trust
       Account at the beginning of each such year or period (including, in
       computing the minimum distribution due to the Individual, amounts not in
       the Account at the beginning of the year because they had been withdrawn
       for the purpose of making a Rollover Contribution to

                                      -27-
<PAGE>
 
       another individual retirement account) by the life expectancy of the
       Individual or the joint life and last survivor expectancy of the
       Individual and his or her designated beneficiary, or in the case of
       distribution to a designated beneficiary, the life expectancy of such
       beneficiary, such expectancies determined in each case in accordance with
       (d) below. In the event the Individual's designated beneficiary is not
       his or her spouse, such amount shall be determined by dividing such
       entire interest of the Individual by the applicable divisor determined
       from the table set forth in Q&A-4 of section 1.401(a)(9)-2 of the
       Proposed Income Tax Regulations. Distributions after the death of the
       Individual shall be calculated using the applicable life expectancy as
       the relevant divisor without regard to Proposed Regulations section
       1.401(a)(9)-2. Distributions under (a)(3) or (b)(3) above shall be made
       in accordance with the requirements of section 401(a)(9) of the Internal
       Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.

   d.  For purposes of this Article, expectancies will be determined by use of
       the expected life return multiples specified in Tables V and VI of
       section 1.72-9 of the Income Tax Regulations. The life expectancy of the
       Individual and his or her surviving spouse, at the election of the
       Individual, may be recalculated not more frequently than annually. Such
       election shall be irrevocable as to the Individual and his or her
       surviving spouse and shall apply to all subsequent years. The life
       expectancy of any designated beneficiary who is not the Individual's
       surviving spouse may not be recalculated. In the event the Individual
       does not elect to have life expectancies recalculated, the life
       expectancy of the Individual, his or her surviving spouse or any other
       designated beneficiary will be determined as of his or her attained age
       during the calendar year in which distributions are required to begin and
       shall thereafter be reduced by one for each completed twelve consecutive
       month period to elapse since the date payment commenced.

   e.  The Individual may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries on the form
       which accompanies the Account Application. If no such designation is in
       force at the time of the Individual's death, the Trustee shall distribute
       the assets in the Trust Account to the personal representative of the
       deceased Individual. For purposes of b., c. and d. above, an Individual's
       surviving spouse will be deemed to be his or her designated beneficiary
       with respect to any payments to be made to a child of the Individual if
       the remainder of such child's interest in the Trust Account becomes
       payable to the Individual's surviving spouse when the child reaches the
       age of majority.

       Administration

VI.    Except as otherwise provided in this Plan, the Trustee shall exercise as
       agent on behalf of the Individual, his or her spouse, and any beneficiary
       any and all powers such persons themselves could exercise

                                      -28-
<PAGE>
 
       as an owner of the property held, including but not limited to the
       following powers:

              (1)     To receive contributions or a Rollover Contribution
                      pursuant to the provisions of this Plan;
              (2)     To hold, invest and reinvest the contributions or a
                      Rollover Contribution in investments permitted by the
                      provisions of Article IV hereof, or in any combination of
                      such permitted investments, in such percentages as the
                      Individual shall specify from time to time;
              (3)     To register any property held by the Trustee in its own
                      name, or in nominee or bearer form that will pass
                      delivery; and
              (4)     To make distributions from the Trust Account in cash or in
                      Fund Shares or in an annuity contract pursuant to the
                      provisions of this Plan.

       The Trustee shall mail to the Individual all proxies, proxy soliciting
       materials, and periodic reports or other communications that may come
       into the Trustee's possession by reason of its custody of Fund Shares.
       Upon receipt from the Individual of a signed proxy, the Trustee shall
       forward it to the soliciting Fund, it being intended that the Individual
       shall vote the proxy, notwithstanding the fact that the Trustee may be
       the registered owner of the shares, and the Trustee shall have no further
       liability or responsibility with respect to the voting of such shares.

       The Trustee shall keep accurate and detailed account of its receipts,
       investments and disbursements. As soon as practicable after December 31st
       each year, and whenever required by Regulations adopted by the Internal
       Revenue Service under the Act or the Code, the Trustee shall file with
       the Individual a written report of the Trustee's transactions relating to
       the Trust Account during the period from the last previous accounting and
       the then value of the Trust Account, and shall file such other reports
       with the Internal Revenue Service as may be required by its Regulations.

       Upon the expiration of sixty (60) days following its receipt, the
       Individual shall be deemed to have approved such report, and the Trustee
       shall be forever released and discharged with respect to all matters
       reflected therein, except as to such matters as the Individual may
       indicate by written objection received by the Trustee within said sixty
       (60) day period. The Trustee may seek a judicial settlement of its
       accounts. In any such proceeding the only necessary party thereto in
       addition to the Trustee shall be the Individual.

       The Trustee shall use ordinary care and reasonable diligence in the
       performance of its duties as Trustee. The Trustee shall not be liable for
       a mistake in judgment, for any action taken in good faith,

                                      -29-
<PAGE>
 
       or for any loss that is not a result of gross negligence, except as
       provided by the Act if applicable and regulations promulgated thereunder.

       The Individual agrees to indemnify and hold the Trustee harmless from and
       against any liability that the Trustee may incur in the administration of
       the Trust Account, unless arising from the Trustee's own gross negligence
       or willful misconduct.

       The Trustee shall be under no duty to question the amount of any
       contribution or any direction of the Individual in respect to the
       investment of contributions, including a Rollover Contribution, or to
       make suggestions to the Individual with respect to the investment,
       retention or disposition of any contributions, including a Rollover
       Contribution, or assets held in the Trust Account .

       Unless otherwise instructed by the Individual, the Trustee shall pay out
       of the Trust Account expenses of administration, including the fees of
       counsel employed by the Trustee, taxes, its fees for maintaining the
       Trust Account (which are set forth in the Application or any subsequently
       amended Application), and any additional expenses or charges incurred by
       reason of the Individual's direction of the investment of a Rollover
       Contribution. The Trustee may sell Trust Account assets to pay the
       forgoing expenses. The Trustee may resign as Trustee of any Individual's
       Trust Account or as Trustee of all accounts adopted under the provisions
       of this Plan, in either case upon sixty (60) days' prior notice to Loomis
       Sayles and thirty (30) days' prior notice to each Individual who will be
       affected by such resignation.

       Loomis Sayles

VII.   The Individual delegates to Loomis Sayles the following powers with
       respect to the Plan: (i) to remove the Trustee upon sixty (60) days'
       prior notice to the Trustee, and to select a successor Trustee; (ii) to
       establish the fees of the Trustee by agreement with the Trustee; and
       (iii) to amend this Plan as provided in Article VIII hereof (except the
       power to amend the Individual's entries on the Application).

       The powers herein delegated to Loomis Sayles shall be exercised by such
       officer thereof as Loomis Sayles may designate from time to time, and
       shall be exercised only when similarly exercised with respect to all
       other Individuals adopting the Plan.

       Neither the Funds, Loomis Sayles nor any officer, director, board,
       committee, employee or other member of the Funds or Loomis Sayles shall
       incur any liability of any nature to the Individual or beneficiary or
       other person in connection with any act done or omitted to be done in
       good faith in the exercise of any power or authority herein delegated to
       Loomis Sayles.

                                      -30-
<PAGE>
 
       If Loomis Sayles shall hereafter determine that it is no longer desirable
       for Loomis Sayles to continue to exercise any of the powers hereby
       delegated to Loomis Sayles, it may relieve itself of any further
       responsibilities hereunder by notice in writing to the Individual at
       least sixty (60) days prior to the date on which Loomis Sayles proposes
       to discontinue its exercise of the powers delegated to it.

       Amendment and Termination

VIII.  The Individual delegates to Loomis Sayles the power to amend this Plan
       (including retroactive amendment).

       The Individual may amend his or her Application (including retroactive
       amendment) by submitting to the Trustee (i) a copy of such amended
       Application, and (ii) evidence satisfactory to the Trustee that the Plan
       as amended by such amended Application will continue to qualify as an
       Individual Retirement Account under the provisions of Section 408 of the
       Code.

       No amendment shall be effective if it would cause or permit: (i) any part
       of the Trust Account to be diverted to any purpose that is not for the
       exclusive benefit of the Individual and his or her beneficiaries; (ii)
       the Individual to be deprived of any portion of his or her interest in
       the Trust Account, unless such action is taken in order to satisfy
       qualification requirements under the Code; or (iii) the imposition of an
       additional duty on the Trustee without its consent.

       The Individual reserves the right to terminate his or her adoption of
       this Plan by instrument in writing signed by him or her and filed with
       the Trustee.

       Definitions

IX.    Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings
       set forth below unless otherwise expressly provided herein:

       a.     "Compensation" means wages, salaries, professional fees, or other
              amounts derived from or received for personal service actually
              rendered (including, but not limited to, commissions paid
              salesmen, compensation for services on the basis of a percentage
              of profits, commissions on insurance premiums, tips, and bonuses)
              and includes earned income as defined in Section 401(c)(2) of the
              Code (reduced by the deduction the self-employed individual takes
              for contributions made to a self-employed retirement plan). For
              purposes of this definition, Section 401(c)(2) shall be applied as
              if the term trade or business for purposes of Section 1402
              included service described in subsection (c)(6). Compensation does
              not include amounts derived from or received as earnings or

                                      -31-
<PAGE>
 
              profits from property (including, but not limited to, interest and
              dividends) or amounts not includable in gross income. Compensation
              also does not include any amount received as a pension or annuity
              or as deferred compensation. Any amount includable in the
              Individual's gross income under Section 71 of the Code with
              respect to a divorce or separation instrument described in Section
              71(b)(2)(A) of the Code shall be included as compensation.

       b.     "Fund Shares" means the common stock issued by the Funds described
              in Article IV as eligible investments.

       c.     "Rollover Contribution" means a rollover contribution as described
              in Section 402(a)(5), Section 402(a)(6), Section 402(a)(7),
              Section 403(a)(4), Section 403(b)(8) or Section 408(d)(3) of the
              Code, as amended, and Regulations promulgated thereunder. The
              Individual shall have the exclusive responsibility for determining
              whether an amount contributed as a Rollover Contribution is
              properly described in the applicable Section of the Code.

                                      -32-
<PAGE>
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT APPLICATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


ACCOUNT INFORMATION

 Name
     ---------------------------------
 Address
        ------------------------------

 -------------------------------------
 Social Security #
                  --------------------
 Date of Birth
              ------------------------
 Daytime Telephone Number
                         -------------
Initial Contribution Information

Make all checks payable to State Street Bank and Trust Company
   The enclosed check represents:
- ---
   Contribution for        current year;         prior year
- ---                     ---                   ---
   Rollover contribution from a qualified pension, profit-sharing or 403(b) plan
- ---
   Rollover contribution from another IRA
- ---
   SEP IRA Contribution    current year;         prior year
- ---                     ---                   ---  
   Transfer of assets from another IRA (Complete asset transfer on page 34) and
   enclose $5    application fee.
- ---
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT SELECTION
(May indicate more than one Fund.                        Contribution Allocation
Please see page 5 for description of availability of funds). 
(minimum $250 per Fund)
- -----------------------
 
Loomis Sayles Growth Fund 141                            $
                                                          ----------------------
Loomis Sayles Growth & Income Fund 148                   $
                                                          ----------------------
Loomis Sayles Small Cap Fund 143                         $
                                                          ----------------------
Loomis Sayles International Equity Fund 145              $
                                                          ----------------------
Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund 142                       $
                                                          ----------------------
Loomis Sayles Bond Fund 147                              $
                                                          ----------------------
Loomis Sayles U. S. Government Securities Fund 146       $
                                                          ----------------------
New England Cash Management Trust: Money Market Series   $
                                                          ----------------------
New England Cash Management Trust: U.S. Government 
Series                                                   $
                                                          ----------------------
INITIAL APPLICATION FEE                                  $         5.00
                                                          ----------------------
AMOUNT OF CHECK ENCLOSED                                 $
                                                          ----------------------

                                      -33-
<PAGE>
 
INSTRUCTIONS:  Sign two copies of this form and complete the Beneficiary
Designation below. Keep one copy of these forms for your records and send one
copy of each to:

                     State Street Bank and Trust Company
                     P.O. Box 8314
                     Boston, MA 02266-8314

   The individual (or the individual and spouse) named above hereby adopts the
Loomis Sayles Funds INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT upon the terms and conditions
thereof, this    day of              , 199  .  By signing this application
establishing an IRA, the individual (i) appoints State Street Bank and Trust
Company, or its successors, as Trustee of the Account, (ii) states that he or
she has received, read, accepts, and specifically incorporates the Plan and
Disclosure Statement by reference to this application, (iii) acknowledges
receipt of the current prospectus of the mutual fund(s) selected (iv) consents
to the Trustee's fee, (v) agrees promptly to give such instructions to the
Trustee as are necessary to enable the Trustee to carry out its duties under the
Trust, (vi) represents that whenever information as to any taxable year is
required to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service by the Trustee unless
filed by the individual, the individual will file such information with the
Internal Revenue Service, (vii) affirms that his or her participation is
completely voluntary, and (viii) confirms that he or she has received no
specific endorsement of the investment vehicles available under this plan from
the Trustee or Loomis Sayles.

   Under penalties of perjury, I certify that the Social Security number listed
below is my correct taxpayer identification number.


                                        Accepted: State Street Bank and Trust
- -------------------------------------   Company
             Individual

                                        By
- -------------------------------------     --------------------------------------
    Social Security Number                                Trustee

- -------------------------------------     --------------------------------------
                Date                                       Date


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

This Beneficiary Designation is to be used to indicate the person or persons to
whom the IRA assets should be turned over in the event of your death.  If you
are not survived by a validly designated beneficiary, your benefits will be paid
to your estate in the event of your death.

The Beneficiaries named herein and the manner of distribution may be changed or
revoked at any time by filing a new designation in writing with the Trustee.
This designation, and any changes or revocation, will only be effective upon
receipt by the Trustee.

INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT

Upon my death, distribute my Loomis Sayles Funds Individual Retirement Account
in equal shares to the following Principal Beneficiaries who survive me or, if
none survives me, in equal shares to the following Secondary Beneficiaries who
survive me:

                                      -34-
<PAGE>
 
Principal Beneficiary(ies)

   Name                     Address                Date of Birth  Relationship
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------
Secondary Beneficiary(ies)

   Name                             Address                     Relationship
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             
- ------------------------------------------------------------

- ----------------------------------------------------------------
   Signature of Individual                          Date

                                      -35-
<PAGE>
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT TRANSFER REQUEST FORM
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TO:
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Name of Current Trustee or Custodian
                                                                       Address
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
City        State             Zip Code

RE:
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Name of Investment Vehicle                        Account Number

     Regular IRA          Rollover IRA          SEP IRA
  ---                  ---                   ---       

 .    I have established an Individual Retirement Account with the Loomis Sayles
     Funds and have appointed State Street Bank and Trust Company as the
     successor Trustee.

 .    Please accept this as your authorization and instruction to liquidate
     $____________ of the Individual Retirement Account(s) that your company
     holds for me and to transfer the assets as follows:

 .    Make check payable to:
   State Street Bank and Trust Company, Trustee
   for the IRA of

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Individual Name
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Fund         Account Number (will be assigned by the Loomis Sayles Funds)

  State Street Bank and Trust Company
  P.O. Box 8314
  Boston, MA  02266-8314

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature                        Date

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address                             City          State                Zip Code
(    )                              (    )
      -----------------------             ---------------------------
  Home Phone Number                          Work Phone Number

State Street Bank and Trust Company hereby accepts funds which you hold.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authorized signature, State Street Bank and Trust Co.          Date

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be completed by Present Trustee/Custodian if Customer is age 70 1/2 or older:

     --   Pursuant to IRS Regulations, the transferor Trustee/Custodian
          certifies that this transfer will not include any minimum amounts
          required to be distributed to the above-named Customer with respect to
          any applicable Distribution Calendar Year.

     --   a. Date of Birth of the Designated (measuring) Beneficiary being used
          to calculate    minimum required distributions with respect to the
          transferor plan:
                          ------------ 
          b. Life Expectancy of the Individual             was             was 
                                               -----------     -----------
          not being recalculated.
          c. Life expectancies of the Individual and/or Spouse Beneficiary
                      were
          -----------
                      were not being recalculated.
          -----------                             

- --------------------        ----------------------------------------------------
        Date                Authorized Signature of Present Trustee/Custodian

     Return this form to:   State Street Bank and Trust Company
                            P.O. Box 8314
                            Boston, MA  02266-8314

                                      -36-

<PAGE>
 
                                                                Exhibit 15(a)

                            LOOMIS SAYLES BOND FUND

                       LOOMIS SAYLES SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

                     Administrative Class Distribution Plan


     This Plan (the "Plan") constitutes the Distribution Plan relating to the
Administrative Class shares of Loomis Sayles Bond Fund and Loomis Sayles Small
Cap Value Fund,  each a series (a "Series") of Loomis Sayles Funds, a
Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust").

     Section 1.  The Trust, on behalf of the Series, will pay to Loomis Sayles
Distributors, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership which acts as the Principal
Distributor of the Series' shares, or such other entity as shall from time to
time act as the Principal Distributor of the Series' shares (the "Distributor"),
a fee (the "Distribution Fee") at an annual rate not to exceed 0.25% of each
Series' average daily net assets attributable to the Administrative Class
shares. Subject to such limit and subject to the provisions of Section 6 hereof,
the Distribution Fee shall be as approved from time to time by (a) the Trustees
of the Trust and (b) the Independent Trustees of the Trust.  The Distribution
Fee shall be accrued daily and paid monthly or at such other intervals as the
Trustees shall determine.  The Distributor may pay all or any portion of the
Distribution Fee to securities dealers or other organizations (including, but
not limited to, any affiliate of the Distributor) as commissions, asset-based
sales charges or other compensation with respect to the sale of Administrative
Class shares of the Series, or for providing personal services to investors in
Administrative Class shares of the Series and/or the maintenance of shareholder
accounts, and may retain all or any portion of the Distribution Fee as
compensation for the Distributor's services as principal underwriter of the
Administrative Class shares of the Series.  All payments under this Section 1
are intended to qualify as "asset-based sales charges" or "service fees" as
defined in the Conduct Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc.  All payments under this Section 1 are intended to qualify as "asset-based
sales charges" or "service fees" as defined in the Conduct Rules of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

     Section 2.  This Plan shall continue in effect for a period of more than
one year after January 1, 1998 only so long as such continuance is specifically
approved at least annually by votes of the majority (or whatever other
percentage may, from time to time, be required by Section 12(b) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act") or the rules and regulations
thereunder) of both (a) the Trustees of the Trust, and (b) the Independent
Trustees of the Trust, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on this Plan or such agreement.

     Section 3.  Any person authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid
or payable by the Trust pursuant to this Plan or any related agreement shall
provide to the Trustees of the Trust, and the Trustees shall review, at least
quarterly, a written report of the amounts so expended and the purposes for
which such expenditures were made.
<PAGE>
 
     Section 4.  This Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority
of the Independent Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding
Administrative Class shares of the Series.

     Section 5.  All agreements with any person relating to implementation of
this Plan shall be in writing, and any agreement related to this Plan shall
provide:


     A.  That such agreement may be terminated at any time, without payment of
         any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or by
         vote of a majority of the outstanding Administrative Class shares of
         the Series, on not more than 60 days' written notice to any other party
         to the agreement; and

     B.  That such agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its
         assignment.

     Section 6.  This Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount
of expenses permitted pursuant to Section 1 hereof without approval by a vote of
at least a majority of the outstanding Administrative Class shares of the
Series, and all material amendments of this Plan shall be approved in the manner
provided for continuation of this Plan in Section 2.

     Section 7.  As used in this Plan, (a) the term "Independent Trustees" shall
mean those Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the Trust,
and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan
or any agreements related to it, and (b) the terms "assignment" and "interested
person" shall have the respective meanings specified in the Act and the rules
and regulations thereunder, and the term "majority of the outstanding
Administrative Class shares of the Series" shall mean the lesser of the 67% or
the 50% voting requirements specified in clauses (A) and (B), respectively, of
the third sentence of Section 2(a)(42) of the Act, all subject to such
exemptions as may be granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                      -2-

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM LOOMIS
SAYLES FUNDS SEMIANNUAL AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000872649
<NAME> LOOMIS, SAYLES & COMPANY, L.P.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 031
   <NAME> LOOMIS SAYLES SMALL CAP VALUE FUND-INSTITUTIONAL
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      170,436,271
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     199,126,242
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,315,256
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  16,201
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             201,457,699
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                     1,299,828
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      298,471
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          1,598,299
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                   152,747,661
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        9,666,539
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        9,406,474
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                      798,172
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                     17,623,596
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    28,689,971
<NET-ASSETS>                               199,850,036
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                            1,076,487
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              511,062
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               (856,851)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        730,698
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                    15,546,648
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    6,238,970
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       22,516,316
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      1,524,774
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                (1,264,710)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      36,234,532
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         67,474
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    2,076,948
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          659,706
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                866,215
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       171,809,485
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            17.39
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.07
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           2.19
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              19.65
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.97
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM LOOMIS
SAYLES FUNDS SEMIANNUAL AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000872649
<NAME> LOOMIS, SAYLES & COMPANY, L.P.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 061
   <NAME> LOOMIS SAYLES BOND FUND-INSTITUTIONAL
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      837,887,322
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     866,728,636
<RECEIVABLES>                               25,163,902
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 203,143
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             892,095,681
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                     6,722,512
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    1,203,946
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          7,926,458
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                   835,834,329
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       67,620,961
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       43,707,558
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                   13,998,161
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      5,501,584
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    28,835,149
<NET-ASSETS>                               884,169,223
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                            1,018,788
<INTEREST-INCOME>                           28,032,580
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                             (2,617,379)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     26,433,989
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     4,539,781
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    9,973,177
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       40,946,947
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                 (12,779,633)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                     29,645,056
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                (6,598,371)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            866,718
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     342,925,410
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                        537,972
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                      961,804
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        2,084,083
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              2,810,225
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       691,556,636
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.38
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.42
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.26
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.23)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.83
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.75
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM LOOMIS
SAYLES FUNDS SEMIANNUAL AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000872649
<NAME> LOOMIS, SAYLES & COMPANY, L.P.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 111
   <NAME> LOOMIS SAYLES HIGH YIELD FUND-INSTITUTIONAL
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        5,167,205
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       5,219,792
<RECEIVABLES>                                   84,706
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  99,338
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,403,836
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                        63,536
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                         47,656
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                            0
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            111,192
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     5,114,167
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          376,692
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                          191,794
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       97,858
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         28,030
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        52,589
<NET-ASSETS>                                 5,292,644
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                               17,215
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              180,780
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                (16,236)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        181,759
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        28,030
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       48,202
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          257,991
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                     (72,671)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        218,562
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (40,070)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              6,406
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       3,353,754
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          8,960
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                           12,071
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                 98,596
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         3,132,718
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.11
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.36
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.21
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.21)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.47
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.75
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<PAGE>
 
                                                                      Exhibit 18

                              LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS

    Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------

                           Effective January 1, 1997

          Each of the series of Loomis Sayles Funds (the "Trust") managed by
Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. ("Loomis Sayles") (each a "Fund" and, together,
the "Funds") may from time to time issue one or more of the following classes of
shares:  Retail Class shares, Institutional Class shares, Admin Class shares and
Boston Private Bank High Yield Fund shares.  Each class is subject to such
investment minimums and other conditions of eligibility as are set forth in the
Funds' registration statements as from time to time in effect.  The differences
in expenses among these classes of shares, and the conversion and exchange
features of each class of shares, are set forth below in this Plan.  Except as
noted below, expenses are allocated among the classes of shares of each Fund
based upon the net assets of each Fund attributable to shares of each class.
This Plan is subject to change, to the extent permitted by law and by the
Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-laws of each Fund, by action of the
Trustees of each Fund.

RETAIL CLASS SHARES

Distribution and Service Fees
- -----------------------------

          Retail Class shares pay distribution and service fees pursuant to
plans (the "Plans") adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company
Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"). Retail Class shares also bear any costs associated
with obtaining shareholder approval of any amendments to a Plan.  Pursuant to
the Plans, Retail Class shares may pay up to 0.25% of the relevant Fund's
average net assets attributable to the Retail Class shares (which percentage may
be less for certain Funds, as described in the Funds' registration statements as
from time to time in effect).  Amounts payable under the Plans are subject to
such further limitations as the Trustees may from time to time determine and as
set forth in the registration statement of each Fund as from time to time in
effect.
<PAGE>
 
Exchange and Conversion Features
- --------------------------------

          To the extent provided in the registration statement of the relevant
Fund as from time to time in effect, Retail Class shares of any Fund may be
exchanged, at the holder's option and subject to minimum investment
requirements, for Retail Class shares of any other Fund that offers Retail Class
shares, provided that Retail Class shares of such other Fund are available to
residents of the relevant state.  Retail Class shares may also be exchanged for
shares of certain money market funds advised by New England Funds Management,
L.P., an affiliate of Loomis Sayles.  The Funds reserve the right to terminate
or limit the exchange privilege of any shareholder who makes more than four
exchanges in a calendar year.  The Funds may terminate or change the exchange
privilege at any time upon 60 days' notice to shareholders.

          Retail Class shares do not convert to any other class of shares.

INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES

Distribution Fees
- -----------------

          Institutional Class shares pay no distribution fees.

Exchange and Conversion Features
- --------------------------------

          To the extent provided in the registration statement of the relevant
Fund as from time to time in effect, Institutional Class shares of any Fund may
be exchanged, at the holder's option, for Institutional Class shares of any
other Fund that offers Institutional Class shares, provided that Institutional
Class shares of such other Fund are available to residents of the relevant
state. Institutional Class shares may also be exchanged for shares of certain
money market funds advised by New England Funds Management, L.P., an affiliate
of Loomis Sayles.  The Funds reserve the right to terminate or limit the
exchange privilege of any shareholder who makes more than four exchanges in a
calendar year.  The Funds may terminate or change the exchange privilege at any
time upon 60 days' notice to shareholders.

          Institutional Class shares do not convert to any other class of 
shares.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
ADMIN CLASS SHARES

Administrative Fees
- -------------------

          Admin Class shares pay administrative fees to certain financial
intermediaries for providing personal service and account maintenance for their
customers who hold Admin Class shares.  These fees are paid on the average daily
net assets attributable to Admin Class shares at the annual rate stated in the
Funds' registration statements as from time to time in effect.

Distribution and Service Fees
- -----------------------------

          Admin Class shares pay distribution and service fees pursuant to plans
(the "Plans") adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.  Admin Class
shares also bear any costs associated with obtaining shareholder approval of any
amendments to a Plan.  Pursuant to the Plans, Admin Class shares may pay up to
0.25% of the relevant Fund's average net assets attributable to the Admin Class
shares (which percentage may be less for certain Funds, as described in the
Funds' registration statements as from time to time in effect).  Amounts payable
under the Plans are subject to such further limitations as the Trustees may from
time to time determine and as set forth in the registration statement of each
Fund as from time to time in effect.

Exchange and Conversion Features
- --------------------------------

          To the extent provided in the registration statement of the relevant
Fund as from time to time in effect, Admin Class shares of any Fund may be
exchanged, at the holder's option and subject to minimum investment
requirements, for Admin Class shares of any other Fund that offers Admin Class
shares, provided that Admin Class shares of such other Fund are available to
residents of the relevant state.  Admin Class shares may also be exchanged for
shares of certain money market funds advised by New England Funds Management,
L.P., an affiliate of Loomis Sayles.  The Funds reserve the right to terminate
or limit the exchange privilege of any shareholder who makes more than four
exchanges in a calendar year.  The Funds may terminate or change the exchange
privilege at any time upon 60 days' notice to shareholders.

          Admin Class shares do not convert to any other class of shares.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
BOSTON PRIVATE BANK HIGH YIELD FUND SHARES

         

Distribution and Service Fees
- -----------------------------
    
          Boston Private Bank High Yield Fund shares pay no distribution fees. 
     

Exchange and Conversion Features
- --------------------------------

          Boston Private Bank High Yield Fund shares may not be exchanged for
shares of any other Fund.

          Boston Private Bank High Yield Fund shares do not convert to any other
class of shares.

                                      -4-


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