LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS
497, 1997-01-08
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<PAGE>
 
       
                  [LOGO OF LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS APPEARS HERE]
 
 
      EQUITY FUNDS 
      RETAIL CLASS
 
 
      PROSPECTUS
         
      DECEMBER 30, 1996     
<PAGE>
 
                  [LOGO OF LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS APPEARS HERE]

      ONE FINANCIAL CENTER . BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02111 . (617) 482-2450
   
THE LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS--EQUITY FUNDS     
 
 RETAIL CLASS SHARES OF:
     
  LOOMIS SAYLES CORE VALUE FUND (FORMERLY, LOOMIS SAYLES GROWTH & INCOME FUND)
 
  LOOMIS SAYLES GROWTH FUND
 
  LOOMIS SAYLES INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
 
  LOOMIS SAYLES MID-CAP GROWTH FUND
 
  LOOMIS SAYLES MID-CAP VALUE FUND
 
  LOOMIS SAYLES SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND

  LOOMIS SAYLES SMALL CAP VALUE FUND (FORMERLY, LOOMIS SAYLES SMALL CAP FUND)

  LOOMIS SAYLES STRATEGIC VALUE FUND 

  LOOMIS SAYLES WORLDWIDE FUND     
<PAGE>
 
       
       
       
       
                                                                
PROSPECTUS                                               DECEMBER 30, 1996     
   
THE LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS--EQUITY FUNDS     
   
  Loomis Sayles Core Value Fund (formerly, Loomis Sayles Growth & Income Fund)
, Loomis Sayles Growth Fund, Loomis Sayles International Equity Fund, Loomis
Sayles Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Loomis Sayles Mid-Cap Value Fund, Loomis Sayles
Small Cap Growth Fund, Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund (formerly, Loomis
Sayles Small Cap Fund), Loomis Sayles Strategic Value Fund and Loomis Sayles
Worldwide Fund (the "Funds" and each a "Fund"), each a series of Loomis Sayles
Funds, are separately managed, no-load mutual funds, each of which has its own
investment objective and policies. Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. ("Loomis
Sayles") is the investment adviser of each Fund.     
   
  The Funds offer two classes of shares: a Retail Class that is described in
this Prospectus, and an Institutional Class, with a higher minimum investment
for certain categories of investors and bearing lower expenses, that is de-
scribed in a separate prospectus. This Prospectus concisely describes the in-
formation that an investor should know before investing in the Retail Class
shares of any Fund. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
A Statement of Additional Information dated December 30, 1996, 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.
The Statement of Additional Information, which contains more detailed informa-
tion about the Funds, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commis-
sion (the "SEC") and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. To ob-
tain more information about the Institutional Class of shares, please call the
Distributor toll-free at 800-633-3330 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 AC-
CURACY 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......................................................   5
THE TRUST.................................................................  10
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES........................................  10
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS' INVESTMENTS AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS.....  13
THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT ADVISER.............................................  19
FUND EXPENSES.............................................................  21
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS....................................................  22
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES....................................................  23
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES......................................................  25
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES......................................................  26
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION....................................  28
DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES...........................  28
</TABLE>    
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                              SUMMARY OF EXPENSES
   
  The following information is provided to assist an investor in understanding
the various expenses that an investor in a Fund will bear indirectly. The
information about each Fund shown below is based on annualized projected
expenses of the Retail Class shares for the 1997 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 assumed 5%
annual return in the Example should not be considered a representation of
investment performance as actual performance will depend upon actual
investment results and expenses of the particular Fund's portfolio.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                          CORE                 INTERNATIONAL MID-CAP    MID-CAP
                          VALUE     GROWTH        EQUITY     GROWTH      VALUE
                         FUND/2/    FUND/2/       FUND/2/    FUND/2/    FUND/2/
                         -------    -------    ------------- -------    -------
<S>                      <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>        <C>
Shareholder Transaction
 Expenses:
 Maximum Sales Load
  Imposed on Purchases
  (as % of offering
  price)................  none       none          none       none       none
 Maximum Sales Load
  Imposed on Reinvested
  Dividends (as % of
  (offering price)......  none       none          none       none       none
 Maximum Deferred Sales
  Load (as % of original
  purchase price or
  redemption proceeds as
  applicable)...........  none       none          none       none       none
 Redemption Fees/1/.....  none       none          none       none       none
 Exchange Fees..........  none       none          none       none       none
Annual Operating
 Expenses
 (as a percentage of net
 assets):
 Management Fees........   .50%       .50%          .75%       .75%       .75%
 12b-1 Fees.............   .25%       .25%          .25%       .25%       .25%
 Other Operating
  Expenses (after
  expense reimbursements
  where indicated)......   .35%/2/    .33%          .25%/2/    .25%/2/    .25%/2/
 Total Operating
  Expenses (after
  expense reimbursements
  where indicated)......  1.10%/2/    1.08%/2/     1.25%/2/   1.25%/2/   1.25%/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...............   $11        $11           $13        $13        $13
 Three Years............    35         35            40         40         40
</TABLE>    
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                 SMALL CAP     SMALL     STRATEGIC
                                  GROWTH     CAP VALUE     VALUE     WORLDWIDE
                                  FUND/2/     FUND/2/     FUND/2/     FUND/2/
                                 ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
<S>                              <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Shareholder Transaction
 Expenses:
 Maximum Sales Load Imposed on
  Purchases (as % of offering
  price).......................    none        none        none        none
 Maximum Sales Load Imposed on
  Reinvested Dividends (as % of
  offering price)..............    none        none        none        none
 Deferred Sales Load (as % of
  original purchase price or
  redemption proceeds as
  applicable)..................    none        none        none        none
 Redemption Fees/1/............    none        none        none        none
 Exchange Fees.................    none        none        none        none
Annual Operating Expenses (as a
 percentage of net assets):
 Management Fees...............     .75%        .75%        .50%        .75%
 12b-1 Fees....................     .25%        .25%        .25%        .25%
 Other Operating Expenses
  (after expense reimbursements
  where indicated).............     .25%/2/     .25%        .50%/2/     .25%/2/
 Total Operating Expenses
  (after expense reimbursements
  where indicated).............    1.25%/2/    1.25%/2/    1.25%/2/    1.25%/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......................     $13         $13         $13         $13
 Three Years...................      40          40          40          40
</TABLE>    
- -----------
/1/ A $5 charge applies to any wire transfer of redemption proceeds from any
    Fund.
   
/2/ Other Operating Expenses is based on estimated expenses for the Funds for
    the 1997 fiscal year after giving effect to expense reimbursements. No Re-
    tail Class shares of any of the Funds were outstanding as of the date of
    this Prospectus. Loomis Sayles has voluntarily agreed, for an indefinite pe-
    riod, to limit the Total Operating Expenses of the Growth Fund to 1.10% of
    its net assets, and to limit the other Funds' Total Operating Expenses to
    the percentages of net assets shown in the table. Without this agreement,
    estimated Other Operating Expenses and Total Operating Expenses would be
    0.45% and 1.20%, respectively, for the Core Value Fund, .0.45% and 1.45%,
    respectively, for the International Equity Fund, 1.24% and 2.24%, respec-
    tively, for the Mid-Cap Growth Fund, 0.68% and 1.68%, respectively, for the
    Mid-Cap Value Fund, 0.36% and 1.36%, respectively, for the Small Cap Growth
    Fund, 1.00% and 1.75%, respectively, for the Strategic Value Fund and 1.80%
    and 2.80%, respectively, for the Worldwide Fund.     
       
       
       
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                             FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
     (FOR AN INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARE OF EACH INDICATED FUND OUTSTANDING
                       THROUGHOUT THE INDICATED PERIODS)
   
  The information presented below for the six months ended June 30, 1996 is
unaudited. The information presented below for prior periods is included in
financial statements of the Funds 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' 1996 Semiannual Report and the "Report of Independent Accountants,"
financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Funds' 1995 Annual
Report, which are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and the
Statement of Additional Information. No Retail Class shares of any of the
Funds, and no Institutional Class shares of the Mid-Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value,
Small Cap Growth or Strategic Value Funds, were outstanding during the periods
shown below. The information shown below is for Institutional Class shares of
each indicated Fund; Retail Class shares bear higher expenses than
Institutional Class shares and are expected to have a lower total return than
Institutional Class shares.     
 
<TABLE>    
<CAPTION>
                                            CORE VALUE FUND
                          --------------------------------------------------------
                          SIX MONTHS
                             ENDED                                        MAY 16*
                           JUNE 30,         YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,              TO
                             1996     ----------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                          (UNAUDITED)  1995     1994     1993     1992      1991
                          ----------- -------  -------  -------  -------  --------
<S>                       <C>         <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
Net asset value,
 beginning of period....    $ 14.57   $ 11.80  $ 12.49  $ 11.53  $ 10.54   $10.00
                            -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
Income from investment
 operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss)................       0.12      0.23     0.15     0.13     0.13     0.12
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments........       0.92      3.93    (0.26)    1.24     1.36     0.59
                            -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Total from investment
  operations............       1.04      4.16    (0.11)    1.37     1.49     0.71
                            -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income.....       0.00     (0.23)   (0.15)   (0.12)   (0.13)   (0.12)
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains.................       0.00     (1.16)   (0.43)   (0.29)   (0.37)   (0.05)
 Distributions from
  capital...............       0.00      0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00
                            -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Total distributions....       0.00     (1.39)   (0.58)   (0.41)   (0.50)   (0.17)
                            -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
Net asset value, end of
 period.................    $ 15.61   $ 14.57  $ 11.80  $ 12.49  $ 11.53   $10.54
                            =======   =======  =======  =======  =======   ======
Total return (%)........        7.1      35.2     (0.9)    11.9     14.1      7.2
Net assets, end of
 period (000)...........    $38,153   $36,465  $25,946  $20,657  $12,279   $7,689
Ratio of operating
 expenses to average net
 assets (%).............       1.18**    1.20     1.33     1.50     1.50     1.50**
Ration of net investment
 income to average net
 assets (%).............       1.51**    1.61     1.28     1.23     1.42     2.09**
Portfolio turnover rate
 (%)....................         44**      60       48       53       67       27**
Average Commission
 Rate***................    $0.0549        --       --       --       --       --
Without giving effect to
 voluntary expense
 limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average
  net assets would have
  been (%)..............       1.18**    1.20     1.33     1.56     2.19   2.59**
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been..................    $  0.12   $  0.23  $  0.15  $  0.12  $  0.07   $ 0.06
</TABLE>     
- -----------
   
  * Commencement of operations.     
 ** Computed on an annualized basis.
   
*** For fiscal periods beginning on or after September 1, 1995, a fund is re-
    quired 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.     
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>    
<CAPTION>
                                                GROWTH FUND
                            ---------------------------------------------------------
                            SIX MONTHS
                               ENDED                                         MAY 16*
                             JUNE 30,          YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,              TO
                               1996      ----------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                            (UNAUDITED)   1995     1994     1993     1992      1991
                            -----------  -------  -------  -------  -------  --------
 <S>                        <C>          <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
 Net asset value,
  beginning of period....     $ 15.27    $ 12.50  $ 13.02  $ 12.46  $ 12.01  $ 10.00
                              -------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
 Income from investment
  operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss).................       (0.04)     (0.00)   (0.02)    0.00    (0.04)    0.00
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments.........        1.90       3.86    (0.45)    1.16     0.49     2.45
                              -------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
  Total from investment
   operations............        1.86       3.86    (0.47)    1.16     0.45     2.45
                              -------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
 Less distributions--
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains..................        0.00      (1.09)   (0.04)   (0.60)    0.00    (0.44)
 Distributions from
  capital................        0.00       0.00    (0.01)    0.00     0.00     0.00
                              -------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
  Total distributions....        0.00      (1.09)   (0.05)   (0.60)    0.00    (0.44)
                              -------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
 Net asset value, end of
  period.................     $ 17.13    $ 15.27  $ 12.50  $ 13.02  $ 12.46  $ 12.01
                              =======    =======  =======  =======  =======  =======
 Total return (%)........        12.2       30.9     (3.7)     9.3      3.8     24.5
 Net assets, end of
  period (000)...........     $48,740    $45,011  $36,580  $32,385  $24,451  $16,105
 Ratio of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets (%).............        1.09**     1.08     1.16     1.20     1.50     1.50**
 Ratio of net investment
  income to average net
  assets (%).............       (0.48)**   (0.29)   (0.14)   (0.17)   (0.45)    0.01**
 Portfolio turnover rate
  (%)....................         116**       48       46       64       98       69**
 Average Commission
  Rate***................     $0.0362         --       --       --       --       --
 Without giving effect to
  voluntary expense
  limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets would have been
  (%)....................        1.09**     1.08     1.16     1.20     1.51     1.66**
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been...................     $ (0.04)   $  0.00  $ (0.02) $  0.00  $ (0.04) $ (0.01)
</TABLE>     
- -----------
  * Commencement of operations.
 ** Computed on an annualized basis.
   
*** For fiscal periods beginning on or after September 1, 1995, a fund is re-
    quired 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.     
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                         INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
                            --------------------------------------------------------
                            SIX MONTHS
                               ENDED                                        MAY 16*
                             JUNE 30,         YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,              TO
                               1996     ----------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                            (UNAUDITED)  1995     1994     1993     1992      1991
                            ----------- -------  -------  -------  -------  --------
 <S>                        <C>         <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
 Net asset value,
  beginning of period....     $ 11.65   $ 11.61  $ 12.90  $  9.64  $ 10.27   $10.00
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Income from investment
  operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss).................        0.11      0.14     0.15     0.11     0.10     0.08
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments.........        0.82      0.87    (0.38)    3.61    (0.62)    0.29
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
  Total from investment
   operations............        0.93      1.01    (0.23)    3.72    (0.52)    0.37
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income......        0.00     (0.14)   (0.14)   (0.10)   (0.10)   (0.08)
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains..................        0.00     (0.83)   (0.92)   (0.36)   (0.01)    0.00
 Distributions from paid-
  in capital.............        0.00      0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00    (0.02)
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
  Total distributions....        0.00     (0.97)   (1.06)   (0.46)   (0.11)   (0.10)
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Net asset value, end of
  period.................     $ 12.58   $ 11.65  $ 11.61  $ 12.90  $  9.64   $10.27
                              =======   =======  =======  =======  =======   ======
 Total return (%)........         8.0       8.7     (1.8)    38.5     (5.1)     3.7
 Net assets, end of
  period (000)...........     $83,356   $79,488  $73,189  $56,560  $14,937   $6,916
 Ratio of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets (%).............        1.50**    1.45     1.46     1.50     1.50     1.50**
 Ratio of net investment
  income to average net
  assets (%).............        1.78**    1.16     1.30     1.20     1.64     1.55**
 Portfolio turnover rate
  (%)....................         162**     133      116      128      101      109**
 Average Commission
  Rate***................     $0.0925        --       --       --       --       --
 Without giving effect to
  voluntary expense
  limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets would have been
  (%)....................        1.50**    1.45     1.46     1.72     2.77     3.66**
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been...................     $  0.11   $  0.14  $  0.15  $  0.09  $  0.02   $(0.03)
</TABLE>    
- -----------
  * Commencement of operations.
 ** Computed on an annualized basis.
   
*** For fiscal periods beginning on or after September 1, 1995, a fund is re-
    quired 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.     
       
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>    
<CAPTION>
                                            SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
                            ---------------------------------------------------------
                            SIX MONTHS
                               ENDED                                         MAY 16*
                             JUNE 30,          YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,              TO
                               1996      ----------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                            (UNAUDITED)   1995     1994     1993     1992      1991
                            -----------  -------  -------  -------  -------  --------
 <S>                        <C>          <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
 Net asset value,
  beginning of period....    $  15.33    $ 12.86  $ 14.13  $ 12.88  $ 12.49  $ 10.00
                             --------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
 Income from investment
  operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss).................        0.04       0.04    (0.04)    0.00    (0.06)   (0.01)
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments.........        2.39       4.06    (1.12)    3.15     1.67     3.03
                             --------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
  Total from investment
   operations............        2.43       4.10    (1.16)    3.15     1.61     3.02
                             --------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
 Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income......        0.00      (0.04)    0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains..................        0.00      (1.59)   (0.11)   (1.90)   (1.22)   (0.53)
                             --------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
  Total distributions....        0.00      (1.63)   (0.11)   (1.90)   (1.22)   (0.53)
                             --------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
 Net asset value, end of
  period.................    $  17.76    $ 15.33  $ 12.86  $ 14.13  $ 12.88  $ 12.49
                             ========    =======  =======  =======  =======  =======
  Total return (%).......        15.9       32.1     (8.2)    24.7     13.1     30.5
 Net assets, end of
  period (000)...........    $107,530    $90,455  $73,126  $67,553  $39,244  $14,581
 Ratio of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets (%).............        1.22**     1.25     1.27     1.35     1.50     1.50**
 Ratio of net investment
  income to average net
  assets (%).............        0.50**     0.29    (0.30)   (0.38)   (0.79)   (0.19)**
 Portfolio turnover rate
  (%)....................          78**      155       87      106      109       56**
 Average Commission
  Rate***................    $ 0.0311         --       --       --       --       --
 Without giving effect to
  voluntary expense
  limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets would have been
  (%)....................        1.22**     1.25     1.27     1.35     1.66     2.43**
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been...................    $   0.04    $  0.04  $ (0.04) $  0.00  $ (0.07) $ (0.06)
</TABLE>     
- -----------
  * Commencement of operations.
 ** Computed on an annualized basis.
   
*** For fiscal periods beginning on or after September 1, 1995, a fund is re-
    quired 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.     
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>    
<CAPTION>
                                                                WORLDWIDE FUND
                                                                --------------
                                                                    MAY 1,
                                                                    1996*
                                                                      TO
                                                                   JUNE 30,
                                                                     1996
                                                                 (UNAUDITED)
                                                                --------------
 <S>                                                            <C>
 Net asset value, beginning of period.........................     $ 10.00
                                                                   -------
 Income from investment operations--
 Net investment income (loss).................................        0.06
 Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments.......        0.06
                                                                   -------
  Total from investment operations............................        0.12
                                                                   -------
 Less distributions--
 Dividends from net investment income.........................        0.00
 Distributions from net realized capital gains................        0.00
 Distributions from paid-in capital...........................        0.00
                                                                   -------
  Total distributions.........................................        0.00
                                                                   -------
 Net asset value, end of period...............................     $ 10.12
                                                                   =======
  Total return (%)............................................         1.2
 Net assets, end of period (000)..............................     $ 4,727
 Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets (%)........        1.00**
 Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%).....        4.66*
 Portfolio turnover rate (%)..................................          31**
 Average Commission Rate***...................................     $0.0158
 Without giving effect to voluntary expense limitations:
 The ratios of operating expenses to average net assets would
  have been (%)...............................................        4.46**
 Net investment income per share would have been..............     $  0.02
</TABLE>     
- -----------
  * Commencement of operations.
 ** Computed on an annualized basis.
   
*** For fiscal periods beginning on or after September 1, 1995, a fund is re-
    quired 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' semiannual and annual reports to shareholders, which may be ob-
      tained without charge.     
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                                   THE TRUST
   
  Each 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 OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
 
LOOMIS SAYLES CORE VALUE FUND
    
  The Fund's investment objective is long-term growth of capital and income.
 
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing substantially all of
its assets in common stocks or their equivalent which Loomis Sayles considers
to be undervalued in relation to the issuer's earnings, dividends, assets and
growth prospects. 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.     
 
LOOMIS SAYLES GROWTH FUND
    
  The Fund's investment objective is long-term growth of capital.
 
  The Fund seeks to achieve 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
Fund may invest in companies with relatively small market capitalization, as
well as in larger companies. 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.     
 
LOOMIS SAYLES INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
 
  The Fund's investment objective is high total investment return through a
combination of capital appreciation and current income.
    
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in equity
securities of companies organized or headquartered outside the United States.
Under normal conditions the Fund will invest at least 65% of its total assets
in equity securities of issuers from at least three countries outside the
United     
 
                                      10
<PAGE>

    
States. For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest as much as 100%
of its assets in issuers from one or two countries, which may include the
United States. The Fund may also engage in foreign currency hedging
transactions and options transactions.     
 
LOOMIS SAYLES MID-CAP GROWTH 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, under normal market
conditions, at least 65% of its total assets in stocks with market
capitalization between $500 million and $5 billion. The Fund will normally
maintain a median market capitalization between $1 billion and $5 billion.
Current income is not a consideration in selecting the Fund's investments. The
Fund may invest any portion of its assets in securities of Canadian issuers
and up to 20% of its assets in the securities of issuers headquartered outside
the United States or Canada. The Fund may also engage in foreign currency
hedging transactions, options and futures transactions, and securities
lending.     
 
LOOMIS SAYLES MID-CAP VALUE FUND
 
  The Fund's objective is long-term capital growth from investments in common
stocks or their equivalent.
   
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market
conditions, at least 65% of its total assets in stocks with market
capitalization between $500 million and $5 billion. The Fund will normally
maintain a median market capitalization between $1 billion and $5 billion.
Loomis Sayles seeks to build a core portfolio of stocks that Loomis Sayles
believes to be undervalued by the market in relation to the issuer's earnings,
dividends, assets and growth prospects and that has a smaller emphasis on
special situations and turnarounds (companies that have experienced
significant business problems but that Loomis Sayles believes have favorable
prospects for recovery). Current income is not a consideration in selecting
the Fund's investments. The Fund may invest any portion of its assets in
securities of Canadian issuers and up to 20% of its assets in the securities
of issuers headquartered outside the United States or Canada. The Fund may
also engage in foreign currency hedging transactions, options and futures
transactions, and securities lending.     
   
LOOMIS SAYLES SMALL CAP GROWTH 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 stocks of
small, rapidly growing companies that Loomis Sayles believes have the     
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
   
potential for accelerating earnings growth and rising profit margins. 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 total
assets in larger companies. Loomis Sayles seeks companies that have
distinctive products, technologies, or services; dynamic earnings growth;
prospects for a high level of profitability; and outstanding management.
Current income is not a consideration in selecting the Fund's investments. The
Fund may invest any portion of its assets in securities of Canadian issuers
and up to 20% of its assets in the securities of issuers headquartered outside
the United States or Canada. The Fund may also engage in foreign currency
hedging transactions, options and futures transactions, and securities
lending.     
 
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 stocks of
small cap 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 cap 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.
 
LOOMIS SAYLES STRATEGIC 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 substantially all of
its assets in common stocks or their equivalent that Loomis Sayles considers
to be undervalued by the markets. Stocks are selected based on a combination
of quantitative factors including historical, relative price-earnings ratios;
price-earnings ratios relative to growth rates; relative fundamentals and
price momentum; and qualitative factors including the quality of management,
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
   
position in the industry, debt and balance sheet restructuring and product
cycles. The Fund's strategy is to have a relatively concentrated portfolio
normally consisting of approximately 35-40 securities that Loomis Sayles
considers best positioned to perform in the current and future environment.
The Fund may invest any portion of its assets in the securities of Canadian
issuers and up to 20% of its assets in securities of issuers headquartered
outside the United States or Canada. The Fund may also engage in foreign
currency hedging transactions, options and futures transactions, and
securities lending.     
 
LOOMIS SAYLES WORLDWIDE FUND
 
  The Fund's investment objective is high total investment return through a
combination of capital appreciation and current income.
   
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in U.S. and foreign
equity and debt securities. The allocation of the Fund's assets among the four
sectors of domestic equities, international equities, domestic bonds and
international bonds will be made by Loomis Sayles' Global Asset Allocation
Group. The Fund will normally invest its assets in securities of issuers from
at least three countries, one of which will be the United States. The Fund may
also invest in collateralized mortgage obligations, zero coupon securities,
when-issued securities and Rule 144A securities. The Fund may engage in
foreign currency hedging transactions and options and forward contract
transactions.     
 
ALL FUNDS
    
  For temporary defensive purposes, each Fund may invest any portion of its
assets in fixed income securities, cash and 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 FUNDS' INVESTMENTS AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS
 
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.
Therefore, the value of an investment in a Fund that invests in equity
securities may sometimes decrease. Equity securities of companies with
relatively small
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
market capitalization may be more volatile than the securities of larger, more
established companies and than the broad equity market indexes.
 
DEBT AND OTHER FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
   
  The Worldwide 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.
 
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES
 
  The Worldwide 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. A Fund investing in zero coupon securities 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. 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.
 
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS
 
  The Worldwide Fund may invest in collateralized mortgage obligations
("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
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
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 a 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.
 
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 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 Core Value, Growth and
Small Cap Value Funds will not purchase a foreign security if, as a result,
the Fund's holdings of foreign securities would exceed 20% of the Fund's total
assets. The Mid-Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Small Cap Growth and Strategic
Value Funds may each invest any portion of its assets in securities of
Canadian     
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
   
issuers, but will not purchase foreign securities other than those of Canadian
issuers if, as a result, such Fund's holding 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 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
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
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.
 
FOREIGN CURRENCY HEDGING TRANSACTIONS
 
  Each Fund that invests in foreign securities may engage in foreign currency
exchange transactions, in connection with the purchase and sale of foreign
securities, 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.
 
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS
   
  The International Equity, Mid-Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Small Cap Growth,
Strategic Value and Worldwide Funds may buy, sell or write options on
securities, securities indexes, currencies or futures contracts. The Mid-Cap
Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Small Cap Growth and Strategic Value Funds may buy and
sell futures contracts on securities, securities indexes or currencies. Each
of these Funds may engage in these transactions either for the purpose of
enhancing investment return, or to hedge against changes in the value of other
    
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
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 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
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 a 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 a
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 or written by a
Fund and futures contracts held by a Fund may fluctuate up or down 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 a Fund's
portfolio. All transactions in options and futures involve the possible risk
of loss to a 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 a Fund writes a call option or sells a futures contract
without holding the underlying securities, currencies or futures contracts,
its potential loss is unlimited. A Fund will be required, however, to set
aside with its custodian bank liquid assets in amounts sufficient at all times
to satisfy its obligations under options and futures 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. A 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 the changes in the value of
futures or     
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
     
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 a 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), a 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, each Fund will treat most over-the-counter options
(and the assets it segregates to cover its obligations thereunder) as
illiquid.     
 
  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.
 
SECURITIES LENDING
   
  The Mid-Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Small Cap Growth and Strategic Value
Funds may each lend its portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other
parties under contracts calling for the deposit by the borrower with the
Fund's custodian of cash collateral equal to at least the market value of the
securities loaned, marked to market on a daily basis. The Fund will continue
to benefit from interest or dividends on the securities loaned and will also
receive interest through investment of the cash collateral in short-term
liquid investments. No loans will be made if, as a result, the aggregate
amount of such loans outstanding at any time would exceed 33 1/3% of the
Fund's total assets (taken at current value). Any voting rights, or rights to
consent, relating to securities loaned pass to the borrower. However, if a
material event affecting the investment occurs, such loans will be called so
that the securities may be voted by the Fund. The Fund pays various fees in
connection with such loans, including shipping fees and reasonable custodial
or placement fees.     
 
  Securities loans must be fully collateralized at all times, but involve some
credit risk to the Fund if the borrower defaults on its obligation and the
Fund is delayed or prevented from recovering the collateral.
 
                         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
 
                                      19
<PAGE>
 

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 Funds' investments, Loomis Sayles
provides executive and other personnel for the management of the Funds. The
Funds' board of trustees supervises Loomis Sayles' conduct of the affairs of
the Funds. 
   
  As of December 20, 1996, the Loomis Sayles Employees' Profit Sharing Plan
owned 28% of the Growth Fund and the Loomis-Sayles Funded Pension Plan owned
84% of the Worldwide Fund. Each of these shareholders may be deemed to control
the relevant Fund.     
   
  Jeffrey W. Wardlow, Vice President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has
served as the portfolio manager of the Core Value Fund since its commencement
of operations in 1991. Jerome A. Castellini, Vice President of the Trust and
of Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio manager of the Growth Fund since
its commencement of operations in 1991 and the Mid-Cap Growth Fund since its
commencement of operations in 1997. Scott S. Pape, Vice President of the Trust
and of Loomis Sayles, has served as a portfolio manager of the Mid-Cap Growth
Fund since its commencement of operations in 1996. Jeffrey C. Petherick and
Gregg D. Watkins, Vice Presidents of the Trust and Loomis Sayles, have served
as portfolio managers of the Mid-Cap Value Fund since its commencement of
operations in 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 its commencement of operations in 1991, 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. Christopher R. Ely, Vice President of
the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio manager and Philip
C. Fine and David L. Smith, Vice Presidents of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles,
have served as assistant portfolio managers of the Small Cap Growth Fund since
its commencement of operations in 1997. Philip J. Schettewi, Vice President of
the Trust and Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio manager of the
Strategic Value Fund since its commencement of operations in 1997. Daniel J.
Fuss, President of the Trust and Executive Vice President of Loomis Sayles,
has served as the portfolio manager of the domestic bonds sector of the
Worldwide Fund since that Fund's commencement of operations in 1996. E. John
deBeer, Vice President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as
portfolio manager of the international bonds sector of the Worldwide Fund
since that Fund's commencement of operations in 1996. Quentin P. Faulkner,
Vice President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio
manager of the domestic equities sector of the Worldwide     
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
   
Fund since that Fund's commencement of operations in 1996. Paul H. Drexler,
Vice President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio
manager of the international equities sector of the Worldwide Fund since that
Fund's commencement of operations in 1996 and of the International Equity Fund
since 1996. Each of the foregoing, except Ms. Champagne and Messrs. Drexler,
Ely, Fine and Smith have been employed by Loomis Sayles for at least five
years. Before joining Loomis Sayles in 1993, Ms. Champagne was a portfolio
manager at NBD Bank, and Mr. Drexler was an economist and portfolio manager at
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Prior to joining Loomis Sayles in 1996, Mr. Ely
was Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, and Messrs. Fine and Smith
were Vice Presidents and Portfolio Managers, of Keystone Investment Management
Company, Inc.     
       
                                 FUND EXPENSES
     
  Each Fund pays Loomis Sayles a monthly investment advisory fee at the
following annual percentage rate of the Fund's average daily net assets:     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
FUND                                                                    FEE RATE
- ----                                                                    --------
<S>                                                                     <C>
Core Value.............................................................   .50%
Growth.................................................................   .50%
International Equity...................................................   .75%
Mid-Cap Growth.........................................................   .75%
Mid-Cap Value..........................................................   .75%
Small Cap Growth.......................................................   .75%
Small Cap Value........................................................   .75%
Strategic Value........................................................   .50%
Worldwide..............................................................   .75%
</TABLE>    
 
  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
trustees' meetings, 12b-1 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 and 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     
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
     
exceed 0.25% of the Fund's average net assets attributable to the Retail 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 Retail Class shares of the
Funds, or for providing personal services to investors in Retail 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 Retail Class shares of the Funds. Loomis
Sayles may pay certain broker-dealers or financial intermediaries whose
customers are shareholders of the Funds a continuing fee at an annual rate of
up to .25% 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 Funds.     
     
  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 operating expenses of the Retail Class of shares of each Fund to
the following annual percentage rate of the Fund's average net assets:     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
FUND                                                                    FEE RATE
- ----                                                                    --------
<S>                                                                     <C>
Core Value.............................................................   1.10%
Growth.................................................................   1.08%
International Equity...................................................   1.25%
Mid-Cap Growth.........................................................   1.25%
Mid-Cap Value..........................................................   1.25%
Small Cap Growth.......................................................   1.25%
Small Cap Value........................................................   1.25%
Strategic Value........................................................   1.25%
Worldwide..............................................................   1.25%
</TABLE>    
   
Loomis Sayles may change or terminate these voluntary arrangements at any
time, but the Funds' Prospectus would be supplemented to describe the change.
    
                            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. Although it is
not possible to predict the portfolio turnover rate with certainty, Loomis
Sayles does not expect the Mid-Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Small Cap Growth and
Strategic Value Funds' portfolio turnover rates to exceed 200%, 70%, 150%, and
70%, respectively. A turnover rate in excess of 100% may be considered high.
    
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
  Loomis Sayles selects brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions
for the Funds. Subject to seeking best price and execution, Loomis Sayles may
allocate these transactions to brokers or dealers whose customers have
invested in the Trust.
 
                            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
   
  The minimum initial investment for the Retail Class of each Fund's shares is
$250,000 in that Fund. This initial minimum investment does not apply to
purchases through certain financial intermediaries including, but not limited
to, certain financial advisers, broker dealers, 401(k) alliances, wrap
programs, "no transaction fee" programs, bank trust departments, financial
consultants and insurance companies. The initial minimum investment will also
be waived for shareholders who invest less than $250,000 but sign a letter of
intent stating their intention to bring their balance to $250,000 within six
months of the initial purchase. Loomis Sayles reserves the right to redeem the
accounts at net asset value of shareholders that have signed a letter of
intent but fail to meet the minimum investment within the specified time or to
waive any minimum investment in its sole discretion. Subsequent investments
must be at least $50.     
     
  Shares of any Fund may be purchased by (i) cash, (ii) exchanging securities
on deposit with a custodian acceptable to Loomis Sayles or (iii) a combination
of such securities and cash. Purchase of shares of a Fund in exchange for
securities is subject in each case to the determination by Loomis Sayles that
the securities to be exchanged are acceptable for purchase by the Fund. In all
cases Loomis Sayles reserves the right to reject any securities that are
proposed for exchange. Securities accepted by Loomis Sayles in exchange for
Fund shares will be valued in the same manner as the Fund's assets, as
described below, as of the time of the Fund's next determination of net asset
value after such acceptance. All dividends and subscription or other rights
which are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of
valuation become the property of the Fund and must be delivered to the Fund
upon receipt by the investor from the issuer. A gain or loss for federal
income tax purposes would be realized upon the exchange by an investor that is
subject to federal income taxation, depending upon the investor's basis in the
securities tendered. An investor who wishes to purchase shares by exchanging
securities should obtain     
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
     
instructions by calling 800-633-3330 and asking for the Loomis Sayles Funds
Shareholder Services Group.     
   
  Loomis Sayles will not approve the acceptance of securities in exchange for
shares of any Fund unless (1) Loomis Sayles, in its sole discretion, believes
the securities are appropriate investments for the Fund; (2) the investor
represents and agrees that all securities offered to the Fund can be resold by
the Fund without restriction under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act") or otherwise; and (3) the securities are eligible to be
acquired under the Fund's investment policies and restrictions. No investor
owning 5% or more of a Fund's shares may purchase additional shares of that
Fund by exchange of securities.     
     
  All purchases made by check should be in U.S. dollars and made payable to
Loomis Sayles Funds or State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street
Bank"). 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, Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.
("BFDS"), the shareholder servicing agent for State Street Bank, 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
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 Retail
Class), DDA #9904-622-9, Shareholder Name, Shareholder 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.     
 
  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
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
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 an Institutional Class of shares that has a $1 million
minimum investment for certain investors and bears lower expenses. Because of
its lower expenses, the Institutional Class of shares of each Fund is expected
to have a higher total return than the 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 BFDS. 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. Retail Class shares of any Fund may be exchanged
for Retail Class shares of any other Fund (or any other fund that is a series
of Loomis Sayles Funds and that offers Retail 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 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.     
 
 
                                      25
<PAGE>
     
  RETIREMENT PLANS. The Funds' Retail Class shares may be purchased by all
types of tax-deferred retirement plans. Loomis Sayles makes available
retirement plan forms for IRAs.     
 
  SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. If the value of an account is at least $25,000,
an investor may have periodic cash withdrawals automatically paid to the
investor or any person designated by the investor.
 
  AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN. Voluntary monthly investments of at least $50 may
be made automatically by pre-authorized withdrawals from an investor's
checking account.
 
                             HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
 
  An investor can redeem shares by sending a written request to Boston
Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 8314, Boston, Massachusetts 02266. As
described below, an investor may also redeem shares by calling BFDS at 800-
626-9390. Proceeds resulting from a written or 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). Investors requesting that
redemption proceeds be wired to their bank accounts must provide specific wire
instructions.
   
  If (1) an investor is redeeming shares worth more than $50,000, (2) 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, (3) the account registration has changed within the last 30 days or
(4) 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, the investor should verify with the guarantor institution
that it is an eligible guarantor. Signature guarantees by notaries public are
not acceptable.     

  If an investor has requested certificates for the investment, the investor
must enclose the certificates and a properly completed redemption form or
stock power. The Funds recommend that certificates be sent by registered mail.

                                      26
<PAGE>
     
  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 BFDS prior to the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange. If an investor telephones a request to BFDS after the Exchange
closes or on a day when the Exchange is not open for business, BFDS 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 on the Service Options Form
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 the 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 BFDS 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 fifteen 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.
 
                                      27
<PAGE>
 
                     
                  CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION     
   
  "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 Funds declare and pay their net investment income to shareholders as
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 Funds declare or pay
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.
 
  Income dividends and short term capital gain distributions are taxable as
ordinary income whether distributed in cash or additional shares. Long-term
capital gain distributions from all Funds are taxable as long-term capital
gains whether distributed in cash or additional shares and regardless of how
long an investor has owned shares of a 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 to an investor (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 the investor is not subject to such
withholding.
 
  Certain designated dividends from the Funds are expected to be eligible for
the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.
 
  State Street Bank will send each investor and the IRS an annual statement
detailing federal tax information, including information about dividends and
 
                                      28
<PAGE>
 
distributions paid to the investor during the preceding year. Be sure to keep
this statement as a permanent record. A fee may be charged for any duplicate
information that an investor requests.
 
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.
 
                                      29
<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 APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
 
       
                  [LOGO OF LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS APPEARS HERE]
         
                  FIXED INCOME FUNDS 
                  RETAIL CLASS     
 
 
                  PROSPECTUS
                     
                  DECEMBER 30, 1996     
<PAGE>
 
                                      
                [LOGO OF LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS APPEARS HERE]     

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 One Financial Center . Boston, Massachusetts 02111 . (617) 482-2450
   
THE LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS--FIXED INCOME FUNDS     
 
 RETAIL CLASS SHARES OF:
 
   LOOMIS SAYLES BOND FUND
    
   LOOMIS SAYLES GLOBAL BOND FUND     
    
   LOOMIS SAYLES HIGH YIELD FUND     
   LOOMIS SAYLES INTERMEDIATE MATURITY BOND FUND
   LOOMIS SAYLES INVESTMENT GRADE BOND FUND
   LOOMIS SAYLES SHORT-TERM BOND FUND
        
<PAGE>
 
   
                PROSPECTUS               DECEMBER 30, 1996     
   
THE LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS--FIXED INCOME FUNDS     
   
  Loomis Sayles Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles High
Yield Fund, Loomis Sayles Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles In-
vestment Grade Bond Fund and Loomis Sayles Short-Term Bond Fund (the "Funds"
and each a "Fund"), each a series of Loomis Sayles Funds, are separately man-
aged, no-load mutual funds, each of which has its own investment objective and
policies. Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. ("Loomis Sayles") is the investment
adviser of each Fund.     
   
  The Funds offer two classes of shares: a Retail Class that is described in
this Prospectus, and an Institutional Class, with a higher investment minimum
for certain categories of investors and bearing lower expenses, that is de-
scribed in a separate prospectus. This Prospectus concisely describes the in-
formation that an investor should know before investing in the Retail Class
shares of any Fund. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
A Statement of Additional Information dated December 30, 1996 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.
The Statement of Additional Information, which contains more detailed informa-
tion about the Funds, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commis-
sion (the "SEC") and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. To ob-
tain more information about the Institutional Class of shares, please call the
Distributor toll-free at 800-633-3330 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.
 
  THE LOOMIS SAYLES HIGH YIELD 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 FUNDS'
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......................................................   5
THE TRUST.................................................................   8
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES........................................   8
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS' INVESTMENTS AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS.....  11
THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT ADVISER.............................................  20
FUND EXPENSES.............................................................  22
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS....................................................  23
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES....................................................  23
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES......................................................  25
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES......................................................  26
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION....................................  28
DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES...........................  29
APPENDIX A
  DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS............................................. A-1
</TABLE>    
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                              SUMMARY OF EXPENSES
   
  The following information is provided to assist in understanding the various
expenses that an investor in a Fund will bear indirectly. The information
about each Fund shown below is based on annualized projected expenses of the
Retail Class of shares for the current 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 assumed 5%
annual return in the Example should not be considered a representation of
investment performance as actual performance will depend upon actual
investment results and expenses of the particular Fund's portfolio.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                                  INTERMEDIATE
                                   BOND      GLOBAL    HIGH YIELD   MATURITY
                                 FUND/2/  BOND FUND/2/  FUND/2/   BOND FUND/2/
                                 -------- ------------ ---------- ------------
<S>                              <C>      <C>          <C>        <C>
Shareholder Transaction Ex-
 penses:
 Maximum Sales Load Imposed on
  Purchases
  (as % of offering price)......   none       none        none        none
 Maximum Sales Load Imposed on
  Reinvested Dividends (as % of
  offering price)...............   none       none        none        none
 Maximum Deferred Sales Load (as
  % of original purchase price
  or redemption proceeds as
  applicable)...................   none       none        none        none
 Redemption Fees/1/.............   none       none       2.00%        none
 Exchange Fees..................   none       none        none        none
Annual Operating Expenses
 (as a percentage of net as-
 sets:)
 Management Fees................   .60%       .60%        .60%        .40%
 12b-1 Fees.....................   .25%       .25%        .25%        .25%
 Other Operating Expenses (after
  expense reimbursements where
  indicated).................... .15%/2/    .30%/2/     .15%/2/     .15%/2/
 Total Operating Expenses (after
  expense reimbursements where
  indicated).................... 1.00%/2/   1.15%/2/    1.00%/2/    .80%/2/
Example:
An investor would pay the
 following expenses on a $1,000
 investment assuming a 5% annual
 return (with a redemption at
 the end of each time period):
 One Year.......................   $10        $12         $30         $ 8
 Three Years....................    32         37          32          26
An investor would pay the
 following expenses on a $1,000
 investment (assuming a 5%
 annual return (without a
 redemption at the end of each
 time period):
 One Year.......................   $10        $12         $10         $ 8
 Three Years....................    32         37          32          26
</TABLE>    
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                       INVESTMENT
                                                         GRADE      SHORT-TERM
                                                      BOND FUND/2/ BOND FUND/2/
                                                      ------------ ------------
<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
 Deferred Sales Load (as % of original purchase
  price or redemption proceeds as applicable).......      none         none
 Redemption Fees/1/.................................      none         none
 Exchange Fees......................................      none         none
Annual Operating Expenses (as a percentage of net
 assets):
 Management Fees....................................      .40%         .25%
 12b-1 Fees.........................................      .25%         .25%
 Other Operating Expenses (after expense
  reimbursements where indicated)...................      .15%/2/      .25%/2/
 Total Operating Expenses (after expense
  reimbursements where indicated)...................      .80%/2/      .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...........................................      $ 8          $ 8
 Three Years........................................       26           24
</TABLE>    
- -----------
/1/A $5 charge applies to any wire transfer of redemption proceeds from any
   Fund. A 2.00% redemption fee applies with respect to shares of the High Yield
   Fund redeemed within one (1) year of purchase. Loomis Sayles may, in its
   discretion, waive redemption fees on shares of the High Yield Fund as set
   forth under the heading "How to Redeem Shares" if it determines that there
   are minimal brokerage and transaction costs incurred in connection with the
   redemption.
   
/2/Other Operating Expenses in this table is based on estimated expenses for the
   Funds for the 1997 fiscal year after giving effect to expense reimbursements.
   No Retail Class shares of any of the Funds were outstanding as of the date of
   this Prospectus. Loomis Sayles has voluntarily agreed, for an indefinite
   period, to limit the Funds' Total Operating Expenses to the percentages of
   net assets shown in the table. Without this agreement, estimated Other
   Operating Expenses and Total Operating Expenses would be 0.19% and 1.04%,
   respectively, for the Bond Fund, 0.94% and 1.79%, respectively, for the
   Global Bond Fund, 1.34% and 2.19%, respectively, for the High Yield Fund,
   1.47% and 2.12%, respectively, for the Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund, 1.47%
   and 2.12%, respectively, for the Investment Grade Bond Fund and 0.53% and
   1.03%, respectively, for the Short-Term Bond Fund.     
       
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                             FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
     (FOR AN INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARE OF EACH INDICATED FUND OUTSTANDING
                       THROUGHOUT THE INDICATED PERIODS)
   
  The information presented below for the six months ended June 30, 1996 is
unaudited. The information presented below for prior periods is included in
financial statements of the Funds 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' 1996 Semiannual Report and 1995 Annual Report, which are
incorporated by reference in the Statement of Additional Information. No
Retail Class shares of any of the Funds, and no Institutional Class shares of
the High Yield, Intermediate Maturity Bond or Investment Grade Bond Funds,
were outstanding during the periods shown below. The information shown below
is for Institutional Class shares of each indicated Fund; Retail 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                 YEAR
                               ENDED                  ENDED                   MAY 16*
                             JUNE 30,                DEC. 31,                    TO
                               1996      -----------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                            (UNAUDITED)    1995     1994     1993     1992      1991
                            -----------  --------  -------  -------  -------  --------
 <S>                        <C>          <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
 Net asset value,
  beginning of period....    $  12.29    $  10.05  $ 11.37  $ 10.36  $ 10.23   $10.00
                             --------    --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Income from investment
  operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss).................        0.44        0.82     0.83     0.84     0.76     0.52
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments.........       (0.37)       2.32    (1.29)    1.43     0.67     0.36
                             --------    --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
  Total from investment
   operations............        0.07        3.14    (0.46)    2.27     1.43     0.88
                             --------    --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income......       (0.19)      (0.82)   (0.84)   (0.81)   (0.76)   (0.52)
 Distributions in excess
  of net investment
  income.................        0.00        0.00    (0.02)    0.00     0.00     0.00
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains..................        0.00       (0.08)    0.00    (0.45)   (0.54)   (0.13)
                             --------    --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
  Total distributions....       (0.19)      (0.90)   (0.86)   (1.26)   (1.30)   (0.65)
                             --------    --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Net asset value, end of
  period.................    $  12.17    $  12.29   (10.05) $ 11.37  $ 10.36   $10.23
                             ========    ========  =======  =======  =======   ======
 Total return (%)........         0.6        23.0     (4.1)    22.2     14.3      8.9
 Net assets, end of pe-
  riod (000).............    $333,258    $255,710  $82,985  $64,222  $18,472   $9,922
 Rate of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets (%).............        0.78**      0.79     0.84     0.94     1.00     1.00**
 Ratio of net investment
  income to average net
  assets (%).............        7.98**      8.34     7.92     8.26     7.50     8.97**
 Portfolio turnover rate
  (%)....................          58**        35       87      170      101      126**
 Without giving effect to
  voluntary expense
  limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets would have been
  (%)....................        0.78**      0.79     0.84     0.94     1.55     1.78**
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been...................    $   0.44    $   0.82  $  0.83  $  0.84  $  0.70   $ 0.47
</TABLE>    
- -----------
   
* Commencement of operations.     
   
** Computed on an annualized basis.     
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>    
<CAPTION>
                                             GLOBAL BOND FUND
                            -------------------------------------------------------
                            SIX MONTHS
                               ENDED                                       MAY 16*
                             JUNE 30,        YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,              TO
                               1996     ---------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                            (UNAUDITED)  1995     1994     1993     1992     1991
                            ----------- -------  -------  -------  ------  --------
 <S>                        <C>         <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>     <C>
 Net asset value,
  beginning of period....     $ 11.39   $  9.82  $ 11.06  $ 10.32  $11.38   $10.00
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  ------   ------
 Income from investment
  operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss).................        0.39      1.04     0.67     0.54    0.70     0.37
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments.........        0.26      1.31    (1.63)    0.96   (0.60)    1.31
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  ------   ------
  Total from investment
   operations............        0.65      2.35    (0.96)    1.50    0.10     1.68
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  ------   ------
 Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income......        0.00     (0.78)   (0.04)   (0.49)  (0.77)   (0.30)
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains..................        0.00      0.00     0.00    (0.27)  (0.39)    0.00
 Distributions from
  capital................        0.00      0.00    (0.24)    0.00    0.00     0.00
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  ------   ------
  Total distributions....        0.00     (0.78)   (0.28)   (0.76)  (1.16)   (0.30)
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  ------   ------
 Net asset value, end of
  period.................     $ 12.04   $ 11.39  $  9.82  $ 11.06  $10.32   $11.38
                              =======   =======  =======  =======  ======   ======
 Total return (%)........         5.7      23.9     (8.7)    14.6     0.8     16.9
 Net assets, end of
  period (000)...........     $11,633   $10,304  $25,584  $21,378  $9,968   $4,308
 Ratio of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets (%).............        1.50**    1.50     1.30     1.50    1.50     1.50**
 Ratio of net investment
  income to average net
  assets (%).............        6.66**    8.17     7.02     5.54    6.99     6.81**
 Portfolio turnover rate
  (%)....................         147**     148      153      150      72      137**
 Without giving effect to
  voluntary expense
  limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets would have
  been (%)...............        2.35**    1.69     1.30     1.51    2.58     3.99**
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been...................     $  0.34   $  1.02  $  0.67  $  0.54  $ 0.59   $ 0.23
</TABLE>     
- -----------
   
 * Commencement of operations.     
   
** Computed on an annualized basis.     
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           SHORT-TERM BOND FUND
                             -----------------------------------------------
                             SIX MONTHS
                                ENDED                               MAY 16*
                              JUNE 30,     YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,         TO
                                1996     -------------------------  DEC. 31,
                             (UNAUDITED)  1995     1994     1993      1992
                             ----------- -------  -------  -------  --------
 <S>                         <C>         <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>       
 Net asset value,
  beginning of period.....     $  9.81   $  9.46  $  9.95  $  9.87   $10.00
                               -------   -------  -------  -------   ------
 Income from investment
  operations--
 Net investment income....        0.27      0.63     0.66     0.59     0.22
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments..........       (0.18)     0.35    (0.49)    0.08    (0.13)
                               -------   -------  -------  -------   ------
  Total from investment
   operations.............        0.09      0.98     0.17     0.67     0.09
                               -------   -------  -------  -------   ------
 Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income.......       (0.27)    (0.63)   (0.66)   (0.59)   (0.22)
 Distributions from net
  realized capital gains..        0.00      0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00
                               -------   -------  -------  -------   ------
  Total distributions.....       (0.27)    (0.63)   (0.66)   (0.59)   (0.22)
                               -------   -------  -------  -------   ------
 Net asset value, end of
  period..................     $  9.63   $  9.81  $  9.46  $  9.95   $ 9.87
                               =======   =======  =======  =======   ======
  Total return (%)........         0.9      10.6      1.8      7.0      0.9
 Net assets, end of period
  (000)...................     $19,063   $26,039  $19,440  $15,226   $5,121
 Ratio of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets (%)..............        1.00**    1.00     1.00     1.00     1.00**
 Ratio of net investment
  income to average net
  assets (%)..............        5.59**    6.46     6.88     5.97     5.49**
 Portfolio turnover rate
  (%).....................          95**     214       34       81       31**
 Without giving effect to
  voluntary expense
  limitations:............        1.12**    1.03     1.33     1.55     3.74**
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets would have been
  (%).....................     $  0.26   $  0.62  $  0.63  $  0.54   $ 0.11
 Net investment income per
  share would have been...
</TABLE>
- -----------
   
 * Commencement of operations.     
   
** Computed on an annualized basis.     
   
NOTE: Further information about each Fund's performance is contained in the
      Funds' semiannual and annual reports to shareholders, which may be ob-
      tained without charge.     
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
                                   THE TRUST
   
  Each 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 OBJECTIVES 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, 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, 1995 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"--
13.2%; "AA"/"Aa"--9.2%; "A"/"A"--10.9%; "BBB"/"Baa"--32.3%; "BB"/"Ba"--12.0%;
"B"/"B"--12.7%; "CCC"/"Caa"--9.7%.      
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
     
LOOMIS SAYLES GLOBAL BOND FUND      
     
  The Fund's investment objective is high total investment return through a
combination of high current income and capital appreciation.      
     
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in investment
grade fixed income securities denominated in various currencies, including
U.S. dollars, or in multicurrency units. Under normal conditions, the Fund
will invest at least 65% of its total assets in fixed income securities of
issuers from 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 Fund's assets may be denominated in U.S.
dollars. 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.      
     
LOOMIS SAYLES HIGH YIELD 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 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").      
     
LOOMIS SAYLES INTERMEDIATE MATURITY BOND FUND      
     
  The Fund's investment objective is high total investment return through a
combination of current income and capital appreciation.      
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
   
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by normally investing at least 90%
of its assets in fixed income securities of investment grade quality and to
maintain an average dollar weighted maturity of between three and ten years.
For purposes of the 90% test, a security will be treated as being of
investment grade quality if it is rated by at least one major rating agency in
one of its top four rating categories at the time of purchase or, if unrated,
is determined by Loomis Sayles to be of comparable quality. The Fund may also
invest up to 10% of its assets in fixed income securities of below investment
grade quality (commonly known as "junk bonds"). 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, swap transactions, and securities lending. 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.     
 
LOOMIS SAYLES INVESTMENT GRADE 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 at least 65%
of its total assets in fixed income securities of investment grade quality. Up
to 20% of the Fund's total assets may be invested in preferred stocks. The
Fund may also invest up to 10% of its assets in fixed income securities of
below investment grade quality (commonly known as "junk bonds"). 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, swap
transactions and securities lending. The Fund may invest any portion of its
assets in securities of Canadian issuers and up to 20% of its assets in the
securities of other foreign issuers.     
 
LOOMIS SAYLES SHORT-TERM BOND FUND
 
  The Fund's investment objective is high total investment return through a
combination of current income and capital appreciation with relatively low
fluctuation in net asset value.
 
  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
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
    
be invested in non-convertible preferred stock. At least 65% of the Fund's
total assets will normally be invested in bonds with a remaining maturity of 5
years or less. 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 up to 20% of its
assets in securities of foreign issuers.      
 
  In an effort to minimize fluctuations in market value, the Fund is expected
to maintain an average dollar-weighted maturity of between one and three
years.
 
ALL 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 FUNDS' INVESTMENTS 
                            AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS
 
DEBT AND OTHER FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
     
  Each of the Funds may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity,
although the Short-Term Bond Fund expects to maintain an average weighted
maturity of less than three years, and the Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund
expects to maintain an average weighted maturity of between three and ten
years. 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
 
                                      11

<PAGE>
 
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 a 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 Funds
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
     
  Each Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities rated below
investment grade (commonly referred to as "junk bonds"). The Bond Fund may
invest up to 35%, the Global Bond and Short-Term Bond Funds each may invest up
to 20%, the Investment Grade Bond and Intermediate Maturity Bond Funds each
may invest up to 10% and the High Yield Fund will normally invest at least      
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
     
65% of its assets in such securities. For purposes of the foregoing
percentages, a security will be treated as being of investment grade quality
if at the time a 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 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
valuation 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 capitalization may be more volatile than the securities of larger, more
established companies and than the broad equity market indexes.
 
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES
 
  Each 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. A Fund investing in zero coupon securities 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
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
     
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
     
  All of the Funds 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 a 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 a 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 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
     
  All of the Funds 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 a 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      
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
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
     
  All of the Funds 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, a 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
 
  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 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.
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
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 Short-Term Bond 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 total assets. Each of the
Bond, Intermediate Maturity Bond and Investment Grade Bond Funds may each
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. The High Yield 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.     
 
  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 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.
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
  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 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 a Fund's net income available for
distribution to shareholders.      
 
FOREIGN CURRENCY HEDGING TRANSACTIONS
 
  The Funds 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.
 
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
  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.
     
SWAP TRANSACTIONS      
     
  The Funds may enter into interest rate or currency swaps. The Funds 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 a 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 counterparty were to
default on its obligations.      
 
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS
 
  The Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds own or
intend 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 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
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
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
 
a 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 a
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 a Fund and futures contracts held by a
Fund may fluctuate up or down 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 a 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 a 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 the 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 a 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), a Fund is at risk that the
other party to the transaction will default on its obligations, or will not
permit a Fund to terminate the transaction before its scheduled maturity. As a
result of these characteristics, each Fund will treat most over-the-counter
options (and the assets it segregates to cover its obligations thereunder) as
illiquid.      
 
  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.
 
                                      19
<PAGE>
 
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
   
  Each Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. In repurchase agreements, a
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 a 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.     
 
SECURITIES LENDING
   
  The Intermediate Maturity Bond and Investment Grade Bond Funds may lend
their portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other parties under contracts
calling for the deposit by the borrower with the Fund's custodian of cash
collateral equal to at least the market value of the securities loaned, marked
to market on a daily basis. The Fund will continue to benefit from interest or
dividends on the securities loaned and will also receive interest through
investment of the cash collateral in short-term liquid investments. No loans
will be made if, as a result, the aggregate amount of such loans outstanding
at any time would exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund's total assets (taken at current
value). Any voting rights, or rights to consent, relating to securities loaned
pass to the borrower. However, if a material event affecting the investment
occurs, such loans will be called so that the securities may be voted by the
Fund. The Fund pays various fees in connection with such loans, including
shipping fees and reasonable custodial or placement fees.     
 
  Securities loans must be fully collateralized at all times, but involve some
credit risk to the Fund if the borrower defaults on its obligation and the
Fund is delayed or prevented from recovering the collateral.
 
                         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. 
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
   
  In addition to selecting and reviewing the Funds' investments, Loomis Sayles
provides executive and other personnel for the management of the Funds. The
Funds' board of trustees supervises Loomis Sayles' conduct of the affairs of
the Funds.     
   
  As of December 20, 1996, the Loomis-Sayles Funded Pension Plan owned 27% of
the Global Bond Fund and may be deemed to control the Fund.     
   
  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, as the portfolio manager of the
High Yield Fund since its commencement of investment operations in 1996, and
as the portfolio manager of the Investment Grade Bond Fund since its
commencement of investment operations in 1997. Kathleen C. Gaffney has served
as associate portfolio manager of the High Yield Fund since its commencement
of investment operations in 1996. E. John deBeer, Vice President of the Trust
and of Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio manager of the Global Bond
Fund since its commencement of investment operations in 1991. Anthony J.
Wilkins, Vice President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as the
portfolio manager of the Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund since its
commencement of investment operations in 1997. John Hyll, Vice President of
the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio manager of the
Short-Term Bond Fund since its commencement of investment operations in 1992.
Each of the foregoing has been employed by Loomis Sayles for at least five
years.     
       
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
                                 FUND EXPENSES
 
  Each Fund pays Loomis Sayles a monthly investment advisory fee. This fee is
at the following annual percentage rate of the Fund's average daily net
assets:
 
<TABLE>     
<CAPTION>
   FUND                                                                 FEE RATE
   ----                                                                 --------
   <S>                                                                  <C>
   Bond................................................................   .60%
   Global Bond.........................................................   .60%
   High Yield..........................................................   .60%
   Intermediate Maturity Bond..........................................   .40%
   Investment Grade Bond...............................................   .40%
   Short-Term Bond.....................................................   .25%
</TABLE>    
 
  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
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 Fund total annual operating expenses to 1.00% of the average net assets
of the Bond and High Yield Funds, to 1.15% of the average net assets of the
Global Bond Fund, to .80% of the average net assets of the Intermediate
Maturity Bond and Investment Grade Bond Funds, and to .75% of the average net
assets of the Short-Term Bond Fund. Loomis Sayles may change or terminate
these voluntary arrangements at any time, but the Funds' Prospectus would be
supplemented to describe the change.     
   
  Under a Distribution Plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act,
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 Retail 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 Retail Class shares of the Funds, or for providing
personal services to investors in Retail 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 Retail Class shares of the Funds.     
 
  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
 .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 Funds.
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
                            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. Although it is
not possible to predict the portfolio turnover rate with certainty, Loomis
Sayles does not expect the portfolio turnover rate of the High Yield,
Intermediate Maturity Bond and Investment Grade Bond Funds to exceed 60%,
100%, and 60%, respectively.     
 
  Loomis Sayles selects brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions
for the Funds. Subject to seeking best price and execution, Loomis Sayles may
allocate these transactions to brokers or dealers whose customers have
invested in the Trust.
 
                            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
   
  The minimum initial investment for retail class of the Funds' shares
("Retail Shares") is $250,000 in that Fund. This minimum initial investment
does not apply to purchases through financial intermediaries including, but
not limited to, certain financial advisers, broker dealers, 401(k) alliances,
wrap programs, no transaction fee programs, bank trust departments, financial
consultants and insurance companies. The minimum initial investment will also
be waived for shareholders who invest less than $250,000 but sign a letter of
intent stating their intention to bring their balance to $250,000 in six
months or less. Loomis Sayles reserves the right to redeem, at net asset
value, the accounts of shareholders that have signed a letter of intent but
fail to meet the minimum investment within the specified time or to waive any
minimum investment in its sole discretion. Subsequent investments must be at
least $50.     
 
  Shares of any Fund may be purchased by (i) cash, (ii) exchanging securities
on deposit with a custodian acceptable to Loomis Sayles or (iii) a combination
of such securities and cash. Loomis Sayles will not approve the acceptance of
securities in exchange for shares of any Fund unless (1) Loomis Sayles, in its
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
   
sole discretion, believes the securities are appropriate investments for the
Fund; (2) the investor represents and agrees that all securities offered to
the Fund can be resold by the Fund without restriction under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or otherwise; and (3) the
securities are eligible to be acquired under the Fund's investment policies
and restrictions. No investor owning 5% or more of a Fund's shares may
purchase additional shares of that Fund by exchange of securities. In all
cases Loomis Sayles reserves the right to reject any securities that are
proposed for exchange. Securities accepted by Loomis Sayles in exchange for
Fund shares will be valued in the same manner as the Fund's assets as
described below as of the time of the Fund's next determination of net asset
value after such acceptance. All dividends and subscription or other rights
which are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of
valuation become the property of the Fund and must be delivered to the Fund
upon receipt by the investor from the issuer. A gain or loss for federal
income tax purposes would be realized upon the exchange by an investor that is
subject to federal income taxation, depending upon the investor's basis in the
securities tendered. An investor who wishes to purchase shares by exchanging
securities should obtain instructions by calling 800-633-3330.     
    
  All purchases made by check should be in U.S. dollars and made payable to
the Loomis Sayles Funds or 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, Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.
("BFDS"), the shareholder servicing agent for State Street Bank and Trust
Company ("State Street Bank"), 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
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 Retail
Class), DDA #9904-622-9, Shareholder Name, Shareholder Account Number." A bank
may charge a fee for transmitting funds by wire.
 
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
   
  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.     
 
  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 an Institutional Class of shares that has a $1 million
minimum investment for certain investors and bears lower expenses. Because of
its lower expenses, the Institutional Class of shares of each Fund is expected
to have a higher total return than the 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 BFDS. 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. Retail Class shares of any Fund may be exchanged
for Retail Class shares of any other Fund (or any other fund that is a series
of Loomis Sayles Funds and that offers Retail 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     
 
                                      25
<PAGE>
 
   
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 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. Exchanges of shares of the High Yield Fund
purchased within one year before 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.     
   
  RETIREMENT PLANS. Institutional Class shares of the Funds may be purchased
by all types of tax-deferred retirement plans. Loomis Sayles makes available
retirement plan forms for IRAs.     
 
  SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. If the value of an account is at least $25,000,
an investor may have periodic cash withdrawals automatically paid to the
investor or any person designated by the investor.
 
  AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN. Voluntary monthly investments of at least $50 may
be made automatically by pre-authorized withdrawals from an investor's
checking account.
 
                             HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
 
  An investor can redeem shares by sending a written request to Boston
Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 8314, Boston, Massachusetts 02266.
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 BFDS
at 800-626-9390. 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.
 
                                      26
<PAGE>
 
   
  If (1) an investor is redeeming shares worth more than $50,000, (2) 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, (3) the account registration has changed within the last 30 days or
(4) 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.     

  If an investor has requested certificates for the investment, the investor
must enclose the certificates and a properly completed redemption form or
stock power. The Funds recommend that certificates be sent by registered mail.
    
  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 BFDS prior to the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange. If an investor telephones a request to BFDS after the Exchange
closes or on a day when the Exchange is not open for business, BFDS 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 on the Service Options Form
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
 
                                      27
<PAGE>
 
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 purchased within one (1) year of such redemption. Loomis Sayles, in its
discretion, may waive the 2.00% redemption fee with respect to shares of the
High Yield Fund.
 
  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 Funds' investment performance may from time to time be included in
advertisements about the 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.     
   
  Yield is based on the price of the shares but does not reflect any
redemption fee in the case of the High Yield Fund.     
   
  "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.     
 
                                      28
<PAGE>
 
                DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
   
  The Bond, High Yield, Intermediate Maturity Bond and Investment Grade Bond
Funds declare and pay dividends quarterly; the Global Bond Fund declares and
pays its net investment income to shareholders as dividends annually; the
Short-Term Bond Fund declares dividends daily and makes payments monthly. 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 Funds declare or pay 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 are
taxable as ordinary income whether distributed in cash or additional shares.
Long-term capital gain distributions from all Funds are taxable as long-term
capital gains 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.
 
                                      29
<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.
 
                                      A-1
<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.
 
                                      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
 
                                      A-2
<PAGE>
 
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.
 
  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.
 
                                      A-3
<PAGE>
 
  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.
 
                                      A-4
<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 APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
 
      [LOGO OF LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS APPEARS HERE]



       



      EQUITY FUNDS 
      INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
 
 





      PROSPECTUS
         
      DECEMBER 30, 1996     
<PAGE>
     
               [LOGO OF LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS APPEARS HERE]
   
 ONE FINANCIAL CENTER . BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02111 . (617) 482-2450 

THE LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS--EQUITY FUNDS 

 INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES OF: 

  LOOMIS SAYLES CORE VALUE FUND (FORMERLY, LOOMIS SAYLES GROWTH & INCOME FUND) 

  LOOMIS SAYLES GROWTH FUND 
  
  LOOMIS SAYLES INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND 
                       
  LOOMIS SAYLES MID-CAP GROWTH FUND 
  
  LOOMIS SAYLES MID-CAP VALUE FUND 
  
  LOOMIS SAYLES SMALL CAP VALUE FUND (FORMERLY, LOOMIS SAYLES SMALL CAP FUND) 
  
  LOOMIS SAYLES SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND 
  
  LOOMIS SAYLES STRATEGIC VALUE FUND 
  
  LOOMIS SAYLES WORLDWIDE FUND      

<PAGE>
 
   
PROSPECTUS                                               DECEMBER 30, 1996     
   
THE LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS--EQUITY FUNDS     
   
  Loomis Sayles Core Value Fund, (formerly, Loomis Sayles Growth & Income
Fund) Loomis Sayles Growth Fund, Loomis Sayles International Equity Fund, Loo-
mis Sayles Mid-Cap Growth Fund, Loomis Sayles Mid-Cap Value Fund, Loomis
Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund, Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund, (formerly,
Loomis Sayles Small Cap Fund) Loomis Sayles Strategic Value Fund, and Loomis
Sayles Worldwide Fund (the "Funds" and each a "Fund"), each a series of Loomis
Sayles Funds, 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 two classes of shares: an Institutional Class that is de-
scribed in this Prospectus and a Retail Class, with a lower minimum investment
for certain categories of investors and bearing higher expenses, that is de-
scribed in a separate prospectus. This Prospectus concisely describes the in-
formation that an investor should know before investing in the Institutional
Class shares of any Fund. Please read it carefully and keep it for future ref-
erence. A Statement of Additional Information dated December 30, 1996, is
available free of charge; write to Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P. (the "Dis-
tributor"), One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111 or telephone
800-633-3330. The Statement of Additional Information, which contains more de-
tailed information about the Funds, has been filed with the Securities and Ex-
change Commission (the "SEC") and is incorporated by reference into this Pro-
spectus. To obtain more information about the Retail Class of shares, please
call the Distributor toll-free at 800-633-3330 or contact your financial in-
termediary.     
   
  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......................................................   5
THE TRUST.................................................................   9
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES........................................   9
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS' INVESTMENTS AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS.....  12
THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT ADVISER.............................................  18
FUND EXPENSES.............................................................  20
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS....................................................  21
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES....................................................  21
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES......................................................  24
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES......................................................  25
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION....................................  26
DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES...........................  27
</TABLE>    
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                              SUMMARY OF EXPENSES
   
  The following information is provided to assist an investor in understanding
the various expenses that an investor in a Fund will bear indirectly. Except
in the case of the Worldwide, Small Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Mid-Cap Growth
and Strategic Value Funds, the information is based on expenses of the
Institutional Class shares for the Funds' fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.
The Worldwide Fund did not commence operations until 1996 and the Small Cap
Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Mid-Cap Growth and Strategic Value Funds had not
commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus; the information about
each shown below is based on annualized projected expenses of the
Institutional Class shares for the 1997 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 assumed 5%
annual return in the Example should not be considered a representation of
investment performance as actual performance will depend upon actual
investment results and expenses of the particular Fund's portfolio.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                            CORE               INTERNATIONAL MID-CAP    MID-CAP
                            VALUE    GROWTH       EQUITY     GROWTH      VALUE
                           FUND/2/   FUND/2/      FUND/2/    FUND/3/    FUND/3/
                           -------   -------   ------------- -------    -------
<S>                        <C>       <C>       <C>           <C>        <C>
Shareholder Transaction
 Expenses:
 Maximum Sales Load
  Imposed on Purchases
  (as % of offering
  price).................   none      none         none       none       none
 Maximum Sales Load
  Imposed on Reinvested
  Dividends (as % of
  offering price)........   none      none         none       none       none
 Maximum Deferred Sales
  Load (as % of original
  purchase price or
  redemption proceeds as
  applicable)............   none      none         none       none       none
 Redemption Fees/1/......   none      none         none       none       none
 Exchange Fees...........   none      none         none       none       none
Annual Operating Expenses
 (as a percentage of net
 assets):
 Management Fees.........    .50%/2/   .50%/2/      .75%/2/    .75%       .75%
 12b-1 Fees..............   none      none         none       none       none
 Other Operating Expenses
  (after expense
  reimbursements where
  indicated).............    .35%/2/   .33%         .25%/2/    .25%/3/    .25%/3/
 Total Operating Expenses
  (after expense
  reimbursements where
  indicated).............    .85%/2/   .83%        1.00%/2/   1.00%/3/   1.00%/3/
Example/4/:
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................    $ 9       $ 9          $10        $10        $10
 Three Years.............     27        27           32         32         32
 Five Years..............     47        47           55
 Ten Years...............    105       105          122
</TABLE>    
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                      SMALL
                                       CAP        SMALL    STRATEGIC
                                     GROWTH     CAP VALUE    VALUE     WORLDWIDE
                                     FUND/3/     FUND/2/    FUND/3/     FUND/3/
                                     -------    ---------  ---------   ---------
<S>                                  <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>
Shareholder Transaction Expenses:
 Maximum Sales Load Imposed on
  Purchases (as % of offering
  price)...........................   none        none       none        none
 Maximum Sales Load Imposed on
  Reinvested Dividends (as % of
  offering price)..................   none        none       none        none
 Deferred Sales Load (as % of
  original purchase price or
  redemption proceeds as
  applicable)......................   none        none       none        none
 Redemption Fees/1/................   none        none       none        none
 Exchange Fees.....................   none        none       none        none
Annual Operating Expenses (as a
 percentage of net assets):
 Management Fees...................    .75%        .75%/2/    .50%        .75%
 12b-1 Fees........................   none        none       none        none
 Other Operating Expenses (after
  expense reimbursements where
  indicated).......................... .25%/3/     .25%       .50%/3/     .25%/3/
 Total Operating Expenses (after
  expense reimbursements where
  indicated).......................   1.00%/3/    1.00%      1.00%/3/    1.00%/3/
Example/4/:
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..........................    $10         $10        $10         $10
 Three Years.......................     32          32         32          32
 Five Years........................                 55
 Ten Years.........................                122
</TABLE>    
- -----------
/1/A $5 charge applies to any wire transfer of redemption proceeds from any
   Fund.
   
/2/The expenses are based on actual expenses for the Funds for the fiscal year
   ended December 31, 1995, except for the effect of management fee reductions.
   The management fees shown have been restated to reflect a reduction effec-
   tive January 1, 1997 in the management fees payable to Loomis Sayles. Man-
   agement fee rates in effect through December 31, 1996 were 0.75% for the Core
   Value Fund, 0.75% for the Growth Fund, 1.00% for the International Equity
   Fund and 1.00% for the Small Cap Value Fund. Loomis Sayles has voluntarily
   agreed, for an indefinite period, to limit the Total Operating Expenses of
   the Core Value, International Equity and Small Cap Value Funds to the
   percentages of net assets shown in the table, and to limit the Total Op-
   erating Expenses of the Growth Fund to 0.85% of its net assets. Without this
   agreement. Other Operating Expenses and Total Operating Expenses would have
   been 0.45% and 0.95%, respectively, for the Core Value Fund and 0.45% and
   1.20%, respectively, for the International Equity Fund.     
   
/3/Other Operating Expenses is based on estimated amounts for the 1997 fiscal
   year after giving effect to voluntary expense reimbursements. Loomis Sayles
   has voluntarily agreed, for an indefinite period, to limit these Funds' To-
   tal Operating Expenses to the percentages of net assets shown above. Without
   this agreement, estimated Other Operating Expenses and Total Operating Ex-
   penses would be 1.24% and 1.99%, respectively, for the Mid-Cap Growth Fund,
   0.68% and 1.43%, respectively, for the Mid-Cap Value Fund, 0.36% and 1.11%,
   respectively, for the Small Cap Growth Fund, 1.00% and 1.50%, respectively,
   for the Strategic Value Fund and 1.80% and 2.55%, respectively, for the
   Worldwide Fund.     

/4/Under SEC rules, new funds are required to show expenses for the one- and
   three-year periods only.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                             FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
     (FOR AN INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARE OF EACH INDICATED FUND OUTSTANDING
                       THROUGHOUT THE INDICATED PERIODS)
   
  The information presented below for the six months ended June 30, 1996 is
unaudited. The information presented below for prior periods is included in
financial statements of the Funds 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' 1996 Semiannual Report and the "Report of Independent Accountants,"
financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Funds' 1995 Annual
Report, which are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and the
Statement of Additional Information. No Institutional Class shares of the Mid-
Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Small Cap Growth or Strategic Value Funds were
outstanding during the periods shown below.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                            CORE VALUE FUND
                          --------------------------------------------------------
                          SIX MONTHS
                             ENDED                                        MAY 16*
                           JUNE 30,         YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,              TO
                             1996     ----------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                          (UNAUDITED)  1995     1994     1993     1992      1991
                          ----------- -------  -------  -------  -------  --------
<S>                       <C>         <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
Net asset value,
 beginning of period....    $ 14.57   $ 11.80  $ 12.49  $ 11.53  $ 10.54   $10.00
                            -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
Income from investment
 operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss)................       0.12      0.23     0.15     0.13     0.13     0.12
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments........       0.92      3.93    (0.26)    1.24     1.36     0.59
                            -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Total from investment
  operations............       1.04      4.16    (0.11)    1.37     1.49     0.71
                            -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income.....       0.00     (0.23)   (0.15)   (0.12)   (0.13)   (0.12)
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains.................       0.00     (1.16)   (0.43)   (0.29)   (0.37)   (0.05)
 Distributions from
  capital...............       0.00      0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00
                            -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Total distributions....       0.00     (1.39)   (0.58)   (0.41)   (0.50)   (0.17)
                            -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
Net asset value, end of
 period.................    $ 15.61   $ 14.57  $ 11.80  $ 12.49  $ 11.53   $10.54
                            =======   =======  =======  =======  =======   ======
Total return (%)........        7.1      35.2     (0.9)    11.9     14.1      7.2
Net assets, end of
 period (000)...........    $38,153   $36,465  $25,946  $20,657  $12,279   $7,689
Ratio of operating
 expenses to average net
 assets (%).............       1.18**    1.20     1.33     1.50     1.50     1.50**
Ratio of net investment
 income to average net
 assets (%).............       1.51**    1.61     1.28     1.23     1.42     2.09**
Portfolio turnover rate
 (%)....................         44**      60       48       53       67       27**
Average Commission Rate
 ***....................    $0.0549        --       --       --       --       --
Without giving effect to
 voluntary expense
 limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average
  net assets would have
  been (%)..............       1.18**    1.20     1.33     1.56     2.19     2.59**
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been..................    $  0.12   $  0.23  $  0.15  $  0.12  $  0.07   $ 0.06
</TABLE>    
- -----------
   
  * Commencement of operations.     
 ** Computed on an annualized basis.
*** For fiscal periods beginning on or after September 1, 1995, a fund is re-
    quired 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.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                GROWTH FUND
                            ---------------------------------------------------------
                            SIX MONTHS
                               ENDED                                         MAY 16*
                             JUNE 30,          YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,              TO
                               1996      ----------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                            (UNAUDITED)   1995     1994     1993     1992      1991
                            -----------  -------  -------  -------  -------  --------
 <S>                        <C>          <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
 Net asset value,
  beginning of period....     $ 15.27    $ 12.50  $ 13.02  $ 12.46  $ 12.01  $ 10.00
                              -------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
 Income from investment
  operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss).................       (0.04)     (0.00)   (0.02)    0.00    (0.04)    0.00
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments.........        1.90       3.86    (0.45)    1.16     0.49     2.45
                              -------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
  Total from investment
   operations............        1.86       3.86    (0.47)    1.16     0.45     2.45
                              -------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
 Less distributions--
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains..................        0.00      (1.09)   (0.04)   (0.60)    0.00    (0.44)
 Distributions from
  capital................        0.00       0.00    (0.01)    0.00     0.00     0.00
                              -------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
  Total distributions....        0.00      (1.09)   (0.05)   (0.60)    0.00    (0.44)
                              -------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
 Net asset value, end of
  period.................     $ 17.13    $ 15.27  $ 12.50  $ 13.02  $ 12.46  $ 12.01
                              =======    =======  =======  =======  =======  =======
 Total return (%)........        12.2       30.9     (3.7)     9.3      3.8     24.5
 Net assets, end of
  period (000)...........     $48,740    $45,011  $36,580  $32,385  $24,451  $16,105
 Ratio of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets (%).............        1.09**     1.08     1.16     1.20     1.50     1.50**
 Ratio of net investment
  income to average net
  assets (%).............       (0.48)**   (0.29)   (0.14)   (0.17)   (0.45)    0.01**
 Portfolio turnover rate
  (%)....................         116**       48       46       64       98       69**
 Average Commission Rate
  ***....................     $0.0362         --       --       --       --       --
 Without giving effect to
  voluntary expense
  limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets would have been
  (%)....................        1.09**     1.08     1.16     1.20     1.51     1.66**
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been...................     $ (0.04)   $  0.00  $ (0.02) $  0.00  $ (0.04) $ (0.01)
</TABLE>     
- -----------
  * Commencement of operations.
 ** Computed on an annualized basis.
   
*** For fiscal periods beginning on or after September 1, 1995, a fund is re-
    quired 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.     
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                         INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
                            --------------------------------------------------------
                            SIX MONTHS
                               ENDED                                        MAY 16*
                             JUNE 30,         YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,              TO
                               1996     ----------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                            (UNAUDITED)  1995     1994     1993     1992      1991
                            ----------- -------  -------  -------  -------  --------
 <S>                        <C>         <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
 Net asset value,
  beginning of period....     $ 11.65   $ 11.61  $ 12.90  $  9.64  $ 10.27   $10.00
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Income from investment
  operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss).................        0.11      0.14     0.15     0.11     0.10     0.08
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments.........        0.82      0.87    (0.38)    3.61    (0.62)    0.29
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
  Total from investment
   operations............        0.93      1.01    (0.23)    3.72    (0.52)    0.37
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income......        0.00     (0.14)   (0.14)   (0.10)   (0.10)   (0.08)
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains..................        0.00     (0.83)   (0.92)   (0.36)   (0.01)    0.00
 Distributions from paid-
  in capital.............        0.00      0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00    (0.02)
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
  Total distributions....        0.00     (0.97)   (1.06)   (0.46)   (0.11)   (0.10)
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Net asset value, end of
  period.................     $ 12.58   $ 11.65  $ 11.61  $ 12.90  $  9.64   $10.27
                              =======   =======  =======  =======  =======   ======
 Total return (%)........         8.0       8.7     (1.8)    38.5     (5.1)     3.7
 Net assets, end of
  period (000)...........     $83,356   $79,488  $73,189  $56,560  $14,937   $6,916
 Ratio of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets (%).............        1.50**    1.45     1.46     1.50     1.50     1.50**
 Ratio of net investment
  income to average net
  assets (%).............        1.78**    1.16     1.30     1.20     1.64     1.55**
 Portfolio turnover rate
  (%)....................         162**     133      116      128      101      109**
 Average Commission Rate
  ***....................     $0.0925        --       --       --       --       --
 Without giving effect to
  voluntary expense
  limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets would have been
  (%)....................        1.50**    1.45     1.46     1.72     2.77     3.66**
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been...................     $  0.11   $  0.14  $  0.15  $  0.09  $  0.02   $(0.03)
</TABLE>    
- -----------
  * Commencement of operations.
 ** Computed on an annualized basis.
*** For fiscal periods beginning on or after September 1, 1995, a fund is re-
    quired 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.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          WORLDWIDE
                                            SMALL CAP VALUE FUND                            FUND
                            ---------------------------------------------------------    -----------
                                                                                           MAY 1,
                            SIX MONTHS                                                      1996*
                               ENDED                                         MAY 16*         TO
                             JUNE 30,          YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,              TO        JUNE 30,
                               1996      ----------------------------------  DEC. 31,       1996
                            (UNAUDITED)   1995     1994     1993     1992      1991      (UNAUDITED)
                            -----------  -------  -------  -------  -------  --------    -----------
 <S>                        <C>          <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>         <C>
 Net asset value,
  beginning of period....    $  15.33    $ 12.86  $ 14.13  $ 12.88  $ 12.49  $ 10.00       $ 10.00
                             --------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------       -------
 Income from investment
  operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss).................        0.04       0.04    (0.04)    0.00    (0.06)   (0.01)         0.06
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments.........        2.39       4.06    (1.12)    3.15     1.67     3.03          0.06
                             --------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------       -------
  Total from investment
   operations............        2.43       4.10    (1.16)    3.15     1.61     3.02          0.12
                             --------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------       -------
 Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income......        0.00      (0.04)    0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00          0.00
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains..................        0.00      (1.59)   (0.11)   (1.90)   (1.22)   (0.53)         0.00
                             --------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------       -------
  Total distributions....        0.00      (1.63)   (0.11)   (1.90)   (1.22)   (0.53)         0.00
                             --------    -------  -------  -------  -------  -------       -------
 Net asset value, end of
  period.................    $  17.76    $ 15.33  $ 12.86  $ 14.13  $ 12.88  $ 12.49       $ 10.12
                             ========    =======  =======  =======  =======  =======       =======
  Total return (%).......        15.9       32.1     (8.2)    24.7     13.1     30.5           1.2
 Net assets, end of
  period (000)...........    $107,530    $90,455  $73,126  $67,553  $39,244  $14,581       $ 4,727
 Ratio of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets (%).............        1.22**     1.25     1.27     1.35     1.50     1.50**        1.00**
 Ratio of net investment
  income to average net
  assets (%).............        0.50**     0.29    (0.30)   (0.38)   (0.79)   (0.19)**       4.66**
 Portfolio turnover rate
  (%)....................          78**      155       87      106      109       56**          31**
 Average Commission
  Rate ***...............    $ 0.0311         --       --       --       --       --       $0.0158
 Without giving effect to
  voluntary expense
  limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets would have been
  (%)....................        1.22**     1.25     1.27     1.35     1.66     2.43**        4.46**
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been...................    $   0.04    $  0.04  $ (0.04) $  0.00  $ (0.07) $ (0.06)      $  0.02
</TABLE>     
- -----------
   
  * Commencement of operations.     
 ** Computed on an annualized basis.
   
*** For fiscal periods beginning on or after September 1, 1995, a fund is re-
    quired 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' semiannual and annual reports to shareholders, which may be ob-
      tained without charge.     
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
                                   THE TRUST
   
  Each 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 OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
 
LOOMIS SAYLES CORE VALUE FUND
 
  The Fund's investment objective is long-term growth of capital and income.
    
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing substantially all of
its assets in common stocks or their equivalent which Loomis Sayles considers
to be undervalued in relation to the issuer's earnings, dividends, assets and
growth prospects. 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.     
 
LOOMIS SAYLES GROWTH FUND
 
  The Fund's investment objective is long-term growth of capital.
    
  The Fund seeks to achieve 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
Fund may invest in companies with relatively small market capitalization, as
well as in larger companies. 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.     
 
LOOMIS SAYLES INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
 
  The Fund's investment objective is high total investment return through a
combination of capital appreciation and current income.
    
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in equity
securities of companies organized or headquartered outside the United States.
Under normal conditions the Fund will invest at least 65% of its total assets
in      
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
    
equity securities of issuers from at least three countries outside the United
States. For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest as much as 100%
of its assets in issuers from one or two countries, which may include the
United States. The Fund may also engage in foreign currency hedging
transactions and options transactions.     
   
LOOMIS SAYLES MID-CAP GROWTH 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, under normal market
conditions, at least 65% of its total assets in stocks with market
capitalization between $500 million and $5 billion. The Fund will normally
maintain a median market capitalization between $1 billion and $5 billion.
Current income is not a consideration in selecting the Fund's investments. The
Fund may invest any portion of its assets in securities of Canadian issuers
and up to 20% of its assets in the securities of issuers headquartered outside
the United States or Canada. The Fund may also engage in foreign currency
hedging transactions, options and futures transactions, and securities
lending.     
 
LOOMIS SAYLES MID-CAP VALUE FUND
 
  The Fund's objective is long-term capital growth from investments in common
stocks or their equivalent.
   
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing, under normal market
conditions, at least 65% of its total assets in stocks with market
capitalization between $500 million and $5 billion. The Fund will normally
maintain a median market capitalization between $1 billion and $5 billion.
Loomis Sayles seeks to build a core portfolio of stocks that Loomis Sayles
believes to be undervalued by the market in relation to the issuer's earnings,
dividends, assets and growth prospects and that has a smaller emphasis on
special situations and turnarounds (companies that have experienced
significant business problems but that Loomis Sayles believes have favorable
prospects for recovery). Current income is not a consideration in selecting
the Fund's investments. The Fund may invest any portion of its assets in
securities of Canadian issuers and up to 20% of its assets in the securities
of issuers headquartered outside the United States or Canada. The Fund may
also engage in foreign currency hedging transactions, options and futures
transactions, and securities lending.     
   
LOOMIS SAYLES SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND     
   
  The Fund's investment objective is long-term capital growth from investments
in common stocks or their equivalent.     
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
   
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in stocks of
small, rapidly growing companies that Loomis Sayles believes have the
potential for accelerating earnings growth and rising profit margins. 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 total
assets in larger companies. Loomis Sayles seeks companies that have
distinctive products, technologies, or services; dynamic earnings growth;
prospects for a high level of profitability; and outstanding management.
Current income is not a consideration in selecting the Fund's investments. The
Fund may invest any portion of its assets in securities of Canadian issuers
and up to 20% of its assets in the securities of issuers headquartered outside
the United States or Canada. The Fund may also engage in foreign currency
hedging transactions, options and futures transactions, and securities
lending.     
 
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 stocks of
small cap 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 cap 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.     
 
LOOMIS SAYLES STRATEGIC 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 substantially all of
its assets in common stocks or their equivalent that Loomis Sayles considers
to be undervalued by the markets. Stocks are selected based on a combination
of quantitative factors including historical, relative price-earnings ratios;
price-earnings ratios relative to growth rates; relative fundamentals and
price momentum; and qualitative factors including the quality of management,
     
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
   
position in the industry, debt and balance sheet restructuring and product
cycles. The Fund's strategy is to have a relatively concentrated portfolio
normally consisting of approximately 35-40 securities that Loomis Sayles
considers best positioned to perform in the current and future environment.
The Fund may invest any portion of its assets in the securities of Canadian
issuers and up to 20% of its assets in securities of issuers headquartered
outside the United States or Canada. The Fund may also engage in foreign
currency hedging transactions, options and futures transactions, and
securities lending.     
 
LOOMIS SAYLES WORLDWIDE FUND
 
  The Fund's investment objective is high total investment return through a
combination of capital appreciation and current income.
   
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing in U.S. and foreign
equity and debt securities. The allocation of the Fund's assets among the four
sectors of domestic equities, international equities, domestic bonds and
international bonds will be made by Loomis Sayles' Global Asset Allocation
Group. The Fund will normally invest its assets in securities of issuers from
at least three countries, one of which will be the United States. The Fund may
also invest in collateralized mortgage obligations, zero coupon securities,
when-issued securities and Rule 144A securities. The Fund may engage in
foreign currency hedging transactions and options and forward contract
transactions.     
 
ALL FUNDS
    
  For temporary defensive purposes, each Fund may invest any portion of its
assets in fixed income securities, cash and 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 FUNDS' INVESTMENTS
                            AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS
 
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.
Therefore, 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.
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
DEBT AND OTHER FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
   
  The Worldwide 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.
 
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES
 
  The Worldwide 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. A Fund investing in zero coupon securities 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. 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.
 
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS
 
  The Worldwide Fund may invest in collateralized mortgage obligations
("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
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
particular class or series of CMOs held by a 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.
 
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 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 Core Value, Growth and
Small Cap Value Funds will not purchase a foreign security if, as a result,
the Fund's holdings of foreign securities would exceed 20% of the Fund's total
assets. The Mid-Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Small Cap Growth and Strategic
Value Funds may each 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 holding of non-U.S. and non-
Canadian securities would exceed 20% of the Fund's total assets.     
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
  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 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
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
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.
 
FOREIGN CURRENCY HEDGING TRANSACTIONS
 
  Each Fund that invests in foreign securities may engage in foreign currency
exchange transactions, in connection with the purchase and sale of foreign
securities, 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.
 
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS
   
  The International Equity, Mid-Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Small Cap Growth,
Strategic Value and Worldwide Funds may buy, sell or write options on
securities, securities indexes, currencies or futures contracts. The Mid-Cap
Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Small Cap Growth and Strategic Value Funds may buy and
sell futures contracts on securities, securities indexes or currencies. Each
of these Funds 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.     
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
  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 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
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 a 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 a
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 or written by a
Fund and futures contracts held by a Fund may fluctuate up or down 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 a Fund's
portfolio. All transactions in options and futures involve the possible risk
of loss to a 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 a Fund writes a call option or sells a futures contract
without holding the underlying securities, currencies or futures contracts,
its potential loss is unlimited. A Fund will be required, however, to set
aside with its custodian bank liquid assets in amounts sufficient at all times
to satisfy its obligations under options and futures 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. A 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 the 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 a 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), a Fund is at risk that the
other party to the transaction     
 
                                      17
<PAGE>
    
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, each Fund will treat most over-the-counter options (and the
assets it segregates to cover its obligations thereunder) as illiquid.     
 
  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.
 
SECURITIES LENDING
   
  The Mid-Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Small Cap Growth and Strategic Value
Funds may each lend its portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other
parties under contracts calling for the deposit by the borrower with the
Fund's custodian of cash collateral equal to at least the market value of the
securities loaned, marked to market on a daily basis. The Fund will continue
to benefit from interest or dividends on the securities loaned and will also
receive interest through investment of the cash collateral in short-term
liquid investments. No loans will be made if, as a result, the aggregate
amount of such loans outstanding at any time would exceed 33 1/3% of the
Fund's total assets (taken at current value). Any voting rights, or rights to
consent, relating to securities loaned pass to the borrower. However, if a
material event affecting the investment occurs, such loans will be called so
that the securities may be voted by the Fund. The Fund pays various fees in
connection with such loans, including shipping fees and reasonable custodial
or placement fees.     
 
  Securities loans must be fully collateralized at all times, but involve some
credit risk to the Fund if the borrower defaults on its obligation and the
Fund is delayed or prevented from recovering the collateral.
 
                         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 Funds' investments, Loomis Sayles
provides executive and other personnel for the management of the Funds.
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
 
   
The Funds' board of trustees supervises Loomis Sayles' conduct of the affairs
of the Funds.     
   
  As of December 20, 1996, the Loomis Sayles Employees' Profit Sharing Plan
owned 28% of the Growth Fund and the Loomis-Sayles Funded Pension Plan owned
84% of the Worldwide Fund. Each of these shareholders may be deemed to control
the relevant Fund.     
   
  Jeffrey W. Wardlow, Vice President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has
served as the portfolio manager of the Core Value Fund since its commencement
of investment operations in 1991. Jerome A. Castellini, Vice President of the
Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio manager of the Growth
Fund since its commencement of investment operations in 1991 and the Mid-Cap
Growth Fund since 1997. Scott S. Pape, Vice President of the Trust and of
Loomis Sayles, has served as a portfolio manager of the Mid-Cap Growth Fund
since its commencement of investment operations in 1997. Jeffrey C. Petherick
and Gregg D. Watkins, Vice Presidents of the Trust and Loomis Sayles, have
served as portfolio managers of the Mid-Cap Value Fund since its commencement
of investment operations in 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 its commencement of investment operations in 1991, 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. Christopher R.
Ely, Vice President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as the
portfolio manager and Philip C. Fine and David L. Smith, Vice Presidents of
the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, have served as assistant portfolio managers of
the Small Cap Growth Fund since its commencement of investment operations in
1997. Philip J. Schettewi, Vice President of the Trust and Loomis Sayles, has
served as the portfolio manager of the Strategic Value Fund since its
commencement of investment operations in 1997. Daniel J. Fuss, President of
the Trust and Executive Vice President of Loomis Sayles, has served as the
portfolio manager of the domestic bonds sector of the Worldwide Fund since
that Fund's commencement of investment operations in 1996. E. John deBeer,
Vice President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as portfolio
manager of the international bonds sector of the Worldwide Fund since that
Fund's commencement of investment operations in 1996. Quentin P. Faulkner,
Vice President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio
manager of the domestic equities sector of the Worldwide Fund since that
Fund's commencement of investment operations in 1996. Paul H. Drexler, Vice
President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio
manager of the international equities sector of the Worldwide Fund since that
Fund's commencement of investment operations in 1996 and of the International
Equity Fund since 1996. Each of the foregoing, except Ms. Champagne and
Messrs. Drexler, Ely, Fine and Smith have been employed by Loomis Sayles for
at least     
 
                                      19
<PAGE>
    
five years. Before joining Loomis Sayles in 1993, Ms. Champagne was a
portfolio manager at NBD Bank, and Mr. Drexler was an economist and portfolio
manager at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Prior to joining Loomis Sayles in
1996, Mr. Ely was Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, and Messrs.
Fine and Smith were Vice Presidents and Portfolio Managers, of Keystone
Investment Management Company, Inc.     
 
                                 FUND EXPENSES
    
  Each Fund pays Loomis Sayles a monthly investment advisory fee at the
following annual percentage rate of the Fund's average daily net assets:     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
FUND                                                                    FEE RATE
- ----                                                                    --------
<S>                                                                     <C>
Core Value.............................................................   .50%
Growth.................................................................   .50%
International Equity...................................................   .75%
Mid-Cap Growth.........................................................   .75%
Mid-Cap Value..........................................................   .75%
Small Cap Value........................................................   .75%
Small Cap Growth.......................................................   .75%
Strategic Value........................................................   .50%
Worldwide..............................................................   .75%
</TABLE>    
    
  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
trustees' meetings, 12b-1 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 and 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 operating expenses of the Institutional Class shares to .85% and
 .83% of the average net assets of the Core Value and Growth Funds and to 1.00%
of average annual net assets for the International Equity, Mid-Cap Growth,
Mid-Cap Value, Small Cap Value, Small Cap Growth, and Strategic Value Funds.
Loomis Sayles may change or terminate these voluntary arrangements at any
time, but the Funds' Prospectus would be supplemented to describe the change.
    
  Loomis Sayles may pay certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries
whose customers are existing shareholders of the Funds a continuing fee in an
amount of up to .25% annually of the value of Fund shares held for those
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
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.
 
                            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. Although it is
not possible to predict the portfolio turnover rate with certainty, Loomis
Sayles does not expect the Mid-Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Small Cap Growth,
and Strategic Value Funds' portfolio turnover rates to exceed 200%, 70%, 150%,
and 70%, respectively. A turnover in excess of 100% may be considered high.
    
  Loomis Sayles selects brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions
for the Funds. Subject to seeking best price and execution, Loomis Sayles may
allocate these transactions to brokers or dealers whose customers have
invested in the Trust.
 
                            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
   
  The minimum initial investment for the Institutional Class of each Fund's
shares is $1 million in that Fund. However, this minimum investment does not
apply to shareholders of any Fund (or any other fund that is a series of
Loomis Sayles Funds) who have an account that has been in continuous existence
since December 31, 1996 ("Original Shareholders"). Original Shareholders may
open an Institutional Class account in another Fund with no minimum investment
if they purchase the shares of the other Fund by exchanging Institutional
Class shares of a Fund (or any other fund that is a series of Loomis Sayles
Funds) in which they already own shares. Original Shareholders who hold their
accounts through financial intermediaries may avoid minimum investment
requirements only through this method. Original Shareholders whose accounts
are held directly with BFDS may also open an Institutional Class account in a
new Fund by investing a minimum of $2,500. For additional information
regarding the     
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
   
eligibility of Original Shareholders to purchase Institutional Class shares,
call the Distributor toll-free at 800-633-3330. A $2,500 minimum investment
also applies to the current and retired trustees of the Trust, investment
advisory clients of Loomis Sayles (and their directors, officers and
employees), and current and retired employees of Loomis Sayles and the
parents, spouses and children of the foregoing. The minimum investment may be
waived by Loomis Sayles in its sole discretion and will be waived for any new
shareholder in the Loomis Sayles Funds who initially invests less than $1
million but signs a letter of intent stating the shareholder's intention to
bring his or her balance to $1 million within six months of the initial
purchase. Loomis Sayles reserves the right to redeem the accounts at net asset
value of shareholders that have signed a letter of intent but fail to meet the
minimum investment within the specified time or to waive any minimum
investment in its sole discretion. Subsequent investments must be at least
$50.     
    
  Shares of any Fund may be purchased by (i) cash, (ii) exchanging securities
on deposit with a custodian acceptable to Loomis Sayles or (iii) a combination
of such securities and cash. Purchase of shares of the Fund in exchange for
securities is subject in each case to the determination by Loomis Sayles that
the securities to be exchanged are acceptable for purchase by the Fund. In all
cases Loomis Sayles reserves the right to reject any securities that are
proposed for exchange. Securities accepted by Loomis Sayles in exchange for
Fund shares will be valued in the same manner as the Fund's assets as
described below as of the time of the Fund's next determination of net asset
value after such acceptance. All dividends and subscription or other rights
which are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of
valuation become the property of the Fund and must be delivered to the Fund
upon receipt by the investor from the issuer. A gain or loss for federal
income tax purposes would be realized upon the exchange by an investor that is
subject to federal income taxation, depending upon the investor's basis in the
securities tendered. An investor who wishes to purchase shares by exchanging
securities should obtain instructions by calling 800-633-3330 and asking for
the Loomis Sayles Shareholder Services Group.     

  Loomis Sayles will not approve the acceptance of securities in exchange for
shares of any Fund unless (1) Loomis Sayles, in its sole discretion, believes
the securities are appropriate investments for the Fund; (2) the investor
represents and agrees that all securities offered to the Fund can be resold by
the Fund without restriction under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act") or otherwise; and (3) the securities are eligible to be
acquired under the Fund's investment policies and restrictions. No investor
owning 5% or more of Fund's shares may purchase additional shares of that Fund
by exchange of securities. 
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
    
  All purchases made by check should be in U.S. dollars and made payable to
Loomis Sayles Funds or State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street
Bank"). 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, Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.
("BFDS"), the shareholder servicing agent for State Street Bank, 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
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
Institutional Class), DDA #9904-622-9, Shareholder Name, Shareholder 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.     
 
  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
    
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
   
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 a Retail Class of shares that has a $250,000 minimum
investment and bears higher expenses. Because of its lower expenses, the
Institutional Class of shares of each Fund is expected to have a higher total
return than the 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 BFDS. 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. Institutional Class shares of any Fund may be
exchanged for shares of the Institutional Class of any other Fund (or any
other fund that is a series of Loomis Sayles Funds and that offers
Institutional 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 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.     
   
  RETIREMENT PLANS. The Funds' Institutional Class shares may be purchased by
all types of tax-deferred retirement plans. Loomis Sayles makes available
retirement plan forms for IRAs.     
   
  SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. If the value of an account is at least $25,000,
an investor may have periodic cash withdrawals automatically paid to the
investor or any person designated by the investor.     
 
  AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN. Voluntary monthly investments of at least $50 may
be made automatically by pre-authorized withdrawals from an investor's
checking account.
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
                             HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
 
  An investor can redeem shares by sending a written request to Boston
Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 8314, Boston, Massachusetts 02266. As
described below, an investor may also redeem shares by calling BFDS at
800-626-9390. Proceeds resulting from a written or 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). Investors requesting that
redemption proceeds be wired to their bank accounts must provide specific wire
instructions.
   
  If (1) an investor is redeeming shares worth more than $50,000, (2) 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, (3) the account registration has changed within the last 30 days or
(4) 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.     
 
  If an investor has requested certificates for the investment, an investor
must enclose the certificates and a properly completed redemption form or
stock power. The Funds recommend that certificates be sent by registered mail.
   
  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 BFDS prior to the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange. If an investor telephones a request to BFDS after the Exchange
closes or on a day when the Exchange is not open for business, BFDS 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, an investor must send in this change on the Service Options Form
with a signature guarantee. Telephonic redemptions may only be made if an
 
                                      25
<PAGE>
 
   
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 BFDS 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 fifteen 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     
   
  "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.     
 
                                      26
<PAGE>
 
                DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
 
  The Funds declare and pay their net investment income to shareholders as
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 Funds declare or pay
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.
 
  Income dividends and short term capital gain distributions are taxable as
ordinary income whether distributed in cash or additional shares. Long-term
capital gain distributions from all Funds are taxable as long-term capital
gains whether distributed in cash or additional shares and regardless of how
long an investor has owned shares of a 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 to an investor (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 the investor is not subject to such
withholding.
 
  Certain designated dividends from the Funds are expected to be eligible for
the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.
 
  State Street Bank will send each investor and the IRS an annual statement
detailing federal tax information, including information about dividends and
distributions paid to the investor during the preceding year. Be sure to keep
this statement as a permanent record. A fee may be charged for any duplicate
information that an investor requests.
 
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.
 
                                      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 APPEARS HERE]    
<PAGE>
 
       
                      
                  [LOGO OF LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS APPEARS HERE]     
 
 
      FIXED INCOME FUNDS INSTITUTIONAL CLASS
 
 
      PROSPECTUS
         
      DECEMBER 30, 1996     
<PAGE>
 
                  [LOGO OF LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS APPEARS HERE]


 ONE FINANCIAL CENTER . BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02111 . (617) 482-2450
   
THE LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS--FIXED INCOME FUNDS     
 
 INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES OF:
     
  LOOMIS SAYLES BOND FUND
  LOOMIS SAYLES GLOBAL BOND FUND
  LOOMIS SAYLES HIGH YIELD FUND
  LOOMIS SAYLES INTERMEDIATE MATURITY BOND FUND
  LOOMIS SAYLES INVESTMENT GRADE BOND FUND
  LOOMIS SAYLES MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
  LOOMIS SAYLES SHORT-TERM BOND FUND
  LOOMIS SAYLES U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND     
<PAGE>
 
          
PROSPECTUS______________________________________________ DECEMBER 30, 1996     
       
       
       
          
THE LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS--FIXED INCOME FUNDS     
       
    
  Loomis Sayles Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles High
Yield Fund, Loomis Sayles Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles In-
vestment Grade Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles Municipal Bond Fund, Loomis Sayles
Short-Term Bond Fund and Loomis Sayles U.S. Government Securities Fund (the
"Funds" and each a "Fund"), each a series of Loomis Sayles Funds, are sepa-
rately managed, no-load mutual funds, each of which has its own investment ob-
jective and policies. Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. ("Loomis Sayles") is the
investment adviser of each Fund.     
   
  The Funds (other than Loomis Sayles Municipal Bond Fund and Loomis Sayles
U.S. Government Securities Fund) offer two classes of shares: an Institutional
Class that is described in this Prospectus and a Retail Class, with a lower
investment minimum for certain categories of investors and bearing higher ex-
penses, that is described in a separate prospectus. This Prospectus concisely
describes the information that an investor should know before investing in the
Institutional Class shares of any Fund. Please read it carefully and keep it
for future reference. A Statement of Additional Information dated December 30,
1996 is available free of charge; write to Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P.
(the "Distributor"), One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111 or tel-
ephone 800-633-3330. 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 Retail Class of shares,
please call the Distributor toll-free at 800-633-3330 or contact your finan-
cial 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.     
   
  THE LOOMIS SAYLES HIGH YIELD 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 FUNDS'
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......................................................   5
THE TRUST.................................................................  10
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES........................................  10
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS' INVESTMENTS AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS.....  14
THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT ADVISER.............................................  24
FUND EXPENSES.............................................................  25
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS....................................................  25
HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES....................................................  26
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES......................................................  29
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES......................................................  29
CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION....................................  32
DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES...........................  32
APPENDIX A
  DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS............................................. A-1
</TABLE>    
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                              
                           SUMMARY OF EXPENSES     
   
  The following information is provided to assist in understanding the various
expenses that an investor in a Fund will bear indirectly. Except in the case
of the High Yield, Intermediate Maturity Bond and Investment Grade Bond Funds,
the information is based on expenses of the Institutional Class of shares for
the Funds' fiscal year ended December 31, 1995. The High Yield Fund did not
commence investment operations until 1996, and the Intermediate Maturity Bond
and Investment Grade Bond Funds had not commenced investment operations at the
date of this prospectus; the information about these Funds shown below is
based on annualized projected expenses of the Institutional Class of shares
for the 1997 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 assumed 5% annual return in the Example
should not be considered a representation of investment performance as actual
performance will depend upon actual investment results and expenses of the
particular Fund's portfolio.     
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                    GLOBAL      HIGH      INTERMEDIATE INVESTMENT  MUNICIPAL
                          BOND       BOND       YIELD       MATURITY   GRADE BOND    BOND
                         FUND/2/    FUND/2/    FUND/3/    BOND FUND/3/  FUND/3/     FUND/2/
                         -------    -------    -------    ------------ ----------  ---------
<S>                      <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>
Shareholder Transaction
 Expenses:
 Maximum Sales Load
  Imposed on Purchases
  (as % of offering
  price)................  none       none       none          none        none       none
 Maximum Sales Load
  Imposed on Reinvested
  Dividends (as % of
  offering price).......  none       none       none          none        none       none
 Maximum Deferred Sales
  Load (as % of original
  purchase price or
  redemption proceeds as
  applicable)...........  none       none       none          none        none       none
 Redemption Fees/1/.....  none       none       2.00%         none        none       none
 Exchange Fees..........  none       none       none          none        none       none
Annual Operating
 Expenses (as a
 percentage of net
 assets):
 Management Fees........   .60%       .60%/2/    .60%          .40%        .40%       .40%/2/
 12b-1 Fees.............  none       none       none          none        none       none
 Other Operating
  Expenses (after
  expense reimbursements
  where indicated)......   .15%/2/    .30%/2/    .15%/3/       .15%/3/     .15%/3/    .20%/2/
 Total Operating
  Expenses (after
  expense reimbursements
  where indicated)......   .75%/2/    .90%/2/    .75%/3/       .55%/3/     .55%/3/    .60%/2/
Example/4/:
An investor would pay
 the following expenses
 on a $1,000 investment
 assuming a 5% annual
 return (with a
 redemption at the end
 of each time period):
 One Year...............   $ 8       $  9        $28           $ 6         $ 6        $ 6
 Three Years............    24         29         24            18          18         19
 Five Years.............    42         50                                              33
 Ten Years..............    93        111                                              75
An investor would pay
 the following expenses
 on a $1,000 investment
 assuming a 5% annual
 return (without a
 redemption at the end
 of each time period):
 One Year...............   $ 8       $  9        $ 8           $ 6         $ 6        $ 6
 Three Years............    24         29         24            18          18         19
 Five Years.............    42         50                                              33
 Ten Years..............    93        111                                              75
</TABLE>    
 
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                                        U.S.
                                                         SHORT-TERM  GOVERNMENT
                                                            BOND     SECURITIES
                                                          FUND/2/     FUND/2/
                                                         ----------  ----------
<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
 Deferred Sales Load (as % of original purchase price
  or redemption proceeds as applicable)................     none        none
 12b-1 Fees............................................     none        none
 Redemption Fees/1/....................................     none        none
 Exchange Fees.........................................     none        none
Annual Operating Expenses (as a percentage of net
 assets):
 Management Fees.......................................      .25%/2/     .40%/2/
 Other Operating Expenses (after expense reimbursements
  where indicated).....................................      .25%/2/     .20%/2/
 Total Operating Expenses (after expense reimbursements
  where indicated).....................................      .50%/2/     .60%/2/
Example/4/:
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..............................................      $ 5         $ 6
 Three Years...........................................       16          19
 Five Years............................................       28          33
 Ten Years.............................................       63          75
</TABLE>    
- -----------
/1/A $5 charge applies to any wire transfer of redemption proceeds from any
   Fund. A 2.00% redemption fee applies with respect to shares of the High
   Yield Fund redeemed within one (1) year of purchase. Loomis Sayles may, in
   its discretion, waive redemption fees on shares of the High Yield Fund as
   set forth under the heading "How to Redeem Shares" if it determines that
   there are minimal brokerage and transaction costs incurred in connection
   with the redemption.
   
/2/The expenses are based on actual expenses for the Funds for the fiscal year
   ended December 31, 1995, except for the effect of management fee reductions
   on all Funds other than the Bond Fund. The management fees shown in the table
   have been restated to reflect a reduction effective January 1, 1997 in the
   management fees payable to Loomis Sayles. Management fee rates in effect
   through December 31, 1996 were 0.75% for the Global Bond Fund, 0.60% for the
   Municipal Bond Fund, 0.50% for the Short-Term Bond Fund and 0.60% for the
   U.S. Government Securities Fund. Loomis Sayles has voluntarily agreed, for an
   indefinite period, to limit these Funds' Total Operating Expenses to the
   percentages of net assets shown in the table. Without this agreement, Other
   Operating Expenses and Total Operating Expenses would have been 0.19% and
   0.79%, respectively, for the Bond Fund, 0.94% and 1.54%, respectively, for
   the Global Bond Fund, 1.42% and 1.82%, respectively, for the Municipal Bond
   Fund, 0.53% and 0.78%, respectively, for the Short Term Bond Fund and 0.62%
   and 1.02%, respectively, for the U.S. Government Securities Fund.     
   
/3/Other Operating Expenses is based on estimated expenses for the Funds for
   the 1997 fiscal year after giving effect to expense reimbursements. Loomis
   Sayles has voluntarily agreed, for an indefinite period, to limit the Funds'
   Total Operating Expenses to the percentages of net assets shown in the table.
   Without this agreement, estimated Other Operating Expenses and Total
   Operating Expenses would be 1.34% and 1.94%, respectively, for the High Yield
   Fund, 1.47% and 1.87%, respectively, for the Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund
   and 1.47% and 1.87%, respectively, for the Investment Grade Bond Fund.     
   
/4/Under SEC rules, new funds are required to show expenses for the one- and
   three-year periods only.     
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                             FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
     (FOR AN INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARE OF EACH INDICATED FUND OUTSTANDING
                       THROUGHOUT THE INDICATED PERIODS)
   
  The information presented below for the six months ended June 30, 1996 is
unaudited. The information presented below for prior periods is included in
financial statements of the Funds 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' 1996 Semiannual Report and the "Report of Independent Accountants,"
financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Funds' 1995 Annual
Report, which are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, and the
Statement of Additional Information. No Institutional Class shares of the High
Yield Fund, Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund and Investment Grade Bond Fund
were outstanding during the periods shown.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                  BOND FUND
                            ----------------------------------------------------------
                            SIX MONTHS
                               ENDED                                          MAY 16*
                             JUNE 30,          YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,               TO
                               1996      -----------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                            (UNAUDITED)    1995     1994     1993     1992      1991
                            -----------  --------  -------  -------  -------  --------
 <S>                        <C>          <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
 Net asset value,
  beginning of period....    $  12.29    $  10.05  $ 11.37  $ 10.36  $ 10.23   $10.00
                             --------    --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Income from investment
  operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss).................        0.44        0.82     0.83     0.84     0.76     0.52
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments.........       (0.37)       2.32    (1.29)    1.43     0.67     0.36
                             --------    --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
  Total from investment
   operations............        0.07        3.14    (0.46)    2.27     1.43     0.88
                             --------    --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income......       (0.19)      (0.82)   (0.84)   (0.81)   (0.76)   (0.52)
 Distributions in excess
  of net investment
  income.................        0.00        0.00    (0.02)    0.00     0.00     0.00
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains..................        0.00       (0.08)    0.00    (0.45)   (0.54)   (0.13)
                             --------    --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
  Total distributions....       (0.19)      (0.90)   (0.86)   (1.26)   (1.30)   (0.65)
                             --------    --------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Net asset value, end of
  period.................    $  12.17    $  12.29  $ 10.05  $ 11.37  $ 10.36   $10.23
                             ========    ========  =======  =======  =======   ======
 Total return (%)........         0.6        23.0     (4.1)    22.2     14.3      8.9
 Net assets, end of
  period (000)...........    $333,258    $255,710  $82,985  $64,222  $18,472   $9,922
 Ratio of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets (%).............        0.78**      0.79     0.84     0.94     1.00     1.00**
 Ratio of net investment
  income to average net
  assets (%).............        7.98**      8.34     7.92     8.26     7.50     8.97**
 Portfolio turnover rate
  (%)....................          58**        35       87      170      101      126**
 Without giving effect to
  voluntary expense
  limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets would have been
  (%)....................        0.78**      0.79     0.84     0.94     1.55     1.78**
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been...................    $   0.44    $   0.82  $  0.83  $  0.84  $  0.70   $ 0.47
</TABLE>    
- -----------
   
 * Commencement of operations.     
** Computed on an annualized basis.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>    
<CAPTION>
                                             GLOBAL BOND FUND
                            -------------------------------------------------------
                            SIX MONTHS
                               ENDED                                       MAY 16*
                             JUNE 30,        YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,              TO
                               1996     ---------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                            (UNAUDITED)  1995     1994     1993     1992     1991
                            ----------- -------  -------  -------  ------  --------
 <S>                        <C>         <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>     <C>
 Net asset value,
  beginning of period....     $ 11.39   $  9.82  $ 11.06  $ 10.32  $11.38   $10.00
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  ------   ------
 Income from investment
  operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss).................        0.39      1.04     0.67     0.54    0.70     0.37
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments.........        0.26      1.31    (1.63)    0.96   (0.60)    1.31
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  ------   ------
  Total from investment
   operations............        0.65      2.35    (0.96)    1.50    0.10     1.68
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  ------   ------
 Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income......        0.00     (0.78)   (0.04)   (0.49)  (0.77)   (0.30)
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains..................        0.00      0.00     0.00    (0.27)  (0.39)    0.00
 Distributions from
  capital................        0.00      0.00    (0.24)    0.00    0.00     0.00
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  ------   ------
  Total distributions....        0.00     (0.78)   (0.28)   (0.76)  (1.16)   (0.30)
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  ------   ------
 Net asset value, end of
  period.................     $ 12.04   $ 11.39  $  9.82  $ 11.06  $10.32   $11.38
                              =======   =======  =======  =======  ======   ======
 Total return (%)........         5.7      23.9     (8.7)    14.6     0.8     16.9
 Net assets, end of
  period (000)...........     $11,633   $10,304  $25,584  $21,378  $9,968   $4,308
 Ratio of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets (%).............        1.50**    1.50     1.30     1.50    1.50     1.50**
 Ratio of net investment
  income to average net
  assets (%).............        6.66**    8.17     7.02     5.54    6.99     6.81**
 Portfolio turnover rate
  (%)....................         147**     148      153      150      72      137**
 Without giving effect to
  voluntary expense
  limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets would have been
  (%)....................        2.35**    1.69     1.30     1.51    2.58     3.99**
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been...................     $  0.34   $  1.02  $  0.67  $  0.54  $ 0.59   $ 0.23
</TABLE>     
- -----------
 * Commencement of operations.
** Computed on an annualized basis.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>    
<CAPTION>
                                          MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
                            ----------------------------------------------------
                            SIX MONTHS
                               ENDED                                    MAY 16*
                             JUNE 30,       YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,            TO
                               1996     ------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                            (UNAUDITED)  1995    1994    1993    1992     1991
                            ----------- ------  ------  ------  ------  --------
 <S>                        <C>         <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
 Net asset value,
  beginning of period....     $11.53    $10.41  $11.54  $10.95  $10.55   $10.00
                              ------    ------  ------  ------  ------   ------
 Income from investment
  operations--
 Net investment income
  (loss).................       0.26      0.52    0.52    0.51    0.51     0.24
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments.........      (0.43)     1.16   (1.13)   0.74    0.46     0.56
                              ------    ------  ------  ------  ------   ------
  Total from investment
   operations............      (0.17)     1.68   (0.61)   1.25    0.97     0.80
                              ------    ------  ------  ------  ------   ------
 Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income......      (0.26)    (0.52)  (0.52)  (0.51)  (0.51)   (0.23)
 Distributions from net
  realized capital
  gains..................       0.00     (0.04)   0.00   (0.15)  (0.06)   (0.02)
                              ------    ------  ------  ------  ------   ------
  Total distributions....      (0.26)    (0.56)  (0.52)  (0.66)  (0.57)   (0.25)
                              ------    ------  ------  ------  ------   ------
 Net asset value, end of
  period.................     $11.10    $11.53  $10.41  $11.54  $10.95   $10.55
                              ======    ======  ======  ======  ======   ======
 Total return (%)........       (1.5)     16.5    (5.4)   11.6     9.4      8.1
 Net assets, end of
  period (000)...........     $7,907    $7,961  $7,270  $5,160  $2,200   $  706
 Ratio of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets (%).............       1.00**    1.00    1.00    1.00    1.00     1.00**
 Ratio of net investment
  income to average net
  assets (%).............       4.62**    4.72    4.79    4.50    4.81     5.03**
 Portfolio turnover rate
  (%)....................         29**      41      28      36      32       26**
 Without giving effect to
  voluntary expense
  limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets would have been
  (%)....................       2.53**    2.02    2.37    3.22    7.65    21.58**
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been...................     $ 0.17    $ 0.41  $ 0.37  $ 0.26  $(0.19)  $(0.74)
</TABLE>     
- -----------
   
 * Commencement of operations.     
** Computed on an annualized basis.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>    
<CAPTION>
                                           SHORT-TERM BOND FUND
                             -----------------------------------------------
                             SIX MONTHS
                                ENDED                               MAY 16*
                              JUNE 30,     YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,         TO
                                1996     -------------------------  DEC. 31,
                             (UNAUDITED)  1995     1994     1993      1992
                             ----------- -------  -------  -------  --------
 <S>                         <C>         <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>       
 Net asset value,
  beginning of period.....     $  9.81   $  9.46  $  9.95  $  9.87   $10.00
                               -------   -------  -------  -------   ------
 Income from investment
  operations --
 Net investment income....        0.27      0.63     0.66     0.59     0.22
 Net realized and
  unrealized gain (loss)
  on investments..........       (0.18)     0.35    (0.49)    0.08    (0.13)
                               -------   -------  -------  -------   ------
  Total from investment
   operations.............        0.09      0.98     0.17     0.67     0.09
                               -------   -------  -------  -------   ------
 Less distributions--
 Dividends from net
  investment income.......       (0.27)    (0.63)   (0.66)   (0.59)   (0.22)
 Distributions from net
  realized capital gains..        0.00      0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00
                               -------   -------  -------  -------   ------
  Total distributions.....       (0.27)    (0.63)   (0.66)   (0.59)   (0.22)
                               -------   -------  -------  -------   ------
 Net asset value, end of
  period..................     $  9.63   $  9.81  $  9.46  $  9.95   $ 9.87
                               =======   =======  =======  =======   ======
 Total return (%).........         0.9      10.6      1.8      7.0      0.9
 Net assets, end of period
  (000)...................     $19,063   $26,039  $19,440  $15,226   $5,121
 Ratio of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets (%)..............        1.00**    1.00     1.00     1.00     1.00**
 Ratio of net investment
  income to average net
  assets (%)..............        5.59**    6.46     6.88     5.97     5.49**
 Portfolio turnover rate
  (%).....................          95**     214       34       81       31**
 Without giving effect to
  voluntary expense
  limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets would have been
  (%).....................        1.12**    1.03     1.33     1.55     3.74**
 Net investment income per
  share would have been...     $  0.26   $  0.62  $  0.63  $  0.54   $ 0.11
</TABLE>     
- -----------
   
 * Commencement of operations.     
** Computed on an annualized basis.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND
                            --------------------------------------------------------
                            SIX MONTHS
                               ENDED                                        MAY 16*
                             JUNE 30,         YEAR ENDED DEC. 31,              TO
                               1996     ----------------------------------  DEC. 31,
                            (UNAUDITED)  1995     1994     1993     1992      1991
                            ----------- -------  -------  -------  -------  --------
 <S>                        <C>         <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
 Net asset value,
  beginning of period....     $ 10.64   $  9.22  $ 10.53  $ 10.45  $ 10.77   $10.00
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Income from investment
  operations--
  Net investment income..        0.33      0.66     0.64     0.64     0.64     0.40
  Net realized and
   unrealized gain (loss)
   on investments........       (0.83)     1.42    (1.30)    1.00     0.27     1.11
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
  Total from investment
   operations............       (0.50)     2.08    (0.66)    1.64     0.91     1.51
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Less distributions--
  Dividends from net
   investment income.....       (0.16)    (0.66)   (0.65)   (0.65)   (0.59)   (0.40)
  Distributions from net
   realized capital
   gains.................        0.00      0.00     0.00    (0.91)   (0.64)   (0.34)
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
  Total distributions....       (0.16)    (0.66)   (0.65)   (1.56)   (1.23)   (0.74)
                              -------   -------  -------  -------  -------   ------
 Net asset value, end of
  period.................     $  9.98   $ 10.64  $  9.22  $ 10.53  $ 10.45   $10.77
                              =======   =======  =======  =======  =======   ======
 Total return (%)........        (4.7)     23.0     (6.3)    15.7      8.8     15.3
 Net assets, end of
  period (000)...........     $22,212   $19,499  $17,341  $18,317  $10,899   $6,248
 Ratio of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets (%).............        1.00**    1.00     1.00     1.00     1.00     1.00**
 Ratio of net investment
  income to average net
  assets (%).............        6.38**    6.47     6.60     5.95     6.54     7.01**
 Portfolio turnover rate
  (%)....................         105**     169      242      277      344      273**
 Without giving effect to
  voluntary expense
  limitations:
 The ratios of operating
  expenses to average net
  assets would have
  been (%)...............        1.19**    1.22     1.22     1.29     2.01     2.39**
 Net investment income
  per share would have
  been...................     $  0.32** $  0.64  $  0.62  $  0.61  $  0.54   $ 0.32
</TABLE>
- -----------
 * Commencement of operations.
** Computed on an annualized basis.
     
NOTE: Further information about each Fund's performance is contained in the
      Funds' semiannual and annual reports to shareholders, which may be ob-
      tained without charge.     
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                                   THE TRUST
   
  Each 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 OBJECTIVES 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, 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, 1995 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"--
13.2%; "AA"/"Aa"--9.2%; "A"/"A"--10.9%; "BBB"/"Baa"--32.3%; "BB"/"Ba"--12.0%;
"B"/"B"--12.7%; "CCC"/"Caa"--9.7%.     
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
     
LOOMIS SAYLES GLOBAL BOND FUND     
     
  The Fund's investment objective is high total investment return through a
combination of high current income and capital appreciation.     
     
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in investment
grade fixed income securities denominated in various currencies, including
U.S. dollars, or in multicurrency units. Under normal conditions, the Fund
will invest at least 65% of its total assets in fixed income securities of
issuers from 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 Fund's assets may be denominated in U.S.
dollars. 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.     
     
LOOMIS SAYLES HIGH YIELD 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 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").     
     
LOOMIS SAYLES INTERMEDIATE MATURITY BOND FUND     
     
  The Fund's investment objective is high total investment return through a
combination of current income and capital appreciation.     
 
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
   
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by normally investing at least 90%
of its assets in fixed income securities of investment grade quality and to
maintain an average dollar weighted maturity of between three and ten years.
For purposes of the 90% test, a security will be treated as being of
investment grade quality if it is rated by at least one major rating agency in
one of its top four rating categories at the time of purchase or, if unrated,
is determined by Loomis Sayles to be of comparable quality. The Fund may also
invest up to 10% of its assets in fixed income securities of below investment
grade quality (commonly known as "junk bonds"). 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, swap transactions, and securities lending. 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.     
     
LOOMIS SAYLES INVESTMENT GRADE 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 at least 65%
of its total assets in fixed income securities of investment grade quality. Up
to 20% of the Fund's total assets may be invested in preferred stocks. The
Fund may also invest up to 10% of its assets in fixed income securities of
below investment grade quality (commonly known as "junk bonds"). 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, swap
transactions and securities lending. The Fund may invest any portion of its
assets in securities of Canadian issuers and up to 20% of its assets in the
securities of other foreign issuers.     
     
LOOMIS SAYLES MUNICIPAL BOND FUND     
     
  The Fund's investment objective is as high a level of current income exempt
from federal income tax as is consistent with the preservation of capital.     
     
  The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by normally investing substantially
all of its assets in securities the income from which is, in the opinion of
issuer's counsel at the time of issuance, exempt from federal income tax ("tax
exempt     
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
     
securities"). It is a fundamental policy of the Fund that, during periods of
normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets will be invested in
tax exempt securities. Normally at least 80% of its assets will be invested in
issues rated in the three highest rating categories by at least one of the
major rating agencies (or in unrated securities determined by Loomis Sayles to
be of comparable quality), and at least 65% of its assets will be invested in
bonds. All issues will be rated in the four highest rating categories by at
least one major rating agency (or, if unrated, will be of comparable quality
as determined by Loomis Sayles) at the time of purchase.     
     
LOOMIS SAYLES SHORT-TERM BOND FUND     
     
  The Fund's investment objective is high total investment return through a
combination of current income and capital appreciation with relatively low
fluctuation in net asset value.     
     
  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 non-convertible preferred stock. At least 65% of the Fund's
total assets will normally be invested in bonds with a remaining maturity of 5
years or less. 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 up to 20% of its
assets in securities of foreign issuers.     
     
  In an effort to minimize fluctuations in market value, the Fund is expected
to maintain an average dollar-weighted maturity of between one and three
years.     
 
LOOMIS SAYLES U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES 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 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"),
including CMOs, and in certificates representing undivided interests in the
interest or principal of U.S. Treasury securities. At least 65% of the Fund's
total assets will normally be invested in U.S. Government Securities.
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
ALL 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 FUNDS' INVESTMENTS
                            AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS
 
DEBT AND OTHER FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
     
  Each of the Funds may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity,
although the Short-Term Bond Fund expects to maintain an average weighted
maturity of less than three years, and the Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund
expects to maintain an average weighted maturity of between three and ten
years. 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
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
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 a 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 Funds
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. For purposes of its policy of normally investing at
least 65% of its total assets in U.S. Government Securities, the U.S.
Government Securities Fund will not treat a strip as a U.S. Government
Security unless the strip itself is directly issued or guaranteed by the U.S.
Government or an agency, authority or instrumentality thereof.
 
TAX EXEMPT SECURITIES
 
  Issuers of tax exempt securities may make interest and principal payments
from money raised through a variety of sources, including (1) the issuer's
general taxing power, (2) a specific type of tax, such as a property tax, or
(3) a particular facility or project, such as a highway. The ability of an
issuer of tax exempt bonds to make these payments could be affected by
litigation, legislation or other political events, or the bankruptcy of the
issuer. The interest on tax exempt securities issued after August 15, 1986 is
retroactively taxable from the date of issuance if the issuer does not comply
with certain requirements concerning the use of bond proceeds and the
application of earnings on bond proceeds.
 
LOWER RATED FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
     
  Each Fund (other than the Municipal Bond and U.S. Government Securities
Funds) may invest a portion of its assets in securities rated below 
investment     
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
   
grade (commonly referred to as "junk bonds"). The Bond Fund may invest up to
35%, the Global Bond and Short-Term Bond Funds each may invest up to 20%, the
Investment Grade Bond and Intermediate Maturity Bond Funds each may invest up
to 10% and the High Yield Fund will normally invest at least 65% of its assets
in such securities. For purposes of the foregoing percentages, a security will
be treated as being of investment grade quality if at the time a 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 valuation 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 capitalization may be more volatile than the securities of larger, more
established companies and than the broad equity market indexes.      
 
ZERO COUPON SECURITIES
     
  Each 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. A Fund investing in zero coupon securities is
required to distribute the income on these securities to Fund shareholders as
the income accrues, even      
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
     
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
     
  All of the Funds (except the Municipal 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 a 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 a 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 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
     
  All of the Funds (except the Municipal 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 a Fund could involve the loss of
any premium      
 
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
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
   
  All of the Funds (except the Municipal Bond and U.S. Government Securities
Funds) 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, a 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
 
  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 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.
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
 
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 (except the Municipal Bond and U.S. Government Securities Funds)
may invest in securities of issuers organized or headquartered outside the
United States ("foreign securities"). The Short-Term Bond 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 total assets. Each of the Bond,
Intermediate Maturity Bond and Investment Grade Bond Funds may each 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. The High Yield 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.     
 
  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 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,
 
                                      19
<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 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 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 a Fund's net income available for
distribution to shareholders.      
 
FOREIGN CURRENCY HEDGING TRANSACTIONS
 
  The Funds 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-
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
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.
     
SWAP TRANSACTIONS     
   
  The Funds may enter into interest rate or currency swaps. The Funds 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 a 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 counterparty were to
default on its obligations.     
 
OPTIONS AND FUTURES TRANSACTIONS
     
  The Funds (except the Municipal Bond and U.S. Government Securities Funds)
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 Funds 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 Funds own or intend 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 the
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
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 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 a 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 a
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 a Fund and futures contracts held by a
Fund may fluctuate up or down 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 a 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 a 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. A 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 the 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 a 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), a Fund is at risk that the
other party to the transaction will default on its obligations, or will not
permit a Fund to terminate the transaction before its scheduled maturity. As a
result of these characteristics,     
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
each Fund will treat most over-the-counter options (and the assets it
segregates to cover its obligations thereunder) as illiquid.
 
  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
   
  Each Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. In repurchase agreements, a
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 a 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.     
 
SECURITIES LENDING
   
  The Intermediate Maturity Bond and Investment Grade Bond Funds may lend
their portfolio securities to broker-dealers or other parties under contracts
calling for the deposit by the borrower with the Fund's custodian of cash
collateral equal to at least the market value of the securities loaned, marked
to market on a daily basis. The Fund will continue to benefit from interest or
dividends on the securities loaned and will also receive interest through
investment of the cash collateral in short-term liquid investments. No loans
will be made if, as a result, the aggregate amount of such loans outstanding
at any time would exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund's total assets (taken at current
value). Any voting rights, or rights to consent, relating to securities loaned
pass to the borrower. However, if a material event affecting the investment
occurs, such loans will be called so that the securities may be voted by the
Fund. The Fund pays various fees in connection with such loans, including
shipping fees and reasonable custodial or placement fees.     
 
  Securities loans must be fully collateralized at all times, but involve some
credit risk to the Fund if the borrower defaults on its obligation and the
Fund is delayed or prevented from recovering the collateral.
 
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
                         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 Funds' investments, Loomis Sayles
provides executive and other personnel for the management of the Funds. The
Funds' board of trustees supervises Loomis Sayles' conduct of the affairs of
the Funds. 
   
  As of December 20, 1996, the Loomis-Sayles Funded Pension Plan owned 27% of
the Global Bond Fund. This shareholder may be deemed to control the Fund.     
   
  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, as the portfolio manager of the
High Yield Fund since its commencement of investment operations in 1996, and
as the portfolio manager of the Investment Grade Bond Fund since its
commencement of investment operations in 1997. Kathleen C. Gaffney has served
as associate portfolio manager of the High Yield Fund since its commencement
of investment operations in 1996. E. John deBeer, Vice President of the Trust
and of Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio manager of the Global Bond
Fund since its commencement of investment operations in 1991. Anthony J.
Wilkins, Vice President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as the
portfolio manager of the Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund since its
commencement of investment operations in 1997. Martha F. Hodgman, Vice
President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio
manager of the Municipal Bond Fund since May 1993. John Hyll, Vice President
of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served as the portfolio manager of the
Short-Term Bond Fund since its commencement of investment operations in 1992.
Kent P. Newmark, Vice President of the Trust and of Loomis Sayles, has served
as the portfolio manager of the U.S. Government Securities Fund since its
commencement of investment operations in 1991. Each of the foregoing has been
employed by Loomis Sayles for at least five years.     
       
       
       
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
   
                                 FUND EXPENSES
     
  Each Fund pays Loomis Sayles a monthly investment advisory fee. This fee is
at the following annual percentage rate of the Fund's average daily net
assets:     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
FUND                                                                    FEE RATE
- ----                                                                    --------
<S>                                                                     <C>
Bond...................................................................   .60%
Global Bond............................................................   .60%
High Yield.............................................................   .60%
Intermediate Maturity Bond.............................................   .40%
Investment Grade Bond..................................................   .40%
Municipal Bond.........................................................   .40%
Short-Term Bond........................................................   .25%
U.S. Government Securities.............................................   .40%
</TABLE>    
 
  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
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 Fund total annual operating expenses to .75% of the average net assets
of the Bond and High Yield Funds, to .90% of the average net assets of the
Global Bond Fund, to .55% of the average net assets of the Intermediate Grade
Bond and the Investment Grade Bond Funds, to .50% of the average net assets of
the Short Term Bond Fund, and to .60% of the average net assets of the U.S.
Government Securities and Municipal Bond Funds. Loomis Sayles may change or
terminate these voluntary arrangements at any time, but the Funds' Prospectus
would be supplemented to describe the change.     
   
  Loomis Sayles may pay certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries
whose customers are existing shareholders of the Funds a continuing fee in an
amount of up to .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.
    
                            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
 
                                      25
<PAGE>
 
   
the volatility of economic and market conditions. High portfolio turnover may
involve higher costs and higher levels of taxable gains. Although it is not
possible to predict the portfolio turnover rate with certainty, Loomis Sayles
does not expect the portfolio turnover rate of the High Yield, Intermediate
Maturity Bond and Investment Grade Bond Funds to exceed 60%, 100%, and 60%,
respectively.     
 
  Loomis Sayles selects brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions
for the Funds. Subject to seeking best price and execution, Loomis Sayles may
allocate these transactions to brokers or dealers whose customers have
invested in the Trust.
 
                            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
   
  The minimum initial investment for the Institutional Class of each Fund's
shares is $1 million in that Fund. However, this minimum investment does not
apply to shareholders of any Fund (or any other fund that is a series of
Loomis Sayles Funds) who have an account that has been in continuous existence
since December 31, 1996 ("Original Shareholders"). Original Shareholders may
open an Institutional Class account in another Fund with no minimum investment
if they purchase the shares of the other Fund by exchanging Institutional
Class shares of a Fund (or any other fund that is a series of Loomis Sayles
Funds) in which they already own shares. Original Shareholders who hold their
accounts through financial intermediaries may avoid minimum investment
requirements only through this method. Original Shareholders whose accounts
are held directly with BFDS may also open an Institutional Class account in a
new Fund by investing a minimum of $2,500. For additional information
regarding the eligibility of Original Shareholders to purchase Institutional
Class shares, call the Distributor toll-free at 800-633-3330. A $2,500 minimum
investment also applies to the current and retired trustees of the Trust,
investment advisory clients of Loomis Sayles (and their directors, officers
and employees), and current and retired employees of Loomis Sayles and the
parents, spouses and children of the foregoing. The minimum investment may be
waived by Loomis Sayles in its sole discretion and will be waived for any new
shareholder in the Loomis Sayles Funds who initially invests less than $1
million but signs a letter of intent stating the shareholder's intention to
bring his or her balance to $1 million within six months of the initial
purchase. Loomis Sayles reserves the right to redeem the accounts at net asset
value of shareholders that have signed     
 
                                      26
<PAGE>
 
   
a letter of intent but fail to meet the minimum investment within the
specified time or to waive any minimum investment in its sole discretion.
Subsequent investments must be at least $50.     
   
  Shares of any Fund may be purchased by (i) cash, (ii) exchanging securities
on deposit with a custodian acceptable to Loomis Sayles or (iii) a combination
of such securities and cash. Loomis Sayles will not approve the acceptance of
securities in exchange for shares of any Fund unless (1) Loomis Sayles, in its
sole discretion, believes the securities are appropriate investments for the
Fund; (2) the investor represents and agrees that all securities offered to
the Fund can be resold by the Fund without restriction under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or otherwise; and (3) the
securities are eligible to be acquired under the Fund's investment policies
and restrictions. No investor owning 5% or more of a Fund's shares may
purchase additional shares of that Fund by exchange of securities.     
 
  In all cases Loomis Sayles reserves the right to reject any securities that
are proposed for exchange. Securities accepted by Loomis Sayles in exchange
for Fund shares will be valued in the same manner as the Fund's assets as
described below as of the time of the Fund's next determination of net asset
value after such acceptance. All dividends and subscription or other rights
which are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of
valuation become the property of the Fund and must be delivered to the Fund
upon receipt by the investor from the issuer. A gain or loss for federal
income tax purposes would be realized upon the exchange by an investor that is
subject to federal income taxation, depending upon the investor's basis in the
securities tendered. An investor who wishes to purchase shares by exchanging
securities should obtain instructions by calling 1-800-633-3330.
 
  All purchases made by check should be in U.S. dollars and made payable to
the Loomis Sayles Funds or, in the case of a retirement account, the custodian
or trustee. 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, Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.
("BFDS"), the shareholder servicing agent for State Street Bank and Trust
Company ("State Street Bank"), 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
 
                                      27
<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
Institutional Class), DDA #9904-622-9, Shareholder Name, Shareholder Account
Number." A bank may charge a fee for transmitting funds by wire.
   
  Each Fund and the Distributor reserves the right to reject any purchase
order, including orders in connection with exchanges, for any reason which the
Fund or 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.     
 
  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, except for the Municipal Bond and U.S. Government Securities
Funds, also offers a Retail Class of shares that has a $250,000 investment
minimum and bears higher expenses. Because of its lower expenses, the
Institutional Class of shares of each Fund is expected to have a higher total
return than the Retail Class of shares.     
 
                                      28
<PAGE>
 
                             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 BFDS. 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. Institutional Class shares of any Fund may be
exchanged for Institutional Class shares of any other Fund (or any other fund
that is or series of Loomis Sayles Funds and that offers Institutional 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 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. Exchanges of
shares of the High Yield Fund purchased within one year before 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.     
   
  RETIREMENT PLANS. The Funds' Institutional Class shares may be purchased by
all types of tax-deferred retirement plans. Loomis Sayles makes available
retirement plan forms for IRAs.     
 
  SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN. If the value of an account is at least $25,000,
an investor may have periodic cash withdrawals automatically paid to the
investor or any person designated by the investor.
 
  AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN. Voluntary monthly investments of at least $50 may
be made automatically by pre-authorized withdrawals from an investor's
checking account.
 
                             HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
 
  An investor can redeem shares by sending a written request to Boston
Financial Data Services, Inc., P.O. Box 8314, Boston, Massachusetts 02266.
Proceeds from a written request may be sent to the investor in the form of a
 
                                      29
<PAGE>
 
check. As described below, an investor may also redeem shares by calling BFDS
at 800-626-9390. 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 redeeming shares worth more than $50,000, (2) 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, (3) the account registration has changed within the last 30 days or
(4) 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, the investor should verify with the guarantor institution
that it is an eligible guarantor. Signature guarantees by notaries public are
not acceptable.      

  If an investor has requested certificates for the investment, the investor
must enclose the certificates and a properly completed redemption form or
stock power. The Funds recommend that certificates be sent by registered mail.
    
  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 BFDS prior to the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange. If an investor telephones a request to BFDS after the Exchange
closes or on a day when the Exchange is not open for business, BFDS 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 on the Service Options Form
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     
 
                                      30
<PAGE>
 
   
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 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 purchased within one (1) year of such redemption. Loomis Sayles, in its
discretion, may waive the 2.00% redemption fee with respect to shares of the
High Yield Fund.
     
  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.     
 
                                      31
<PAGE>
 
                     
                  CALCULATION OF PERFORMANCE INFORMATION     
   
  The Funds' investment performance may from time to time be included in
advertisements about the 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.     
   
  Yield is based on the price of the shares but does not reflect any
redemption fee in the case of the High Yield Fund.     
   
  "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, High Yield, U.S. Government Securities, Investment Grade Bond, and
Intermediate Maturity Bond Funds declare and pay dividends quarterly; the
Global Bond Fund declares and pays its net investment income to shareholders
as dividends annually; the Municipal Bond and Short-Term Bond Funds declare
dividends daily and make payments monthly. 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
Funds declare or pay 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.
 
                                      32
<PAGE>
 
  Except in the case of income dividends from tax exempt bond interest paid by
the Municipal Bond Fund (see below), an investor's income dividends and short
term capital gain distributions are taxable as ordinary income whether
distributed in cash or additional shares. Long-term capital gain distributions
from all Funds are taxable as long-term capital gains whether distributed in
cash or additional shares and regardless of how long an investor has owned
shares of the Fund.
 
  Each Fund (except the Municipal Bond Fund in the case of designated exempt-
interest dividends, as described below) 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.
 
MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
 
  Certain designated dividends paid by the Municipal Bond Fund that are
derived from interest on tax exempt bonds ("exempt-interest dividends") may be
excluded from gross income on federal tax returns. However, if an investor
receives social security or railroad retirement benefits, the investor may be
taxed on a portion of those benefits as a result of receiving tax exempt
income. Also, tax exempt income may be taken into account for the federal
alternative minimum tax.
 
  Other dividends and short term capital gains, if any, are taxable to the
investor as ordinary income whether received in cash or additional shares.
Distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital
gains whether distributed in cash or additional shares, regardless of how long
an investor has held the shares.
 
  If at least 95% of the Fund's dividends are designated as exempt-interest
dividends, federal back-up withholding rules do not apply with respect to such
dividends.
 
                                      33
<PAGE>
 
  The federal exemption for exempt-interest dividends does not result in
exemption from state and local taxes. Distributions of exempt-interest
dividends may be exempt from local and state taxation to the extent they are
derived from the state or locality in which the investor resides. The Fund
will report annually on a state-by-state basis the source of income the Fund
received on tax exempt bonds that was paid out as dividends during the
preceding year.
 
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.
 
                                      34
<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.
 
                                      A-1
<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.
 
                                      A-2
<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.
 
                                      A-3
<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.
 
                                      A-4
<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 APPEARS HERE]     

<PAGE>
 
                                      
                                   LOGO     
 
                              LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS
 
                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                               
                            DECEMBER 30, 1996     
   
  THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT A PROSPECTUS. THIS STATEMENT
OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATES TO THE PROSPECTUS OF EACH SERIES ("FUND") OF
LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS DATED DECEMBER 30, 1996, 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.     
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>   
<S>                                                                          <C>
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS............................   3
MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST.....................................................  15
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES......................................  21
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE........................................  26
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST....................................................  29
HOW TO BUY SHARES...........................................................  31
NET ASSET VALUE.............................................................  32
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES........................................................  32
  Open Accounts.............................................................  32
  Systematic Withdrawal Plan................................................  33
  Exchange Privilege........................................................  34
  IRAs......................................................................  34
REDEMPTIONS.................................................................  34
INCOME DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAX STATUS.................  36
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS........................................................  39
CALCULATION OF YIELD AND TOTAL RETURN.......................................  39
PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS.....................................................  40
PERFORMANCE DATA............................................................  44
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS' PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION............................  45
APPENDIX A -- PUBLICATIONS THAT MAY CONTAIN FUND INFORMATION................  56
APPENDIX B -- ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL LITERATURE........................  58
</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 of purchase of a security and will not be considered
violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and
as a result of a purchase of such security.     
   
  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.)     
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
    (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 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).
 
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
    (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
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
    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 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.
    
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
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 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
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
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.
 
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
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 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 currently does not intend to invest 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."
 
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
  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
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
(2) on a temporary basis for liquidity purposes or pending the investment of
proceeds 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
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
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.
    
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
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
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.
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
  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
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.
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
                            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. 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.
 
  E. JOHN deBEER--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles.
 
  PAUL H. DREXLER--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles; formerly
Vice President, 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.
- -----------
   
* Trustee deemed an "interested person" of the Trust, as defined by the 1940
  Act.     
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
  QUENTIN P. FAULKNER--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles.
 
  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.
 
  FRANK E. JEDLICKA--Vice President. Vice President, Loomis Sayles.
 
  JEFFREY L. MEADE--Vice President. Chief Operating Officer and Director,
Loomis Sayles.
 
  KENT P. NEWMARK--Vice President. 555 California Street, San Francisco,
California. Vice President, Loomis Sayles.
 
  JEFFREY C. PETHERICK.--Vice President. 1533 N. Woodward, Bloomfield Hills,
Michigan. Vice President, Loomis Sayles.
   
  SANDRA P. TICHENOR--Vice President. 465 First Street West, Sonoma,
California. General Counsel and Vice President, Loomis Sayles. Formerly,
Partner, Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe.     
 
  JEFFREY W. WARDLOW--Vice President. 1533 N. Woodward, Bloomfield Hills,
Michigan. Vice President, Loomis Sayles.
 
  JOHN F. YEAGER--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 $12,500 per annum.
 
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
                              COMPENSATION TABLE
                     for the year ended December 31, 1995
 
<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..    $12,500            N/A              N/A         $12,500
Richard S. Holoway,
 Trustee................    $12,500            N/A              N/A         $12,500
Terry R. Lautenbach,
 Trustee................    $12,500            N/A              N/A         $12,500
Michael T. Murray,
 Trustee................    $12,500            N/A              N/A         $12,500
</TABLE>
- -----------
* No Trustee receives any compensation from any mutual funds affiliated with
  Loomis Sayles, other than the Trust.
   
  As of October 7, 1996 the officers and trustees of the Trust owned
beneficially shares of each Fund as follows: 81,634.024 shares of the Growth
Fund, 70,733.812 shares of the Core Value Fund, 128,292.804 shares of the
Small Cap Value Fund, 91,218,347 shares of the International Equity Fund,
66,800.994 shares of the Worldwide Fund, 463,832.088 shares of the Bond Fund,
103,201.992 shares of the Global Bond Fund, 42,421.505 shares of the U.S.
Government Securities Fund, 84,974.021 shares of the Municipal Bond Fund, and
59,552.991 shares of the Short-Term Bond 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 October 7, 1996, the Pension Plan and the
Profit Sharing Plan, respectively, owned the following percentages of the
outstanding shares of the indicated Funds: 12% and 29% of the Growth Fund, 15%
and 18% of the Core Value Fund, 8% and 6% of the International Equity Fund,
22% and 7% of the U.S. Government Securities Fund, and 30% and 10% of the
Small Cap Value Fund. As of October 7, 1996, the Profit Sharing Plan also
owned 10% of the Global Bond Fund and 6% of the Short-Term Bond Fund and the
Pension Plan also owned 84% of the Worldwide Fund. 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,
    
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
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. Faulkner, 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 October 7, 1996, except as noted below, no person, owns more than 5%
of the outstanding shares of any Fund.
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>

SHAREHOLDER                    ADDRESS                            SHARES HELD
- -----------                    -------                            -----------
<S>                            <C>                                <C>
GROWTH FUND
Grosse Pointe Woods            20025 Mack Plaza                        11%
 Employee Retirement System    Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236-2343

Loomis, Sayles & Company       One Financial Center                    29%
 Employees' Profit Sharing     Boston, MA 02111-2621
 Retirement Plan*

Loomis-Sayles' Funded          One Financial Center                    12%
 Pension Plan                  Boston, MA 02111-2621

CORE VALUE FUND
Loomis-Sayles' Funded          One Financial Center                    15%
 Pension Plan                  Boston, MA 02111-2602

Asbestos Workers Local 84      c/o Loomis Sayles & Company              8%
 Pension Fund                  1533 North Woodward
                               Bloomfield Hills, MI 4830-2864

Loomis, Sayles & Company       One Financial Center                    18%
 Employees' Profit Sharing     Boston, MA 02111-2621
 Retirement Plan

SMALL CAP VALUE FUND
Loomis, Sayles & Company       One Financial Center                    10%
 Employees' Profit Sharing     Boston, MA 02111-2602
 Retirement Plan

IATSE Local 33 Pension Plan    700 S. Flower Street                     5%
                               Suite 250
                               Los Angeles, CA 90017

Charles Schwab & Co,           101 Montgomery Street                    5%
                               San Francisco, CA 90017

Smith Barney                   333 West 34th Street                     6%
                               New York, NY 10001

WORLDWIDE FUND
Loomis-Sayles' Funded Pension  One Financial Center                    84%
 Plan*                         Boston, MA 02111-2602

Loomis, Sayles & Company       One Financial Center                    14%
 Employees' Profit Sharing     Boston, MA 02111-2602
 Retirement Plan
</TABLE>    
 
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>

SHAREHOLDER                      ADDRESS                            SHARES HELD
- -----------                      -------                            -----------
<S>                              <C>                                <C>
BOND FUND
Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette        P.O. Box 2052                            5%
 Pershing Division               Jersey City, NJ 07303

Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.        101 Montgomery Street                    7%
                                 San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.       101 Montgomery Street                   37%
                                 San Francisco, CA 94104-4122
GLOBAL BOND FUND
Desert States UFCW Unions and    P.O. Box 9800                           22%
 Employers Pension Fund          Calabasas, CA 91372-0800

Loomis, Sayles & Company         One Financial Center                    10%
 Employees' Profit Sharing       Boston, MA 02111-2602
 Retirement Plan

Loomis-Sayles' Funded Pension    One Financial Center                    30%
 Plan                            Boston, MA 02111-2621

Kayman Corp. Master Trust        Post Office Box 92800                   16%
                                 Rochester, NY 14692

U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND
Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.   One Financial Center                    26%
                                 Boston, MA 02111-2621

Loomis-Sayles' Funded Pension    One Financial Center                    21%
 Plan                            Boston, MA 02111-2621

Loomis, Sayles & Company         One Financial Center                     7%
 Employees' Retirement Trust     Boston, MA 02111

Plumbers & Pipefitters Regular   1533 North Woodward                      6%
                                 Suite 300
                                 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301

MUNICIPAL BOND FUND
Elinor J. Rousseau Trust dtd     1071 North Renaud                        5%
 10/14/88                        Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236-1727

John W. George, Jr. Trust uad    590 Renaud                               5%
 12/6/90                         Grosse Pointe, MI 48236

Sally B. Searle Kinship Capital  400 Skokie Blvd., Suite 675             14%
                                 Northbrook, IL 60062-7906

SHORT-TERM BOND FUND
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.       101 Montgomery Street                    9%
                                 San Francisco, CA 94101

Plumbers & Pipefitters Reg.      1533 North Woodward, Suite 300           9%
 Welfare Fund
 c/o Loomis, Sayles & Company    Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304-2864

Plumbers & Pipefitters Local     1230 Kinnear Road                       11%
 #189
 Retirement Savings              Columbus, OH 43212-1154

Loomis, Sayles & Company         One Financial Center                    11%
 Employees' Profit Sharing       Boston, MA 02111-2602
 Retirement Plan
</TABLE>    
 
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>

SHAREHOLDER                          ADDRESS                         SHARES HELD
- -----------                          -------                         -----------
<S>                                  <C>                             <C>
HIGH YIELD FUND
Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.       One Financial Center                 47%
                                     Boston, MA 02111

Daniel J. Fuss                       44 Longfellow Road                   47%
                                     Wellesley, MA 02181

INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Loomis, Sayles' Funded Pension Plan  One Financial Center                  8%
                                     Boston, MA 02111

Loomis, Sayles & Company Employees'  One Financial Center                  6%
 Profit Sharing Retirement Trust     Boston, MA 02111

City of Livonia Employees            3300 Civic Center Drive              11%
 Retirement System                   Livonia, MI 48154

The Security Mutual Life             Post Office Box 82248                 5%
 Insurance Company of Lincoln,       Lincoln, NE 68501
 Nebraska

IATSE Local 33 Pension Plan          700 S. Flower Street, Suite 250       6%
                                     Los Angeles, CA 90017

Misercordia Home                     6300 N. Ridge Avenue                  8%
                                     Chicago, IL 60660
</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.
 
                                       20
<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                                                                    FEE 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>    
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
  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:
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                              FISCAL YEAR          FISCAL YEAR          FISCAL YEAR
                                 ENDED                ENDED                ENDED
                                12/31/93             12/31/94             12/31/95
                          -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
                                   FEE WAIVERS          FEE WAIVERS          FEE WAIVERS
                                       AND                  AND                  AND
                          ADVISORY   EXPENSE   ADVISORY   EXPENSE   ADVISORY   EXPENSE
          FUND              FEES   ASSUMPTIONS   FEES   ASSUMPTIONS   FEES   ASSUMPTIONS
          ----            -------- ----------- -------- ----------- -------- -----------
<S>                       <C>      <C>         <C>      <C>         <C>      <C>
Growth..................  $219,374   $    0    $248,311   $    0    $319,009   $    0
Core Value..............   126,150    9,278     188,066        0     243,025        0
Small Cap Value.........   510,844        0     790,607        0     839,470        0
International Equity....   342,180   74,582     670,041        0     781,765        0
Worldwide*..............       N/A      N/A         N/A      N/A         N/A      N/A
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....................   258,919        0     511,925        0     917,444        0
Global Bond.............   124,151      923     196,543        0     106,447   26,849
U.S. Government
 Securities.............    92,507   44,697     106,524   39,088     107,644   39,836
Municipal Bond..........    23,685   87,687      36,708   83,642      45,872   77,750
Short-Term Bond.........    61,066   67,014      81,344   53,010     124,536    6,383
High Yield Fund*........       N/A      N/A         N/A      N/A         N/A      N/A
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 Worldwide, High Yield, Investment Grade Bond, Small Cap Growth, Mid-Cap
  Value, Mid-Cap Growth, Strategic Value and Intermediate Maturity Bond Funds
  had not commenced operations on December 31, 1995.     
 
  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
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
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. At present, the most restrictive state
annual expense limitation is 2 1/2% of a Fund's average annual net assets up
to $30,000,000, 2% of the next $70,000,000 of such assets and 1/2% of such
assets in excess of $100,000,000. 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 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
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
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
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
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 (the
"Plans") for their Retail Class shares which, among other things, permit them
to pay the Fund's distributor (currently Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P.)
monthly fees, at annual rates not exceeding 0.25% of the assets of the Retail
Class. 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 shares of the Fund requires approval of the Retail 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
    
                                      25
<PAGE>
 
   
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 1995 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
 
  Funds Other Than the International Equity and Worldwide Funds. In placing
orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities for each Fund other
than the International Equity and Worldwide Funds, 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
which, when
 
                                      26
<PAGE>
 
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 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. Consistent with the Rules of Fair Practice of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and subject to seeking best price and
execution, Loomis Sayles may, however, consider purchases of shares of the
Trust by customers of broker-dealers as a factor in the selection of broker-
dealers to execute the Trust's securities transactions.     
 
  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
 
                                      27
<PAGE>
 
   
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, 1993, December 31, 1994 and December 31, 1995, 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, 1993
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              (1)                       (3)
                                           AGGREGATE       (2)      COMMISSIONS
                                           BROKERAGE    DIRECTED    ON DIRECTED
                  FUND                    COMMISSIONS TRANSACTIONS  TRANSACTIONS
                  ----                    ----------- ------------- ------------
<S>                                       <C>         <C>           <C>
Growth...................................  $ 55,531   $ 42,446,050   $  55,531
Core Value...............................  $ 37,310   $ 23,193,564   $  37,310
Small Cap Value..........................  $144,907   $110,080,231   $ 144,907
International Equity.....................  $469,853   $111,972,892   $ 469,853
                      FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994
<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
                      FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
<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
</TABLE>
 
 
                                      28
<PAGE>
 
                           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. 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").
 
  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,
 
                                      29
<PAGE>
 
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
 
                                      30
<PAGE>
 
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
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."     
 
                                      31
<PAGE>
 
                                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, 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.
 
                             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,
 
                                      32
<PAGE>
 
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
 
                                      33
<PAGE>
 
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 PRIVILEGE
   
  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."     
 
  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."     
 
                                      34
<PAGE>
 
   
  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. To the extent
that shares are redeemed at a time when other shares of the Fund are being
purchased, Loomis Sayles will treat the redemption (up to the amount being
concurrently purchased) as involving minimal brokerage and transaction costs
and will charge a redemption fee only with respect to the excess, if any, of
the amount of the redemption over the amount of the concurrent purchase. If
there
    
                                      35
<PAGE>
 
   
is more than one redemption at the time of a concurrent purchase, each of the
redeeming shareholders will share, pro rata, in the reduction in redemption
fee caused by the concurrent purchase. 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 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.
 
 
                                      36
<PAGE>
 
  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
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
    
                                      37
<PAGE>
 
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.
 
                                      38
<PAGE>
 
  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.
 
  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 1995 Annual
Report and 1996 Semiannual Report are incorporated by reference to such
Reports.
 
                     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
 
                                      39
<PAGE>
 
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.
 
                            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     
 
                                      40
<PAGE>
 
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.
 
 
                                      41
<PAGE>
 
  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 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.
 
                                      42
<PAGE>
 
  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.
   
  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     
 
                                      43
<PAGE>
 
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 the Funds, where applicable, (i) for
the one-year period ended June 30, 1996, (ii) for the three-year period ended
June 30, 1996, (iii) the five-year period ended June 30, 1996 and (iv) since
the commencement of operations (May, 1991 for all Funds other than the Short-
Term Bond and Worldwide Funds, August, 1992 for the Short-Term Bond Fund, and
May, 1996 for the Worldwide Fund) through June 30, 1996. No shares of any of
the High Yield, Investment Grade Bond, Small Cap Growth, Mid-Cap Value, Mid-
Cap Growth, Strategic Value and Intermediate Maturity Bond Funds were
outstanding as of June 30, 1996.     
 
                               PERFORMANCE DATA*
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                                               AVERAGE
                                      AVERAGE      AVERAGE      AVERAGE        ANNUAL
                                       ANNUAL       ANNUAL       ANNUAL         TOTAL
                                    TOTAL RETURN TOTAL RETURN TOTAL RETURN     RETURN
                                      FOR THE      FOR THE      FOR THE       FROM THE
                          CURRENT     ONE-YEAR    THREE-YEAR   FIVE-YEAR    COMMENCEMENT
                            SEC        PERIOD       PERIOD       PERIOD    OF OPERATIONS**
                           YIELD       ENDED        ENDED        ENDED         THROUGH
          FUND           AT 6/30/96   6/30/96      6/30/96      6/30/96        6/30/96
          ----           ---------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ---------------
<S>                      <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Growth..................    N/A         23.6%        13.6%        15.1%         14.5%
Core Value..............    N/A         20.1%        15.4%        14.6%         14.1%
Small Cap Value.........    N/A         36.6%        17.2%        21.3%         20.3%
International Equity....    N/A          6.5%        12.7%        10.7%          9.2%
Worldwide...............    N/A          N/A          N/A          N/A           1.2%
Bond....................    8.0%        11.7%        11.2%        14.6%         13.8%
Global Bond.............    7.0%        23.2%         9.2%        11.1%          9.8%
U.S. Government
 Securities.............    6.6%         3.5%         4.8%         9.8%          9.6%
Municipal Bond..........    4.8%         5.8%         4.2%         7.4%          7.3%
Short-Term Bond.........    5.9%         4.9%         5.1%         N/A           5.4%
</TABLE>    
- -----------
   
* Performance 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, 15.0% and 14.4%
  for the five-year period and the period since commencement of operations,
  respectively; Core Value, 14.4% and 13.9% for the five-year period and the
  period since commencement of operations, respectively; Small Cap Value,
  21.1% and 20.2% for the five-year period and the period since commencement
  of operations, respectively; International Equity, 12.6%, 10.3% and 8.8% for
  the three-year period, the five-year period and the period
      
                                      44
<PAGE>
 
     
  since commencement of operations, respectively; Bond, 14.4% and 13.6% for
  the five-year period and the period since commencement of operations,
  respectively; Global Bond, 6.2% (yield), and 22.7%, 9.1%, 10.7% and 9.3% for
  the one-year period, the three-year period, the five-year period and the
  period since commencement of operations, respectively; U.S. Government
  Securities, 6.4% (yield), and 3.3%, 4.7%, 9.4% and 9.2% for the one-year
  period, the three-year period and the period since commencement of
  operations, respectively; Municipal Bond, 3.3% (yield), and 4.5%, 2.9%, 3.9%
  and 3.5% for the one-year period, the three-year period, the five-year
  period and the period since commencement of operations, respectively; and
  Short-Term Bond, 5.8% (yield), and 4.8%, 4.9% and 4.9% for the one-year
  period, the three-year period and the period since commencement of
  operations, respectively.     
 
** Inception dates of the Growth, Core Value, Small Cap Value, International
   Equity, Worldwide, Bond, Global Bond, U.S. Government Securities, Municipal
   Bond and Short-Term Bond Funds are May 16, 1991, May 13, 1991, May 16,
   1991, May 10, 1991, May 1, 1996, May 16, 1991, May 10, 1991, May 21, 1991,
   May 29, 1991 and August 3, 1992, respectively.
   
             PORTFOLIO MANAGERS' PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION     
   
EQUITY FUNDS--INSTITUTIONAL     
   
  The performance information presented in the tables below relates to
institutional private accounts and mutual funds managed by the portfolio
managers of the Small Cap Growth Fund and the Strategic Value Fund that have
investment objectives and policies substantially similar to those of the
relevant Fund. The accounts are not subject to the same types of expenses to
which the Funds are subject, nor to the diversification requirements, specific
tax restrictions and investment limitations imposed on the Funds by the 1940
Act or subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The performance results for
the accounts shown below might have been less favorable had the accounts been
subject to regulation as investment companies under the relevant federal laws.
The Funds are newly organized and have no performance record of their own. The
information below should not be considered a prediction of the future
performance of any Fund. The performance of the Funds may be higher or lower
than the performance of a fund or account that has substantially similar
investment objectives and policies. Except as otherwise noted, the performance
information shown below for the accounts and funds described below is adjusted
to give effect to the higher of the level of the actual expenses of the
accounts during the periods shown or the annualized expenses projected for the
relevant Fund's Institutional Class shares during the first fiscal year. Total
return information presented below represents average annual total return for
all periods other than year-to-date periods, for which cumulative total return
is presented.     
 
                                      45
<PAGE>
 
   
SMALL CAP GROWTH ACCOUNTS     
   
  Christopher R. Ely, Portfolio Manager of the Small Cap Growth Fund, and
Philip C. Fine and David L. Smith, Assistant Portfolio Managers of the Small
Cap Growth Fund, also serve, and have served, in those capacities for other
separate accounts that have investment objectives and investment policies
substantially similar to those of the Small Cap Growth Fund (the "Small Cap
Growth Accounts"). Prior to July 22, 1996, Messrs. Ely, Fine and Smith were
affiliated with another advisory firm, and not with Loomis Sayles. The
following table shows total returns for the year-to-date, one-year and two-
year periods ended June 30, 1996 for the Small Cap Growth Accounts. The table
also shows the total return of the Lipper Small Company Growth Mutual Fund
Index and the Russell 2000 Index for the same periods. The information
presented in the paragraph below the table represents the total return of the
Keystone Institutional Small Capitalization Growth Fund and Keystone Small
Company Growth Fund II, which have investment objectives and policies
substantially similar to those of the Small Cap Growth Fund and which, from
their inception through July 11, 1996, were managed by Messrs. Ely, Fine and
Smith in their capacities as employees of the firm with which they were then
affiliated.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                             SMALL CAP        LIPPER SMALL COMPANY    RUSSELL
                         GROWTH ACCOUNTS(1) GROWTH MUTUAL FUND INDEX 2000 INDEX
                         ------------------ ------------------------ ----------
<S>                      <C>                <C>                      <C>
YEAR-TO-DATE
(1/1/96 to 6/30/96).....       12.49%                14.08%            10.40%
ONE-YEAR
(7/1/95 to 6/30/96).....       49.75%                30.12%            23.94%
TWO-YEAR/INCEPTION
  (ANNUALIZED)
(7/1/94 to 6/30/96).....       47.53%                28.04%            21.99%
</TABLE>    
   
  The total return for the Keystone Institutional Small Capitalization Growth
Fund was 16.50% since inception (December 28, 1995 to June 30, 1996). The
total return for the Keystone Small Company Growth Fund II was 7.10% for the
period since inception (February 20, 1996) to June 30, 1996. The total returns
for the Keystone Institutional Small Capitalization Growth Fund and the
Keystone Small Company Growth Fund II were not included in the calculation of
the total returns for the Small Cap Growth Accounts shown in the table. The
performance information presented for the Keystone Institutional Small
Capitalization Growth Fund and the Keystone Small Company Growth Fund II has
not been adjusted to reflect that the Fund's expense ratio is expected to be
higher than the expense ratios of the two Keystone funds. If adjustments were
made to reflect the Fund's higher expense level, the total returns presented
would be lower.     
- -----------
(1)    The composite average annual and total return data presented above
       under "Small Cap Growth Accounts" represent all of the accounts
 
                                      46
<PAGE>
 
      which (1) were managed by the Loomis Sayles managers during the periods
      shown, (2) have transferred their portfolio assets to Loomis Sayles and
      (3) are currently being managed by the Loomis Sayles managers. The
      composite average annual and total return data do not include accounts
      which were managed by the Loomis Sayles managers during the periods
      shown, but were not transferred to Loomis Sayles.
 
STRATEGIC VALUE ACCOUNTS
   
  Philip J. Schettewi, portfolio manager of the Strategic Value Fund, also
serves as portfolio manager for other separate accounts that have investment
objectives and policies that are substantially similar to those of the
Strategic Value Fund (the "Strategic Value Accounts") . The following table
shows the total returns for the year-to-date, one-year, three-year, five-year
and since inception periods for the Strategic Value Accounts. The table also
shows the total return of the Lipper Growth & Income Mutual Fund Index and the
Standard & Poor's/500 Composite Stock Price Index (the "S&P 500") for the same
periods.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                  STRATEGIC VALUE LIPPER GROWTH & INCOME
                                     ACCOUNTS       MUTUAL FUND INDEX    S&P 500
                                  --------------- ---------------------- -------
<S>                               <C>             <C>                    <C>
YEAR-TO-DATE
  (1/1/96 to 9/30/96)............      9.91%              11.98%         13.49%
ONE-YEAR
  (9/30/95 to 9/30/96)...........     10.75%              17.09%         20.32%
THREE-YEAR (ANNUALIZED)
  (9/30/93 to 9/30/96)...........     12.09%              14.36%         17.40%
FIVE-YEAR (ANNUALIZED)
  (9/30/91 to 9/30/96)...........     16.69%              14.25%         15.21%
INCEPTION (ANNUALIZED)
  (3/30/91 to 9/30/96)...........     15.33%              13.98%         14.77%
</TABLE>    
 
EQUITY FUNDS--RETAIL
   
  The performance information presented in the tables below relates to
institutional private accounts and mutual funds managed by the portfolio
managers of the Small Cap Growth Fund and the Strategic Value Fund that have
investment objectives and policies substantially similar to those of the
relevant Fund. The accounts are not subject to the same types of expenses to
which the Funds are subject, nor to the diversification requirements, specific
tax restrictions and investment limitations imposed on the Funds by the 1940
Act or subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The performance results for
the accounts shown below might have been less favorable had the accounts been
subject to regulation as investment companies under the relevant federal laws.
The Funds are newly organized and have no performance record of their own. The
information below should not be considered a prediction of the future     
 
                                      47
<PAGE>
 
performance of any Fund. The performance of the Funds may be higher or lower
than the performance of a fund or account that has substantially similar
investment objectives and policies. Except as otherwise noted, the performance
information shown below for the accounts and funds described below is adjusted
to give effect to the higher of the level of the actual expenses of the
accounts during the periods shown or the annualized expenses projected for the
relevant Fund's Retail Class shares during the first fiscal year. Total return
information presented below represents average annual total return for all
periods other than year-to-date periods, for which cumulative total return is
presented.
 
SMALL COMPANY GROWTH ACCOUNTS
   
  Christopher R. Ely, Portfolio Manager of the Small Cap Growth Fund, and
Philip C. Fine and David L. Smith, Assistant Portfolio Managers of the Small
Cap Growth Fund, also serve, and have served, in those capacities for other
separate accounts that have investment objectives and investment policies
substantially similar to those of the Small Cap Growth Fund (the "Small
Company Growth Accounts"). Prior to July 22, 1996, Messrs. Ely, Fine and Smith
were affiliated with another advisory firm, and not with Loomis Sayles. The
following table shows total returns for the year-to-date, one-year and two-
year periods ended June 30, 1996 for the Small Cap Growth Accounts. The table
also shows the total return of the Lipper Small Company Growth Mutual Fund
Index and the Russell 2000 Index for the same periods. The information
presented in the paragraph below the table represents the total return of the
Keystone Institutional Small Capitalization Growth Fund and Keystone Small
Company Growth Fund II, which have investment objectives and policies
substantially similar to those of the Small Cap Growth Fund and which, from
their inception through July 11, 1996, were managed by Messrs. Ely, Fine and
Smith in their capacities as employees of the firm with which they were then
affiliated.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                  SMALL CAP
                                   GROWTH      LIPPER SMALL COMPANY    RUSSELL
                                 ACCOUNTS(1) GROWTH MUTUAL FUND INDEX 2000 INDEX
                                 ----------- ------------------------ ----------
<S>                              <C>         <C>                      <C>
YEAR-TO-DATE
  (1/1/96 to 9/30/96)..........     12.35%            14.08%            10.40%
ONE-YEAR
  (7/1/95 to 6/30/96)..........     49.39%            30.12%            23.94%
TWO-YEAR/INCEPTION (ANNUALIZED)
  (7/1/94 to 6/30/96)..........     47.17%            28.04%            21.99%
</TABLE>    
   
  The total return for the Keystone Institutional Small Capitalization Growth
Fund was 16.50% since inception (December 28, 1995 to June 30, 1996). The
total return for the Keystone Small Company Growth Fund II was 7.10% for the
period since inception (February 20, 1996) to June 30, 1996. The total     
 
                                      48
<PAGE>
 
   
returns for the Keystone Institutional Small Capitalization Growth Fund and
the Keystone Small Company Growth Fund II were not included in the calculation
of the total returns for the Small Cap Growth Accounts shown in the table. The
performance information presented for the Keystone Institutional Small
Capitalization Growth Fund and the Keystone Small Company Growth Fund II has
not been adjusted to reflect that the Fund's expense ratio is expected to be
higher than the expense ratios of the two Keystone funds. If adjustments were
made to reflect the Fund's higher expense level, the total returns presented
would be lower.     
- -----------
(1)    The composite average annual and total return data presented above
       under "Small Cap Growth Accounts" represent all of the accounts which
       (1) were managed by the Loomis Sayles managers during the periods
       shown, (2) have transferred their portfolio assets to Loomis Sayles and
       (3) are currently being managed by the Loomis Sayles managers. The
       composite average annual and total return data do not include accounts
       which were managed by the Loomis Sayles managers during the periods
       shown, but were not transferred to Loomis Sayles.
 
STRATEGIC VALUE ACCOUNTS
   
  Philip J. Schettewi, portfolio manager of the Strategic Value Fund, also
serves as portfolio manager for other separate accounts that have investment
objectives and policies that are substantially similar to those of the
Strategic Value Fund (the "Strategic Value Accounts") . The following table
shows the total returns for the year-to-date, one-year, three-year, five-year
and since inception periods for the Strategic Value Accounts. The table also
shows the total return of the Lipper Growth & Income Mutual Fund Index and the
Standard & Poor's/500 Composite Stock Price Index (the "S&P 500") for the same
periods.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                 STRATEGIC VALUE LIPPER GROWTH & INCOME
                                    ACCOUNTS       MUTUAL FUND INDEX    S&P 500
                                 --------------- ---------------------- -------
<S>                              <C>             <C>                    <C>
YEAR-TO-DATE
  (1/1/96 to 9/30/96)..........        9.51%             12.44%          13.49%
ONE-YEAR
  (9/30/95 to 9/30/96).........       10.21%             17.24%          20.32%
THREE-YEAR (ANNUALIZED)
  (9/30/93 to 9/30/96).........       11.54%             14.30%          17.40%
FIVE-YEAR (ANNUALIZED) (9/30/91
  to 9/30/96)..................       16.12%             13.69%          15.21%
INCEPTION (ANNUALIZED) (3/30/91
  to 9/30/96)..................       14.78%             13.98%          14.77%
</TABLE>    
 
FIXED INCOME FUNDS--INSTITUTIONAL
 
  The performance information presented in the tables below relates to the
institutional private accounts and mutual funds managed by the portfolio
 
                                      49
<PAGE>
 
   
managers of the High Yield, Investment Grade Bond and Intermediate Maturity
Bond Funds that have investment objectives and policies substantially similar
to those of the respective Fund. The accounts are not subject to the same
types of expenses to which the Funds are subject, nor to the diversification
requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment limitations imposed on
the Funds by the 1940 Act or subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The
performance results for the accounts shown below might have been less
favorable had the accounts been subject to regulation as investment companies
under the relevant federal laws. The Funds (other than the High Yield Fund,
which commenced operations on September 4, 1996) are newly organized and have
no performance record of their own. The information below should not be
considered a prediction of the future performance of any Fund. The performance
may be higher or lower than the performance of a fund or account that has
substantially similar investment objectives and policies. All private account
performance information shown below is adjusted to give effect to the higher
of the level of the actual expenses of the accounts described below during the
periods shown or the annualized expenses projected for the relevant Fund's
Institutional Class shares during the first full fiscal year. Total return
information presented below represents average annual total return for all
periods other than year-to-date periods, for which cumulative total return is
presented.     
 
HIGH YIELD ACCOUNTS
   
  Daniel J. Fuss and Kathleen C. Gaffney, portfolio manager and assistant
portfolio manager of the High Yield Fund, also serve in the same capacities
for other separate accounts that have investment objectives and investment
policies that are substantially similar to those of the High Yield Fund (the
"High Yield Accounts"). The following table shows the total return for the
year-to-date, one-year, three-year, five-year and ten-year periods ended
September 30, 1996 for the High Yield Accounts. The table also shows the total
return of the Lipper BBB Rated Bond Mutual Fund Index and the Merrill Lynch
High Yield Index for the same periods. The information presented in the
paragraph below the table represents the total return of the Loomis Sayles
High Yield Fixed Income Fund, a series of Loomis Sayles Investment Trust which
has an investment objective and investment policies substantially similar to
those of the High Yield Fund.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                               HIGH YIELD LIPPER BBB RATED BOND  MERRILL LYNCH
                                ACCOUNTS    MUTUAL FUND INDEX   HIGH YIELD INDEX
                               ---------- --------------------- ----------------
<S>                            <C>        <C>                   <C>
YEAR-TO-DATE
  (1/1/96 to 9/30/96).........    6.71%            9.04%              6.86%
ONE YEAR
  (9/30/95 to 9/30/96)........   13.02%           12.06%             10.41%
THREE YEARS (ANNUALIZED)
  (9/30/93 to 9/30/96)........   11.77%            8.98%              9.43%
FIVE YEARS (ANNUALIZED)
  (9/30/91 to 9/30/96)........   16.57%           12.97%             13.06%
TEN YEARS (ANNUALIZED)
  (9/30/86 to 9/30/96)........   13.26%            9.71%             11.17%
</TABLE>    
 
 
                                      50
<PAGE>
 
   
  The total return of the High Yield Fixed Income Fund was 3.82% for the
period from inception (June 5, 1996) to September 30, 1996. The total return
of the High Yield Fixed Income Fund was not included in the calculation of the
total returns for the High Yield Accounts shown in the table. The performance
information presented for the High Yield Fixed Income Fund has not been
adjusted to reflect that the Fund's expense ratio is expected to be higher
than the expense ratio of the High Yield Fixed Income Fund. If adjustments
were made to reflect the Fund's higher expense level, the total return
presented would be lower.     
 
INVESTMENT GRADE BOND ACCOUNTS
   
  Daniel J. Fuss, portfolio manager of the Investment Grade Bond Fund, also
serves as the portfolio manager of other separate accounts that have
investment objectives and investment policies that are substantially similar
to those of the Investment Grade Bond Fund (the "Investment Grade Bond
Accounts"). The following table shows the total return for the year-to-date,
one-year, three-year, five-year and ten-year periods ended September 30, 1996
for the Investment Grade Bond Accounts. The following table also shows the
total return of the Lipper A Rated Bond Mutual Fund Index and the Lehman
Brothers Government/Corporate Bond Index for the same periods. The information
presented in the paragraph below the table represents the total return of the
Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund, a series of Loomis Sayles
Investment Trust which has an investment objective and investment policies
substantially similar to those of the Investment Grade Bond Fund.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                      LIPPER A
                                                      RATED BOND LEHMAN BROTHERS
                                     INVESTMENT GRADE   MUTUAL   GOV'T/CORPORATE
                                      BOND ACCOUNTS   FUND INDEX   BOND INDEX
                                     ---------------- ---------- ---------------
<S>                                  <C>              <C>        <C>
YEAR-TO-DATE
  (1/1/96 to 9/30/96)...............       0.72%         (.67)%       (.15)%
ONE YEAR
  (9/30/95 to 9/30/96)..............       5.47%         4.14 %       4.50 %
THREE YEARS (ANNUALIZED)
  (9/30/93 to 9/30/96)..............       6.62%         4.10 %       4.63 %
FIVE YEARS (ANNUALIZED)
  (9/30/91 to 9/30/96)..............      10.33%         7.53 %       7.65 %
TEN YEARS (ANNUALIZED)
  (9/30/86 to 9/30/96)..............      10.55%         8.21 %       8.38 %
</TABLE>    
   
  The total return for the Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund
was 14.54% for the period since inception (July 1, 1994), 16.16% for the two-
year period and 10.81% for the one-year period, in each case ended September
30, 1996 (annualized for periods greater than one year). The total return of
the Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund was not included in the calculation of
the total return of the Investment Grade Bond Accounts shown in     
 
                                      51
<PAGE>
 
   
the table. The performance information presented for the Investment Grade
Fixed Income Fund has not been adjusted to reflect that the Fund's expense
ratio is expected to be higher than the expense ratio of the Investment Grade
Fixed Income Fund. If adjustments were made to reflect the Fund's higher
expense level, the total return presented would be lower.     
 
INTERMEDIATE MATURITY ACCOUNTS
   
  Anthony J. Wilkins, portfolio manager of the Intermediate Maturity Bond
Fund, also serves as the portfolio manager of other separate accounts that
have investment objectives and investment policies that are substantially
similar to those of the Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund's (the "Intermediate
Maturity Accounts"). The following table shows the total returns for the year-
to-date, one-year, three-year and since inception periods ended September 30,
1996 for the Intermediate Maturity Accounts. The table also shows the total
return of the Lipper Intermediate Bond Mutual Fund Index and the Lehman
Brothers Government/Corporate Intermediate Bond Index for the same periods.
    
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                               LEHMAN BROTHERS
                               INTERMEDIATE       LIPPER       GOV'T/CORPORATE
                                 MATURITY    INTERMEDIATE BOND  INTERMEDIATE
                                 ACCOUNTS    MUTUAL FUND INDEX   BOND INDEX
                               ------------- ----------------- ---------------
<S>                            <C>           <C>               <C>
YEAR-TO-DATE
  (1/1/96 to 9/30/96).........     1.93%           0.35%            1.56%
ONE YEAR
  (9/30/95 to 9/30/96)........     6.42%           4.55%            5.13%
THREE YEARS (ANNUALIZED)
  (9/30/93 to 9/30/96)........     6.21%           4.42%            4.79%
INCEPTION (ANNUALIZED)
  (6/30/92 to 9/30/96)........     8.75%           6.48%            5.64%
</TABLE>    
 
FIXED INCOME FUNDS--RETAIL
   
  The performance information presented in the tables below relates to the
institutional private accounts and mutual funds managed by the portfolio
managers of the High Yield, Investment Grade Bond and Intermediate Maturity
Bond Funds that have investment objectives and policies substantially similar
to those of the respective Fund. The accounts are not subject to the same
types of expenses to which the Funds are subject, nor to the diversification
requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment limitations imposed on
the Funds by the 1940 Act or subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. The
performance results for the accounts shown below might have been less
favorable had the accounts been subject to regulation as investment companies
under the relevant federal laws. The Funds (other than the High Yield Fund,
which commenced operations on September 4, 1996) are newly organized and have
no performance record of their own. The information below should not be
considered a prediction of the future performance of any Fund. The performance
may be     
 
                                      52
<PAGE>
 
   
higher or lower than the performance of a fund or account that has
substantially similar investment objectives and policies. All private account
performance information shown below is adjusted to give effect to the higher
of the level of the actual expenses of the accounts described below during the
periods shown or the annualized expenses projected for the relevant Fund's
Retail Class shares during the first full fiscal year. Total return
information presented below represents average annual total return for all
periods other than year-to-date periods, for which cumulative total return is
presented.     
 
HIGH YIELD ACCOUNTS
   
  Daniel J. Fuss and Kathleen C. Gaffney, portfolio manager and assistant
portfolio manager of the High Yield Fund, also serve in the same capacities
for other separate accounts that have investment objectives and investment
policies that are substantially similar to those of the High Yield Fund (the
"High Yield Accounts"). The following table shows the total return for the
year-to-date, one-year, three-year, five-year and ten-year periods ended
September 30, 1996 for the High Yield Accounts. The table also shows the total
return of the Lipper BBB Rated Bond Mutual Fund Index and the Merrill Lynch
High Yield Index for the same periods. The information presented in the
paragraph below the table represents the total return of the Loomis Sayles
High Yield Fixed Income Fund, a series of Loomis Sayles Investment Trust which
has an investment objective and investment policies substantially similar to
those of the High Yield Fund.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                             HIGH YIELD LIPPER BBB RATED BOND  MERRILL LYNCH
                              ACCOUNTS    MUTUAL FUND INDEX   HIGH YIELD INDEX
                             ---------- --------------------- ----------------
<S>                          <C>        <C>                   <C>
YEAR-TO-DATE
  (1/1/96 to 9/30/96).......    6.52%            9.04%              6.86%
ONE YEAR
  (9/30/95 to 9/30/96)......   12.75%           12.06%             10.41%
THREE YEARS (ANNUALIZED)
  (9/30/93 to 9/30/96)......   11.50%            8.98%              9.43%
FIVE YEARS (ANNUALIZED)
  (9/30/91 to 9/30/96)......   16.29%           12.97%             13.06%
TEN YEARS (ANNUALIZED)
  (9/30/86 to 9/30/96)......   12.99%            9.71%             11.17%
</TABLE>    
   
  The total return of the High Yield Fixed Income Fund was 3.82% for the
period from inception (June 5, 1996) to September 30, 1996. The total return
of the High Yield Fixed Income Fund was not included in the calculation of the
total returns for the High Yield Accounts shown in the table. The performance
information presented for the High Yield Fixed Income Fund has not been
adjusted to reflect that the Fund's expense ratio is expected to be higher
than the expense ratio of the High Yield Fixed Income Fund. If adjustments
were made to reflect the Fund's higher expense level, the total return
presented would be lower.     
 
                                      53
<PAGE>
 
INVESTMENT GRADE BOND ACCOUNTS
   
  Daniel J. Fuss, portfolio manager of the Investment Grade Bond Fund, also
serves as the portfolio manager of other separate accounts that have
investment objectives and investment policies that are substantially similar
to those of the Investment Grade Bond Fund (the "Investment Grade Bond
Accounts"). The following table shows the total return for the year-to-date,
one-year, three-year, five-year and ten-year periods ended September 30, 1996
for the Investment Grade Bond Accounts. The following table also shows the
total return of the Lipper A Rated Bond Mutual Fund Index and the Lehman
Brothers Government/Corporate Bond Index for the same periods. The information
presented in the paragraph below the table represents the total return of the
Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund, a series of Loomis Sayles
Investment Trust which has an investment objective and investment policies
substantially similar to those of the Investment Grade Bond Fund.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                      LIPPER A
                                                     RATED BOND LEHMAN BROTHERS
                                    INVESTMENT GRADE   MUTUAL   GOV'T/CORPORATE
                                     BOND ACCOUNTS   FUND INDEX   BOND INDEX
                                    ---------------- ---------- ---------------
<S>                                 <C>              <C>        <C>
YEAR-TO-DATE
 (1/1/96 to 9/30/96)..............        0.53%         (.67)%       (.15)%
ONE YEAR
 (9/30/95 to 9/30/96).............        5.21%         4.14 %       4.50 %
THREE YEARS (ANNUALIZED)  (9/30/93
to 9/30/96).......................        6.36%         4.10 %       4.63 %
FIVE YEARS (ANNUALIZED)  (9/30/91
to 9/30/96).......................       10.06%         7.53 %       7.65 %
TEN YEARS (ANNUALIZED)  (9/30/86
to 9/30/96).......................       10.28%         8.21 %       8.38 %
</TABLE>    
   
  The total return for the Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund
was 14.54% for the period since inception (July 1, 1994), 16.16% for the two-
year period and 10.81% for the one-year period, in each case ended September
30, 1996. The total return of the Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund was not
included in the calculation of the total return of the Investment Grade Bond
Accounts shown in the table. The performance information presented for the
Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund has not been adjusted to reflect that the
Fund's expense ratio is expected to be higher than the expense ratio of the
Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund. If adjustments were made to reflect the
Fund's higher expense level, the total return presented would be lower.     
 
INTERMEDIATE MATURITY ACCOUNTS
   
  Anthony J. Wilkins, portfolio manager of the Intermediate Maturity Bond
Fund, also serves as the portfolio manager of other separate accounts that
have
    
                                      54
<PAGE>
 
   
investment objectives and investment policies that are substantially similar
to those of the Intermediate Maturity Bond Fund's (the "Intermediate Maturity
Accounts"). The following table shows the total returns for the year-to-date,
one-year, three-year and since inception periods ended September 30, 1996 for
the Intermediate Maturity Accounts. The table also shows the total return of
the Lipper Intermediate Bond Mutual Fund Index and the Lehman Brothers
Government/Corporate Intermediate Bond Index for the same periods.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                      LIPPER
                                                   INTERMEDIATE  LEHMAN BROTHERS
                                     INTERMEDIATE      BOND      GOV'T/CORPORATE
                                       MATURITY       MUTUAL      INTERMEDIATE
                                       ACCOUNTS     FUND INDEX     BOND INDEX
                                     ------------ -------------- ---------------
<S>                                  <C>          <C>            <C>
YEAR-TO-DATE
  (1/1/96 to 9/30/96)...............     1.74%         0.35%          1.56%
ONE YEAR
  (9/30/95 to 9/30/96)..............     6.16%         4.55%          5.13%
THREE YEARS (ANNUALIZED)
  (9/30/93 to 9/30/96)..............     5.95%         4.42%          4.79%
INCEPTION (ANNUALIZED)
  (6/30/92 to 9/30/96)..............     8.46%         6.48%          5.64%
</TABLE>    
 
                                      55
<PAGE>
 
                                                                      APPENDIX A
 
                 PUBLICATIONS THAT MAY CONTAIN FUND INFORMATION
 
ABC and affiliates                        Economist
Adam Smith's Money World                  Dorfman, Dan (syndicated column)
America On Line                           Dow Jones News Service
Anchorage Daily News                      FACS of the Week
Atlanta Constitution                      Fee Adviser
Atlanta Journal                           Financial News Network
Arizona Republic                          Financial Planning
Austin American Statesman                 Financial Planning on Wall Street
Baltimore Sun                             Financial Research Corp.
Bank Investment Marketing                 Financial Services Week
Barron's                                  Financial World
Bergen County Record (NJ)                 Fitch Insights
Bloomberg Business News                   Forbes
Bond Buyer                                Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Boston Business Journal                   Fortune
Boston Globe                              Fox Network and affiliates
Boston Herald                             Fund Action
Broker World                              Fund Decoder
Business Radio Network                    Global Finance
Business Week                             (the) Guarantor
CBS and affiliates                        Hartford Courant
CDA Investment Technologies               Houston Chronicle
CFO                                       INC
Changing Times                            Indianapolis Star
Chicago Sun Times                         Individual Investor
Chicago Tribune                           Institutional Investor
Christian Science Monitor                 International Herald Tribune
Christian Science Monitor News Service    Internet
Cincinnati Enquirer                       Investment Advisor
Cincinnati Post                           Investment Company Institute
CNBC                                      Investment Dealers Digest
CNN                                       Investment Profiles
Columbus Dispatch                         Investment Vision
CompuServe                                Investor's Daily
Dallas Morning News                       IRA Reporter
Dallas Times-Herald                       Journal of Commerce
Denver Post                               Kansas City Star
Des Moines Register                       KCMO (Kansas City)
Detroit Free Press                        KOA-AM (Denver)
Donoghues Money Fund Report               LA Times
 
                                       56
<PAGE>
 
Leckey, Andrew (syndicated column)       Rukeyser's Business (syndicated column)
Life Association News                    Sacramento Bee
Lifetime Channel                         San Diego Tribune
Miami Herald                             San Francisco Chronicle
Milwaukee Sentinel                       San Francisco Examiner
Money Magazine                           San Jose Mercury
Money Maker                              Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Money Management Letter                  Seattle Times
Morningstar                              Securities Industry Management
Mutual Fund Market News                  Smart Money
Mutual Funds Magazine                    St. Louis Post Dispatch
National Public Radio                    St. Petersburg Times
National Underwriter                     Standard & Poor's Outlook
NBC and affiliates                       Standard & Poor's Stock Guide
New England Business                     Stanger's Investment Advisor
New England Cable News                   Stockbroker's Register
New Orleans Times-Picayune               Strategic Insight
New York Daily News                      Tampa Tribune
New York Times                           Time
Newark Star Ledger                       Tobias, Andrew (syndicated column)
Newsday                                  Toledo Blade
Newsweek                                 UP
Nightly Business Report                  US News and World Report
Orange County Register                   USA Today
Orlando Sentinel                         USA TV Network
Palm Beach Post                          Value Line
Pension World                            Wall Street Journal
Pensions and Investments                 Wall Street Letter
Personal Investor                        Wall Street Week
Philadelphia Inquirer                    Washington Post
Porter, Sylvia (syndicated column)       WBZ
Portland Oregonian                       WBZ-TV
Prodigy                                  WCVB-TV
Public Broadcasting Service              WEEI
Quinn, Jane Bryant (syndicated column)   WHDH
Registered Representative                Worcester Telegram
Research Magazine                        World Wide Web
Resource                                 Worth Magazine
Reuters                                  WRKO
 
Rocky Mountain News
 
                                      57
<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 are not
 
                                      58
<PAGE>
 
    investors in the Funds, do not have any other relationship to the Funds
    or their adviser and their success is not attributable to the Funds or
    their adviser. In instances where these 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.
 
                                      59


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