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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on March 6, 2000.
Securities Act File No.
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-14
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 |X|
Pre-Effective Amendment No. |_| Post-Effective Amendment No. |_|
SCUDDER SECURITIES TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110-4103
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
John Millette
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110-4103
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
(617) 295-1000
(Registrant's Area Code and Telephone Number)
with copies to:
Caroline Pearson, Esq. Sheldon A. Jones, Esq.
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc. Dechert Price & Rhoads
Two International Place Ten Post Office Square - South
Boston, MA 02110-4103 Boston, MA 02109-4603
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:
As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement
is declared effective.
Title of Securities Being Registered:
Shares of Beneficial Interest ($.01 par value)
of Scudder Small Company Value Fund, a series of the Registrant
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It is proposed that this filing will become effective on April 5, 2000
pursuant to Rule 488 under the Securities Act of 1933.
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No filing fee is required because the Registrant has previously registered an
indefinite number of its shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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PART A
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
INVESTMENT TRUST
SCUDDER TAX MANAGED SMALL COMPANY FUND
Please take notice that a Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting")
of Scudder Tax Managed Small Company Fund (the "Fund"), a series of Investment
Trust (the "Trust"), will be held at the offices of Scudder Kemper Investments,
Inc., Floor 13, Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110-4103, on July 13,
2000, at 3:00 p.m., Eastern time, for the following purposes:
Proposal 1: To elect Trustees of the Trust;
Proposal 2: To approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization for the
Fund whereby all or substantially all of the assets and
liabilities of the Fund would be acquired by Scudder Small
Company Value Fund in exchange for shares of the Class S
shares class of Scudder Small Company Value Fund; and
Proposal 3: To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as
the independent accountants for the Fund for the Fund's
current fiscal year.
The appointed proxies will vote in their discretion on any other business
that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
Holders of record of shares of the Fund at the close of business on April
17, 2000 are entitled to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournments thereof.
In the event that the necessary quorum to transact business or the vote
required to approve any Proposal is not obtained at the Meeting, the persons
named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting in
accordance with applicable law to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any
such adjournment as to a matter will require the affirmative vote of the holders
of a majority of the Fund's shares present in person or by proxy at the Meeting.
The persons named as proxies will vote FOR any such adjournment those proxies
which they are entitled to vote in favor of that Proposal and will vote AGAINST
any such adjournment those proxies to be voted against that Proposal.
By Order of the Board,
[Signature]
John Millette,
Secretary
[date]
IMPORTANT -- We urge you to sign and date the enclosed proxy card(s) and return
it in the enclosed envelope which requires no postage (or to take advantage of
the electronic or telephonic voting procedures described on the proxy card(s)).
Your prompt return of the enclosed proxy card(s) (or your voting by other
available means) may save the necessity and expense of further
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solicitations. If you wish to attend the Meeting and vote your shares in person
at that time, you will still be able to do so.
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Table of Contents
Introduction....................
Proposal 1: Election of Trustees/Directors for the Acquired
Trust/Corporation........
Nominees for Election..............
Trustees/Directors Not Standing for Re-election............
Responsibilities of the Board -- Board and Committee Meetings........
Audit Committee........
Committee on Independent Trustees/Directors........
Attendance............
Honorary Trustees/Directors.........
Officers.............
Compensation of Trustees/Directors and Officers.........
Proposal 2: Approval of Agreement and Plan of Reorganization......
I. SYNOPSIS.........
Introduction.........
Background of the Reorganization...........
Reasons for the Proposed Transaction; Board Approval.......
Investment Objectives, Policies and Restrictions of the
Funds........
Portfolio Turnover..........
Performance...........
Investment Manager; Fees and Expenses......
Administrative Fee..........
Comparison of Expenses.........
Financial Highlights.........
Distribution of Shares........
Purchase, Redemption and Exchange Information.........
Dividends and other Distributions..........
Tax Consequences........
II. PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS......
III. THE PROPOSED TRANSCTION..........
Description of the Plan........
Board Approval of the Proposed Transaction......
Description of the Securities to be Issued.....
Federal Income Tax Consequences.........
Capitalization...........
Proposal 3: Ratification or Rejection of the Selection of Independent
Accountants
Additional Information
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Part B: Statement of Additional Information
Part C: Other Information
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PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
[DATE]
Relating to the acquisition of the assets of
SCUDDER TAX MANAGED SMALL COMPANY FUND (the "Acquired Fund"),
a separate series of
INVESTMENT TRUST (the "Acquired Trust")
Two International Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-4103
(800) 728-3337
by and in exchange for the Class S shares class of shares of
beneficial interest of SCUDDER SMALL COMPANY VALUE FUND (the
"Acquiring Fund"),
a separate series of
SCUDDER SECURITIES TRUST (the "Acquiring Trust")
Two International Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-4103
(800) 728-3337
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement/Prospectus is being furnished to shareholders of the
Acquired Fund in connection with three proposals (each a "Proposal"). Proposal 1
describes the election of Trustees, and Proposal 3 proposes the ratification of
the Acquired Fund's accountants.
In Proposal 2, shareholders are asked to approve a proposed reorganization
in which all or substantially all of the assets of the Acquired Fund would be
acquired by the Acquiring Fund, in exchange for shares of beneficial interest of
the Class S shares class of the Acquiring Fund (known as "Class S shares") and
the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all of the liabilities of the Acquired
Fund, as described more fully below (the "Reorganization"). Shares of the
Acquiring Fund thereby received would then be distributed to the shareholders of
the Acquired Fund in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund. As a result of
the Reorganization, each shareholder of the Acquired Fund would receive that
number of Class S Shares of the Acquiring Fund having an aggregate net asset
value equal to the aggregate net asset value of such shareholder's shares of the
Acquired Fund held as of the close of business on the business day preceding the
closing of the Reorganization (the "Valuation Date"). Shareholders of the
Acquired Fund will vote on an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the "Plan")
pursuant to which the Reorganization would be consummated. A copy of the Plan is
attached hereto as Exhibit A. The closing of the Reorganization (the "Closing")
is contingent upon shareholder approval of the Plan. The Reorganization is
expected to occur on or about August 28, 2000.
Proposals 1 and 2 relate to a restructuring program proposed by Scudder
Kemper Investments, Inc. ("Scudder Kemper" or the "Investment Manager") and
described in more detail below.
In the descriptions of the Proposals below, the word "fund" is sometimes
used to mean investment companies or series thereof in general, and not the
Acquired Fund whose proxy statement this is. In addition, for simplicity,
actions are described in this Proxy Statement as being taken by either the
Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund (each a "Fund" and collectively the
"Funds"), although all actions are actually taken either by the Acquired Trust
or the Acquiring Trust (together with the Acquired Trust, the "Trusts"), on
behalf of the applicable Fund.
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THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE
SECURITIES NOR PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
This Proxy Statement/Prospectus sets forth concisely the information about
the Acquiring Fund that a prospective investor should know before investing and
should be retained for future reference. For a more detailed discussion of the
investment objective, policies, restrictions and risks of the Acquiring Fund,
see the Acquiring Fund's prospectus, dated December 1, 1999, as supplemented
from time to time, which is included herewith and incorporated herein by
reference. For a more detailed discussion of the investment objective, policies,
restrictions and risks of the Acquired Fund, see the Acquired Fund's prospectus,
dated March 1, 2000, as supplemented from time to time, which is incorporated
herein by reference and a copy of which may be obtained upon request and without
charge by calling or writing the Acquired Fund at the telephone number or
address set forth on the preceding page.
The Acquiring Fund's Statement of Additional Information, dated December
1, 1999, is incorporated herein by reference and may be obtained upon request
and without charge by calling or writing the Acquiring Fund at the telephone
number or address set forth on the preceding page. A Statement of Additional
Information, dated ___________________, containing additional information about
the Reorganization and the parties thereto has been filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC" or the "Commission") and is incorporated by
reference into this Proxy Statement/Prospectus. A copy of the Statement of
Additional Information relating to the Reorganization is available upon request
and without charge by calling or writing the Acquiring Fund at the telephone
number or address set forth on the preceding page. Shareholder inquiries
regarding either Fund may be made by calling (800) 728-3337. The information
contained herein concerning the Acquired Fund has been provided by, and is
included herein in reliance upon, the Acquired Fund. The information contained
herein concerning the Acquiring Fund has been provided by, and is included
herein in reliance upon, the Acquiring Fund. The Class S Shares will be a
newly-established class of shares of the Acquiring Fund and will be identical in
all material respects to the Acquiring Fund shares currently offered and sold,
as described in the prospectus and statement of additional information for the
Acquiring Fund, dated December 1, 1999, except as otherwise described herein.
The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund are diversified series of shares
of beneficial interest of, respectively, the Acquiring Trust and the Acquired
Trust. The Acquiring Trust and the Acquired Trust are open-end management
investment companies organized as Massachusetts business trusts.
The Board of Trustees (except as otherwise noted, "Trustees" refers to
Trustees of the Acquired Trust and "Board" refers to the Board of Trustees of
the Acquired Trust) is soliciting proxies from the shareholders of the Acquired
Fund, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, for the Special Meeting of Shareholders to
be held on July 13, 2000, at Scudder Kemper's offices, at Floor 13, Two
International Place, Boston, MA 02110-4103, at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern time), or at
such later time made necessary by adjournment (the "Meeting").
The Board of Trustees recommends that shareholders vote for the nominees
listed in Proposal 1, and for Proposals 2 and 3.
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF TRUSTEES FOR THE ACQUIRED TRUST
At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to elect nine individuals to
constitute the Board of Trustees of the Acquired Trust. These individuals were
nominated after a careful and deliberate selection
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process by the present Board of Trustees of the Acquired Trust. The nominees for
election, who are listed below, include seven persons who currently serve as
Independent Trustees (as defined below) of the Acquired Trust, the Acquiring
Trust or as independent trustees or directors of other no-load funds advised by
Scudder Kemper and who have no affiliation with Scudder Kemper or AARP. The
nominees listed below are also being nominated for election as Trustees of the
Acquiring Trust and as trustees or directors of most of the other no-load funds
advised by Scudder Kemper.
Currently, five different boards of trustees or directors are responsible
for overseeing different groups of no-load funds advised by Scudder Kemper. As
part of a broader restructuring effort described below under Proposal 2, Scudder
Kemper has recommended, and the Board of Trustees has agreed, that shareholder
interests can more effectively be represented by a single board with
responsibility for overseeing substantially all of the Scudder no-load funds.
Creation of a single, consolidated board should also provide certain
administrative efficiencies and potential future cost savings for both the Funds
and Scudder Kemper.
Election of each of the listed nominees for Trustee on the Board of the
Acquired Trust requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at
the Meeting, in person or by proxy. The persons named as proxies on the enclosed
proxy card will vote for the election of the nominees named below unless
authority to vote for any or all of the nominees is withheld in the proxy. Each
Trustee so elected will serve as a Trustee of the Acquired Trust until the next
meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of electing Trustees and
until the election and qualification of a successor or until such Trustee sooner
dies, resigns or is removed as provided in the governing documents of the
Acquired Trust. Each of the nominees has indicated that he or she is willing to
serve as a Trustee. If any or all of the nominees should become unavailable for
election due to events not now known or anticipated, the persons named as
proxies will vote for such other nominee or nominees as the Trustees may
recommend. The following paragraphs and table set forth information concerning
the nominees and the Trustees not standing for re-election. Each nominee's or
Trustee's age is in parentheses after his or her name. Unless otherwise noted,
(i) each of the nominees and Trustees has engaged in the principal occupation
listed in the following paragraphs and table for more than five years, but not
necessarily in the same capacity, and (ii) the address of each nominee is c/o
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., Two International Place, Boston, MA
02110-4103.
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Nominees for Election as Trustees:
Henry P. Becton, Jr. (56)
Henry P. Becton, Jr. graduated from Yale University in 1965, where he was
elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was Chairman of the Yale Broadcasting Corporation.
He received his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1968. He joined the staff
of WGBH Educational Foundation in 1970, was appointed General Manager in 1978,
and was elected President and General Manager in 1984. Mr. Becton is a member of
the PBS Board of Directors, a Trustee of American Public Television, the New
England Aquarium, the Boston Museum of Science, Concord Academy, and the
Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications, an Overseer of the
Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and a member of the Board of Governors of the Banff
International Television Festival Foundation. He is also a Director of Becton
Dickinson and Company and A.H. Belo Company, a Trustee of the Committee for
Economic Development, and a member of the Board of Visitors of the Dimock
Community Health Center, the Dean's Council of Harvard University's Graduate
School of Education, and the Massachusetts Bar. Mr. Becton has served as a
trustee of various mutual funds advised by Scudder Kemper since 1990.
Linda C. Coughlin (48)*
Linda C. Coughlin, a Managing Director of Scudder Kemper, is head of Scudder
Kemper's U.S. Retail Mutual Funds Business. Ms. Coughlin joined Scudder Kemper
in 1986 and was a member of the firm's Board of Directors. She currently
oversees the marketing, service and operations of Scudder Kemper retail
businesses in the United States, which include the Scudder, Kemper, AARP, and
closed-end fund families, and the direct and intermediary channels. She also
serves as Chairperson of the AARP Investment Program from Scudder and as a
Trustee of the Program's mutual funds. Ms. Coughlin is also a member of the
Mutual Funds Management Group. Previously, she served as a regional Marketing
Director in the retail banking division of Citibank and at the American Express
Company as Director of Consumer Marketing for the mutual fund group. Ms.
Coughlin received a B.A. degree in economics (summa cum laude) from Fordham
University. Ms. Coughlin has served on the boards of various funds advised by
Scudder Kemper, including the AARP Investment Program Funds, since 1996.
Dawn-Marie Driscoll (53)
Dawn-Marie Driscoll is an Executive Fellow and Advisory Board member of the
Center for Business Ethics at Bentley College, one of the nation's leading
institutes devoted to the study and practice of business ethics. Ms. Driscoll is
also president of Driscoll Associates, a consulting firm. She is a member of the
Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute and serves as Chairman of
the Directors Services Committee. She has been a director, trustee and overseer
of many civic and business institutions, including The Massachusetts Bay United
Way and Regis College. Ms. Driscoll was formerly a law partner at Palmer & Dodge
in Boston and served for over a decade as Vice President of Corporate Affairs
and General Counsel of Filene's, the Boston-based department store chain. Ms.
Driscoll received a B.A. from Regis College, a J.D. from Suffolk University Law
School, a D.H.L. (honorary) from Suffolk University and a D.C.S. (honorary) from
Bentley College Graduate School of Business. Ms. Driscoll has served as a
trustee of various mutual funds advised by Scudder Kemper since 1987.
Edgar R. Fiedler (70)
Edgar R. Fiedler is Senior Fellow and Economic Counsellor at The Conference
Board. He served as the Board's Vice President, Economic Research from 1975 to
1986 and as Vice President and Economic Counsellor from 1986 to 1996. Mr.
Fiedler's business experience includes positions at Eastman Kodak in
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Rochester (1956-59), Doubleday and Company in New York City (1959-60), and
Bankers Trust Company in New York City (1960-69). He also served as Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy from 1971 to 1975. Mr. Fiedler
graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1951. He received his M.B.A. from
the University of Michigan and his doctorate from New York University. During
the 1980's, Mr. Fiedler was as an Adjunct Professor of Economics at the Columbia
University Graduate School of Business. From 1990 to 1991, he was the Stephen
Edward Scarff Distinguished Professor at Lawrence University in Wisconsin. Mr.
Fiedler is a Director of The Stanley Works, Harris Insight Funds, Brazil Fund,
and PEG Capital Management, Inc. He has served as a board member of various
mutual funds advised by Scudder Kemper, including the AARP Investment Program
Funds, since 1984.
Keith R. Fox (46)
Keith R. Fox is the managing partner of the Exeter Group of Funds, a series of
private equity funds with offices in New York and Boston, which he founded in
1986. The Exeter Group invests in a wide range of private equity situations,
including venture capital, expansion financings, recapitalizations and
management buyouts. Prior to forming Exeter, Mr. Fox was a director and vice
president of BT Capital Corporation, a subsidiary of Bankers Trust New York
Corporation organized as a small business investment company and based in New
York City. Mr. Fox graduated from Oxford University in 1976 and in 1981 received
an M.B.A. degree from the Harvard Business School. Mr. Fox is also a qualified
accountant. He is a board member and former Chairman of the National Association
of Small Business Investment Companies, and a director of Golden State Vintners,
K-Communications, Progressive Holding Corporation and Facts On File, as well as
a former director of over twenty companies. Mr. Fox has served as a trustee of
various mutual funds advised by Scudder Kemper since 1996.
Joan Edelman Spero (55)
Joan E. Spero is the president of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, a
position to which she was named in January 1997. From 1993 to 1997, Ms. Spero
served as Undersecretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural
Affairs under President Clinton. From 1981 to 1993, she was an executive at the
American Express Company, where her last position was executive vice president
for Corporate Affairs and Communications. Ms. Spero served as U.N. Ambassador to
the United Nations Economic and Social Council under President Carter from 1980
to 1981. She was an assistant professor at Columbia University from 1973 to
1979. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Wisconsin and holds a
master's degree in international affairs and a doctorate in political science
from Columbia University. Ms. Spero is a member of the Council on Foreign
Relations and the Council of American Ambassadors. She also serves as a trustee
of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, The Brookings Institution and
Columbia University and is a Director of First Data Corporation. Ms. Spero has
served as a trustee of various mutual funds advised by Scudder Kemper since
1998.
Jean Gleason Stromberg (56)
Ms. Stromberg acts as a consultant on regulatory matters. From 1996 to 1997, Ms.
Stromberg represented the U.S. General Accounting Office before Congress and
elsewhere on issues involving banking, securities, securities markets, and
government-sponsored enterprises. Prior to that, Ms. Stromberg was a corporate
and securities law partner at the Washington, D.C. law office of Fulbright and
Jaworski, a national law firm. She served as Associate Director of the SEC's
Division of Investment Management from 1977 to 1979 and prior to that was
Special Counsel for the Division of Corporation Finance from 1972 to 1977. Ms.
Stromberg graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Wellesley College and received her law
degree from Harvard Law School. From 1988 to 1991 and 1993 to 1996, she was a
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Trustee of the American Bar Retirement Association, the funding vehicle for
American Bar Association-sponsored retirement plans. Ms. Stromberg serves on the
Wellesley College Business Leadership Council and the Council for Mutual Fund
Director Education at Northwestern University Law School and was a panelist at
the SEC's Investment Company Director's Roundtable. Ms. Stromberg has served as
a board member of the AARP Investment Program Funds since 1997.
Jean C. Tempel (56)
Jean C. Tempel is a venture partner for Internet Capital Group, a strategic
network of Internet partnership companies whose principal offices are in Wayne,
Pennsylvania. Ms. Tempel concentrates on investment opportunities in the Boston
area. She spent 25 years in technology/operations executive management at
various New England banks, building custody operations and real time
financial/securities processing systems, most recently as Chief Operations
Officer at The Boston Company. From 1991 until 1993 she was president/COO of
Safeguard Scientifics, a Pennsylvania technology venture company. In that role
she was a founding investor, director and vice chairman of Cambridge Technology
Partners. She is a director of XLVision, Inc., Marathon Technologies, Inc.,
Aberdeen Group and Sonesta Hotels International, and is a Trustee of
Northeastern University, Connecticut College, and The Commonwealth Institute.
She received a B.A. from Connecticut College, an M.S. from Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute of New York, and attended Harvard Business School's
Advanced Management Program. Ms. Tempel has served as a trustee of various
mutual funds advised by Scudder Kemper since 1994.
Steven Zaleznick (45)*
Steven Zaleznick is President and CEO of AARP Services, Inc., a wholly-owned and
independently-operated subsidiary of AARP which manages a range of products and
services offered to AARP members, provides marketing services to AARP and its
member service providers and establishes an electronic commerce presence for
AARP members. Mr. Zaleznick previously served as AARP's general counsel for nine
years. He was responsible for the legal affairs of the AARP, which included tax
and legal matters affecting non-profit organizations, contract negotiations,
publication review and public policy litigation. In 1979, he joined the AARP as
a legislation representative responsible for issues involving taxes, pensions,
age discrimination, and other national issues affecting older Americans. Mr.
Zaleznick is President of the Board of Cradle of Hope Adoption Center in
Washington, D.C. He is a former treasurer and currently a board member of the
National Senior Citizens Law Center. Mr. Zaleznick received his B.A. in
economics from Brown University. He received his J.D. degree from Georgetown
University Law Center and is a member of the District of Columbia Bar
Association.
Trustees Not Standing for Re-election:
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Present Office with the Acquired Trust;
Principal Occupation or Employment
Name and Directorships
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Peter B. Freeman (67) Trustee; Corporate Director and Trustee.
Mr. Freeman serves on the Boards of an
additional 13 trusts or corporations
whose funds are advised by Scudder
Kemper.
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George M. Lovejoy, Jr. (69) Trustee; President and Director, Fifty
Associates (real estate corporation).
Mr. Lovejoy serves on the Boards of an
additional 11 trusts or corporations
whose funds are advised by Scudder
Kemper.
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Wesley W. Marple, Jr. (68) Trustee; Professor of Business
Administration, Northeastern University,
College of Business Administration. Mr.
Marple serves on the Boards of an
additional 10 trusts or corporations
whose funds are advised by Scudder
Kemper.
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Kathryn L. Quirk (47)* Trustee, Vice President and Assistant
Secretary; Managing Director of Scudder
Kemper Investments, Inc. Ms. Quirk
serves on the Boards of an additional 18
trusts or corporations whose funds are
advised by Scudder Kemper.
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* Nominee or Trustee considered by the Acquired Trust and its counsel to be
an "interested person" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the "1940 Act")) of the Acquired Trust, the Investment Manager
or AARP because of his or her employment by the Investment Manager or
AARP, and, in some cases, holding offices with the Acquired Trust.
Appendix 1 hereto sets forth the number of shares of each series of the
Acquired Trust owned directly or beneficially by the Trustees of the Acquired
Trust and by the nominees for election.
Responsibilities of the Board -- Board and Committee Meetings
A fund's board is responsible for the general oversight of fund business.
The board that is proposed for shareholder voting at this Meeting is comprised
of two individuals who are considered "interested" Trustees, and seven
individuals who have no affiliation with Scudder Kemper and who are called
"independent" Trustees (the "Independent Trustees"). The SEC has recently
proposed a rule that would require a majority of the board members of a fund to
be "independent" if the fund were to take advantage of certain exemptive rules
under the 1940 Act. On the proposed Board of Trustees, if approved by
shareholders, nearly 78% will be Independent Trustees. The Independent Trustees
have been nominated solely by the current Independent Trustees of the Acquired
Trust, a practice also favored by the SEC. The Independent Trustees have primary
responsibility for assuring that the Acquired Fund is managed in the best
interests of its shareholders.
The Trustees meet several times during the year to review the investment
performance of each Fund of the Acquired Trust and other operational matters,
including policies and procedures designed to assure compliance with regulatory
and other requirements. In 1999, the Trustees conducted over 20 meetings to deal
with fund issues (including committee meetings and special meetings of the
Independent Trustees). Furthermore, the Independent Trustees review the fees
paid to the Investment Manager and its affiliates for investment advisory
services and other administrative and shareholder services. The Trustees have
adopted several policies and practices which help ensure their effectiveness and
independence in reviewing fees and representing shareholders. Many of these are
similar to those suggested in the 1999 Advisory Group Report on Best Practices
for Fund Directors (the "Advisory Group
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Report"). For example, the Independent Trustees select independent legal counsel
to work with them in reviewing fees, advisory and other contracts and overseeing
fund matters. The Trustees are also assisted in this regard by the funds'
independent public accountants and other independent experts retained for this
purpose. The Independent Trustees regularly meet privately with their counsel
and other advisors. In addition, the Independent Trustees from time to time have
appointed task forces and subcommittees from their members to focus on
particular matters such as investment, accounting and shareholder servicing
issues.
The Board of the Acquired Trust has an Audit Committee and Committee on
Independent Trustees, the responsibilities of which are described below. In
addition, the Acquired Trust has an Executive Committee and a Valuation
Committee.
Audit Committee
The full Audit Committee reviews with management and the independent
public accountants for each series of the Acquired Trust, among other things,
the scope of the audit and the internal controls of each series of the Acquired
Trust and its agents, reviews and approves in advance the type of services to be
rendered by independent accountants, recommends the selection of independent
accountants for each series of the Acquired Trust to the Board, reviews the
independence of such firm and, in general, considers and reports to the Board on
matters regarding the accounting and financial reporting practices of each
series of the Acquired Trust.
As suggested by the Advisory Group Report, the Acquired Trust's Audit
Committee is comprised entirely of Independent Trustees, meets privately with
the independent accountants of each series of the Acquired Trust, will receive
representations from the accountants as to their annual independence, and has a
written charter that delineates the committee's duties and powers.
Committee on Independent Trustees
The Board of Trustees of the Acquired Trust has a Committee on Independent
Trustees, comprised solely of Independent Trustees, charged with the duty of
making all nominations of Independent Trustees, establishing Trustees'
compensation policies, retirement policies and fund ownership policies,
reviewing Trustees' affiliations and relationships annually, and periodically
assessing and reviewing evaluations of the Board of Trustees' effectiveness.
Attendance
As noted above, the Trustees conducted over 20 meetings in calendar year
1999 to deal with fund matters, including various committee meetings and special
meetings of the Independent Trustees. The full Board of Trustees of the Acquired
Trust met eleven times, the Audit Committee met two times and the Committee on
Independent Trustees met one time during calendar year 1999. Each then current
Trustee attended 100% of the total meetings of the full Board of Trustees and
each above-named committee on which he or she served as a regular member that
were held during that period.
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Officers
The following persons are officers of the Acquired Trust:
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Present Office with the
Acquired Trust; Principal Year First Became an
Name (Age) Occupation or Employment(1) Officer(2)
- ---------- --------------------------- --------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Linda C. Coughlin (48) Trustee and President; 2000
Managing Director of
Scudder Kemper
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kathryn L. Quirk (47) Trustee, Vice President 1997
and Assistant Secretary;
Managing Director of
Scudder Kemper
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce F. Beaty (41) Vice President; Managing 1995
Director of Scudder
Kemper
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jennifer P. Carter (37) Vice President; Vice 1999
President of Scudder
Kemper
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James Eysenbach (38) Vice President; Managing 1999
Director of Scudder
Kemper
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William F. Gadsden (45) Vice President; Managing 1996
Director of Scudder
Kemper
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Valerie F. Malter (41) Vice President; Managing 1995
Director of Scudder
Kemper
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kathleen T. Millard (40) Vice President; Managing 1999
Director of Scudder
Kemper
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Tymoczko (30) Vice President; Assistant 1999
Vice President of Scudder
Kemper
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ann M. McCreary (43) Vice President; Managing 1998
Director of Scudder
Kemper
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Millette (38) Vice President and 1999
Secretary; Assistant Vice
President of Scudder
Kemper
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John R. Hebble (41) Treasurer; Senior Vice 1998
President of Scudder
Kemper
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caroline Pearson (38) Assistant Secretary; 1997
Senior Vice President of
Scudder Kemper;
Associate, Dechert
Price & Rhoads (law firm)
1989 to 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------
(1) Unless otherwise stated, all of the officers have been associated with
their respective companies for more than five years, although not
necessarily in the same capacity.
(2) The President, Treasurer and Secretary each holds office until his or her
successor has been duly elected and qualified, and all other officers hold
offices in accordance with the By-laws of the Acquired Trust.
-15-
<PAGE>
Compensation of Trustees and Officers
The Acquired Trust pays each Independent Trustee an annual Trustee's fee
for each series of the Acquired Trust plus specified amounts for Board and
committee meetings attended and reimburses expenses related to the business of
any series of the Acquired Trust. Each such unaffiliated Trustee receives an
annual Trustee's fee of $2,400 per fund if the fund's total net assets do not
exceed $100 million, $4,800 per fund if the fund's total net assets exceed $100
million but do not exceed $1 billion and $7,200 per fund if the fund's total net
assets exceed $1 billion. The lead Trustee receives an additional annual
retainer fee of $500 per fund. Each Independent Trustee also receives fees of
$150 per fund or attending each Board meeting, Audit Committee meeting or other
meeting held for the purpose of considering arrangements between the Acquired
Trust and Scudder Kemper, or any of its other affiliates. Each Independent
Trustee also receives $75 per fund for all other committee meetings attended.
The newly-constituted Board may determine to change its compensation structure.
The Independent Trustees of the Acquired Trust are not entitled to
benefits under any pension or retirement plan. It is currently anticipated that
a one-time benefit will be provided to those Independent Trustees who have
volunteered to leave the board prior to their normal retirement date in order to
facilitate the nomination of a consolidated board. The amount of such benefit
has not been finally determined, but is expected to be based on a Trustee's
years of service and remaining years to normal retirement. [Further detail to be
provided when available.] [Inasmuch as Scudder Kemper will also benefit from the
administrative efficiencies of a consolidated board, Scudder Kemper has agreed
to bear one-half of the cost of any such benefit.]
Scudder Kemper supervises the Acquired Trust's investments, pays the
compensation and certain expenses of its personnel who serve as Trustees and
officers of the Acquired Trust and receives a management fee for its services.
Several of the Acquired Trust's officers and Trustees are also officers,
directors, employees or stockholders of Scudder Kemper and participate in the
fees paid to that firm, although the Acquired Trust makes no direct payments to
them other than for reimbursement of travel expenses in connection with their
attendance at Board and committee meetings.
The following Compensation Table provides in tabular form the following
data:
Column (1) All Trustees who receive compensation from the Acquired Trust.
Column (2) Aggregate compensation received by each Trustee of the Acquired
Trust during calendar year 1999.
Column (3) Total compensation received by each Trustee from funds managed
by Scudder Kemper (collectively, the "Fund Complex") during calendar year 1999.
-16-
<PAGE>
Compensation Table
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Compensation from
Aggregate Compensation Fund Complex Paid to
Trustee (number of funds) Trustee
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Henry P. Becton Jr. $31,110 (8 funds) $140,000 (28 funds)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dawn-Marie Driscoll $33,218 (8 funds) $150,000 (28 funds)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter B. Freeman $34,134 (8 funds) $179,783 (53 funds)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
George M. Lovejoy, Jr. $31,025 (8 funds) $153,200 (30 funds)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wesley W. Marple, Jr. $31,025 (8 funds) $140,000 (28 funds)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean C. Tempel $31,025 (8 funds) $140,000 (28 funds)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Board of Trustees of Investment Trust recommends
that the shareholders of Scudder Small Company Value Fund vote for each nominee.
PROPOSAL 2: APPROVAL OF
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
I. SYNOPSIS
The following is a summary of certain information contained in this Proxy
Statement/Prospectus relating to the Reorganization. This summary is qualified
by reference to the more complete information contained elsewhere in this Proxy
Statement/Prospectus, the Prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information
of the Funds, and the Plan. Shareholders should read this entire Proxy
Statement/Prospectus carefully.
Introduction
The Board of the Acquired Trust, including all of the Independent
Trustees, approved the Plan at a meeting held on February 7, 2000. Subject to
its approval by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund, the Plan provides for (a)
the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets and all of the
liabilities of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for Class S
Shares; (b) the distribution of such shares to the shareholders of the Acquired
Fund in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund; and (c) the abolition of the
Acquired Fund as a series of the Acquired Trust. As a result of the
Reorganization, each shareholder of the Acquired Fund will become a shareholder
of the Class S Shares and will hold, immediately after the Reorganization, Class
S Shares having an aggregate net asset value equal to the aggregate net asset
value of such shareholder's shares of the Acquired Fund on the Valuation Date.
Scudder Kemper is the investment manager of both Funds. If the
Reorganization is completed, the Acquired Fund's shareholders will continue to
enjoy all of the same shareholder privileges as they currently enjoy, such as
the ability to buy, exchange and sell shares without paying a sales commission,
access to professional service representatives, and automatic dividend
reinvestment. See "Purchase, Redemption and Exchange Information."
Background of the Reorganization
The Reorganization is part of a broader restructuring program proposed by
Scudder Kemper to respond to changing industry conditions and investor needs.
The mutual fund industry has grown
-17-
<PAGE>
dramatically over the last ten years. During this period of rapid growth,
investment managers have expanded the range of fund offerings that they make
available to investors in an effort to meet the growing and changing needs and
desires of an increasingly large and dynamic group of investors. With this
expansion has come increased complexity and competition among mutual funds, as
well as increased confusion among investors. The group of no-load funds advised
by Scudder Kemper has followed this pattern, increasing from 44 no-load funds in
1990 to 77 no-load funds at present.
As a result, Scudder Kemper has sought ways to restructure and streamline
the management and operations of the funds it advises. Scudder Kemper believes,
and has advised the boards, that the consolidation of certain funds advised by
it would benefit fund shareholders. Scudder Kemper has, therefore, proposed the
consolidation of a number of no-load funds advised by it that Scudder Kemper
believes have similar or compatible investment objectives and policies. In many
cases, the proposed consolidations are designed to eliminate the substantial
overlap in current offerings by the Scudder Funds and the funds offered through
the AARP Investment Program, (the "AARP Funds"), all of which are advised by
Scudder Kemper. Consolidation plans are proposed for other funds that have not
gathered enough assets to operate efficiently and, in turn, have relatively high
expense ratios. Scudder Kemper believes that these consolidations may help to
enhance investment performance of funds and increase efficiency of operations.
The Reorganization is also expected to result in lower operating expenses for
Acquired Fund shareholders as described in "Comparison of Expenses" below.
There are currently five different boards for the no-load funds advised by
Scudder Kemper. Scudder Kemper believes, and has proposed to the boards, that
creating a single board responsible for most of the no-load funds advised by
Scudder Kemper would increase efficiency and benefit fund shareholders. (See
Proposal 1 above.)
As part of this restructuring effort, Scudder Kemper has also proposed the
adoption of an administrative fee for most of the no-load funds advised by
Scudder Kemper. Under this fee structure, in exchange for payment by the
Acquiring Fund of an administrative fee, Scudder Kemper would agree to provide
or pay for substantially all services that a fund normally requires for its
operations, other than those provided under the fund's investment management
agreement and certain other expenses. Such an administrative fee would enable
investors to determine with greater certainty the expense level that a fund will
experience, and would transfer substantially all of the risk of increased costs
to Scudder Kemper. Scudder Kemper has proposed that the Acquiring Fund implement
such an administrative fee upon the Closing, as described in "Administrative
Fee" below.
The fund consolidations, the adoption of an administrative fee and the
creation of a single Board are expected to have a positive impact on Scudder
Kemper, as well. These changes are likely to result in reduced costs (and the
potential for increased profitability) for Scudder Kemper in advising or
servicing funds.
Reasons for the Proposed Reorganization; Board Approval
Since receiving Scudder Kemper's proposals on October 5, 1999, the
Independent Trustees have conducted a thorough review of all aspects of the
proposed restructuring program. They have been assisted in this regard by their
independent counsel and by independent consultants with special expertise in
financial and mutual fund industry matters. In the course of discussions with
representatives of Scudder Kemper, the Independent Trustees have requested, and
Scudder Kemper has accepted, numerous changes designed to protect and enhance
the interests of shareholders. See "Board Approval of the Proposed Transaction"
below.
-18-
<PAGE>
The Trustees believe that the Reorganization will provide shareholders of
the Acquired Fund with the following benefits:
o LOWER EXPENSES. If the Reorganization is approved, Acquired Fund
shareholders may benefit from lower total Fund operating expenses. Please
refer to "Comparison of Expenses" below.
o GREATER PREDICTABILITY OF EXPENSES. On or prior to Closing, the Acquiring
Fund and Scudder Kemper will enter into an administrative services
agreement pursuant to which Scudder Kemper will provide or pay others to
provide substantially all of the administrative services required by the
Acquiring Fund, and most Acquiring Fund expenses, in return for payment by
the Acquiring Fund of a single administrative fee rate. This agreement,
which has an initial three year term, will protect the Acquiring Fund's
shareholders from increases in the Acquiring Fund's expense ratio
attributed to any increases in the costs of providing these services.
o TAX-FREE REORGANIZATION. Shareholders of the Acquired Fund will exchange
their shares for shares of the Acquiring Fund of equal value. It is
expected that the transaction will be tax-free for Acquired Fund
shareholders.
For these reasons, as more fully described below under "The Proposed
Transaction - Board Approval of the Proposed Transaction," the Trustees of the
Acquired Trust, including the Independent Trustees, have concluded that:
o the Reorganization is in the best interests of the Acquired Fund and its
shareholders; and
o the interests of the existing shareholders of the Acquired Fund will not
be diluted as a result of the Reorganization.
Accordingly, the Trustees recommend approval of the Plan effecting the
Reorganization. If the Plan is not approved, the Acquired Fund will continue in
existence unless other action is taken by the Trustees.
Investment Objectives, Policies and Restrictions of the Funds
Although the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the
Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund (and, consequently, the risks of investing
in either Fund) are similar, there are important differences between the Funds.
The investment objective of the Acquiring Fund is to seek long-term growth of
capital. The investment objective of the Acquired Fund is to seek long-term
growth of capital on an after-tax basis. There can be no assurance that either
Fund will achieve its investment objective.
The Acquiring Fund normally invests at least 90% of its total assets in
undervalued common stocks of small U.S. companies similar in size to those in
the Russell 2000(TM) Index which, in the opinion of the Investment Manager, are
selling at prices that do not reflect adequately their long-term business
potential. The Acquired Fund normally invests at least 80% of its assets in
similar securities and also may invest in companies smaller than those in the
Russell 2000(TM) Index. The Acquired Fund generally will sell securities of
companies that have grown in market capitalization above the maximum of the
Russell 2000(TM) Index to keep its focus on smaller companies.
The Investment Manager employs tax-sensitive techniques in managing the
Acquired Fund's portfolio. The Acquired Fund's investments are allocated among
different companies and its portfolio weightings are adjusted based on
investment considerations such as return potential, risk and the effect of
portfolio adjustments on the after-tax total returns of the Fund. The Acquired
Fund typically invests in
-19-
<PAGE>
more than 150 different securities with no more than 2% of total assets in any
one security. The Acquiring Fund does not explicitly consider the effect of
portfolio adjustments on after-tax total return.
The Acquiring Fund may purchase foreign securities. The Acquired Fund may
make short sales "against the box." For temporary defensive purposes, each Fund
may invest without limit in cash and cash equivalents when the Investment
Manager deems such a position advisable in light of economic or market
conditions. In such cases, the Acquiring Fund may hold, in addition to cash and
cash equivalents, high-grade debt securities.
The Acquiring Fund's investment restrictions, as set forth in its
Statement of Additional Information, are identical to the Acquired Fund's
investment restrictions. Investment restrictions of each Fund that are
fundamental policies may not be changed without the approval of Fund
shareholders. Investors should refer to the respective Statements of Additional
Information of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund for a fuller description
of each Fund's investment policies and restrictions.
Portfolio Turnover
The average annual portfolio turnover rate for the Acquiring Fund, i.e.,
the ratio of the lesser of annual sales or purchases to the monthly average
value of the portfolio (excluding from both the numerator and the denominator
securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less), for
the fiscal year ended July 31, 1999 (i.e., prior to the creation of Class S
Shares) was 33.7%. The average annual portfolio turnover rate for the Acquired
Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1999 was 21.4%.
Performance
The following table compares the investment performance of each Fund, and
may provide some indication of the risks of investing in each Fund by showing
changes in each Fund's performance from year to year and how the Fund's average
annual return for the periods indicated compare with those of a broad measure of
market performance. Neither Fund's past performance is an indication of how the
Fund will perform in the future.
Average Annual Total Return
For the Periods Ending December 31, 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acquiring Fund Acquired Fund
Acquiring Fund# Acquired Fund Benchmark Index** Benchmark Index**
--------------- ------------- ----------------- -----------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Past year (11.75%) 0.77% (1.49%) 21.26%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since Inception* 9.68% 8.36% 11.60% 31.66%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
# Class S Shares were not offered during the periods covered. Performance shown
is for shares of the Acquiring Fund existing during the periods covered.
* The inception date for the Acquiring Fund was October 6, 1995. The inception
date for the Acquired Fund was September 18, 1998.
**The Acquiring Fund's benchmark index is the Russell 2000 Value Index, which
measures the performance of those Russell 2000 companies with lower
price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted
-20-
<PAGE>
growth ratios. The Acquired Fund's benchmark index is the Russell 2000 Index, an
unmanaged capitalization-weighted measure of approximately 2,000 small U.S.
stocks. Index returns are calculated monthly, assume reinvestment of dividends
and, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees or expenses.
Total return for each Fund would have been lower during both periods if
the Investment Manager had not maintained expenses.
For management's discussion of the Acquiring Fund's performance for the
fiscal year ended July 31, 1999 (prior to the creation of Class S Shares), see
Exhibit B attached hereto.
Investment Manager; Fees and Expenses
Each Fund retains the investment management firm of Scudder Kemper,
pursuant to separate contracts, to manage its daily investment and business
affairs, subject to the policies established by the Fund's Trustees.
Shareholders pay no direct charges or fees for investment management or other
services. Scudder Kemper is a Delaware corporation located at Two International
Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-4103.
The Investment Manager receives a fee for its services pursuant to its
investment management agreement with the Acquiring Fund. For these services,
the Acquiring Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee at an annual rate of
0.75% of average daily net assets. As of July 31, 1999, the Acquiring Fund
had total net assets of $294,017,683. For the fiscal year ended August 31,
1998 and for the eleven months ended July 31, 1999, the Acquiring Fund paid
the Investment Manager a fee of 0.75% and 0.48% (annualized), respectively,
of average daily net assets. By contract, commencing on December 1, 1998 the
total annual Fund operating expenses of the Acquiring Fund are maintained at
no more than 1.25% of average daily net assets until November 30, 2000.
The Investment Manager receives a fee for its services pursuant to its
investment management agreement with the Acquired Fund. For these services, the
Acquired Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee at an annual rate of 0.90% of
average daily net assets. As of October 31, 1999, the Acquired Fund had total
net assets of $2,292,446. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1999, the
Investment Manager waived the entire investment management fee and also
reimbursed the Acquired Fund's expenses in the amount of $119,316. By contract,
the total annual Fund operating expenses of the Acquired Fund are maintained at
no more than 1.50% of average daily net assets until February 28, 2001.
Administrative Fee
On or prior to the Closing, the Acquiring Fund will have entered into an
administrative services agreement with Scudder Kemper (the "Administration
Agreement"), pursuant to which Scudder Kemper will provide or pay others to
provide substantially all of the administrative services required by the
Acquiring Fund (other than those provided by Scudder Kemper under its investment
management agreement with the Fund, as described above) in exchange for the
payment by the Acquiring Fund of an administrative services fee (the
"Administrative Fee") of 0.45% of average daily net assets. One effect of this
arrangement is to make the Acquiring Fund's future expense ratio more
predictable. The details of the proposal (including expenses that are not
covered) are set out below.
Various third-party service providers (the "Service Providers"), some of
which are affiliated with Scudder Kemper, provide certain services to the
Acquiring Fund pursuant to separate agreements with the Fund, subject to
oversight and approval by the Acquiring Trust's trustees. Scudder Fund
Accounting Corporation, a subsidiary of Scudder Kemper, computes net asset value
for the Acquiring Fund and
-21-
<PAGE>
maintains its accounting records. Scudder Service Corporation, also a subsidiary
of Scudder Kemper, is the transfer, shareholder servicing and dividend-paying
agent for the shares of the Acquiring Fund. Scudder Trust Company, an affiliate
of Scudder Kemper, provides subaccounting and recordkeeping services for
shareholder accounts in certain retirement and employee benefit plans. As
custodian, State Street Bank and Trust Company holds the portfolio securities of
the Acquiring Fund, pursuant to a custodian agreement. PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP audits the financial statements of the Acquiring Fund and provides other
audit, tax, and related services. Dechert Price & Rhoads acts as general counsel
for the Acquiring Fund. In addition to the fees it pays under its current
investment management agreement with Scudder Kemper, the Acquiring Fund pays the
expenses associated with these service arrangements, as well as the Acquiring
Fund's insurance, registration, printing, postage and other costs.
Once the Administration Agreement becomes effective, each Service Provider
will continue to provide the services that it currently provides to the
Acquiring Fund, as described above, under the current arrangements, except that
Scudder Kemper will pay these entities for the provision of their services to
the Acquiring Fund and will pay most other Fund expenses, including insurance,
registration, printing and postage fees. In return, the Acquiring Fund will pay
Scudder Kemper the Administrative Fee.
The proposed Administration Agreement will have an initial term of three
years, subject to earlier termination by the Acquiring Trust's trustees. The fee
payable by the Acquiring Fund to Scudder Kemper pursuant to the Administration
Agreement would be reduced by the amount of any credit received from the
Acquiring Fund's custodian for cash balances.
Certain expenses of the Acquiring Fund would not be borne by Scudder
Kemper under the Administration Agreement, such as taxes, brokerage, interest
and extraordinary expenses; and the fees and expenses of the Independent
Trustees (including the fees and expenses of their independent counsel). In
addition, the Acquiring Fund would continue to pay the fees required by its
investment management agreement with Scudder Kemper.
Comparison of Expenses
The tables and examples below are designed to assist you in understanding
the various costs and expenses that you will bear directly or indirectly as an
investor in the Acquiring Fund, and comparing these with the expenses of the
Acquired Fund. As indicated below, it is expected that the total expense ratio
of the Acquiring Fund following the Reorganization will be substantially lower
than the current expense ratio of the Acquired Fund. Unless otherwise noted, the
information is based on each Fund's expenses and average daily net assets during
the twelve months ended October 31, 1999 and on a pro forma basis as of that
date and for the period then ended, giving effect to the Reorganization.
Information in the tables and examples relating to the Acquiring Fund relates to
the Acquiring Fund as a whole prior to the creation of the Class S Shares. Pro
Forma information in the tables and examples relates to the Class S Shares and
the AARP Shares class of shares of the Acquiring Fund.
-22-
<PAGE>
Shareholder Transaction Expenses
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pro Forma
Acquiring Fund Acquired Fund (Combined)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum sales charge
(load) imposed on
purchases (as a percentage
of offering price) None None None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum deferred sales
charge (load) (as a
percentage of purchase
price or redemption
proceeds) None None None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum deferred sales
charge (load) imposed on
reinvested dividends None None None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redemption fee (as a
percentage of amount
redeemed, if applicable)+ 1.00% 2.00% 1.00%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (Unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pro Forma**
Acquiring Fund Acquired Fund (Combined)
-------------- ------------- ----------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management fees 0.75% 0.90% 0.75%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution and/or service
(12b-1) fees None None None
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other expenses 0.84% 6.97% 0.45%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total annual Fund
operating expenses 1.59% 7.87% 1.20%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expense reimbursement 0.34% 6.37% N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net annual Fund operating
expenses 1.25%* 1.50%# N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ There is a $5 wire service fee for receiving redemption proceeds via wire.
-23-
<PAGE>
*By contract, commencing on December 1, 1998, the total annual Fund operating
expenses of the Acquiring Fund are maintained at no more than 1.25% of
average daily net assets until November 30, 2000. Annual Fund operating
expenses in the table above have been restated to reflect the Acquiring
Fund's net annual Fund operating expenses at 1.25% of average daily net
assets. There is no guarantee that this expense waiver will continue beyond
November 30, 2000.
# By contract, the total annual Fund operating expenses of the Acquired Fund
are maintained at no more than 1.50% of average daily net assets until
February 28, 2001. There is no guarantee that this expense waiver will
continue beyond February 28, 2001.
** Pro Forma expenses reflect the implementation of the Administrative Fee
for the Acquiring Fund to be effective upon the Reorganization.
In evaluating the Proposals, the Indpendent Trustees focused their
consideeration on the Acquiring Fund's and the Acquired Fund's estimated
expense ratios calculated utilizing Fund net assets at December 31, 1999
(rather than average daily net assets for a full year, as used in the table
above), the number of shareholder accounts at that date, and other relevant
factors. This calculation resulted in an estimated expense ratio (without
reflecting any expense reimbursements) of 1.73% for the Acquiring Fund and
6.47% for the Acquired Fund.
Examples (Unaudited)
Based on the costs above (including one year of capped expenses in each
period included in the Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund columns), the following
examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Funds
with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The examples assume that you
invest $10,000 in each Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all
of your shares at the end of those periods. The examples also assume that your
investment has a 5% return each year and that each Fund's operating expenses
remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on
these assumptions, your costs would be as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pro Forma
Year Acquiring Fund Acquired Fund (Combined)**
- ---- -------------- ------------- ------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st $127 $153 $122
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd $469 $1,735 $381
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5th $834 $3,228 $660
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10th $1,861 $6,602 $1,455
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
** Pro Forma expenses reflect the implementation of the Administrative Fee for
the Acquiring Fund to be effective upon the Reorganization.
Financial Highlights
The financial highlights table for the Acquiring Fund prior to the
creation of Class S Shares, which is intended to help you understand the
Acquiring Fund's financial performance since its inception
-24-
<PAGE>
on October 6, 1995 is included in the Acquiring Fund's prospectus dated December
1, 1999, which is included herewith and incorporated herein by reference.
Distribution of Shares
Scudder Investor Services, Inc. ("SIS"), Two International Place, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110, a subsidiary of the Investment Manager, is the principal
underwriter of each Fund. SIS charges no direct fees in connection with the
distribution of shares of the Funds. Following the Reorganization, Acquiring
Fund shareholders will continue to be able to purchase shares of the funds in
the Scudder Family of Funds on a no-load basis.
Purchase, Redemption and Exchange Information
The purchase, redemption and exchange procedures and privileges of the
Acquired Fund are identical to those of the Class S Shares.
Shares of each Fund that have been held for less than one year are subject
to a redemption fee, but this fee is different for each Fund. Shareholders of
the Class S Shares who have held their shares for less than one year and wish to
exchange or redeem their shares will receive 99% of the then current net asset
value per share. Shareholders of the Acquired Fund who wish to exchange or
redeem shares that have been held for less than one year will receive 98% of the
then current net asset value per share.
Dividends and other Distributions
Each of the Funds intends to distribute dividends from its net investment
income and net realized capital gains after utilization of capital loss
carryforwards, if any, in December. An additional distribution may be made if
necessary. Dividends and distributions of each Fund will be invested in
additional shares of the Fund at net asset value and credited to the
shareholder's account on the payment date or, at the shareholder's election,
paid in cash.
If the Plan is approved by the Acquired Fund's shareholders, the Acquired
Fund will pay its shareholders a distribution of all undistributed net
investment income and undistributed realized net capital gains immediately prior
to the Closing.
Tax Consequences
As a condition to the Reorganization, the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired
Fund will have received an opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher in connection
with the Reorganization, to the effect that, based upon certain facts,
assumptions and representations, the Reorganization will constitute a tax-free
reorganization within the meaning of section 368(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). If the Reorganization constitutes a
tax-free reorganization, no gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquired Fund
or its shareholders as a direct result of the Reorganization. See "The Proposed
Transaction - Federal Income Tax Consequences."
II. PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS
Because of their similar investment objectives, policies and strategies,
the principal risks presented by the Acquiring Fund are similar to those
presented by the Acquired Fund. The main risks applicable to each Fund include,
among others, management risk and market risk. Management risk refers to the
fact that securities selected by the Investment Manager on behalf of each Fund
might not
-25-
<PAGE>
perform as well as the securities held by other mutual funds with investment
objectives and policies similar to the Funds. Market risk refers to the impact
of the general performance of stock markets -- in this case, the small company
portion of the U.S. market -- on each Fund's performance. When small company
stock prices fall, the value of an investment in each Fund will fall as well.
Small company stocks tend to be more volatile than stocks of larger companies,
partly because small companies tend to be more vulnerable to competitive
challenges and bad economic news. Stock prices can also be hurt by poor
management or other business risks. To the extent that a Fund focuses on a given
industry, factors affecting that industry could affect the value of portfolio
securities of that Fund. In addition, because the Acquiring Fund generally
invests a larger portion of its assets in "value" stocks than does the Acquired
Fund, the value of an investment in the Acquiring Fund is subject to a higher
degree of the risk that value stocks may be out of favor relative to other types
of securities for certain periods.
Finally, as noted above under "Investment Objectives, Policies and
Restrictions of the Funds," the Acquiring Fund does not explicitly consider the
effect of portfolio adjustments on after-tax total return. As a result, there
may be a greater differential between total return and after-tax total return
for the Acquiring Fund than for the Acquired Fund.
For a further discussion of the investment techniques and risk factors
applicable to the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund, see "Investment
Objectives, Policies and Restrictions of the Funds" herein, and the Prospectuses
and Statements of Additional Information for the Funds, which are incorporated
by reference herein.
III. THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION
Description of the Plan
As stated above, the Plan provides for the transfer of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund in
exchange for that number of full and fractional Class S Shares having an
aggregate net asset value equal to the aggregate net asset value of the Acquired
Fund as of the close of business on the Valuation Date. The Acquiring Fund will
assume all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund. The Acquired Fund will
distribute the Class S Shares received in the exchange to the shareholders of
the Acquired Fund in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund. The Acquired
Fund will be abolished as a series of the Acquired Trust.
Upon completion of the Reorganization, each shareholder of the Acquired
Fund will own that number of full and fractional Class S Shares having an
aggregate net asset value equal to the aggregate net asset value of such
shareholder's shares held in the Acquired Fund immediately as of the close of
business on the Valuation Date. Such shares will be held in an account with the
Acquiring Trust identical in all material respects to the accounts currently
maintained by the Acquired Trust for such shareholder, except as noted above. In
the interest of economy and convenience, Class S Shares issued to the Acquired
Fund's shareholders will be in uncertificated form.
Until the Closing, shareholders of the Acquired Fund will continue to be
able to redeem their shares at the net asset value next determined after receipt
by the Acquired Fund's transfer agent of a redemption request in proper form.
Redemption requests received by the transfer agent after the Closing will be
treated as requests received for the redemption of Class S Shares received by
the shareholder in connection with the Reorganization.
The obligations of each Trust on behalf of each of the Acquired Fund and
the Acquiring Fund under the Plan are subject to various conditions, as stated
therein. Among other things, the Plan requires
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<PAGE>
that all filings be made with, and all authority be received from, the SEC and
state securities commissions as may be necessary in the opinion of counsel to
permit the parties to carry out the transactions contemplated by the Plan. The
Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund are in the process of making the necessary
filings. To provide against unforeseen events, the Plan may be terminated or
amended at any time prior to the Closing by action of the Trustees of either
Trust, notwithstanding the approval of the Plan by the shareholders of the
Acquired Fund. However, no amendment may be made that materially adversely
affects the interests of the shareholders of the Acquired Fund without obtaining
the approval of the Acquired Fund's shareholders. The Acquired Fund and the
Acquiring Fund may at any time waive compliance with certain of the covenants
and conditions contained in the Plan. For a complete description of the terms
and conditions of the Reorganization, see the Plan at Exhibit A.
Each Fund will pay its own allocable share of expenses associated with the
Reorganization, except that Scudder Kemper will bear any such expenses in excess
of $111,559 for the Acquiring Fund and $828 for the Acquired Fund (approximately
$0.0086 and $0.0051 per share, respectively, based on December 31, 1999 net
assets for each Fund).
Board Approval of the Proposed Transaction
Scudder Kemper first proposed the Reorganization to the Independent
Trustees of the Acquired Fund at a meeting held on October 5, 1999. The
Reorganization was presented to the Trustees and considered by them as part of a
broader initiative by Scudder Kemper to restructure many of the mutual funds
advised by it that are currently offered to retail investors, see "Synopsis -
Background of the Reorganization" above. This initiative includes four major
components:
(i) The combination of funds with similar investment objectives and
policies, including in particular the combination of the AARP Funds
with similar Scudder Funds currently offered to the general public;
(ii) The liquidation of certain small funds which have not achieved
market acceptance and which are unlikely to reach an efficient
operating size;
(iii) The implementation of an administration agreement for each fund,
covering, for a single fee rate, substantially all services required
for the operation of the fund (other than those provided under the
fund's investment management agreement) and most expenses; and
(iv) The consolidation of the separate boards currently responsible for
overseeing several groups of no-load funds managed by Scudder Kemper
into a single board.
The Independent Trustees of the Acquired Fund reviewed the potential
implications of these proposals for the Acquired Fund as well as the various
other funds for which they serve as trustees or directors. They were assisted in
this review by their independent legal counsel and by independent consultants
with special expertise in financial and mutual fund industry matters. Following
the October 5 meeting, the Independent Trustees met in person or by telephone on
seven occasions (including committee meetings) to review and discuss these
proposals, both among themselves and with representatives of Scudder Kemper. On
a number of occasions, these meetings included representatives of the
independent trustees or directors of other funds affected by these proposals. In
the course of their review, the Independent Trustees requested and received
substantial additional information and suggested numerous changes to Scudder
Kemper's proposals, many of which were accepted.
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<PAGE>
Following the conclusion of this process, the Independent Trustees of the
Acquired Fund, the independent trustees/directors of other funds involved and
Scudder Kemper reached general agreement on the elements of a restructuring plan
as it affects shareholders of various funds and, where required, agreed to
submit elements of the plan for approval to shareholders of those funds.
On February 7, 2000, the Board of the Acquired Fund, including the
Independent Trustees of the Acquired Fund, approved the terms of the
Reorganization and certain related proposals. At the February 7, 2000 meeting,
the Independent Trustees also agreed to recommend that the Reorganization be
approved by the Acquired Fund's shareholders.
In determining to recommend that the shareholders of the Acquired Fund
approve the Reorganization, the Board considered, among other factors: (a)
the fees and expense ratios of the Funds, including comparisons between the
expenses of the Acquired Fund and the estimated operating expenses of the
Acquiring Fund, and between the estimated operating expenses of the Acquiring
Fund and other mutual funds with similar investment objectives; (b) the terms
and conditions of the Reorganization and whether the Reorganization would
result in the dilution of shareholder interests; (c) the compatibility of the
Acquired Fund's and the Acquiring Fund's investment objectives, policies,
restrictions and portfolios; (d) the agreement by Scudder Kemper to provide
services to the Acquiring Fund for a fixed fee rate under the Administration
Agreement with an initial three year term; (e) the service features available
to shareholders of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund; (f) the costs to
be borne by the Acquired Fund, the Acquiring Fund and Scudder Kemper as a
result of the Reorganization; (g) prospects for the Acquiring Fund to attract
additional assets; (h) the tax consequences of the Reorganization on the
Acquired Fund, the Acquiring Fund and their respective shareholders; and (i)
the investment performance of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund.
The Trustees also gave extensive consideration to possible economies of
scale that might be realized by Scudder Kemper in connection with the
Reorganization, as well as the other fund combinations included in Scudder
Kemper's restructuring proposal. The Trustees concluded that these economies
were appropriately reflected in the fee and expense arrangements of the
Acquiring Fund, as proposed to be revised upon completion of the Reorganization.
In particular, the Trustees considered the benefits to shareholders resulting
from locking in the rate of the Acquiring Fund's Administrative Fee for an
initial three-year period. Because the Acquiring Fund will pay only its stated
Administrative Fee rate for such services and expenses regardless of changes in
actual costs, the Acquiring Fund's shareholders will be protected from increases
in the Acquiring Fund's expense ratio attributable to increases in such actual
costs. The Board also considered the protection this would afford shareholders
if the Acquiring Fund's net assets declined as a result of market fluctuations
or net redemptions.
The Trustees also considered the impact of the Reorganization on the total
expenses to be borne by shareholders of the Acquired Fund. As noted above under
"Comparison of Expenses," the pro forma expense ratio (reflecting the
Administrative Fee) for the combined Fund following the Reorganization is
substantially lower than the current expense ratio for the Acquired Fund. The
Board also considered that the Reorganization would permit the shareholders of
the Acquired Fund to pursue substantially similar investment goals in a larger
fund.
Finally, the Trustees concluded that the shareholders of the Acquired Fund
would be better served by having their interests represented by a single board
of trustees with responsibility for overseeing substantially all of the funds to
be marketed as a "family of funds" through Scudder's no-load distribution
channels. Accordingly, the Trustees agreed to recommend the election of a new
consolidated board comprised of representatives of each of the various boards
currently serving as Trustees of these funds.
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<PAGE>
Based on all of the foregoing, the Board concluded that the Acquired
Fund's participation in the Reorganization would be in the best interests of the
Acquired Fund and would not dilute the interests of the Acquired Fund's
shareholders. The Board of Trustees, including the Independent Trustees,
recommends that shareholders of the Acquired Fund approve the Reorganization.
Description of the Securities to be Issued
The Acquiring Fund is a series of the Acquiring Trust, a Massachusetts
business trust established under a Declaration of Trust dated October 16, 1985,
as amended. The Acquiring Trust's authorized capital consists of an unlimited
number of shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share. The Trustees
of the Acquiring Trust are authorized to divide the Acquiring Trust's shares
into separate series. The Acquiring Fund is one of seven series of the Acquiring
Trust that the Board has created to date. The Trustees of the Acquiring Trust
are also authorized to further divide the shares of the series of the Acquiring
Trust into classes. The Trustees of the Acquiring Trust have authorized the
division of the Acquiring Fund into two classes, Class S Shares and AARP Shares.
It is anticipated that this division will occur prior to the Closing and that
shares of the Acquiring Fund existing at that time will be redesignated as Class
S Shares of the Acquiring Fund. If Class S Shares are not created prior to the
Closing, then the Reorganization will not be consummated. Although shareholders
of different classes of a series have an interest in the same portfolio of
assets, shareholders of different classes may bear different expenses in
connection with different methods of distribution.
Each share of each class of the Acquiring Fund represents an interest in
the Acquiring Fund that is equal to and proportionate with each other share of
that class of the Acquiring Fund. Acquiring Fund shareholders are entitled to
one vote per share (and a proportionate fractional vote per each fractional
share) held on matters on which they are entitled to vote. The Acquiring Trust
is not required to hold shareholder meetings annually, although shareholder
meetings may be called for purposes such as electing or removing Trustees,
changing fundamental policies or approving an investment management contract. In
the event that shareholders of the Acquiring Trust wish to communicate with
other shareholders concerning the removal of any Trustee, such shareholders
shall be assisted in communicating with other shareholders for the purpose of
obtaining signatures to request a meeting of shareholders, all in the manner
provided in Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act as if Section 16(c) were applicable.
In the areas of shareholder voting and the powers and conduct of the
Trustees, there are no material differences between the rights of shareholders
of the Acquired Fund and the rights of shareholders of the Acquiring Fund.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The Reorganization is conditioned upon the receipt by the Acquired Trust,
on behalf of the Acquired Fund, and the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the
Acquiring Fund, of an opinion from Willkie Farr & Gallagher, substantially to
the effect that, based upon certain facts, assumptions and representations of
the parties, for federal income tax purposes: (i) the transfer to the Acquiring
Fund of all or substantially all of the assets of the Acquired Fund in exchange
solely for Class S Shares shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all
of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund, followed by the distribution of such
shares to the Acquired Fund's shareholders in exchange for their shares of the
Acquired Fund in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund, will constitute a
"reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1) of the Code, and the
Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund will each be "a party to a reorganization"
within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code; (ii) no gain or loss will be
recognized by the Acquired Fund upon the transfer of all or substantially all of
its assets to the Acquiring
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<PAGE>
Fund in exchange solely for Class S Shares and the assumption by the Acquiring
Fund of all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund or upon the distribution of
the Class S Shares to the Acquired Fund shareholders in exchange for their
shares of the Acquired Fund; (iii) the basis of the assets of the Acquired Fund
in the hands of the Acquiring Fund will be the same as the basis of such assets
of the Acquired Fund immediately prior to the transfer; (iv) the holding period
of the assets of the Acquired Fund in the hands of the Acquiring Fund will
include the period during which such assets were held by the Acquired Fund; (v)
no gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund upon the receipt of the
assets of the Acquired Fund in exchange for Class S Shares and the assumption by
the Acquiring Fund of all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund; (vi) no gain
or loss will be recognized by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund upon the
receipt of the Class S Shares solely in exchange for their shares of the
Acquired Fund as part of the transaction; (vii) the basis of the Class S Shares
received by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund will be the same as the basis
of the shares of the Acquired Fund exchanged therefor; and (viii) the holding
period of Class S Shares received by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund will
include the holding period during which the shares of the Acquired Fund
exchanged therefor were held, provided that at the time of the exchange the
shares of the Acquired Fund were held as capital assets in the hands of the
shareholders of the Acquired Fund.
While the Acquired Trust is not aware of any adverse state or local tax
consequences of the proposed Reorganization, it has not requested any ruling or
opinion with respect to such consequences and shareholders may wish to consult
their own tax adviser with respect to such matters.
Capitalization
The following table shows on an unaudited basis the capitalization of each
Fund as of October 31, 1999 (i.e., prior to the creation of Class S Shares), and
on a pro forma basis as of that date giving effect to the Reorganization:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pro Forma Pro Forma
Acquiring Fund Acquired Fund Adjustments Combined(1)
-------------- ------------- ----------- -----------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Assets $243,113,007 $2,292,446 ($112,387)(3) $245,293,066(2)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value Per Share $17.05 $12.58 -- $17.05
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares Outstanding 14,254,746 182,216 (47,810) 14,389,152
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Assumes the Reorganization had been consummated on October 31, 1999, and is
for information purposes only. No assurance can be given as to how many shares
of the Acquiring Fund will be received by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund
on the date the Reorganization takes place, and the foregoing should not be
relied upon to reflect the number of shares of the Acquiring Fund that actually
will be received on or after such date.
(2) Pro forma combined net assets do not reflect expense reductions that would
result from the implementation of the Administrative Fee for the Acquiring Fund.
(3) Represents one-time proxy, legal, accounting and other costs of the
Reorganization of $111,559 and $828 to be borne by the Acquiring Fund and the
Acquired Fund, respectively.
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<PAGE>
The Board of Trustees of Investment Trust recommends that the shareholders of
the Scudder Tax Managed Small Company Fund vote in favor of this Proposal 2.
PROPOSAL 3: RATIFICATION OR REJECTION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT
ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of the Acquired Trust, including a majority of the Independent
Trustees, has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to act as independent
accountants of the Acquired Fund for the Acquired Fund's current fiscal year.
One or more representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are expected to be
present at the Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they
so desire. Such representatives are expected to be available to respond to
appropriate questions posed by shareholders or management.
The Board of Trustees of Investment Trust recommends that the shareholders of
the Scudder Tax Managed Small Company Fund vote in favor of this Proposal 3.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Information about the Funds
Additional information about the Trusts, the Funds and the Reorganization
has been filed with the SEC and may be obtained without charge by writing to
Scudder Investor Services, Inc., Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110-4103,
or by calling 1-800-225-2470.
The Trusts are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the 1940 Act, and in accordance therewith, file
reports, proxy material and other information about each of the Funds with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Such reports, proxy material and other
information filed by the Acquiring Trust, and those filed by the Acquired Trust,
can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Room maintained by the
Securities and Exchange Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549 and at the following SEC Regional Offices: Northeast Regional Office, 7
World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, NY 10048; Southeast Regional Office,
1401 Brickell Avenue, Suite 200, Miami, FL 33131; Midwest Regional Office,
Citicorp Center, 500 W. Madison Street, Chicago, IL, 60661-2511; Central
Regional Office, 1801 California Street, Suite 4800, Denver, CO 80202-2648; and
Pacific Regional Office, 5670 Wilshire Boulevard, 11th Floor, Los Angeles, CA
90036-3648. Copies of such material can also be obtained from the Public
Reference Branch, Office of Consumer Affairs and Information Services,
Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549 at prescribed rates. The SEC maintains an Internet World Wide Web site (at
http://www.sec.gov) which contains the Statements of Additional Information for
the Acquiring Trust and the Acquired Trust, materials that are incorporated by
reference into the prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information, and
other information about the Acquiring Trust, the Acquired Trust and the Funds.
Interests of Certain Persons
The Investment Manager has a financial interest in the Reorganization,
arising from the fact that its fee under its investment management agreement
with the Acquiring Fund will increase as the amount of the Acquiring Fund's
assets increases. The amount of those assets will increase by virtue of the
Reorganization. See "Synopsis - Fees and Expenses."
-31-
<PAGE>
General
Proxy Solicitation. Proxy solicitation costs will be considered
Reorganization expenses and will be allocated accordingly. In addition to
solicitation by mail, certain officers and representatives of the Acquired
Trust, officers and employees of Scudder Kemper and certain financial
services firms and their representatives, who will receive no extra
compensation for their services, may solicit proxies by telephone, telegram
or personally.
This Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the Notice of Special Meeting and the
proxy card(s) are first being mailed to shareholders on or about April 18, 2000
or as soon as practicable thereafter. Any Acquired Fund shareholder giving a
proxy has the power to revoke it by mail (addressed to the Secretary at the
principal executive office of the Acquired Fund, c/o Scudder Kemper Investments,
Inc., at the address for the Acquired Fund shown at the beginning of this Proxy
Statement/Prospectus) or in person at the Meeting, by executing a superseding
proxy or by submitting a notice of revocation to the Acquired Fund. All properly
executed proxies received in time for the Meeting will be voted as specified in
the proxy or, if no specification is made, in favor of each Proposal.
The presence at any shareholders' meeting, in person or by proxy, of the
holders of one-third of the shares of the Acquired Trust (for a trust-wide vote)
or the Acquired Fund (for a fund-wide vote) entitled to be cast shall be
necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
In the event that the necessary quorum to transact business or the vote required
to approve any Proposal is not obtained at the Meeting, the persons named as
proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting in accordance with
applicable law to permit further solicitation of proxies with respect to that
Proposal. Any such adjournment as to a matter will require the affirmative vote
of the holders of a majority of the Acquired Trust's (for a trust-wide vote) or
the Acquired Fund's (for a fund-wide vote) shares present in person or by proxy
at the Meeting. The persons named as proxies will vote in favor of any such
adjournment those proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of that
Proposal and will vote against any such adjournment those proxies to be voted
against that Proposal. For purposes of determining the presence of a quorum for
transacting business at the Meeting, abstentions and broker "non-votes" will be
treated as shares that are present but which have not been voted. Broker
non-votes are proxies received by the Acquired Fund from brokers or nominees
when the broker or nominee has neither received instructions from the beneficial
owner or other persons entitled to vote nor has discretionary power to vote on a
particular matter. Accordingly, shareholders are urged to forward their voting
instructions promptly.
Approval of Proposal 1 requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the
shares of the Acquired Trust voting at the Meeting. Approval of Proposal 2
requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Acquired
Fund's shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon. Approval of Proposal 3
requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the Acquired Fund
voting at the Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted in
favor of, but will have no other effect on, Proposal 1 and will have the effect
of a "no" vote on Proposals 2 and 3.
Holders of record of the shares of the Acquired Fund at the close of
business on April 17, 2000 (the "Record Date") will be entitled to one vote per
share on all business of the Meeting. As of [date], there were ____________
shares of the Acquired Fund outstanding.
As of [date], the officers and Trustees of the Acquiring Trust as a group
owned beneficially [less than 1%][___%] of the outstanding shares of the
Acquiring Fund. [Appendix 2 hereto sets forth the beneficial owners of at least
5% of each Fund's shares.] To the best of each Trust's knowledge, as of
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_______________, no person owned beneficially more than 5% of either Fund's
outstanding shares[, except as stated on Appendix 2.]
Shareholder Communications Corporation ("SCC") has been engaged to assist
in the solicitation of proxies, at an estimated cost of $31,212. As the Meeting
date approaches, certain shareholders of the Acquired Fund may receive a
telephone call from a representative of SCC if their votes have not yet been
received. Authorization to permit SCC to execute proxies may be obtained by
telephonic or electronically transmitted instructions from shareholders of the
Acquired Fund. Proxies that are obtained telephonically will be recorded in
accordance with the procedures set forth below. The Trustees believe that these
procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that both the identity of the
shareholder casting the vote and the voting instructions of the shareholder are
accurately determined.
In all cases where a telephonic proxy is solicited, the SCC representative
is required to ask for each shareholder's full name, address, social security or
employer identification number, title (if the shareholder is authorized to act
on behalf of an entity, such as a corporation), and the number of shares owned,
and to confirm that the shareholder has received the proxy materials in the
mail. If the information solicited agrees with the information provided to SCC,
then the SCC representative has the responsibility to explain the process, read
the Proposals on the proxy card, and ask for the shareholder's instructions on
the Proposals. Although the SCC representative is permitted to answer questions
about the process, he or she is not permitted to recommend to the shareholder
how to vote, other than to read any recommendation set forth in the proxy
statement. SCC will record the shareholder's instructions on the card. Within 72
hours, the shareholder will be sent a letter or mailgram to confirm his or her
vote and asking the shareholder to call SCC immediately if his or her
instructions are not correctly reflected in the confirmation.
If a shareholder wishes to participate in the Meeting, but does not wish
to give a proxy by telephone or electronically, the shareholder may still submit
the proxy card originally sent with the proxy statement or attend in person.
Should shareholders require additional information regarding the proxy or
replacement proxy cards, they may contact SCC toll-free at 1-800-603-1915. Any
proxy given by a shareholder is revocable until voted at the Meeting.
Shareholders may also provide their voting instructions through telephone
touch-tone voting or Internet voting. These options require shareholders to
input a control number which is located on each voting instruction card. After
inputting this number, shareholders will be prompted to provide their voting
instructions on the Proposals. Shareholders will have an opportunity to review
their voting instructions and make any necessary changes before submitting their
voting instructions and terminating their telephone call or Internet link.
Shareholders who vote on the Internet, in addition to confirming their voting
instructions prior to submission, will also receive an e-mail confirming their
instructions.
Shareholder Proposals for Subsequent Meetings. Shareholders wishing to
submit proposals for inclusion in a proxy statement for a shareholder meeting
subsequent to the Meeting, if any, should send their written proposals to the
Secretary of the Trust, c/o Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., Two International
Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, within a reasonable time before the
solicitation of proxies for such meeting. The timely submission of a proposal
does not guarantee its inclusion.
Other Matters to Come Before the Meeting. No Trustee is aware of any
matters that will be presented for action at the Meeting other than the matters
set forth herein. Should any other matters requiring a vote of shareholders
arise, the proxy in the accompanying form will confer upon the person or persons
entitled to vote the shares represented by such proxy the discretionary
authority to vote the shares
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<PAGE>
as to any such other matters in accordance with their best judgment in the
interest of the Trust and/or the Acquired Fund.
PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD(S) (OR TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF AVAILABLE ELECTRONIC OR TELEPHONIC VOTING PROCEDURES) PROMPTLY. NO POSTAGE IS
REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
By Order of the Board,
[signature]
John Millette
Secretary
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<PAGE>
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
Exhibit A: Agreement and Plan of Reorganization.
Exhibit B: Managment's Discussion of the Acquiring Fund's Performance for
its Most Recent Fiscal Year.
-35-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (the "Agreement") is made as of
this ____ day of ________, 2000, by and between Scudder Securities Trust (the
"Acquiring Trust"), a Massachusetts business trust, on behalf of Scudder Small
Company Value Fund (the "Acquiring Fund"), a separate series of the Acquiring
Trust, and Investment Trust (the "Acquired Trust" and, together with the
Acquiring Trust, each a "Trust" and collectively the "Trusts"), a Massachusetts
business trust, on behalf of Scudder Tax Managed Small Company Fund (the
"Acquired Fund" and, together with the Acquiring Fund, each a "Fund" and
collectively the "Funds"), a separate series of the Acquired Trust. The
principal place of business of each Trust is Two International Place, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110-4103
This Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a plan of
reorganization and liquidation within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The reorganization (the
"Reorganization") will consist of the transfer of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund in exchange solely for
voting shares of beneficial interest of the Class S Shares ($.01par value per
share) of the Acquiring Fund (the "Acquiring Fund Shares"), the assumption by
the Acquiring Fund of all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund and the
distribution of the Acquiring Fund Shares to the shareholders of the Acquired
Fund in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund as provided herein, all upon
the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants and
agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto covenant and agree as
follows:
1. TRANSFER OF ASSETS OF THE ACQUIRED FUND TO THE ACQUIRING FUND IN EXCHANGE
FOR ACQUIRING FUND SHARES, THE ASSUMPTION OF ALL ACQUIRED FUND LIABILITIES
AND THE LIQUIDATION OF THE ACQUIRED FUND
1.1. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth and on the basis
of the representations and warranties contained herein, the Acquired Fund agrees
to transfer to the Acquiring Fund all or substantially all of the Acquired
Fund's assets as set forth in section 1.2, and the Acquiring Fund agrees in
exchange therefor (i) to deliver to the Acquired Fund that number of full and
fractional Acquiring Fund Shares determined by dividing the value of the
Acquired Fund's net assets, computed in the manner and as of the time and date
set forth in section 2.1, by the net asset value of one Acquiring Fund Share,
computed in the manner and as of the time and date set forth in section 2.2; and
(ii) to assume all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund. Such transactions
shall take place at the closing provided for in section 3.1 (the "Closing").
1.2. The assets of the Acquired Fund to be acquired by the Acquiring Fund
(the "Assets") shall consist of all assets, including, without limitation, all
cash, cash equivalents, securities, commodities and futures interests and
dividends or interest or other receivables that are owned by the Acquired Fund
and any deferred or prepaid expenses shown on the unaudited statement of assets
and liabilities of the Acquired Fund prepared as of the effective time of the
closing in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP")
applied consistently with those of the Acquired Fund's most recent audited
balance sheet. The Assets shall constitute at least 90% of the fair market value
of the net assets,
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and at least 70% of the fair market value of the gross assets, held by Acquired
Fund immediately before the Closing (excluding for these purposes assets used to
pay the dividends and other distributions paid pursuant to section 1.4).
1.3. The Acquired Fund will endeavor to discharge all of its known
liabilities and obligations prior to the Closing Date as defined in section 3.1.
1.4. On or as soon as practicable prior to the Closing Date as defined in
section 3.1, the Acquired Fund will declare and pay to its shareholders of
record one or more dividends and/or other distributions so that it will have
distributed substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed
without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and realized net capital
gain, if any, for the current taxable year through the Closing Date.
1.5. Immediately after the transfer of Assets provided for in section 1.1,
the Acquired Fund will distribute to the Acquired Fund's shareholders of record
(the "Acquired Fund Shareholders"), determined as of the Valuation Time (as
defined in section 2.1), on a pro rata basis, the Acquiring Fund Shares received
by the Acquired Fund pursuant to section 1.1 and will completely liquidate. Such
distribution and liquidation will be accomplished by the transfer of the
Acquiring Fund Shares then credited to the account of the Acquired Fund on the
books of the Acquiring Fund to open accounts on the share records of the
Acquiring Fund in the names of the Acquired Fund Shareholders. The aggregate net
asset value of Acquiring Fund Shares to be so credited to Acquired Fund
Shareholders shall be equal to the aggregate net asset value of the Acquired
Fund shares owned by such shareholders as of the Valuation Time. All issued and
outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund will simultaneously be cancelled on the
books of the Acquired Fund, although share certificates representing interests
in shares of the Acquired Fund will represent a number of Acquiring Fund Shares
after the Closing Date as determined in accordance with section 2.3. The
Acquiring Fund will not issue certificates representing Acquiring Fund Shares in
connection with such exchange.
1.6. Ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares will be shown on the books of the
Acquiring Fund. Shares of the Acquiring Fund will be issued in the manner
described in the Acquiring Fund's then-current prospectus and statement of
additional information.
1.7. Any reporting responsibility of the Acquired Fund including, without
limitation, the responsibility for filing of regulatory reports, tax returns, or
other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"),
any state securities commission, and any federal, state or local tax authorities
or any other relevant regulatory authority, is and shall remain the
responsibility of the Acquired Fund.
1.8. All books and records of the Acquired Fund, including all books and
records required to be maintained under the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, shall be available to the Acquiring Fund from and after
the Closing Date and shall be turned over to the Acquiring Fund as soon as
practicable following the Closing Date.
2. VALUATION
2.1. The value of the Assets shall be computed as of the close of regular
trading on The New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") on the business day
immediately preceding the Closing Date, as defined in Section 3.1 (such time and
date being hereinafter called the "Valuation Time") after the declaration and
payment of any dividends and/or other distributions on that date, using the
valuation
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procedures set forth in the Acquiring Fund's Declaration of Trust, as amended,
and then-current prospectus or statement of additional information.
2.2. The net asset value of an Acquiring Fund share shall be the net asset
value per share computed as of the Valuation Time using the valuation procedures
referred to in section 2.1.
2.3. The number of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued (including
fractional shares, if any) in exchange for the Assets shall be determined by
dividing the value of the Assets with respect to shares of the Acquired Fund
determined in accordance with section 2.1 by the net asset value of an Acquiring
Fund Share determined in accordance with section 2.2.
2.4. All computations of value hereunder shall be made by or under the
direction of each Fund's respective accounting agent, if applicable, in
accordance with its regular practice and the requirements of the 1940 Act and
shall be subject to confirmation by each Fund's respective independent
accountants upon the reasonable request of the other Fund.
3. CLOSING AND CLOSING DATE
3.1. The Closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall
be August 28, 2000, or such later date as the parties may agree in writing (the
"Closing Date"). All acts taking place at the Closing shall be deemed to take
place simultaneously as of 9:00 a.m.., Eastern time, on the Closing Date, unless
otherwise agreed to by the parties. The Closing shall be held at the offices of
Dechert Price & Rhoads, Ten Post Office Square - South, Boston, MA 02109, or at
such other place and time as the parties may agree.
3.2. The Acquired Fund shall deliver to Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date
a schedule of Assets.
3.3. State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street"), custodian for
the Acquired Fund, shall deliver at the Closing a certificate of an authorized
officer stating that (a) the Assets shall have been delivered in proper form to
State Street, custodian for the Acquiring Fund, prior to or on the Closing Date
and (b) all necessary taxes in connection with the delivery of the Assets,
including all applicable federal and state stock transfer stamps, if any, have
been paid or provision for payment has been made. The Acquired Fund's portfolio
securities represented by a certificate or other written instrument shall be
presented by the custodian for the Acquired Fund to the custodian for the
Acquiring Fund for examination no later than five business days preceding the
Closing Date and transferred and delivered by the Acquired Fund as of the
Closing Date by the Acquired Fund for the account of Acquiring Fund duly
endorsed in proper form for transfer in such condition as to constitute good
delivery thereof. The Acquired Fund's portfolio securities and instruments
deposited with a securities depository, as defined in Rule 17f-4 under the 1940
Act, shall be delivered as of the Closing Date by book entry in accordance with
the customary practices of such depositories and the custodian for the Acquiring
Fund. The cash to be transferred by the Acquired Fund shall be delivered by wire
transfer of federal funds on the Closing Date.
3.4. Scudder Service Corp. (the "Transfer Agent"), on behalf of the
Acquired Fund, shall deliver at the Closing a certificate of an authorized
officer stating that its records contain the names and addresses of the Acquired
Fund Shareholders and the number and percentage ownership (to three decimal
places) of outstanding Acquired Fund shares owned by each such shareholder
immediately prior to the Closing. The Acquiring Fund shall issue and deliver a
confirmation evidencing the Acquiring Fund Shares to be credited on the Closing
Date to the Acquired Fund or provide evidence satisfactory to the Acquired Fund
that such Acquiring Fund Shares have been credited to the Acquired Fund's
account on
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the books of the Acquiring Fund. At the Closing, each party shall deliver to the
other such bills of sale, checks, assignments, share certificates, if any,
receipts or other documents as such other party or its counsel may reasonably
request to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
3.5. In the event that immediately prior to the Valuation Time (a) the
NYSE or another primary trading market for portfolio securities of the Acquiring
Fund or the Acquired Fund shall be closed to trading or trading thereupon shall
be restricted, or (b) trading or the reporting of trading on such Exchange or
elsewhere shall be disrupted so that, in the judgment of the Board members of
either party to this Agreement, accurate appraisal of the value of the net
assets with respect to the Acquiring Fund Shares or the Acquired Fund shares is
impracticable, the Closing Date shall be postponed until the first business day
after the day when trading shall have been fully resumed and reporting shall
have been restored.
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
4.1. The Acquired Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, represents and
warrants to the Acquiring Fund as follows:
(a) The Acquired Trust is a business trust duly organized and validly
existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with power under
the Acquired Trust's Declaration of Trust, as amended, to own all of its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted;
(b) The Acquired Trust is registered with the Commission as an open-end
management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"), and such registration is in full force and effect;
(c) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court or
governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Acquired Fund of
the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") and the 1940 Act and such as may be
required by state securities laws;
(d) Other than with respect to contracts entered into in connection with
the portfolio management of the Acquired Fund which shall terminate on or prior
to the Closing Date, the Acquired Trust is not, and the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by the Acquired Trust will not result, in
violation of Massachusetts law or of the Acquired Trust's Declaration of Trust,
as amended, or By-Laws, or of any material agreement, indenture, instrument,
contract, lease or other undertaking known to counsel to which the Acquired Fund
is a party or by which it is bound, and the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by the Acquired Fund will not result in the acceleration of
any obligation, or the imposition of any penalty, under any agreement,
indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree to which the Acquired
Fund is a party or by which it is bound;
(e) No material litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation
of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or to its
knowledge threatened against the Acquired Fund or any properties or assets held
by it. The Acquired Fund knows of no facts which might form the basis for the
institution of such proceedings which would materially and adversely affect its
business and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree
or judgment of any court or governmental body which materially and adversely
affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions herein
contemplated;
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(f) The Statements of Assets and Liabilities, Operations, and Changes in
Net Assets, the Financial Highlights, and the Investment Portfolio of the
Acquired Fund at and for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1999, have been
audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, and are in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and such statements (a copy of each
of which has been furnished to the Acquiring Fund) present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of the Acquired Fund as of such date
in accordance with GAAP, and there are no known contingent liabilities of the
Acquired Fund required to be reflected on a balance sheet (including the notes
thereto) in accordance with GAAP as of such date not disclosed therein;
(g) Since October 31, 1999, there has not been any material adverse change
in the Acquired Fund's financial condition, assets, liabilities or business
other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business, or any
incurrence by the Acquired Fund of indebtedness maturing more than one year from
the date such indebtedness was incurred except as otherwise disclosed to and
accepted in writing by the Acquiring Fund. For purposes of this subsection (g),
a decline in net asset value per share of the Acquired Fund due to declines in
market values of securities in the Acquired Fund's portfolio, the discharge of
Acquired Fund liabilities, or the redemption of Acquired Fund shares by Acquired
Fund Shareholders shall not constitute a material adverse change;
(h) At the date hereof and at the Closing Date, all federal and other tax
returns and reports of the Acquired Fund required by law to have been filed by
such dates (including any extensions) shall have been filed and are or will be
correct in all material respects, and all federal and other taxes shown as due
or required to be shown as due on said returns and reports shall have been paid
or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof, and, to the best of
the Acquired Fund's knowledge, no such return is currently under audit and no
assessment has been asserted with respect to such returns;
(i) For each taxable year of its operation (including the taxable year
ending on the Closing Date), the Acquired Fund has met the requirements of
Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company and
has elected to be treated as such, has been eligible to and has computed its
federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code, and will have distributed all
of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain (as defined in the
Code) that has accrued through the Closing Date;
(j) All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund (i) have been
offered and sold in every state and the District of Columbia in compliance in
all material respects with applicable registration requirements of the 1933 Act
and state securities laws, (ii) are, and on the Closing Date will be, duly and
validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable (recognizing that,
under Massachusetts law, Acquired Fund Shareholders, under certain
circumstances, could be held personally liable for obligations of the Acquired
Fund), and (iii) will be held at the time of the Closing by the persons and in
the amounts set forth in the records of the Transfer Agent, as provided in
section 3.4. The Acquired Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants
or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of the Acquired Fund shares,
nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any of the Acquired Fund
shares;
(k) At the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund will have good and marketable
title to the Acquired Fund's assets to be transferred to the Acquiring Fund
pursuant to section 1.2 and full right, power, and authority to sell, assign,
transfer and deliver such assets hereunder free of any liens or other
encumbrances, except those liens or encumbrances as to which the Acquiring Fund
has received notice at or prior to the Closing, and upon delivery and payment
for such assets, the Acquiring Fund will acquire good and marketable title
thereto, subject to no restrictions on the full transfer thereof, including such
restrictions as might arise under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, except those
restrictions as to which the Acquiring Fund has received notice and necessary
documentation at or prior to the Closing;
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(l) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will have
been duly authorized prior to the Closing Date by all necessary action on the
part of the Board members of the Acquired Trust, and, subject to the approval of
the Acquired Fund Shareholders, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Acquired Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles;
(m) The information to be furnished by the Acquired Fund for use in
applications for orders, registration statements or proxy materials or for use
in any other document filed or to be filed with any federal, state or local
regulatory authority (including the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. (the "NASD")), which may be necessary in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and
shall comply in all material respects with federal securities and other laws and
regulations applicable thereto;
(n) The current prospectus and statement of additional information of the
Acquired Fund conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of
the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not materially misleading; and
(o) The proxy statement of the Acquired Fund to be included in the
Registration Statement referred to in section 5.7 (the "Proxy Statement"),
insofar as it relates to the Acquired Fund, will, on the effective date of the
Registration Statement and on the Closing Date, not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements are made, not materially misleading;
provided, however, that the representations and warranties in this section shall
not apply to statements in or omissions from the Proxy Statement and the
Registration Statement made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
that was furnished or should have been furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use
therein.
4.2. The Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, represents and
warrants to the Acquired Fund as follows:
(a) The Acquiring Trust is a business trust duly organized and validly
existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with power under
the Acquiring Trust's Declaration of Trust, as amended, to own all of its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted;
(b) The Acquiring Trust is registered with the Commission as an open-end
management investment company under the 1940 Act, and such registration is in
full force and effect;
(c) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court or
governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Acquiring Fund of
the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and such as may be required by state
securities laws;
(d) The Acquiring Trust is not, and the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by the Acquiring Trust will not result, in
violation of Massachusetts law or of the Acquiring Trust's Declaration of Trust,
as amended, or By-Laws, or of any material agreement, indenture,
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instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking known to counsel to which the
Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound, and the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement by the Acquiring Fund will not result in the
acceleration of any obligation, or the imposition of any penalty, under any
agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree to which
the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound;
(e) No material litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation
of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or to its
knowledge threatened against the Acquiring Fund or any properties or assets held
by it. The Acquiring Fund knows of no facts which might form the basis for the
institution of such proceedings which would materially and adversely affect its
business and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree
or judgment of any court or governmental body which materially and adversely
affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions herein
contemplated;
(f) The Statements of Assets and Liabilities, Operations, and Changes in
Net Assets, the Financial Highlights, and the Investment Portfolio of the
Acquiring Fund at and for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1999, have been audited
by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, and are in accordance
with GAAP consistently applied, and such statements (a copy of each of which has
been furnished to the Acquired Fund) present fairly, in all material respects,
the financial position of the Acquiring Fund as of such date in accordance with
GAAP, and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquiring Fund
required to be reflected on a balance sheet (including the notes thereto) in
accordance with GAAP as of such date not disclosed therein;
(g) Since July 31, 1999, there has not been any material adverse change in
the Acquiring Fund's financial condition, assets, liabilities or business other
than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business, or any incurrence by
the Acquiring Fund of indebtedness maturing more than one year from the date
such indebtedness was incurred except as otherwise disclosed to and accepted in
writing by the Acquired Fund. For purposes of this subsection (g), a decline in
net asset value per share of the Acquiring Fund due to declines in market values
of securities in the Acquiring Fund's portfolio, the discharge of Acquiring Fund
liabilities, or the redemption of Acquiring Fund shares by Acquiring Fund
shareholders shall not constitute a material adverse change;
(h) At the date hereof and at the Closing Date, all federal and other tax
returns and reports of the Acquiring Fund required by law to have been filed by
such dates (including any extensions) shall have been filed and are or will be
correct in all material respects, and all federal and other taxes shown as due
or required to be shown as due on said returns and reports shall have been paid
or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof, and, to the best of
the Acquiring Fund's knowledge, no such return is currently under audit and no
assessment has been asserted with respect to such returns;
(i) For each taxable year of its operation, the Acquiring Fund has met the
requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated
investment company and has elected to be treated as such, has been eligible to
and has computed its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code, and will
do so for the taxable year including the Closing Date;
(j) All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquiring Fund (i) have been
offered and sold in every state and the District of Columbia in compliance in
all material respects with applicable registration requirements of the 1933 Act
and state securities laws and (ii) are, and on the Closing Date will be, duly
and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable (recognizing
that, under Massachusetts law, Acquiring Fund Shareholders, under certain
circumstances, could be held personally liable for the obligations of the
Acquired Fund). The Acquiring Fund does not have outstanding any options,
warrants
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or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of the Acquiring Fund shares,
nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any of the Acquiring Fund
shares;
(k) The Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued and delivered to the Acquired
Fund, for the account of the Acquired Fund Shareholders, pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement, will at the Closing Date have been duly authorized and, when
so issued and delivered, will be duly and validly issued and outstanding
Acquiring Fund Shares, and will be fully paid and non-assessable (recognizing
that, under Massachusetts law, Acquiring Fund Shareholders, under certain
circumstances, could be held personally liable for the obligations of the
Acquired Fund).
(l) At the Closing Date, the Acquiring Fund will have good and marketable
title to the Acquiring Fund's assets, free of any liens or other encumbrances,
except those liens or encumbrances as to which the Acquired Fund has received
notice at or prior to the Closing;
(m) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will have
been duly authorized prior to the Closing Date by all necessary action on the
part of the Board members of the Acquiring Trust and this Agreement will
constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of
the Acquiring Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to
enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
general equity principles;
(n) The information to be furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use in
applications for orders, registration statements or proxy materials or for use
in any other document filed or to be filed with any federal, state or local
regulatory authority (including the NASD), which may be necessary in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be accurate and complete in all
material respects and shall comply in all material respects with federal
securities and other laws and regulations applicable thereto;
(o) The current prospectus and statement of additional information of the
Acquiring Fund conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements
of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not materially misleading;
(p) The Proxy Statement to be included in the Registration Statement, only
insofar as it relates to the Acquiring Fund, will, on the effective date of the
Registration Statement and on the Closing Date, not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, not materially misleading;
provided, however, that the representations and warranties in this section shall
not apply to statements in or omissions from the Proxy Statement and the
Registration Statement made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
that was furnished or should have been furnished by the Acquired Fund for use
therein; and
(q) The Acquiring Fund agrees to use all reasonable efforts to obtain the
approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and such of
the state securities laws as may be necessary in order to continue its
operations after the Closing Date.
5. COVENANTS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND AND THE ACQUIRED FUND
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5.1. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund each covenants to operate
its business in the ordinary course between the date hereof and the Closing
Date, it being understood that (a) such ordinary course of business will include
(i) the declaration and payment of customary dividends and other distributions
and (ii) such changes as are contemplated by the Funds' normal operations; and
(b) each Fund shall retain exclusive control of the composition of its portfolio
until the Closing Date.
5.2. Upon reasonable notice, the Acquiring Fund's officers and agents
shall have reasonable access to the Acquired Fund's books and records necessary
to maintain current knowledge of the Acquired Fund and to ensure that the
representations and warranties made by the Acquired Fund are accurate.
5.3. The Acquired Fund covenants to call a meeting of the Acquired Fund
Shareholders entitled to vote thereon to consider and act upon this Agreement
and to take all other reasonable action necessary to obtain approval of the
transactions contemplated herein. Such meeting shall be scheduled for no later
than July 13, 2000.
5.4. The Acquired Fund covenants that the Acquiring Fund Shares to be
issued hereunder are not being acquired for the purpose of making any
distribution thereof other than in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
5.5. The Acquired Fund covenants that it will assist the Acquiring Fund in
obtaining such information as the Acquiring Fund reasonably requests concerning
the beneficial ownership of the Acquired Fund shares and will provide the
Acquiring Fund with a list of affiliates of the Acquired Fund.
5.6. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund and
the Acquired Fund will each take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do or
cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper, and/or advisable to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.7. Each Fund covenants to prepare in compliance with the 1933 Act, the
1934 Act and the 1940 Act the Registration Statement on Form N-14 (the
"Registration Statement") in connection with the meeting of the Acquired Fund
Shareholders to consider approval of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated herein. The Acquiring Fund will file the Registration Statement,
including the Proxy Statement, with the Commission. The Acquired Fund will
provide the Acquiring Fund with information reasonably necessary for the
preparation of a prospectus, which will include the Proxy Statement referred to
in section 4.1(o), all to be included in the Registration Statement, in
compliance in all material respects with the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940
Act.
5.8. The Acquired Fund covenants that it will, from time to time, as and
when reasonably requested by the Acquiring Fund, execute and deliver or cause to
be executed and delivered all such assignments and other instruments, and will
take or cause to be taken such further action as the Acquiring Fund may
reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to vest in and confirm the
Acquiring Fund's title to and possession of all the assets and otherwise to
carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
5.9. The Acquiring Fund covenants to use all reasonable efforts to obtain
the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act and 1940 Act, and such
of the state securities laws as it deems appropriate in order to continue its
operations after the Closing Date and to consummate the transactions
contemplated herein; provided, however, that the Acquiring Fund may take such
actions it reasonably deems advisable after the Closing Date as circumstances
change.
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5.10. The Acquiring Fund covenants that it will, from time to time, as and
when reasonably requested by the Acquired Fund, execute and deliver or cause to
be executed and delivered all such assignments, assumption agreements, releases,
and other instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further action,
as the Acquired Fund may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to (i)
vest and confirm to the Acquired Fund title to and possession of all Acquiring
Fund shares to be transferred to Acquired Fund pursuant to this Agreement and
(ii) assume the liabilities from the Acquired Fund.
5.11. As soon as reasonably practicable after the Closing, the Acquired
Fund shall make a liquidating distribution to its shareholders consisting of the
Acquiring Fund Shares received at the Closing.
5.12. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund shall each use its
reasonable best efforts to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of the conditions
precedent to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly
as practicable.
6. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRED FUND
The obligations of the Acquired Fund to consummate the transactions
provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the
Acquiring Fund of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or
before the Closing Date, and, in addition thereto, the following further
conditions:
6.1. All representations and warranties of the Acquired Trust, with
respect to the Acquired Fund, contained in this Agreement shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and, except as they may
be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as of the
Closing Date, with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing
Date; and there shall be (i) no pending or threatened litigation brought by any
person (other than Acquiring Fund, its adviser or any of their affiliates)
against the Acquired Fund or its investment adviser(s), Board members or
officers arising out of this Agreement and (ii) no facts known to the Acquired
Fund which the Acquired Fund reasonably believes might result in such
litigation.
6.2. The Acquiring Fund shall have delivered to the Acquired Fund on the
Closing Date a certificate executed in its name by its President or a Vice
President, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquired Fund and dated as
of the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of
the Acquiring Trust, with respect to the Acquiring Fund, made in this Agreement
are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date, except as they may be
affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and as to such
other matters as the Acquired Fund shall reasonably request;
6.3. The Acquired Fund shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
of Dechert Price & Rhoads, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquired
Fund, and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(a) The Acquiring Trust has been duly formed and is an existing business
trust; (b) the Acquiring Trust has the power to carry on its business as
presently conducted in accordance with the description thereof in the Acquiring
Trust's registration statement under the 1940 Act; (c) the Agreement has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the
Acquiring Fund, and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the
Acquiring Trust, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, enforceable in accordance with
its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and laws of general applicability relating to or
affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles; (d) the execution
and delivery of the Agreement did not, and the
-45-
<PAGE>
exchange of the Acquired Fund's assets for Acquiring Fund Shares pursuant to the
Agreement will not, violate the Acquiring Trust's Declaration of Trust, as
amended, or By-laws; and (e) to the knowledge of such counsel, all regulatory
consents, authorizations, approvals or filings required to be obtained or made
by the Acquiring Fund under the Federal laws of the United States or the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the exchange of the Acquired Fund's assets
for Acquiring Fund Shares, pursuant to the Agreement have been obtained or made;
and
6.4. The Acquiring Fund shall have performed all of the covenants and
complied with all of the provisions required by this Agreement to be performed
or complied with by the Acquiring Fund on or before the Closing Date.
6.5 The Acquiring Fund shall have entered into an administrative services
agreement with Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc. ("Scudder Kemper") in a form
reasonably satisfactory to the Acquired Fund.
7. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND
The obligations of the Acquiring Fund to consummate the transactions
provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the
Acquired Fund of all of the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or
before the Closing Date and, in addition thereto, the following further
conditions:
7.1. All representations and warranties of the Acquired Trust, with
respect to the Acquired Fund, contained in this Agreement shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and, except as they may
be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as of the
Closing Date, with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing
Date; and there shall be (i) no pending or threatened litigation brought by any
person (other than Acquired Fund, its adviser or any of their affiliates)
against the Acquiring Fund or its investment adviser(s), Board members or
officers arising out of this Agreement and (ii) no facts known to the Acquiring
Fund which the Acquiring Fund reasonably believes might result in such
litigation.
7.2. The Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a
statement of the Acquired Fund's assets and liabilities as of the Closing Date,
certified by the Treasurer of the Acquired Fund;
7.3. The Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund on the
Closing Date a certificate executed in its name by its President or a Vice
President, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund and dated as
of the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of
the Acquired Trust with respect to the Acquired Fund made in this Agreement are
true and correct on and as of the Closing Date, except as they may be affected
by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and as to such other matters
as the Acquiring Fund shall reasonably request;
7.4. The Acquiring Fund shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
of Dechert Price & Rhoads, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring
Fund, and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(a) The Acquired Trust has been duly formed and is an existing business
trust; (b) the Acquired Trust has the power to carry on its business as
presently conducted in accordance with the description thereof in the Acquired
Trust's registration statement under the 1940 Act; (c) the Agreement has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Acquired Trust, on behalf of the
Acquired Fund,
-46-
<PAGE>
and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Acquired Trust, on
behalf of the Acquired Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject
to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
general equity principles; (d) the execution and delivery of the Agreement did
not, and the exchange of the Acquired Fund's assets for Acquiring Fund Shares
pursuant to the Agreement will not, violate the Acquired Trust's Declaration of
Trust, as amended, or By-laws; and (e) to the knowledge of such counsel, all
regulatory consents, authorizations, approvals or filings required to be
obtained or made by the Acquired Fund under the Federal laws of the United
States or the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the exchange of the
Acquired Fund's assets for Acquiring Fund Shares, pursuant to the Agreement have
been obtained or made; and
7.5. The Acquired Fund shall have performed all of the covenants and
complied with all of the provisions required by this Agreement to be performed
or complied with by the Acquired Fund on or before the Closing Date.
7.6 The Acquiring Fund shall have entered into an administrative services
agreement with Scudder Kemper.
8. FURTHER CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE ACQUIRING FUND AND THE
ACQUIRED FUND
If any of the conditions set forth below have not been met on or before
the Closing Date with respect to the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund, the
other party to this Agreement shall, at its option, not be required to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement:
8.1. This Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein shall have
been approved by the requisite vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of
the Acquired Fund in accordance with the provisions of the Acquired Trust's
Declaration of Trust, as amended, and By-Laws, applicable Massachusetts law and
the 1940 Act, and certified copies of the resolutions evidencing such approval
shall have been delivered to the Acquiring Fund. Notwithstanding anything herein
to the contrary, neither the Acquiring Fund nor the Acquired Fund may waive the
conditions set forth in this section 8.1;
8.2. On the Closing Date, no action, suit or other proceeding shall be
pending or to its knowledge threatened before any court or governmental agency
in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit, or obtain material damages or
other relief in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
herein;
8.3. All consents of other parties and all other consents, orders and
permits of Federal, state and local regulatory authorities deemed necessary by
the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund to permit consummation, in all material
respects, of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained,
except where failure to obtain any such consent, order or permit would not
involve a risk of a material adverse effect on the assets or properties of the
Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund, provided that either party hereto may for
itself waive any of such conditions;
8.4. The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933
Act and no stop orders suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been
issued and, to the best knowledge of the parties hereto, no investigation or
proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, threatened
or contemplated under the 1933 Act; and
-47-
<PAGE>
8.5. The parties shall have received an opinion of Willkie Farr &
Gallagher addressed to each of the Acquiring Trust and the Acquired Trust, in a
form reasonably satisfactory to each such party to this Agreement, substantially
to the effect that, based upon certain facts, assumptions and representations of
the parties, for federal income tax purposes: (i) the transfer to the Acquiring
Fund of all or substantially all of the assets of the Acquired Fund in exchange
solely for Acquiring Fund shares and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all
of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund, followed by the distribution of such
shares to the Acquired Fund's shareholders in exchange for their shares of the
Acquired Fund in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund, will constitute a
"reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1) of the Code, and the
Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund will each be "a party to a reorganization"
within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code; (ii) no gain or loss will be
recognized by the Acquired Fund upon the transfer of all or substantially all of
its assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange solely for Acquiring Fund shares
and the assumption by the Acquiring Fund of all of the liabilities of the
Acquired Fund; (iii) the basis of the assets of the Acquired Fund in the hands
of the Acquiring Fund will be the same as the basis of such assets of the
Acquired Fund immediately prior to the transfer; (iv) the holding period of the
assets of the Acquired Fund in the hands of the Acquiring Fund will include the
period during which such assets were held by the Acquired Fund; (v) no gain or
loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund upon the receipt of the assets of
the Acquired Fund in exchange for Acquiring Fund shares and the assumption by
the Acquiring Fund of all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund; (vi) no gain
or loss will be recognized by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund upon the
receipt of the Acquiring Fund shares solely in exchange for their shares of the
Acquired Fund as part of the transaction; (vii) the basis of the Acquiring Fund
shares received by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund will be the same as the
basis of the shares of the Acquired Fund exchanged therefor; and (viii) the
holding period of Acquiring Fund shares received by the shareholders of the
Acquired Fund will include the holding period during which the shares of the
Acquired Fund exchanged therefor were held, provided that at the time of the
exchange the shares of the Acquired Fund were held as capital assets in the
hands of the shareholders of the Acquired Fund. The delivery of such opinion is
conditioned upon receipt by Willkie Farr & Gallagher of representations it shall
request of each of the Acquiring Fund and Acquired Trust. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, neither the Acquiring Fund nor the Acquired
Fund may waive the condition set forth in this section 8.5.
9. INDEMNIFICATION
9.1. The Acquiring Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Acquired
Fund and each of the Acquired Fund's Board members and officers from and against
any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including, without
limitation, the payment of reasonable legal fees and reasonable costs of
investigation) to which jointly and severally, the Acquired Fund or any of its
Board members or officers may become subject, insofar as any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense (or actions with respect thereto) arises out of or
is based on any breach by the Acquiring Fund of any of its representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement.
9.2. The Acquired Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Acquiring
Fund and each of the Acquiring Fund's Board members and officers from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including,
without limitation, the payment of reasonable legal fees and reasonable costs of
investigation) to which jointly and severally, the Acquiring Fund or any of its
Board members or officers may become subject, insofar as any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense (or actions with respect thereto) arises out of or
is based on any breach by the Acquired Fund of any of its representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement.
-48-
<PAGE>
10. FEES AND EXPENSES
10.1. Each of the Acquiring Fund on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, and the
Acquired Trust, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, represents and warrants to the
other that it has no obligations to pay any brokers or finders fees in
connection with the transactions provided for herein.
10.2. Each Fund will pay its own allocable share of expenses associated
with the Reorganization, except that Scudder Kemper will bear any such expenses
in excess of $111,559 for the Acquiring Fund and $828 for the Acquired Fund
(approximately $0.0086 and $0.0051 per share, respectively, based on December
31, 1999 net assets for each Fund). Any such expenses which are so borne by
Scudder Kemper will be solely and directly related to the Reorganization within
the meaning of Revenue Ruling 73-54, 1973-1 C.B. 187. The Acquired Fund
shareholders will pay their own expenses, if any, incurred in connection with
the Reorganization.
11. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES
11.1. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund agree that neither party
has made any representation, warranty or covenant not set forth herein and that
this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties.
11.2. Except as specified in the next sentence set forth in this section
11.2, the representations, warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement
or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall not
survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder. The
covenants to be performed after the Closing and the obligations of each of the
Acquiring Fund and Acquired Fund in Sections 9.1 and 9.2 shall survive the
Closing.
12. TERMINATION
12.1. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated
hereby may be abandoned by either party by (i) mutual agreement of the parties,
or (ii) by either party if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before
August 28, 2000, unless such date is extended by mutual agreement of the
parties, or (iii) by either party if the other party shall have materially
breached its obligations under this Agreement or made a material and intentional
misrepresentation herein or in connection herewith. In the event of any such
termination, this Agreement shall become void and there shall be no liability
hereunder on the part of any party or their respective Board members or
officers, except for any such material breach or intentional misrepresentation,
as to each of which all remedies at law or in equity of the party adversely
affected shall survive.
13. AMENDMENTS
This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented in such manner as
may be mutually agreed upon in writing by any authorized officer of the Acquired
Fund and any authorized officer of the Acquiring Fund; provided, however, that
following the meeting of the Acquired Fund Shareholders called by the Acquired
Fund pursuant to section 5.2 of this Agreement, no such amendment may have the
effect of changing the provisions for determining the number of the Acquiring
Fund Shares to be issued to the Acquired Fund shareholders under this Agreement
to the detriment of such shareholders without their further approval.
14. NOTICES
-49-
<PAGE>
Any notice, report, statement or demand required or permitted by any
provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given
if delivered by hand (including by Federal Express or similar express courier)
or transmitted by facsimile or three days after being mailed by prepaid
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the
Acquired Fund, Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 0211-4103, with a
copy to Dechert Price & Rhoads, Ten Post Office Square South, Boston, MA
02109-4603, Attention: Sheldon A. Jones, Esq., or to the Acquiring Fund, Two
International Place, Boston, MA 02110-4103, with a copy to Dechert Price &
Rhoads, Ten Post Office Square South, Boston, MA 02109-4603, Attention: Sheldon
A. Jones, Esq., or to any other address that the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring
Fund shall have last designated by notice to the other party.
15. HEADINGS; COUNTERPARTS; ASSIGNMENT; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
15.1. The Article and section headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
15.2. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original.
15.3. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns, but no assignment or
transfer hereof or of any rights or obligations hereunder shall be made by any
party without the written consent of the other party. Nothing herein expressed
or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any person,
firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and the shareholders of the
Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund and their respective successors and
assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
15.4. References in this Agreement to each Trust mean and refer to the
Board members of the Trust from time to time serving under its Declaration of
Trust on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
as the same may be amended from time to time, pursuant to which the Trust
conducts its business. It is expressly agreed that the obligations of each Trust
hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Board members, shareholders,
nominees, officers, agents, or employees of the Trusts or the Funds personally,
but bind only the respective property of the Funds, as provided in each Trust's
Declaration of Trust. Moreover, no series of either Trust other than the Funds
shall be responsible for the obligations of the Trust hereunder, and all persons
shall look only to the assets of the Funds to satisfy the obligations of the
Trusts hereunder. The execution and the delivery of this Agreement have been
authorized by each Trust's Board members, on behalf of the applicable Fund, and
this Agreement has been signed by authorized officers of each Fund acting as
such, and neither such authorization by such Board members, nor such execution
and delivery by such officers, shall be deemed to have been made by any of them
individually or to impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall
bind only the property of the applicable Fund, as provided in each Trust's
Declaration of Trust.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the
obligations, agreements, representations and warranties with respect to each
Fund shall constitute the obligations, agreements, representations and
warranties of that Fund only (the "Obligated Fund"), and in no event shall any
other series of the Acquiring Trust or the Acquired Trust or the assets of any
such series be held liable with respect to the breach or other default by the
Obligated Fund of its obligations, agreements, representations and warranties as
set forth herein.
15.5. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Massachusetts, without regard to its
principles of conflicts of laws.
-50-
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement
to be executed by an authorized officer and its seal to be affixed thereto and
attested by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary.
Attest: INVESTMENT TRUST
on behalf of Scudder Tax Managed Small Company Fund
_________________________
Secretary
______________________________
By:___________________________
Its:__________________________
Attest: SCUDDER SECURITIES TRUST
on behalf of Scudder Small Company Value Fund
_________________________
Secretary
______________________________
By:___________________________
Its:__________________________
AGREED TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED
ONLY WITH RESPECT TO
PARAGRAPH 10.2 HERETO
SCUDDER KEMPER INVESTMENTS, INC.
____________________________________
By:_________________________________
Its:________________________________
-51-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
Scudder Small Company Value Fund
Annual Report
July 31, 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio Management Discussion
We asked portfolio managers James M. Eysenbach, Philip S. Fortuna, and Calvin
S. Young to review the market environment and the fund's performance for the
12-month period ended July 31, 1999.
Q: How would you characterize the market environment for small-cap stocks
over the 12-month period?
A: It was a very difficult year for small-cap stocks generally and for value
stocks in particular. While large-cap stocks (as represented by the S&P 500
Index) returned 20.21%, small-cap stocks (as measured by the Russell 2000
Index) returned just 7.42%. Within the small-cap market, growth stocks and
selected technology issues dominated performance, as reflected in the Russell
2000 Growth Index return of 14.51%. By contrast, the Russell 2000 Value Index
had a slight loss, down 0.12%.
Q: Underlying these results, can you describe the shifts in market leadership
that occurred during the year?
A: The 12-month period can basically be divided into three phases. The fund's
fiscal year began on a down note with the August 1998 market drop (-14% for
large-cap stocks, -19% for small-cap stocks). In the wake of the emerging
markets crisis, U.S. stocks fell amid concerns that economic weakness
overseas would spread to the United States. As we would expect, small value
stocks outperformed small growth stocks during this down market.
A market recovery led by large-cap stocks and growth stocks marked the second
phase. Over the next seven months (8/31/98 to 3/31/99), the S&P 500 rose 35%
and small stocks gained nearly 19%. While not uniform throughout, small
growth stocks (up 34%) decisively outpaced small value stocks (up a meager
4%). We were not surprised that growth stocks led such a dramatic rally,
although the margin of outperformance was surprising. During this period
growth stocks outperformed value stocks by 30 percentage points -- one of the
largest spreads in the 20-year history of the Russell indices. Very narrow
market leadership accentuated the phenomenon where a handful of primarily
Internet stocks achieved spectacular triple-digit returns.
In the third phase, beginning in April of this year, we saw a partial
recovery for small stocks and value stocks. This change resulted, in part,
from a realization that the U.S. economy was growing at a healthy pace and
small-cap stocks represented attractive values relative to large-cap stocks.
Over the final four months of the fund's fiscal year that ended July 31,
1999, small stocks outperformed large stocks by more than eight percentage
points and small value outperformed small growth by more than two percentage
points.
- -------------------------------------------------------
A Shift Toward Small Stocks and Value
April - July 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Small-cap value stocks 13.79%
Small-cap growth stocks 11.20%
Large-cap stocks 3.71%
</TABLE>
The unmanaged Russell 2000 Value Index represents small-cap value stocks; the
unmanaged Russell 2000 Growth Index represents small-cap growth stocks. The
S&P 500 represents large-cap stocks.
<PAGE>
Q: How did the fund perform?
A: The Scudder Small Company Value Fund returned -4.84% over the 12-month
period. As expected, given our value approach, the fund outperformed in both
the first and third phases when the market favored value stocks but trailed
in the middle phase favoring growth stocks. The fund's shortfall for the year
is attributable to its underperformance during the middle growth phase. In
this narrow growth market, the fund's returns were greatly constrained by our
strict valuation and small-cap size discipline (see Stock Characteristics on
page 5). As a result, the fund underperformed both the Russell 2000 and 2000
Value indices.
Q: Can you elaborate on your investment discipline and how it impacts
performance?
A: Our portfolio management discipline is centered on size, valuation and
diversification, and is designed to ensure style-consistency (a focus on
small-cap value stocks) and below-average risk over time. For example, we
purchase stocks for the fund from the Russell 2000 Value Index, sell those
that grow out of the index and diversify across approximately 200 companies.
We believe our investment discipline makes a positive contribution to
performance over time.
Nevertheless, a discipline can work against you in the short run, as ours did
during the past year when small value stocks dramatically underperformed.
Because our discipline is designed to ensure style consistency, it hurt
performance. At those times, owning stocks outside the small-cap universe
- -- larger-cap stocks or growth stocks -- can benefit performance. Furthermore,
when market leadership is very narrowly concentrated, a diversified portfolio
is more likely to underperform.
However, over the long term, the fund's discipline has contributed to its
outperformance. For the three-year period that ended July 31st, for example,
the fund has achieved a 15.33% annualized total return versus 14.34% for the
Russell 2000 Value Index and 13.60% for the Russell 2000 Index. Relative to
other small-cap value funds for the three-year period, Scudder Small Company
Value ranked in the top third for return and the lowest third in terms of
risk, according to Morningstar, Inc.(1)
Q: How did the fund perform at the sector level?
A: For the trailing 12-month period, the energy, finance, and health sectors
were the strongest contributors, while the manufacturing, durables and
technology sectors were weakest relative to the benchmark.
The fund's holdings in the energy and health sectors returned more than 20%
for the year. Energy stocks were down early in the period, but rebounded
sharply beginning in March after excessive pessimism had pushed prices to
unjustifiably low levels. The returns in health stocks were earned more
evenly during the period. In finance, the fund benefited from significant
underweighting relative to the market in this poor performing sector.
- ----------------------------------
(1)Morningstar rankings are subject to change every month and reflect total
return performance as of 7/31/99. In the small value category, the fund was
ranked 170th out of 225 funds for the one-year period and 39th out of 117
funds for the three-year period. The fund is not ranked for the five- or
ten-year periods because it commenced operations on 10/6/95. Past
performance is no guarantee of future results.
<PAGE>
Unlike energy stocks, manufacturing and durables failed to rebound from
depressed levels, weighing down the fund's returns for the year. We continue
to see value in these sectors and are maintaining our above-market positions.
By contrast we have a below-market weight in technology, where our valuation
discipline has kept us from participating in some of the strongest performing
stocks in this sector.
Q: What is your outlook for small-cap value stocks and the fund?
A: We feel strongly that small-cap stocks will provide attractive returns
over the long term. The unfettered performance of large-cap stocks through
March 31st yielded one of the widest performance spreads between small- and
large-cap stocks this century and has obscured the higher return potential
small-cap stocks have realized over the long term. While such record-setting
differences in performance are infrequent, it is not unusual for market
leadership to change quickly in the small-cap area as we witnessed in April.
Consequently, an investor who does not maintain a long-term commitment to
this segment of the market can easily miss a significant rally in the
small-cap market.
<PAGE>
Performance Update as of July 31, 1999
- ----------------------------------------------------
Fund Index Comparison
- ----------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total Return
-------------------------------------------------
Period Ended Growth of Average
7/31/1999 $10,000 Cumulative Annual
-------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Scudder Small Company Value Fund
-------------------------------------------------
1 Year $ 9,516 -4.84% -4.84%
Life of Fund* $ 16,685 66.85% 14.36%
-------------------------------------------------
Russell 2000 Value Index
-------------------------------------------------
1 Year $ 9,988 -.12% -.12%
Life of Fund* $ 16,091 60.91% 13.26%
-------------------------------------------------
Russell 2000 Index
-------------------------------------------------
1 Year $ 10,742 7.42% 7.42%
Life of Fund* $ 15,540 55.40% 12.24%
-------------------------------------------------
S&P 500 Index
-------------------------------------------------
1 Year $ 12,021 20.21% 20.21%
Life of Fund* $ 24,404 144.04% 26.31%
</TABLE>
- ----------------------------------------------------
Growth of a $10,000 Investment
- ----------------------------------------------------
THE PRINTED DOCUMENT CONTAINS A LINE CHART HERE
CHART DATA:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Russell 2000 Scudder Small Russell
Value Index Company Value Fund 2000 Index S&P 500 Index
----------- ------------------ ---------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
10/95* 10000 10000 10000 10000
1/96 10790 10579 10683 11002
7/96 11027 11118 10773 11196
1/97 13210 13496 12710 13901
7/97 15564 16446 14371 17035
1/98 16837 17852 15007 17644
7/98 16507 17922 14701 20321
1/99 15680 16685 15055 23376
7/99 16488 17055 15791 24428
</TABLE>
The Standard & Poor's 500 Index is a capitalization-weighted index of 500
stocks. The index is designed to measure performance of the broad domestic
economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks
representing all major industries. The Russell 2000 Index is an unmanaged
capitalization-weighted measure of approximately 2000 small U.S. stocks. The
Russell 2000 Value Index measures the performance of those Russell 2000
companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth rates.
Index returns assume reinvestment of dividends and, unlike Fund returns, do
not reflect any fees or expenses.
<PAGE>
APPENDIX 1
FUND SHARES OWNED BY NOMINEES AND TRUSTEES
Many of the Nominees and Trustees own shares of the series of the
Acquired Trust and of other funds in the Scudder Family of Funds and AARP
Funds, allocating their investments among such funds based on their
individual investment needs. The following table sets forth, for each Nominee
and Trustee, the number of shares owned in each series of the Acquired Trust
as of January 31, 2000. The information as to beneficial ownership is based
on statements furnished to the Acquired Trust by each Nominee and Trustee.
Unless otherwise noted, beneficial ownership is based on sole voting and
investment power. [Each Nominee's and Trustee's individual shareholdings of
any series of the Acquired Trust constitute less than 1% of the shares
outstanding of such fund.] [As a group, the Trustees and officers own less
than 1% of the shares of any series of the Acquired Trust.]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
SCUDDER
SCUDDER SCUDDER SCUDDER SCUDDER TAX
SCUDDER GROWTH LARGE REAL SCUDDER TAX MANAGED
CLASSIC DIVIDEND AND COMPANY ESTATE S&P 500 MANAGED SMALL
GROWTH & GROWTH INCOME GROWTH INVESTMENT INDEX GROWTH COMPANY
FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Henry P. Becton, Jr.(1)
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
Linda C. Coughlin(2)
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
Dawn-Marie Driscoll(3)
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
Edgar R. Fiedler(4)
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
Peter B. Freeman(5)
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
Keith R. Fox(6)
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
George M. Lovejoy, Jr.(7)
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
Wesley W. Marple, Jr.(8)
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
Kathryn L. Quirk(9)
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
Joan Edelman Spero(10)
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
Jean Gleason Stromberg(11)
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
Jean C. Tempel(12)
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
Steven Zaleznick(13)
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
[All Trustees and Officers
as a Group]
- ----------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------- ---------- ----------
</TABLE>
(1) As of January 31, 2000, Mr. Becton's total aggregate holdings in each
series of the Acquired Trust listed above and all other funds in the Scudder
Family of Funds and AARP Funds ranged between $___________ and $___________.
(2) As of January 31, 2000, Ms. Coughlin's total aggregate holdings in each
series of the Acquired Trust listed above and all other funds in the Scudder
Family of Funds and AARP Funds ranged between $___________ and $___________.
(3) As of January 31, 2000, Ms. Driscoll's total aggregate holdings in each
series of the Acquired Trust listed above and all other funds in the Scudder
Family of Funds and AARP Funds ranged between $___________ and $___________.
(4) As of January 31, 2000, Mr. Fiedler's total aggregate holdings in each
series of the Acquired Trust listed above and all other funds in the Scudder
Family of Funds and AARP Funds ranged between $___________ and $___________.
(5) As of January 31, 2000, Mr. Freeman's total aggregate holdings in each
series of the Acquired Trust listed above and all other funds in the Scudder
Family of Funds and AARP Funds ranged between $___________ and $___________.
(6) As of January 31, 2000, Mr. Fox's total aggregate holdings in each series
of the Acquired Trust listed above and all other funds in the Scudder Family
of Funds and AARP Funds ranged between $___________ and $___________.
<PAGE>
(7) As of January 31, 2000, Mr. Lovejoy's total aggregate holdings in each
series of the Acquired Trust listed above and all other funds in the Scudder
Family of Funds and AARP Funds ranged between $___________ and $___________.
(8) As of January 31, 2000, Mr. Marple's total aggregate holdings in each
series of the Acquired Trust listed above and all other funds in the Scudder
Family of Funds and AARP Funds ranged between $___________ and $___________.
(9) As of January 31, 2000, Ms. Quirk's total aggregate holdings in each
series of the Acquired Trust listed above and all other funds in the Scudder
Family of Funds and AARP Funds ranged between $___________ and $___________.
(10) As of January 31, 2000, Ms. Spero's total aggregate holdings in each
series of the Acquired Trust listed above and all other funds in the Scudder
Family of Funds and AARP Funds ranged between $___________ and $___________.
(11) As of January 31, 2000, Ms. Stromberg's total aggregate holdings in each
series of the Acquired Trust listed above and all other funds in the Scudder
Family of Funds and AARP Funds ranged between $___________ and $___________.
(12) As of January 31, 2000, Ms. Tempel's total aggregate holdings in each
series of the Acquired Trust listed above and all other funds in the Scudder
Family of Funds and AARP Funds ranged between $___________ and $___________.
(13) As of January 31, 2000, Mr. Zaleznick's total aggregate holdings in each
series of the Acquired Trust listed above and all other funds in the Scudder
Family of Funds and AARP Funds ranged between $___________ and $___________.
2
<PAGE>
APPENDIX 2
Beneficial Ownership of Fund Shares
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<PAGE>
This proxy statement/prospectus is accompanied by the Acquiring Fund's
prospectus dated December 1, 1999, which was previously filed with the
Commission via EDGAR on November 30, 1999 (File No. 2-36238) and is
incorporated by reference herein.
<PAGE>
PART B
SCUDDER SECURITIES TRUST
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of Additional Information
[date]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acquisition of the Assets of By and in Exchange for Shares of
Scudder Tax Managed Small Company Fund Scudder Small Company Value Fund (the
(the "Acquired Fund"), a series of "Acquiring Fund"), a series of Scudder
Investment Trust Securities Trust (the "Acquiring Trust")
Two International Place Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110-4103 Boston, MA 02110-4103
This Statement of Additional Information is available to the shareholders of the
Acquired Fund in connection with a proposed transaction whereby the Acquiring
Fund will acquire all or substantially all of the assets and all of the
liabilities of the Acquired Fund in exchange for shares of the Acquiring Fund
(the "Reorganization").
This Statement of Additional Information of the Acquiring Trust contains
material which may be of interest to investors but which is not included in the
Prospectus/Proxy Statement of the Acquiring Trust relating to the
Reorganization. This Statement of Additional Information consists of this cover
page and the following documents:
1. The Acquiring Fund's statement of additional information dated December 1,
1999, which was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") via EDGAR on November 30, 1999 (File No.2-36238) and is
incorporated by reference herein.
2. The Acquiring Fund's annual report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended
July 31, 1999, which was previously filed with the Commission via EDGAR on
September 17, 1999 (File No. 811-02021) and is incorporated by reference herein.
3. The Acquired Fund's prospectus dated March 1, 2000, which was previously
filed with the Commission via EDGAR on February 27, 2000 (File No. 2-13628) and
is incorporated by reference herein.
4. The Acquired Fund's statement of additional information dated March 1, 2000,
which was previously filed with the Commission via EDGAR on February 28, 2000
(File No. 2-13628) and is incorporated by reference herein.
5. The Acquired Fund's annual report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended
October 31, 1999, which was previously filed with the Commission via EDGAR on
December 30, 1999 (File No. 811-00043) and is incorporated by reference herein.
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<PAGE>
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus. A Prospectus/Proxy
Statement dated ____________________ relating to the Reorganization may be
obtained by writing the Acquired Fund at Two International Place, Boston, MA
02110-4103 or by calling Scudder Investor Services, Inc. at 1-800-225-2470. This
Statement of Additional Information should be read in conjunction with the
Prospectus/Proxy Statement.
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<PAGE>
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 15. Indemnification
A policy of insurance covering Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., its
subsidiaries including Scudder Investor Services, Inc., and all of
the registered investment companies advised by Scudder Kemper
Investments, Inc. insures the Registrant's trustees and officers and
others against liability arising by reason of an alleged breach of
duty caused by any negligent act, error or accidental omission in
the scope of their duties.
Article IV, Sections 4.1 - 4.3 of the Registrant's Declaration of
Trust provide as follows:
Section 4.1. No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, Etc.
No Shareholder shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever
to any Person in connection with Trust Property or the acts,
obligations or affairs of the Trust. No Trustee, officer, employee
or agent of the Trust shall be subject to any personal liability
whatsoever to any Person, other than to the Trust or its
Shareholders, in connection with Trust Property or the affairs of
the Trust, save only that arising from bad faith, willful
misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his duties
with respect to such Person; and all such Persons shall look solely
to the Trust Property for satisfaction of claims of any nature
arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. If any
Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, or agent, as such, of the
Trust, is made a party to any suit or proceeding to enforce any such
liability of the Trust, he shall not, on account thereof, be held to
any personal liability. The Trust shall indemnify and hold each
Shareholder harmless from and against all claims and liabilities, to
which such Shareholder may become subject by reason of his being or
having been a Shareholder, and shall reimburse such Shareholder for
all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by him in
connection with any such claim or liability. The indemnification and
reimbursement required by the preceding sentence shall be made only
out of the assets of the one or more Series of which the Shareholder
who is entitled to indemnification or reimbursement was a
Shareholder at the time the act or event occurred which gave rise to
the claim against or liability of said Shareholder. The rights
accruing to a Shareholder under this Section 4.1 shall not impair
any other right to which such Shareholder may be lawfully entitled,
nor shall anything herein contained restrict the right of the Trust
to indemnify or reimburse a Shareholder in any appropriate situation
even though not specifically provided herein.
Section 4.2. Non-Liability of Trustees, Etc. No Trustee, officer,
employee or agent of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust, its
Shareholders, or to any Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, or
agent thereof for any action or failure to act (including without
limitation the failure to compel in any way any former or acting
Trustee to redress any breach of trust) except for his own bad
faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
Section 4.3. Mandatory Indemnification. (a) Subject to the
exceptions and limitations contained in paragraph (b) below:
(i) every person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of
the Trust shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent
permitted by law against all liability and against all expenses
reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim,
-56-
<PAGE>
action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party
or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Trustee or
officer and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the
settlement thereof;
(ii) the words "claim," "action," "suit," or "proceeding"
shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil,
criminal, administrative or other, including appeals), actual or
threatened; and the words "liability" and "expenses" shall include,
without limitation, attorneys' fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid
in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.
(b) No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Trustee or
officer:
(i) against any liability to the Trust, a Series thereof, or
the Shareholders by reason of a final adjudication by a court or
other body before which a proceeding was brought that he engaged in
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office;
(ii) with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been
finally adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the
reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the
Trust;
(iii) in the event of a settlement or other disposition not
involving a final adjudication as provided in paragraph (b)(i) or
(b)(ii) resulting in a payment by a Trustee or officer, unless there
has been a determination that such Trustee or officer did not engage
in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office:
(A) by the court or other body approving the settlement
or other disposition; or
(B) based upon a review of readily available facts (as
opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) by (x) vote of a
majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter
(provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then
in office act on the matter) or (y) written opinion of
independent legal counsel.
(c) The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured
against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be
severable, shall not affect any other rights to which any
Trustee or officer may now or hereafter be entitled, shall
continue as to a person who has ceased to be such Trustee or
officer and shall insure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors, administrators and assigns of such a person.
Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to
indemnification to which personnel of the Trust other than
Trustees and officers may be entitled by contract or otherwise
under law.
(d) Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any
claim, action, suit or proceeding of the character described
in paragraph (a) of this Section 4.3 may be advanced by the
Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such
amount if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled
to indemnification under this Section 4.3, provided that
either:
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<PAGE>
(i) such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other
appropriate security provided by the recipient, or the Trust shall
be insured against losses arising out of any such advances; or
(ii) a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the
matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees act
on the matter) or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion
shall determine, based upon a review of readily available facts (as
opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to
believe that the recipient ultimately will be found entitled to
indemnification.
As used in this Section 4.3, a "Disinterested Trustee" is one
who is not (i) an "Interested Person" of the Trust (including anyone
who has been exempted from being an "Interested Person" by any rule,
regulation or order of the Commission), or (ii) involved in the
claim, action, suit or proceeding.
Item 16. Exhibits:
(1) (a) Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated
December 21, 1987, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to the Registration
Statement of Scudder Securities Trust on Form N-1A,
as amended (the "Registration Statement").
(b) Amendment to Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust, dated December 13, 1990, is incorporated by
reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to the
Registration Statement.
(c) Amendment to Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust to change the name of the Trust, dated July
21, 1995, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 to the Registration
Statement.
(d) Amendment to Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust to add new series, dated July 21, 1995, is
incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 35 to the Registration Statement.
(2) (a) By-Laws as of October 16, 1985, are incorporated by
reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to the
Registration Statement.
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<PAGE>
(b) Amendment to the By-Laws of Registrant, as amended
through December 9, 1985, is incorporated by
reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to the
Registration Statement.
(c) Amendment to the By-Laws, Article IV: Notice of
Meetings, dated December 12, 1991, is incorporated
by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to
the Registration Statement.
(3) Inapplicable.
(4) Agreement and Plan of Reorganization filed as
Exhibit A to Part A hereof.
(5) (d)(1) Establishment and Designation of Series of Shares of
Beneficial Interest, $0.01 par value, with respect
to Scudder Development Fund, Scudder Small Company
Value Fund, Scudder Micro Cap Fund, and Scudder 21st
Century Growth Fund, dated June 6, 1996, is
incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 40 to the Registration Statement.
(d)(2) Establishment and Designation of Series of Shares of
Beneficial Interest, $0.01 par value, with respect
to Scudder Development Fund, Scudder Financial
Services Fund, Scudder Health Care Fund, Scudder
Micro Cap Fund, Scudder Small Company Value Fund,
Scudder Technology Fund, and Scudder 21st Century
Growth Fund, dated June 3, 1997, is incorporated by
reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the
Registration Statement.
(6) (e)(1) Investment Management Agreement between the
Registrant (on behalf of Scudder Development Fund)
and Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., dated
September 7, 1998, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registration
Statement.
(e)(2) Investment Management Agreement between the
Registrant (on behalf of Scudder Small Company Value
Fund) and Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., dated
September 7, 1998, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registration
Statement.
(e)(3) Investment Management Agreement between the
Registrant (on behalf of Scudder Micro Cap Fund) and
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., dated September 7,
1998, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 62 to the Registration Statement.
-59-
<PAGE>
(e)(4) Investment Management Agreement between the
Registrant (on behalf of Scudder Financial Services
Fund) and Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., dated
September 7, 1998, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registration
Statement.
(e)(5) Investment Management Agreement between the
Registrant (on behalf of Scudder Health Care Fund)
and Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., dated
September 7, 1998, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registration
Statement.
(e)(6) Investment Management Agreement between the
Registrant (on behalf of Scudder Technology Fund)
and Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., dated
September 7, 1998, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registration
Statement.
(e)(7) Investment Management Agreement between the
Registrant (on behalf of Scudder 21st Century Growth
Fund) and Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., dated
September 7, 1998, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registration
Statement.
(7) (1) Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant and
Scudder Investor Services, Inc., dated September 7,
1998, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 62 to the Registration Statement.
(8) Inapplicable.
(9) (f)(1) Custodian Contract between the Registrant and State
Street Bank and Trust Company, dated September 6,
1995, is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 35 to the Registration Statement.
(f)(2) Fee schedule for Exhibit (g)(1) is incorporated by
reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 to the
Registration Statement.
(f)(3) Amendment to Custody Contract between the Registrant
and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated March
1, 1999, is filed herein.
(f)(4) Subcustodian Agreement between Brown Brothers
Harriman & Co. and The Bank of New York, London
office, dated January 30, 1979, is incorporated by
reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to the
Registration Statement.
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<PAGE>
(f)(5) Fee schedule for Exhibit (g)(4) is incorporated by
reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to the
Registration Statement.
(10) Inapplicable.
(11) Opinion and consent of Dechert Price & Rhoads filed
herein.
(12) Opinion and consent of Willkie Farr and Gallagher to
be filed by pre-effective amendment.
(13) (g)(1) Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the
Registrant and Scudder Service Corporation, dated
October 2, 1989, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to the Registration
Statement.
(g)(2) Revised fee schedule for Exhibit (h)(1) is
incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 37 to the Registration Statement.
(g)(3) Service Agreement between Copeland Associates, Inc.
(on behalf of Scudder Development Fund) and Scudder
Service Corporation, dated June 8, 1995, is
incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 35 to the Registration Statement.
(g)(4) COMPASS Service Agreement between the Registrant and
Scudder Trust Company, dated January 1, 1990, is
incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 43 to the Registration Statement.
(g)(5) Fee schedule for Exhibit (h)(4) is incorporated by
reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to the
Registration Statement.
(g)(6) Shareholder Services Agreement between the
Registrant and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., dated
June 1, 1990, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 to the Registration
Statement.
(g)(7) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the
Registrant (on behalf of Scudder Development Fund)
and Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation, dated March
21, 1995, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 to the Registration
Statement.
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<PAGE>
(g)(8) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the
Registrant (on behalf of Scudder Small Company Value
Fund) and Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation, dated
October 6, 1995, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 to the Registration
Statement.
(g)(9) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the
Registrant (on behalf of Scudder Micro Cap Fund) and
Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation, dated August
12, 1996, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registration
Statement.
(g)(10) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the
Registrant (on behalf of Scudder 21st Century Growth
Fund) and Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation, dated
September 9, 1996, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registration
Statement.
(g)(11) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the
Registrant (on behalf of Scudder Financial Services
Fund) and Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation, dated
September 11, 1997, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registration
Statement.
(g)(12) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the
Registrant (on behalf of Scudder Health Care Fund)
and Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation, dated
December 4, 1997, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registration
Statement.
(g)(13) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the
Registrant (on behalf of Scudder Technology Fund)
and Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation , dated
December 4, 1997, is incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registration
Statement.
(14) Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP filed herein.
(15) Inapplicable
(16) Powers of attorney filed herewith.
(17) Form of Proxy filed herein.
Item 17. Undertakings.
1) The undersigned registrant agrees that prior to any public
reoffering of the securities registered through the use of a
prospectus which is a part of this registration statement by
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<PAGE>
any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the
meaning of Rule 145(c) of the Securities Act [17 CFR 230.145c], the
reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the
applicable registration form for C-8 350 reofferings by persons who
may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called
for by the other items of the applicable form.
(2) The undersigned registrant agrees that every prospectus that is
filed under paragraph (1) above will be filed as a part of an
amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until
the amendment is effective, and that, in determining any liability
under the 1933 Act, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement for the securities offered therein,
and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to
be the initial bona fide offering of them.
-63-
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, Scudder Securities Trust has duly caused this
Registration Statement on Form N-14 to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Boston and the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 3rd day of March, 2000.
SCUDDER SECURITIES TRUST
By: /s/ Linda C. Coughlin
--------------------------
Linda C. Coughlin
Title: President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement on Form N-14 has been signed below by the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Linda C. Coughlin President March 3, 2000
- ---------------------
Linda C. Coughlin
/s/ Sheryle J. Bolton* Trustee March 3, 2000
- ----------------------
Sheryle J. Bolton
/s/ William T. Burgin* Trustee March 3, 2000
- ----------------------
William T. Burgin
/s/ Keith R. Fox* Trustee March 3, 2000
- -----------------
Keith R. Fox
/s/ William H. Luers* Trustee March 3, 2000
- ---------------------
William H. Luers
/s/ Kathryn L. Quirk* Trustee, Vice President March 3, 2000
- --------------------- and Assistant Secretary
Kathryn L. Quirk
/s/ Joan E. Spero* Trustee March 3, 2000
- --------------------
Joan E. Spero
/s/ John R. Hebble Treasurer (Principal
- ------------------- Financial and Accounting
John R. Hebble Officer) March 3, 2000
*By: /s/ Sheldon A. Jones March 3, 2000
--------------------
Sheldon A. Jones
Attorney-in-fact
-64-
<PAGE>
*Executed pursuant to powers of attorney filed with the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form N-14 as filed with the Commission electronically
herewith.
-65-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 11
DECHERT PRICE & RHOADS LETTERHEAD
March 3, 2000
Scudder Securities Trust on behalf of
Scudder Small Company Value Fund
Two International Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-4103
Dear Sirs:
We have acted as counsel to Scudder Securities Trust, a Massachusetts
business trust (the "Trust"), and we have a general familiarity with the
Trust's business operations, practices and procedures. You have asked for our
opinion regarding the issuance of Class S shares of beneficial interest by
the Trust in connection with the acquisition by Scudder Small Company Value
Fund, a series of the Trust, of the assets of Scudder Tax Managed Small
Company Fund, a series of Investment Trust, which shares are registered on a
Form N-14 Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") filed by the
Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
We have examined originals or certified copies, or copies otherwise
identified to our satisfaction as being true copies, of various trust records of
the Trust and such other instruments, documents and records as we have deemed
necessary in order to render this opinion. We have assumed the genuineness of
all signatures, the authenticity of all documents examined by us and the
correctness of all statements of fact contained in those documents.
On the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Class S
shares of beneficial interest of the Trust being registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 in the Registration Statement, subject to the creation
of the Class S shares in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland,
will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the
Trust, upon transfer of the assets of Scudder Tax Managed Small Company Fund
pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization included in
the Registration Statement.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with and as part of the
Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ DECHERT PRICE & RHOADS
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<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 14
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information constituting
parts of this Registration Statement on Form N-14 (the "Registration
Statement") of our report dated September 14, 1999, relating to the financial
statements and financial highlights appearing in the July 31, 1999 Annual
Report to Shareholders of Scudder Small Company Value Fund which are also
incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. We also consent to
the references to us under the heading "Administrative Fee" in the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and under the headings "Financial Highlights" in the
Prospectus and "Experts" in the Statement of Additional Information dated
December 1, 1999.
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
March 1, 2000
<PAGE>
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information constituting
parts of this Registration Statement on Form N-14 (the "Registration
Statement") of our report dated December 16, 1999, relating to the financial
statements and financial highlights appearing in the October 31, 1999 Annual
Report to Shareholders of Scudder Tax Managed Small Company Fund which are
also incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. We also
consent to the references to us under the heading "Administrative Fee" in the
Proxy Statement/Prospectus and under the headings "Financial Highlights" in
the Prospectus and "Experts" in the Statement of Additional Information dated
March 1, 2000.
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
March 1, 2000
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 16
SCUDDER SECURITIES TRUST
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities
and on the dates indicated. By so signing, the undersigned in his capacity as
trustee or officer, or both, as the case may be, of the Registrant, does
hereby appoint Sheldon A. Jones, Allison R. Beakley, Caroline Pearson and
John Millette and each of them, severally, his/her true and lawful attorney
and agent to execute in his/her name, place and stead (in such capacity) any
and all amendments to the Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendments thereto and all instruments necessary or desirable in connection
therewith, to attest the seal of the Registrant thereon and to file the same
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each of said attorneys and
agents shall have power to act with or without the other and have full power
and authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the undersigned,
in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever necessary or advisable to be
done in the premises as fully and to all intents and the purposes as the
undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and approving the
act of said attorneys and agents and each of them.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Linda C. Coughlin President February 8, 2000
- ---------------------
Linda C. Coughlin
/s/ Sheryle J. Bolton Trustee February 8, 2000
- ----------------------
Sheryle J. Bolton
/s/ William T. Burgin Trustee February 8, 2000
- ----------------------
William T. Burgin
/s/ Keith R. Fox Trustee February 8, 2000
- -----------------
Keith R. Fox
/s/ William H. Luers Trustee February 8, 2000
- ---------------------
William H. Luers
/s/ Kathryn L. Quirk Trustee, Vice President February 8, 2000
- --------------------- and Assistant Secretary
Kathryn L. Quirk
/s/ Joan E. Spero Trustee February 8, 2000
- ------------------
Joan E. Spero
- ------------------- Treasurer (Principal February 8, 2000
John R. Hebble Financial and Accounting
Officer)
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<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 17
FORM OF PROXY
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LOG ON TO WWW.PROXYWEB.COM/XXXXX
*** CONTROL NUMBER: XXX XXX XXX XXX XX ***
PLEASE FOLD AND DETACH CARD AT PERFORATION BEFORE MAILING.
[ACQUIRED FUND]
[ACQUIRED TRUST/CORPORATION]
[address]
PROXY FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
[time], on [date]
The undersigned hereby appoints __________, ____________ and ____________,
and each of them, the proxies of the undersigned, with the power of substitution
to each of them, to vote all shares of the [Acquired Fund] (the "Fund") which
the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of
the Fund to be held at the offices of Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.,
[address], on [date] at [time], Eastern time, and at any adjournments thereof.
PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN PROMPTLY
IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO
POSTAGE IS REQUIRED.
Dated ____________________,2000
PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR
NAME OR NAMES APPEAR. WHEN
SIGNING AS AN ATTORNEY,
EXECUTOR, ADMINISTRATOR,
TRUSTEE OR GUARDIAN, PLEASE
GIVE YOUR FULL TITLE AS SUCH.
-------------------------------
[NAME]
[ADDRESS] -------------------------------
SIGNATURE(S) OF SHAREHOLDER(S)
<PAGE>
[LOGO] YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
[ADDRESS]
VOTE TODAY BY MAIL,
TOUCH-TONE PHONE OR THE INTERNET
CALL TOLL FREE 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX OR
LOG ON TO WWW.PROXYWEB.COM/XXXXX
PLEASE FOLD AND DETACH CARD AT PERFORATION BEFORE MAILING.
ALL PROPERLY EXECUTED PROXIES WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. IF NO INSTRUCTIONS
ARE INDICATED ON A PROPERLY EXECUTED PROXY, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR APPROVAL
OF THE PROPOSALS.
THE PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF [TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS] OF THE
[ACQUIRED FUND]. THE BOARD OF [TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS] RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE
PROPOSALS.
PLEASE VOTE BY FILLING IN THE BOXES BELOW.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
PROPOSAL 1
To elect Trustees to the Board of Trustees
of the Portfolio to hold office until their
respective successors have been duly elected / / / / / /
and qualified or until their earlier
resignation or removal.
NOMINEES:
(01) __________, (02) ____________, (03) _________, (04) ______________, (05)
______________, (06) __________, (07) ______________, (08)_______________, (09)
____________.
INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE
FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, WRITE THE
NAME(S) ON THE LINE IMMEDIATELY BELOW.
- ----------------------------------------------------
PROPOSAL 2
To approve an Agreement and Plan of
Reorganization for the Fund whereby all or
substantially all of the assets an / / / / / /
liabilities of the Fund would be acquired by
[Acquiring Fund] in exchange for shares of
the [class] of the [Acquiring Fund].
PROPOSAL 3
To ratify the selection of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Fund's / / / / / /
independent accountants for the current
fiscal year.
<PAGE>
THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE IN THEIR DISCRETION ON ANY OTHER BUSINESS
WHICH MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING AND ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF.
PLEASE SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE
