Filed electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 1998
File No. 2-14400
File No. 811-642
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Pre-Effective Amendment No.
----------
Post-Effective Amendment No. 64
----------
and
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
Amendment No. 44
----------
Scudder International Fund, Inc.
--------------------------------
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
345 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10154
-----------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (617) 295-2567
--------------
Thomas F. McDonough
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.
Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110-4103
----------------------------------------------
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective
immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
--------
on pursuant to paragraph (b)
-------- --------------
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
--------
75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)
--------
X on August 1, 1998 pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Rule 485
--------
If appropriate, check the following:
this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date
-------- for a previously filed post-effective amendment
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
SCUDDER LATIN AMERICA FUND
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
Items Required By Form N-1A
---------------------------
PART A
- ------
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
<CAPTION>
Item No. Item Caption Prospectus Caption
-------- ------------ ------------------
1. Cover Page COVER PAGE
2. Synopsis EXPENSE INFORMATION
3. Condensed Financial FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Information DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
4. General Description of INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Registrant WHY INVEST IN THE FUND?
LATIN AMERICAN INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS
FUND ORGANIZATION
5. Management of the Fund FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
A MESSAGE FROM SCUDDER'S PRESIDENT
FUND ORGANIZATION--Investment adviser, Transfer agent
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--A team approach to investing
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
5A. Management's Discussion of NOT APPLICABLE
Fund Performance
6. Capital Stock and Other DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION--Dividends and capital
Securities gains distributions
FUND ORGANIZATION
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Tax Information
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--SAIL(TM)--Scudder Automated Information Line,
Dividend reinvestment plan, T.D.D. service for the hearing
impaired
HOW TO CONTACT SCUDDER
7. Purchase of Securities Being PURCHASES
Offered FUND ORGANIZATION--Underwriter
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Purchasing shares, Share price,
Processing time, Minimum balances, Third party transactions
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--Dividend reinvestment plan
SCUDDER TAX-ADVANTAGED RETIREMENT PLANS
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
8. Redemption or Repurchase EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Redeeming shares, Tax identification
number, Minimum balances
9. Pending Legal Proceedings NOT APPLICABLE
1
<PAGE>
SCUDDER LATIN AMERICA FUND
(continued)
PART B
- ------
Caption in Statement of
Item No. Item Caption Additional Information
-------- ------------ ----------------------
10. Cover Page COVER PAGE
11. Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS
12. General Information and History FUND ORGANIZATION
13. Investment Objectives and THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Policies PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS--Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio Turnover
14. Management of the Fund INVESTMENT ADVISER
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
REMUNERATION
15. Control Persons and Principal DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Holders of Securities
16. Investment Advisory and Other INVESTMENT ADVISER
Services DISTRIBUTOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION--Experts, Other Information
17. Brokerage Allocation PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS--Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio Turnover
and Other Practices
18. Capital Stock and Other FUND ORGANIZATION
Securities DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
19. Purchase, Redemption and PURCHASES
Pricing of Securities Being EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
Offered FEATURES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE FUND--Dividend and Capital
Gain Distribution Options
SPECIAL PLAN ACCOUNTS
NET ASSET VALUE
20. Tax Status DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
TAXES
21. Underwriters DISTRIBUTOR
22. Calculation of PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Performance Data
23. Financial Statements FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
SCUDDER PACIFIC OPPORTUNITIES FUND
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
Items Required By Form N-1A
---------------------------
PART A
- ------
Item No. Item Caption Prospectus Caption
-------- ------------ ------------------
1. Cover Page COVER PAGE
2. Synopsis EXPENSE INFORMATION
3. Condensed Financial FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Information DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
4. General Description of INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Registrant WHY INVEST IN THE FUND?
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS
FUND ORGANIZATION
5. Management of the Fund FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
A MESSAGE FROM SCUDDER'S PRESIDENT
FUND ORGANIZATION--Investment adviser, Transfer agent
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--A team approach to investing
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
5A. Management's Discussion NOT APPLICABLE
of Fund Performance
6. Capital Stock and Other DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION--Dividends and capital
Securities gains distributions
FUND ORGANIZATION
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Tax Information
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--SAIL(TM)--Scudder Automated Information Line,
Dividend reinvestment plan, T.D.D. service for the hearing
impaired
HOW TO CONTACT SCUDDER
7. Purchase of Securities PURCHASES
Being Offered FUND ORGANIZATION--Underwriter
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Purchasing shares, Share price,
Processing time, Minimum balances, Third party transactions
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--Dividend reinvestment plan
SCUDDER TAX-ADVANTAGED RETIREMENT PLANS
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
8. Redemption or Repurchase EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Redeeming shares, Tax identification
number, Minimum balances
9. Pending Legal Proceedings NOT APPLICABLE
3
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
SCUDDER PACIFIC OPPORTUNITIES FUND
(continued)
PART B
- ------
Caption in Statement of
Item No. Item Caption Additional Information
-------- ------------ ----------------------
10. Cover Page COVER PAGE
11. Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS
12. General Information and History FUND ORGANIZATION
13. Investment Objectives and THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Policies PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS--Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio Turnover
14. Management of the Fund INVESTMENT ADVISER
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
REMUNERATION
15. Control Persons and Principal DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Holders of Securities
16. Investment Advisory and Other INVESTMENT ADVISER
Services DISTRIBUTOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION--Experts, Other Information
17. Brokerage Allocation PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS--Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio Turnover
and Other Practices
18. Capital Stock and Other FUND ORGANIZATION
Securities DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
19. Purchase, Redemption and PURCHASES
Pricing of Securities Being EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
Offered FEATURES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE FUND--Dividend and Capital
Gain Distribution Options
SPECIAL PLAN ACCOUNTS
NET ASSET VALUE
20. Tax Status DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
TAXES
21. Underwriters DISTRIBUTOR
22. Calculation of PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Performance Data
23. Financial Statements FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
4
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
SCUDDER GREATER EUROPE GROWTH FUND
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
Items Required By Form N-1A
---------------------------
PART A
- ------
Item No. Item Caption Prospectus Caption
-------- ------------ ------------------
1. Cover Page COVER PAGE
2. Synopsis EXPENSE INFORMATION
3. Condensed Financial FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Information DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
4. General Description of INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Registrant WHY INVEST IN THE FUND?
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
FUND ORGANIZATION
5. Management of the Fund FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
A MESSAGE FROM SCUDDER'S PRESIDENT
FUND ORGANIZATION--Investment adviser, Transfer agent
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--A team approach to investing
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
5A. Management's Discussion of NOT APPLICABLE
Fund Performance
6. Capital Stock and Other DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION--Dividends and capital
Securities gains distributions
FUND ORGANIZATION
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Tax information
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--SAIL(TM)--Scudder Automated Information Line,
Dividend reinvestment plan, T.D.D. service for the hearing
impaired
HOW TO CONTACT SCUDDER
7. Purchase of Securities Being PURCHASES
Offered FUND ORGANIZATION--Underwriter
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Purchasing shares, Share price,
Processing time, Minimum balances, Third party transactions
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--Dividend reinvestment plan
SCUDDER TAX-ADVANTAGED RETIREMENT PLANS
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
8. Redemption or Repurchase EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Redeeming shares, Tax identification
number, Minimum balances
9. Pending Legal Proceedings NOT APPLICABLE
5
<PAGE>
SCUDDER GREATER EUROPE GROWTH FUND
(continued)
PART B
- ------
Caption in Statement of
Item No. Item Caption Additional Information
-------- ------------ ----------------------
10. Cover Page COVER PAGE
11. Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS
12. General Information and History FUND ORGANIZATION
13. Investment Objectives and THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Policies PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS -- Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio
Turnover
14. Management of the Fund INVESTMENT ADVISER
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
REMUNERATION
15. Control Persons and Principal DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Holders of Securities
16. Investment Advisory and Other INVESTMENT ADVISER
Services DISTRIBUTOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION--Experts, Other Information
17. Brokerage Allocation PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS--Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio Turnover
and Other Practices
18. Capital Stock and Other FUND ORGANIZATION
Securities DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
19. Purchase, Redemption and PURCHASES
Pricing of Securities Being EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
Offered FEATURES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE FUND--Dividend and Capital
Gain Distribution Options
SPECIAL PLAN ACCOUNTS
NET ASSET VALUE
20. Tax Status DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
TAXES
21. Underwriters DISTRIBUTOR
22. Calculation of PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Performance Data
23. Financial Statements FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
6
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
SCUDDER EMERGING MARKETS GROWTH FUND
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
Items Required By Form N-1A
---------------------------
PART A
- ------
Item No. Item Caption Prospectus Caption
-------- ------------ ------------------
1. Cover Page COVER PAGE
2. Synopsis EXPENSE INFORMATION
3. Condensed Financial FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Information DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
4. General Description of INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Registrant WHY INVEST IN THE FUND?
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
FUND ORGANIZATION
5. Management of the Fund A MESSAGE FROM SCUDDER'S PRESIDENT
FUND ORGANIZATION--Investment adviser, Transfer agent
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--A team approach to investing
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
5A. Management's Discussion of NOT APPLICABLE
Fund Performance
6. Capital Stock and Other DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION--Dividends and capital
Securities gains distributions
FUND ORGANIZATION
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Tax information
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--SAIL(TM)--Scudder Automated Information Line,
Dividend reinvestment plan, T.D.D. service for the hearing
impaired
HOW TO CONTACT SCUDDER
7. Purchase of Securities Being PURCHASES
Offered FUND ORGANIZATION--Underwriter
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Purchasing shares, Share price,
Processing time, Minimum balances, Third party transactions
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--Dividend reinvestment plan
SCUDDER TAX-ADVANTAGED RETIREMENT PLANS
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
8. Redemption or Repurchase EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Redeeming shares, Tax identification
number, Minimum balances
9. Pending Legal Proceedings NOT APPLICABLE
7
<PAGE>
SCUDDER EMERGING MARKETS GROWTH FUND
(continued)
PART B
- ------
Caption in Statement of
Item No. Item Caption Additional Information
-------- ------------ ----------------------
10. Cover Page COVER PAGE
11. Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS
12. General Information and History FUND ORGANIZATION
13. Investment Objectives and THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Policies PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS -- Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio
Turnover
14. Management of the Fund INVESTMENT ADVISER
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
REMUNERATION
15. Control Persons and Principal DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Holders of Securities
16. Investment Advisory and Other INVESTMENT ADVISER
Services DISTRIBUTOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION--Experts, Other Information
17. Brokerage Allocation PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS--Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio Turnover
and Other Practices
18. Capital Stock and Other FUND ORGANIZATION
Securities DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
19. Purchase, Redemption and PURCHASES
Pricing of Securities Being EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
Offered FEATURES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE FUND-- Dividend and Capital
Gain Distribution Options
SPECIAL PLAN ACCOUNTS
NET ASSET VALUE
20. Tax Status DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
TAXES
21. Underwriters DISTRIBUTOR
22. Calculation of PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Performance Data
23. Financial Statements FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
8
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
Items Required By Form N-1A
PART A
- ------
Item No. Item Caption Prospectus Caption
-------- ------------ ------------------
1. Cover Page COVER PAGE
2. Synopsis EXPENSE INFORMATION
3. Condensed Financial FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Information DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
4. General Description of INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Registrant INVESTMENT PROCESS
WHY INVEST IN THE FUND?
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
FUND ORGANIZATION
5. Management of the Fund A MESSAGE FROM SCUDDER'S PRESIDENT
FUND ORGANIZATION--Investment adviser, Transfer agent
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--A team approach to investing
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
5A. Management's Discussion of NOT APPLICABLE
Fund Performance
6. Capital Stock and Other DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION--Dividends and capital
Securities gains distributions
FUND ORGANIZATION
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Tax information
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--SAIL(TM)--Scudder Automated Information Line,
Dividend reinvestment plan, T.D.D. service for the hearing
impaired
HOW TO CONTACT SCUDDER
7. Purchase of Securities Being PURCHASES
Offered FUND ORGANIZATION--Underwriter
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Purchasing shares, Share price,
Processing time, Minimum balances, Third party transactions
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--Dividend reinvestment plan
SCUDDER TAX-ADVANTAGED RETIREMENT PLANS
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
8. Redemption or Repurchase EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Redeeming shares, Tax identification
number, Minimum balances
9. Pending Legal Proceedings NOT APPLICABLE
9
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND
(continued)
PART B
- ------
Caption in Statement of
Item No. Item Caption Additional Information
-------- ------------ ----------------------
10. Cover Page COVER PAGE
11. Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS
12. General Information and History FUND ORGANIZATION
13. Investment Objectives and THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Policies PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS -- Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio
Turnover
14. Management of the Fund INVESTMENT ADVISER
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
REMUNERATION
15. Control Persons and Principal DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Holders of Securities
16. Investment Advisory and Other INVESTMENT ADVISER
Services DISTRIBUTOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION--Experts, Other Information
17. Brokerage Allocation PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS--Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio Turnover
and Other Practices
18. Capital Stock and Other FUND ORGANIZATION
Securities DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
19. Purchase, Redemption and PURCHASES
Pricing of Securities Being EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
Offered FEATURES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE FUND-- Dividend and Capital
Gain Distribution Options
SPECIAL PLAN ACCOUNTS
NET ASSET VALUE
20. Tax Status DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
TAXES
21. Underwriters DISTRIBUTOR
22. Calculation of PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Performance Data
23. Financial Statements FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
10
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL VALUE FUND
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
Items Required By Form N-1A
---------------------------
PART A
- ------
Item No. Item Caption Prospectus Caption
-------- ------------ ------------------
1. Cover Page COVER PAGE
2. Synopsis EXPENSE INFORMATION
3. Condensed Financial FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Information DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
4. General Description of INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Registrant INVESTMENT PROCESS
WHY INVEST IN THE FUND?
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
FUND ORGANIZATION
5. Management of the Fund A MESSAGE FROM SCUDDER'S PRESIDENT
FUND ORGANIZATION--Investment adviser, Transfer agent
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--A team approach to investing
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
5A. Management's Discussion of NOT APPLICABLE
Fund Performance
6. Capital Stock and Other DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION--Dividends and capital
Securities gains distributions
FUND ORGANIZATION
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Tax information
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--SAIL(TM)--Scudder Automated Information Line,
Dividend reinvestment plan, T.D.D. service for the hearing
impaired
HOW TO CONTACT SCUDDER
7. Purchase of Securities Being PURCHASES
Offered FUND ORGANIZATION--Underwriter
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Purchasing shares, Share price,
Processing time, Minimum balances, Third party transactions
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--Dividend reinvestment plan
SCUDDER TAX-ADVANTAGED RETIREMENT PLANS
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
8. Redemption or Repurchase EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Redeeming shares, Tax identification
number, Minimum balances
9. Pending Legal Proceedings NOT APPLICABLE
11
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL VALUE FUND
(continued)
PART B
- ------
Caption in Statement of
Item No. Item Caption Additional Information
-------- ------------ ----------------------
10. Cover Page COVER PAGE
11. Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS
12. General Information and History FUND ORGANIZATION
13. Investment Objectives and THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Policies PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS -- Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio
Turnover
14. Management of the Fund INVESTMENT ADVISER
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
REMUNERATION
15. Control Persons and Principal DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Holders of Securities
16. Investment Advisory and Other INVESTMENT ADVISER
Services DISTRIBUTOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION--Experts, Other Information
17. Brokerage Allocation PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS--Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio Turnover
and Other Practices
18. Capital Stock and Other FUND ORGANIZATION
Securities DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
19. Purchase, Redemption and PURCHASES
Pricing of Securities Being EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
Offered FEATURES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE FUND-- Dividend and Capital
Gain Distribution Options
SPECIAL PLAN ACCOUNTS
NET ASSET VALUE
20. Tax Status DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
TAXES
21. Underwriters DISTRIBUTOR
22. Calculation of PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Performance Data
23. Financial Statements FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
12
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
Items Required By Form N-1A
---------------------------
PART A
- ------
Item No. Item Caption Prospectus Caption
-------- ------------ ------------------
1. Cover Page COVER PAGE
2. Synopsis EXPENSE INFORMATION
3. Condensed Financial FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Information DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
4. General Description of INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Registrant INVESTMENT PROCESS
WHY INVEST IN THE FUND?
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
FUND ORGANIZATION
5. Management of the Fund A MESSAGE FROM SCUDDER'S PRESIDENT
FUND ORGANIZATION--Investment adviser, Transfer agent
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--A team approach to investing
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
5A. Management's Discussion of NOT APPLICABLE
Fund Performance
6. Capital Stock and Other DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION--Dividends and capital
Securities gains distributions
FUND ORGANIZATION
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Tax information
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--SAIL(TM)--Scudder Automated Information Line,
Dividend reinvestment plan, T.D.D. service for the hearing
impaired
HOW TO CONTACT SCUDDER
7. Purchase of Securities Being PURCHASES
Offered FUND ORGANIZATION--Underwriter
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Purchasing shares, Share price,
Processing time, Minimum balances, Third party transactions
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--Dividend reinvestment plan
SCUDDER TAX-ADVANTAGED RETIREMENT PLANS
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
8. Redemption or Repurchase EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Redeeming shares, Tax identification
number, Minimum balances
9. Pending Legal Proceedings NOT APPLICABLE
13
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL GROWTH AND INCOME FUND
(continued)
PART B
- ------
Caption in Statement of
Item No. Item Caption Additional Information
-------- ------------ ----------------------
10. Cover Page COVER PAGE
11. Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS
12. General Information and History FUND ORGANIZATION
13. Investment Objectives and THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Policies PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS -- Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio
Turnover
14. Management of the Fund INVESTMENT ADVISER
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
REMUNERATION
15. Control Persons and Principal DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Holders of Securities
16. Investment Advisory and Other INVESTMENT ADVISER
Services DISTRIBUTOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION--Experts, Other Information
17. Brokerage Allocation PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS--Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio Turnover
and Other Practices
18. Capital Stock and Other FUND ORGANIZATION
Securities DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
19. Purchase, Redemption and PURCHASES
Pricing of Securities Being EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
Offered FEATURES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE FUND-- Dividend and Capital
Gain Distribution Options
SPECIAL PLAN ACCOUNTS
NET ASSET VALUE
20. Tax Status DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
TAXES
21. Underwriters DISTRIBUTOR
22. Calculation of PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Performance Data
23. Financial Statements FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
14
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND
International Shares
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
Items Required By Form N-1A
---------------------------
PART A
- ------
Item No. Item Caption Prospectus Caption
-------- ------------ ------------------
1. Cover Page COVER PAGE
2. Synopsis EXPENSE INFORMATION
3. Condensed Financial FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Information DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
4. General Description of INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Registrant INVESTMENT PROCESS
WHY INVEST IN THE FUND?
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS
RISK CONSIDERATIONS
FUND ORGANIZATION
5. Management of the Fund A MESSAGE FROM SCUDDER'S PRESIDENT
FUND ORGANIZATION--Investment adviser, Transfer agent
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--A team approach to investing
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
5A. Management's Discussion of NOT APPLICABLE
Fund Performance
6. Capital Stock and Other DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION--Dividends and capital
Securities gains distributions
FUND ORGANIZATION
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Tax information
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--SAIL(TM)--Scudder Automated Information Line,
Dividend reinvestment plan, T.D.D. service for the hearing
impaired
HOW TO CONTACT SCUDDER
7. Purchase of Securities Being PURCHASES
Offered FUND ORGANIZATION--Underwriter
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Purchasing shares, Share price,
Processing time, Minimum balances, Third party transactions
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--Dividend reinvestment plan
SCUDDER TAX-ADVANTAGED RETIREMENT PLANS
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
8. Redemption or Repurchase EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Redeeming shares, Tax identification
number, Minimum balances
9. Pending Legal Proceedings NOT APPLICABLE
15
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND
International Shares
(continued)
PART B
- ------
Caption in Statement of
Item No. Item Caption Additional Information
-------- ------------ ----------------------
10. Cover Page COVER PAGE
11. Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS
12. General Information and History FUND ORGANIZATION
13. Investment Objectives and THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Policies PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS -- Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio
Turnover
14. Management of the Fund INVESTMENT ADVISER
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
REMUNERATION
15. Control Persons and Principal DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Holders of Securities
16. Investment Advisory and Other INVESTMENT ADVISER
Services DISTRIBUTOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION--Experts, Other Information
17. Brokerage Allocation PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS--Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio Turnover
and Other Practices
18. Capital Stock and Other FUND ORGANIZATION
Securities DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
19. Purchase, Redemption and PURCHASES
Pricing of Securities Being EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
Offered FEATURES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE FUND-- Dividend and Capital
Gain Distribution Options
SPECIAL PLAN ACCOUNTS
NET ASSET VALUE
20. Tax Status DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
TAXES
21. Underwriters DISTRIBUTOR
22. Calculation of PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Performance Data
23. Financial Statements FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
16
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND
Barrett International Shares
CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
Items Required By Form N-1A
PART A
- ------
Item No. Item Caption Prospectus Caption
-------- ------------ ------------------
1. Cover Page COVER PAGE
2. Synopsis EXPENSE INFORMATION
3. Condensed Financial NOT APPLICABLE
Information
4. General Description of INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Registrant WHY INVEST IN THE FUND?
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS
RISK FACTORS
FUND ORGANIZATION
5. Management of the Fund FUND ORGANIZATION--Investment adviser, Transfer agent
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--A team approach to investing
5A. Management's Discussion of NOT APPLICABLE
Fund Performance
6. Capital Stock and Other DISTRIBUTION AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION--Dividends and capital
Securities gains distributions
FUND ORGANIZATION
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Tax information
SHAREHOLDER Dividend reinvestment plan
HOW TO CONTACT SCUDDER
7. Purchase of Securities Being PURCHASES
Offered FUND ORGANIZATION--Underwriter
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Purchasing shares, Share price,
Processing time, Minimum balances, Third party transactions
SHAREHOLDER BENEFITS--Dividend reinvestment plan
8. Redemption or Repurchase EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
TRANSACTION INFORMATION--Redeeming shares, Tax identification
number, Minimum balances
9. Pending Legal Proceedings NOT APPLICABLE
17
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND
Barrett International Shares
(continued)
PART B
- ------
Caption in Statement of
Item No. Item Caption Additional Information
-------- ------------ ----------------------
10. Cover Page COVER PAGE
11. Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS
12. General Information and History FUND ORGANIZATION
13. Investment Objectives and THE FUNDS' INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
Policies PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS -- Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio
Turnover
14. Management of the Fund INVESTMENT ADVISER
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
REMUNERATION
15. Control Persons and Principal DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Holders of Securities
16. Investment Advisory and Other INVESTMENT ADVISER
Services DISTRIBUTOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION--Experts, Other Information
17. Brokerage Allocation PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS--Brokerage Commissions, Portfolio Turnover
and Other Practices
18. Capital Stock and Other FUND ORGANIZATION
Securities DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
19. Purchase, Redemption and PURCHASES
Pricing of Securities Being REDEEMING SHARES
Offered FEATURES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE FUND-- Dividend and Capital
Gain Distributions
NET ASSET VALUE
20. Tax Status DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
TAXES
</TABLE>
21. Underwriters DISTRIBUTOR
22. Calculation of PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Performance Data
23. Financial Statements FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
18
<PAGE>
Scudder International Fund is a diversified series of Scudder International
Fund, Inc., an open-end management investment company. This prospectus sets
forth concisely the information about the International Shares, a class of
shares of Scudder International Fund, that a prospective investor should know
before investing. Please retain it for future reference.
If you require more detailed information, a Statement of Additional Information
dated August 1, 1998, as amended from time to time, may be obtained without
charge by writing Scudder Investor Services, Inc., Two International Place,
Boston, MA 02110-4103 or calling 1-800-225-2470. The Statement, which is
incorporated by reference into this prospectus, has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and is available along with other related
materials on the SEC's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov).
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Contents--see page 4.
- -------------------------------
NOT FDIC- / MAY LOSE VALUE
INSURED / NO BANK GUARANTEE
- -------------------------------
SCUDDER (logo)
Scudder
International
Fund
Prospectus
August 1, 1998
A pure no-load(TM) (no sales charges) mutual fund seeking long-term growth of
capital primarily from foreign equity securities.
<PAGE>
Expense information
How to compare a Scudder Family of Funds pure no-load(TM) fund
This information is designed to help you understand the various costs and
expenses of investing in Scudder International Shares (the "Shares"), a class
of shares of Scudder International Fund (the "Fund").* By reviewing this table
and those in other mutual funds' prospectuses, you can compare the Fund's fees
and expenses with those of other funds. With Scudder's pure no-load(TM) funds,
you pay no commissions to purchase or redeem shares, or to exchange from one
fund to another. As a result, all of your investment goes to work for you.
1) Shareholder transaction expenses: Expenses charged directly to your
individual account in the Fund for various transactions.
Sales commissions to purchase shares (sales load) NONE
Commissions to reinvest dividends NONE
Redemption fees NONE**
Fees to exchange shares NONE
2) Annual operating expenses: Expenses paid by the Fund before it distributes
its net investment income, expressed as a percentage of the average daily
net assets for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998.
Investment management fee ____%
12b-1 fees NONE
Other expenses ____%
-----
Total operating expenses ____%
=====
Example
Based on the level of total operating expenses listed above, the total expenses
relating to a $1,000 investment in the Fund's International Shares, assuming a
5% annual return and redemption at the end of each period, are listed below.
Investors do not pay these expenses directly; they are paid by the Fund before
it distributes its net investment income to shareholders. (As noted above, the
Fund has no redemption fees of any kind.)
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
------ ------- ------- --------
$12 $37 $63 $140
See "Fund organization--Investment adviser" for further information about the
investment management fee. This example assumes reinvestment of all dividends
and distributions and that the percentage amounts listed under "Annual Fund
operating expenses" remain the same each year. This example should not be
considered a representation of past or future expenses or return. Actual Fund
expenses and return vary from year to year and may be higher or lower than
those shown.
* The information set forth on this page relates only to the Fund's
International Shares. The Fund also offers Barrett International Shares,
which may have different fees and expenses (which may affect performance),
have different minimum investment requirements and are entitled to
different services. More information may be obtained by contacting Scudder
Investor Services, Inc., Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110-4103 or
calling 1-800-225-2470.
** You may redeem by writing or calling the Fund. If you wish to receive your
redemption proceeds via wire, there is a $5 wire service fee. For
additional information, please refer to "Transaction information
--Redeeming shares."
2
<PAGE>
Financial highlights
The following table includes selected data for a share of the International
Shares class outstanding throughout each period (a) and other performance
information derived from the audited financial statements.*
If you would like more detailed information concerning the Fund's performance, a
complete portfolio listing and audited financial statements are available in the
Fund's Annual Report dated March 31, 1997 which may be obtained without charge
by writing or calling Scudder Investor Services, Inc.
TO BE UPDATED
* Shares of the Fund outstanding as of April 3, 1998 were redesignated as the
International Shares class of shares of the Fund in connection with the
creation of a second class of shares of the Fund. The above table contains
performance data for the Fund prior to such date.
3
<PAGE>
A message from Scudder's President
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., investment adviser to the Scudder Family of
Funds, is one of the largest and most experienced investment management
organizations worldwide, managing more than $200 billion in assets globally for
mutual fund investors, retirement and pension plans, institutional and corporate
clients, and private family and individual accounts. It is one of the ten
largest mutual fund companies in the U.S.
We offered America's first no-load mutual fund in 1928, and today the Scudder
Family of Funds includes over 45 no-load mutual fund portfolios. We also manage
the mutual funds in a special program for the American Association of Retired
Persons, as well as the fund options available through Scudder Horizon Plan, a
tax-advantaged variable annuity. We also advise The Japan Fund, and numerous
other open and closed-end funds that invest in this country and other countries
around the world.
The Scudder Family of Funds is designed to make investing easy and less costly.
It includes money market, tax free, income and growth funds as well as IRAs,
401(k)s, Keoghs and other retirement plans.
Services available to shareholders include toll-free access to the professional
service representatives of Scudder Investor Relations, easy exchange among
funds, shareholder reports, informative newsletters and the walk-in convenience
of Scudder Investor Centers.
The Scudder Family of Funds includes those Funds, or classes of Funds, advised
by Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., that are offered without commissions to
purchase or redeem shares or to exchange from one fund to another. There are no
12b-1 fees either, which many other funds now charge to support their marketing
efforts. All of your investment goes to work for you. We look forward to
welcoming you as a shareholder.
/s/ Edmond D. Villani
Scudder International Fund
Investment objective
o long-term growth of capital primarily from foreign equity securities
Investment characteristics
o professional management to help investors without the time or expertise to
invest directly in foreign securities
o international diversification which helps reduce international investment
risk
o convenient participation in investments denominated in foreign currencies
o daily liquidity at current net asset value
Contents
Investment objective and policies 5
Why invest in the Fund? 5
International investment experience 6
Additional information about policies
and investments 6
Distribution and performance information 9
Fund organization 10
Transaction information 12
Shareholder benefits 16
Purchases 19
Exchanges and redemptions 20
Directors and Officers 22
Investment products and services 23
How to contact Scudder Back cover
4
<PAGE>
Investment objective and policies
Scudder International Fund (the "Fund"), a series of Scudder International Fund,
Inc. (the "Corporation"), seeks long-term growth of capital primarily from
foreign equity securities. These securities are selected primarily to permit the
Fund to participate in non-United States companies and economies with prospects
for growth. The Fund invests in companies, wherever organized, which do business
primarily outside the United States. The Fund intends to diversify investments
among several countries and to have represented in the portfolio, in substantial
proportions, business activities in not less than three different countries. The
Fund does not intend to concentrate investments in any particular industry.
Except as otherwise indicated, the Fund's investment objective and policies are
not fundamental and may be changed without a vote of shareholders. If there is a
change in investment objective, shareholders should consider whether the Fund
remains an appropriate investment in light of their then current financial
position and needs. There can be no assurance that the Fund's objective will be
met.
Investments
The Fund generally invests in equity securities of established companies, listed
on foreign exchanges, which the Fund's investment adviser, Scudder Kemper
Investments, Inc. (the "Adviser"), believes have favorable characteristics.
When the Adviser believes that it is appropriate to do so in order to achieve
the Fund's investment objective of long-term capital growth, the Fund may invest
up to 20% of its total assets in debt securities. Such debt securities include
debt securities of foreign governments, supranational organizations and private
issuers, including bonds denominated in the European Currency Unit (ECU).
Portfolio debt investments will be selected on the basis of, among other things,
yield, credit quality, and the fundamental outlooks for currency and interest
rate trends in different parts of the globe, taking into account the ability to
hedge a degree of currency or local bond price risk. The Fund may purchase
"investment-grade" bonds, which are those rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or AAA, AA, A or BBB by Standard & Poor's
Corporation ("S&P") or, if unrated, judged by the Adviser to be of equivalent
quality. The Fund may also invest up to 5% of its total assets in debt
securities which are rated below investment-grade (see "Risk factors").
In addition, the Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase
agreements, trust preferred securities and invest in illiquid and restricted
securities, and may engage in securities lending and strategic transactions,
which may include derivatives.
When the Adviser determines that exceptional conditions exist abroad, the Fund
may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest all or a portion of its assets in
Canadian or U.S. Government obligations or currencies, or securities of
companies incorporated in and having their principal activities in Canada or the
U.S. It is impossible to accurately predict for how long such alternative
strategies may be utilized.
Why invest in the Fund?
The Fund is designed for investors seeking investment opportunity and
diversification through an actively managed portfolio of foreign securities.
One reason that some investors may wish to invest overseas is that certain
foreign economies may grow more rapidly than the U.S. economy and may offer
opportunities for achieving superior investment returns. Another reason is that
foreign stock and bond markets do not always move in step with each other or
5
<PAGE>
with the U.S. markets. A portfolio invested in a number of markets worldwide
will be better diversified than one which is subject to the movements of a
single market.
Another benefit of the Fund is that it eliminates the complications and extra
costs associated with direct investment in individual foreign securities.
Individuals investing directly in foreign stocks may find it difficult to make
purchases and sales, to obtain current information, to hold securities in
safekeeping, and to convert the value of their investments from foreign
currencies into U.S. dollars. The Fund manages these tasks for the investor.
With a single investment, the investor has a diversified international
investment portfolio, which is actively managed by experienced professionals.
The Adviser has had many years of experience in dealing in foreign markets and
with brokers and custodian banks around the world. The Adviser also has the
benefit of an established information network and believes the Fund affords a
convenient and cost-effective method of investing internationally.
The Fund's investments are generally denominated in foreign currencies. The
strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar against these currencies is responsible
for part of the Fund's investment performance. If the dollar falls in value
relative to the Japanese yen, for example, the dollar value of a Japanese stock
held in the portfolio will rise even though the price of the stock remains
unchanged. Conversely, if the dollar rises in value relative to the yen, the
dollar value of the Japanese stock will fall.
International investment
experience
The Adviser has been a leader in international investment management and trading
for over 40 years. In addition to the Fund, which was initially incorporated in
Canada in 1953 as the first foreign investment company registered with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission, its investment company clients
include Scudder International Bond Fund and Scudder International Growth and
Income Fund, which invest internationally, Scudder Global Fund, Scudder Global
Bond Fund, and Scudder Global Discovery Fund, which invest worldwide, Scudder
Greater Europe Growth Fund, which invests primarily in securities of European
companies, The Japan Fund, Inc., which invests primarily in securities of
Japanese companies, Scudder Latin America Fund, which invests primarily in Latin
American issuers, Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund, which invests primarily in
issuers located in the Pacific Basin, with the exception of Japan, Scudder
Emerging Markets Income Fund, which invests in debt securities issued in
emerging markets, and Scudder Emerging Markets Growth Fund, which invests in
equity investments in emerging markets. The Adviser also manages the assets of
seven closed-end investment companies investing in foreign securities: The
Argentina Fund, Inc., The Brazil Fund, Inc., The Korea Fund, Inc., Scudder
Global High Income Fund, Inc., Scudder New Asia Fund, Inc., Scudder New Europe
Fund, Inc. and Scudder Spain and Portugal Fund, Inc. As of December 31, 1997,
the Adviser was responsible for managing more than $200 billion in assets
globally.
Additional information about policies and investments
Investment restrictions
The Fund has certain investment restrictions which are designed to reduce the
Fund's investment risk. Fundamental investment restrictions may not be changed
without a vote of shareholders; non-fundamental investment restrictions may be
changed by a vote of the Corporation's Board of Directors. A complete listing of
investment restrictions is contained under "Investment Restrictions" in the
Share's Statement of Additional Information.
6
<PAGE>
As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not borrow money, except as
permitted under Federal law. Further, as a matter of non-fundamental policy, the
Fund may not borrow money in an amount greater than 5% of total assets, except
for temporary or emergency purposes, although the Fund may engage up to 5% of
total assets in reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls.
As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not make loans except through
the lending of portfolio securities, the purchase of debt securities or
interests in indebtedness or through repurchase agreements. The Fund has adopted
a non-fundamental policy restricting the lending of portfolio securities to no
more than 5% of total assets.
Repurchase agreements
As a means of earning income for periods as short as overnight, the Fund may
enter into repurchase agreements with selected banks and broker/dealers. Under a
repurchase agreement, the Fund acquires securities, subject to the seller's
agreement to repurchase them at a specified time and price.
Securities lending
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to registered broker/dealers as a means
of increasing its income. Loans of portfolio securities will be secured
continuously by collateral consisting of U.S. Government securities or
fixed-income obligations that are maintained at all times in an amount at least
equal to the current market value of the loaned securities. The Fund will earn
any interest or dividends paid on the loaned securities and may share with the
borrower some of the income received on the collateral for the loan or will be
paid a premium for the loan.
Illiquid securities
The Fund may invest in securities for which there is not an active trading
market, or which have resale restrictions. These types of securities generally
offer a higher return than more readily marketable securities, but carry the
risk that the Fund may not be able to dispose of them at an advantageous time or
price.
Strategic Transactions and derivatives
The Fund may, but is not required to, utilize various other investment
strategies as described below to hedge various market risks (such as interest
rates, currency exchange rates, and broad or specific equity or fixed-income
market movements), to manage the effective maturity or duration of fixed-income
securities in the Fund's portfolio or to enhance potential gain. These
strategies may be executed through the use of derivative contracts. Such
strategies are generally accepted as a part of modern portfolio management and
are regularly utilized by many mutual funds and other institutional investors.
Techniques and instruments may change over time as new instruments and
strategies are developed or regulatory changes occur.
In the course of pursuing these investment strategies, the Fund may purchase and
sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on securities,
equity and fixed-income indices and other financial instruments, purchase and
sell financial futures contracts and options thereon, enter into various
interest rate transactions such as swaps, caps, floors or collars, and enter
into various currency transactions such as currency forward contracts, currency
futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currencies or currency futures
(collectively, all the above are called "Strategic Transactions").
Strategic Transactions may be used without limit to attempt to protect against
possible changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased
for the Fund's portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange
rate fluctuations, to protect the Fund's unrealized gains in the value of its
portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment
purposes, to manage the effective maturity or duration of fixed-income
securities in the Fund's portfolio, or to establish a position in the
7
<PAGE>
derivatives markets as a temporary substitute for purchasing or selling
particular securities. Some Strategic Transactions may also be used to enhance
potential gain although no more than 5% of the Fund's assets will be committed
to Strategic Transactions entered into for non-hedging purposes. Any or all of
these investment techniques may be used at any time and in any combination, and
there is no particular strategy that dictates the use of one technique rather
than another, as use of any Strategic Transaction is a function of numerous
variables including market conditions. The ability of the Fund to utilize these
Strategic Transactions successfully will depend on the Adviser's ability to
predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. The Fund will
comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing these
strategies, techniques and instruments.
Strategic Transactions involving financial futures and options thereon will be
purchased, sold or entered into only for bona fide hedging, risk management or
portfolio management purposes and not to create leveraged exposure in the Fund.
Please refer to "Risk factors--Strategic Transactions and derivatives" for more
information.
Risk factors
The Fund's risks are determined by the nature of the securities held and the
portfolio management strategies used by the Adviser. The following are
descriptions of certain risks related to the investments and techniques that the
Fund may use from time to time.
Foreign securities. Investments in foreign securities involve special
considerations due to limited information, higher brokerage costs, different
accounting standards, thinner trading markets as compared to domestic markets
and the likely impact of foreign taxes on the income from securities. They may
also entail other risks, such as the possibility of one or more of the
following: imposition of dividend or interest withholding or confiscatory taxes;
currency blockages or transfer restrictions; expropriation, nationalization or
other adverse political or economic developments; less government supervision
and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies; and the
difficulty of enforcing obligations in other countries. Purchases of foreign
securities are usually made in foreign currencies and, as a result, the Fund may
incur currency conversion costs and may be affected favorably or unfavorably by
changes in the value of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar. Further, it
may be more difficult for the Fund's agents to keep currently informed about
corporate actions which may affect the prices of portfolio securities.
Communications between the U.S. and foreign countries may be less reliable than
within the U.S., increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio
transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities. The Fund's
ability and decisions to purchase and sell portfolio securities may be affected
by laws or regulations relating to the convertibility and repatriation of
assets.
Repurchase agreements. If the seller under a repurchase agreement becomes
insolvent, the Fund's right to dispose of the securities may be restricted, or
the value of the securities may decline before the Fund is able to dispose of
them. In the event of the commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings
with respect to the seller of the securities before repurchase of the securities
under a repurchase agreement, the Fund may encounter delay and incur costs,
including a decline in the value of the securities, before being able to sell
the securities.
Securities lending. From time to time the Fund may lend its portfolio securities
to registered broker/dealers as described above. The risks of lending portfolio
securities, as with other extensions of secured credit, consist of possible
delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the securities
8
<PAGE>
or possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail
financially. Loans will be made to registered broker/dealers deemed by the
Adviser to be in good standing and will not be made unless, in the judgment of
the Adviser, the consideration to be received in exchange for such loans would
justify the risk.
Debt securities. The Fund may invest no more than 5% of its total assets in debt
securities which are rated below investment-grade; that is, rated below Baa by
Moody's or BBB by S&P (commonly referred to as "junk bonds"). The lower the
ratings of such debt securities, the greater their risks render them like equity
securities. Moody's considers bonds it rates Baa to have speculative elements as
well as investment-grade characteristics. The Fund may invest in securities
which are rated D by S&P or, if unrated, are of equivalent quality. Securities
rated D may be in default with respect to payment of principal or interest.
Illiquid securities. The absence of a trading market can make it difficult to
ascertain a market value for these investments. Disposing of illiquid
investments may involve time-consuming negotiation and legal expenses, and it
may be difficult or impossible for the Fund to sell them promptly at an
acceptable price.
Strategic Transactions and derivatives. Strategic Transactions, including
derivative contracts, have risks associated with them including possible default
by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the
Adviser's view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the
use of such Strategic Transactions could result in losses greater than if they
had not been used. Use of put and call options may result in losses to the Fund,
force the sale or purchase of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for
prices higher than (in the case of put options) or lower than (in the case of
call options) current market values, limit the amount of appreciation the Fund
can realize on its investments or cause the Fund to hold a security it might
otherwise sell. The use of currency transactions can result in the Fund
incurring losses as a result of a number of factors including the imposition of
exchange controls, suspension of settlements or the inability to deliver or
receive a specified currency. The use of options and futures transactions
entails certain other risks. In particular, the variable degree of correlation
between price movements of futures contracts and price movements in the related
portfolio position of the Fund creates the possibility that losses on the
hedging instrument may be greater than gains in the value of the Fund's
position. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid in all
circumstances and certain over-the-counter options may have no markets. As a
result, in certain markets, the Fund might not be able to close out a
transaction without incurring substantial losses, if at all. Although the use of
futures contracts and options transactions for hedging should tend to minimize
the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position, at the
same time they tend to limit any potential gain which might result from an
increase in value of such position. Finally, the daily variation margin
requirements for futures contracts would create a greater ongoing potential
financial risk than would purchases of options, where the exposure is limited to
the cost of the initial premium. Losses resulting from the use of Strategic
Transactions would reduce net asset value, and possibly income, and such losses
can be greater than if the Strategic Transactions had not been utilized. The
Strategic Transactions that the Fund may use and some of their risks are
described more fully in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
Distribution and performance information
Dividends and capital gains distributions
The Fund intends to distribute dividends from its net investment income and any
net realized capital gains after utilization of capital loss carryforwards, if
9
<PAGE>
any, in November or December to prevent application of federal excise tax. An
additional distribution may be made if necessary. Any dividends or capital gains
distributions declared in October, November or December with a record date in
such month and paid during the following January will be treated by shareholders
for federal income tax purposes as if received on December 31 of the calendar
year declared. According to preference, shareholders may receive distributions
in cash or have them reinvested in additional Shares of the Fund. If an
investment is in the form of a retirement plan, all dividends and capital gains
distributions must be reinvested into the account.
Generally, dividends from net investment income are taxable to shareholders as
ordinary income. Long-term capital gains distributions, if any, are taxable to
individuals at a maximum 20% or 28% capital gains rate (depending on the Fund's
holding period for the assets giving rise to the gain), regardless of the length
of time shareholders have owned their shares. Short-term capital gains and any
other taxable income distributions are taxable as ordinary income.
Shareholders may be able to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax
returns for their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to
foreign countries.
The Fund sends detailed tax information about the amount and type of its
distributions by January 31 of the following year.
Performance information
From time to time, quotations of the Shares' performance may be included in
advertisements, sales literature or shareholder reports. Performance information
is computed separately for each class of shares of the Fund, in accordance with
formulae prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. All performance
figures are historical, show the performance of a hypothetical investment and
are not intended to indicate future performance. "Total return" is the change in
value of an investment in a class of shares of the Fund for a specified period.
The "average annual total return" is the average annual compound rate of return
of an investment in a class of the Fund assuming the investment has been held
for one year, five years and ten years as of a stated ending date. "Cumulative
total return" represents the cumulative change in value of an investment in a
class of shares of the Fund for various periods. All types of total return
calculations assume that all dividends and capital gains distributions during
the period were reinvested in the relevant class of shares of the Fund.
Performance will vary based upon, among other things, changes in market
conditions and the level of the Fund's expenses as well as a particular class
expenses.
Fund organization
Scudder International Fund is a diversified series of Scudder International
Fund, Inc. (the "Corporation"), an open-end, management investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"). The
Corporation is a Maryland corporation whose predecessor was organized in 1953.
The Fund's activities are supervised by the Corporation's Board of Directors.
The Corporation has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 (the "Plan") under the
1940 Act to permit the Corporation to establish a multiple class distribution
system for the Fund.
Under the Plan, shares of each class of the Fund represent an equal pro rata
interest in the Fund and, generally, shall have identical voting, dividend,
liquidation, and other rights, preferences, powers, restrictions, limitations,
qualifications and terms and conditions, except that: (1) each class shall have
a different designation; (2) each class of shares shall bear its own "class
expenses;" (3) each class shall have exclusive voting rights on any matter
submitted to shareholders that relates to its administrative services,
10
<PAGE>
shareholder services or distribution arrangements; (4) each class shall have
separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the
interests of one class differ from the interests of any other class; (5) each
class may have separate and distinct exchange privileges; (6) each class may
have different conversion features, and (7) each class may have separate account
size requirements. Expenses currently designated as "Class Expenses" by the
Corporation's Board of Directors under the Plan include, for example, transfer
agency fees attributable to a specific class, and certain securities
registration fees.
In addition to the International Shares class of shares offered herein, the Fund
offers one other class of shares, Barrett International Shares, which may have
different fees and expenses (which may affect performance), may have different
minimum investment requirements and are entitled to different services.
Additional information about this other class of shares of the Fund may be
obtained by contacting Scudder Investor Services, Inc. at 1-800-854-8525.
Each share of a class of the Fund shall be entitled to one vote (or fraction
thereof in respect of a fractional share) on matters that such shares (or class
of shares) shall be entitled to vote. Shareholders of the Fund shall vote
together on any matter, except to the extent otherwise required by the 1940 Act,
or when the Board of Directors of the Corporation has determined that the matter
affects only the interest of shareholders of one class of the Fund, in which
case only the shareholders of such class of the Fund shall be entitled to vote
thereon. Any matter shall be deemed to have been effectively acted upon with
respect to the Fund if acted upon as provided in Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act,
or any successor rule, and in the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation.
The Corporation is not required to, and has no current intention of, holding
annual shareholder meetings, although special meetings may be called for
purposes such as electing or removing Directors, changing fundamental investment
policies or approving an investment advisory contract. Shareholders will be
assisted in communicating with other shareholders in connection with removing a
Director as if Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act were applicable.
Investment adviser
The Fund retains the investment management firm of Scudder Kemper Investments,
Inc., a Delaware corporation formerly known as Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc.,
to manage its daily investment and business affairs subject to the policies
established by the Board of Directors. The Directors have overall responsibility
for the management of the Fund under Maryland law.
Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc. ("Scudder"), and Zurich Insurance Company
("Zurich"), an international insurance and financial services organization, have
formed a new global investment organization by combining Scudder's business with
that of Zurich's subsidiary, Zurich Kemper Investments, Inc. and Scudder has
changed its name to Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc. As a result of the
transaction, Zurich owns approximately 70% of the Adviser, with the balance
owned by the Adviser's officers and employees.
The Adviser receives an investment management fee for these services. As of
September 5, 1996, the Fund pays the Adviser an annual fee of 0.90% of the first
$500 million of average daily net assets, 0.85% of such assets in excess of $500
million, 0.80% of such assets in excess of $1 billion, 0.75% of such assets in
excess of $2 billion and 0.70% of such assets in excess of $3 billion. The
Fund's fee is graduated so that increases in the Fund's net assets may result in
a lower annual fee rate and decreases in the Fund's net assets may result in a
higher annual fee rate.
The fee is payable monthly, provided that the Fund will make such interim
payments as may be requested by the Adviser not to exceed 75% of the amount of
the fee then accrued on the books of the Fund and unpaid. The fee is higher than
11
<PAGE>
that charged by many funds which invest primarily in U.S. securities but not
necessarily higher than the fees charged to funds with investment objectives
similar to that of the Fund.
Prior to September 5, 1996, the investment management fee was equal, on an
annual basis, to 0.90% of the first $500 million of average daily net assets,
0.85% of such assets in excess of $500 million, 0.80% of such assets in excess
of $1 billion, and 0.75% of such assets in excess of $2 billion.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997, the Adviser received an investment
management fee of 0.82% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
All of the Fund's expenses are paid out of gross investment income. Shareholders
pay no direct charges or fees for investment services.
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., is located at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New
York.
Transfer agent
Scudder Service Corporation, P.O. Box 2291, Boston, Massachusetts 02107-2291, a
subsidiary of the Adviser, is the transfer, shareholder servicing and
dividend-paying agent for the Fund.
Underwriter
Scudder Investor Services, Inc., a subsidiary of the Adviser, is the Fund's
principal underwriter. Scudder Investor Services, Inc. confirms, as agent, all
purchases of shares of the Fund. Scudder Investor Relations is a telephone
information service provided by Scudder Investor Services, Inc.
Fund accounting agent
Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation, a subsidiary of the Adviser, is responsible
for determining the daily net asset value per share and maintaining the general
accounting records of the Fund.
Custodian
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is the Fund's custodian.
Transaction information
Purchasing shares
Purchases are executed at the next calculated net asset value per share after
the Fund's transfer agent receives the purchase request in good order. Purchases
are made in full and fractional Shares. (See "Share price.")
By check. If you purchase shares with a check that does not clear, your purchase
will be canceled and you will be subject to any losses or fees incurred in the
transaction. Checks must be drawn on or payable through a U.S. bank. If you
purchase shares by check and redeem them within seven business days of purchase,
the Fund may hold redemption proceeds until the purchase check has cleared. If
you purchase shares by federal funds wire, you may avoid this delay. Redemption
requests by telephone prior to the expiration of the seven-day period will not
be accepted.
By wire. To open a new account by wire, first call Scudder at 1-800-225-5163 to
obtain an account number. A representative will instruct you to send a
completed, signed application to the transfer agent. Accounts cannot be opened
without a completed, signed application and a Scudder fund account number.
Contact your bank to arrange a wire transfer to:
The Scudder Funds
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Boston, MA 02101
ABA Number 011000028
DDA Account 9903-5552
Your wire instructions must also include:
- -- the name of the fund and class of shares in which the money is to be
invested,
- -- the account number of the fund and class of shares, and
- -- the name(s) of the account holder(s).
The account will be established once the application and money order are
received in good order.
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<PAGE>
You may also make additional investments of $100 or more to your existing
account by wire.
By telephone order. Existing shareholders may purchase shares at a certain day's
price by calling 1-800-225-5163 before the close of regular trading on the New
York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange"), normally 4 p.m. eastern time, on that day.
Orders must be for $10,000 or more and cannot be for an amount greater than four
times the value of your account at the time the order is placed. A confirmation
with complete purchase information is sent shortly after your order is received.
You must include with your payment the order number given at the time the order
is placed. If payment by check or wire is not received within three business
days, the order will be canceled and the shareholder will be responsible for any
loss to the Fund resulting from this cancelation. Telephone orders are not
available for shares held in Scudder IRA accounts and most other Scudder
retirement plan accounts.
By "QuickBuy." If you elected "QuickBuy" for your account, you can call
toll-free to purchase shares. The money will be automatically transferred from
your predesignated bank checking account. Your bank must be a member of the
Automated Clearing House for you to use this service. If you did not elect
"QuickBuy," call 1-800-225-5163 for more information.
To purchase additional shares, call 1-800-225-5163. Purchases may not be for
more than $250,000. Proceeds in the amount of your purchase will be transferred
from your bank checking account in two or three business days following your
call. For requests received by the close of regular trading on the Exchange,
shares will be purchased at the net asset value per share calculated at the
close of trading on the day of your call. "QuickBuy" requests received after the
close of regular trading on the Exchange will begin their processing and be
purchased at the net asset value calculated the following business day.
If you purchase shares by "QuickBuy" and redeem them within seven days of the
purchase, the Fund may hold the redemption proceeds for a period of up to seven
business days. If you purchase shares and there are insufficient funds in your
bank account, the purchase will be canceled and you will be subject to any
losses or fees incurred in the transaction. "QuickBuy" transactions are not
available for most retirement plan accounts. However, "QuickBuy" transactions
are available for Scudder IRA accounts.
By exchange. The International Shares class of shares of the Fund may be
exchanged for shares of other funds in the Scudder Family of Funds, unless
otherwise determined by the Board of Directors. Your new account will have the
same registration and address as your existing account.
The exchange requirements for corporations, other organizations, trusts,
fiduciaries, agents, institutional investors and retirement plans may be
different from those for regular accounts. Please call 1-800-225-5163 for more
information, including information about the transfer of special account
features.
You can also make exchanges among your Scudder fund accounts on SAIL, the
Scudder Automated Information Line, by calling 1-800-343-2890.
Redeeming shares
The Fund allows you to redeem shares (i.e., sell them back to the Fund) without
redemption fees.
By telephone. This is the quickest and easiest way to sell Fund shares. If you
provided your banking information on your application, you can call to request
that federal funds be sent to your authorized bank account. If you did not
provide your banking information on your application, call 1-800-225-5163 for
more information.
Redemption proceeds will be wired to your bank unless otherwise requested. If
your bank cannot receive federal reserve wires, redemption proceeds will be
13
<PAGE>
mailed to your bank. There will be a $5 charge for all wire redemptions.
You can also make redemptions from your Scudder fund account on SAIL by calling
1-800-343-2890.
If you open an account by wire, you cannot redeem shares by telephone until the
Fund's transfer agent has received your completed and signed application.
Telephone redemption is not available for shares held in Scudder IRA accounts
and most other Scudder retirement plan accounts.
In the event that you are unable to reach the Fund by telephone, you should
write to the Fund; see "How to contact Scudder" for the address.
By "QuickSell." If you elected "QuickSell" for your account, you can call
toll-free to redeem shares. The money will be automatically transferred to your
predesignated bank checking account. Your bank must be a member of the Automated
Clearing House for you to use this service. If you did not elect "QuickSell,"
call 1-800-225-5163 for more information.
To redeem shares, call 1-800-225-5163. Redemptions must be for at least $250.
Proceeds in the amount of your redemption will be transferred to your bank
checking account in two or three business days following your call. For requests
received by the close of regular trading on the Exchange, shares will be
redeemed at the net asset value per share calculated at the close of trading on
the day of your call. "QuickSell" requests received after the close of regular
trading on the Exchange will begin their processing and be redeemed at the net
asset value calculated the following business day.
"QuickSell" transactions are not available for Scudder IRA accounts and most
other retirement plan accounts.
Signature guarantees. For your protection and to prevent fraudulent redemptions,
on written redemption requests in excess of $100,000 we require an original
signature and an original signature guarantee for each person in whose name the
account is registered. (The Fund reserves the right, however, to require a
signature guarantee for all redemptions.) You can obtain a signature guarantee
from most banks, credit unions or savings associations, or from broker/dealers,
municipal securities broker/dealers, government securities broker/dealers,
national securities exchanges, registered securities associations or clearing
agencies deemed eligible by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Signature
guarantees by notaries public are not acceptable. Redemption requirements for
corporations, other organizations, trusts, fiduciaries, agents, institutional
investors and retirement plans may be different from those for regular accounts.
For more information, please call 1-800-225-5163.
Telephone transactions
Shareholders automatically receive the ability to exchange by telephone and the
right to redeem by telephone up to $100,000 to their address of record.
Shareholders also may, by telephone, request that redemption proceeds be sent to
a predesignated bank account. The Fund uses procedures designed to give
reasonable assurance that telephone instructions are genuine, including
recording telephone calls, testing a caller's identity and sending written
confirmation of telephone transactions. If the Fund does not follow such
procedures, it may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent
telephone instructions. The Fund will not be liable for acting upon instructions
communicated by telephone that it reasonably believes to be genuine.
Share price
Purchases and redemptions, including exchanges, are made at net asset value.
Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation determines net asset value per Share as of
the close of regular trading on the Exchange, normally 4 p.m. eastern time, on
each day the Exchange is open for trading. Net asset value per Share is
calculated by dividing the value of total assets attributable to the Fund's
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<PAGE>
International Shares, less all liabilities attributable to that class, by the
total number of shares outstanding for that class.
Processing time
All purchase and redemption requests must be received in good order by the
Fund's transfer agent. Those requests received by the close of regular trading
on the Exchange are executed at the net asset value per Share calculated at the
close of regular trading that day.
Purchase and redemption requests received after the close of regular trading on
the Exchange will be executed the following business day.
If you wish to make a purchase of $500,000 or more, you should notify Scudder
Investor Relations by calling 1-800-225-5163.
The Fund will normally send your redemption proceeds within one business day
following the redemption request, but may take up to seven business days (or
longer in the case of shares recently purchased by check).
Purchase restrictions
Purchases and sales should be made for long-term investment purposes only. The
Fund and Scudder Investor Services, Inc. each reserves the right to reject
purchases of Fund shares (including exchanges) for any reason, including when a
pattern of frequent purchases and sales made in response to short-term
fluctuations in the Fund's share price appears evident.
Tax information
A redemption of shares, including an exchange into another Scudder fund, is a
sale of shares and may result in a gain or loss for income tax purposes.
Tax identification number
Be sure to complete the Tax Identification Number section of the Fund's
application when you open an account. Federal tax law requires the Fund to
withhold 31% of taxable dividends, capital gains distributions and redemption
and exchange proceeds from accounts (other than those of certain exempt payees)
without a correct certified Social Security or tax identification number and
certain other certified information or upon notification from the IRS or a
broker that withholding is required. The Fund reserves the right to reject new
account applications without a correct certified Social Security or tax
identification number. The Fund also reserves the right, following 30 days'
notice, to redeem all shares in accounts without a correct certified Social
Security or tax identification number. A shareholder may avoid involuntary
redemption by providing the Fund with a tax identification number during the
30-day notice period.
Minimum balances
Shareholders of International Shares should maintain a share balance worth at
least $2,500, which amount may be changed by the Board of Directors. Scudder
retirement plans and certain other accounts have similar or lower minimum share
balance requirements. A shareholder of International Shares may open an account
with at least $1,000, if an automatic investment plan of $100/month is
established.
Shareholders of International Shares who maintain a non-fiduciary account
balance of less than $2,500 in the Fund, without establishing an automatic
investment plan, will be assessed an annual $10.00 per fund charge with the fee
to be paid to the Fund. The $10.00 charge will not apply to shareholders with a
combined household account balance in any of the Scudder Funds of $25,000 or
more. The Fund reserves the right, following 60 days' written notice to
shareholders, to redeem all Shares in accounts below $250, including accounts of
new investors, where a reduction in value has occurred due to a redemption or
exchange out of the account. The Fund will mail the proceeds of the redeemed
account to the shareholder. Reductions in value that result solely from market
activity will not trigger an involuntary redemption. Retirement accounts and
certain other accounts will not be assessed the $10.00 charge or be subject to
15
<PAGE>
automatic liquidation. Please refer to "Exchanges and Redemptions-- Other
Information" in the Shares' Statement of Additional Information for more
information.
Third party transactions
If purchases and redemptions of Fund shares are arranged and settlement is made
at an investor's election through a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., other than Scudder Investor Services, Inc., that
member may, at its discretion, charge a fee for that service.
Redemption-in-kind
The Fund reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments
undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase order by making
payment in whole or in part in readily marketable securities chosen by the Fund
and valued as they are for purposes of computing the Fund's net asset value (a
redemption-in-kind).
If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction expenses
in converting these securities to cash. The Corporation has elected, however, to
be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, as a result of which the Fund is
obligated to redeem shares, with respect to any one shareholder during any
90-day period, solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net
asset value of the Fund at the beginning of the period.
Shareholder benefits
Experienced professional management
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., one of the nation's most experienced
investment management firms, actively manages your Scudder fund investment.
Professional management is an important advantage for investors who do not have
the time or expertise to invest directly in individual securities.
A team approach to investing
Scudder International Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who
each play an important role in the Fund's management process. Team members work
together to develop investment strategies and select securities for the Fund's
portfolio. They are supported by the Adviser's large staff of economists,
research analysts, traders and other investment specialists who work in the
Adviser's offices across the United States and abroad. The Adviser believes its
team approach benefits Fund investors by bringing together many disciplines and
leveraging its extensive resources.
Irene Cheng, Lead Portfolio Manager, joined the Adviser in 1993. Ms. Cheng, who
has over 13 years of industry experience, focuses on portfolio management and
equity strategy for the Adviser's international equity accounts.
Nicholas Bratt, Portfolio Manager, directs the Adviser's overall global equity
investment strategies. Mr. Bratt joined the Adviser and the team in 1976.
Deborah A. Chaplin, Portfolio Manager, focuses on stock selection and investment
strategy. Ms. Chaplin has five years of experience in investment management as
both a securities analyst and equity portfolio manager, prior to joining the
Adviser in 1996.
Carol L. Franklin, Portfolio Manager, joined Scudder International Fund's
portfolio management team in 1986. Ms. Franklin, who has over 20 years of
experience in finance and investing, joined the Adviser in 1981.
Joan Gregory, Portfolio Manager, focuses on stock selection, a role she has
played since she joined the Adviser in 1992. Ms. Gregory, who joined the team in
1994, has been involved with investment in global and international stocks.
Sheridan Reilly, Portfolio Manager, joined the Adviser in 1995 and is a member
of the Adviser's Global Equity Group. Mr. Reilly has over 10 years of industry
experience focusing on strategies for global portfolios, currency hedging and
foreign equity markets.
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<PAGE>
SAIL(TM)--Scudder Automated Information Line
For personalized account information including fund prices, yields and account
balances, to perform transactions in existing Scudder fund accounts, or to
obtain information on any Scudder fund, shareholders can call Scudder's
Automated Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-343-2890, 24 hours a day. During
periods of extreme economic or market changes, or other conditions, it may be
difficult for you to effect telephone transactions in your account. In such an
event you should write to the Fund; please see "How to contact Scudder" for the
address.
Investment flexibility
Scudder offers toll-free telephone exchange between funds at current net asset
value. You can move your investments among money market, income, growth,
tax-free and growth and income funds with a simple toll-free call or, if you
prefer, by sending your instructions through the mail or by fax. (The exchange
privilege may not be available for certain Scudder funds or classes thereof. For
more information, please call 1-800-225-5163.) Telephone and fax redemptions and
exchanges are subject to termination and their terms are subject to change at
any time by the Fund or the transfer agent. In some cases, the transfer agent or
Scudder Investor Services, Inc. may impose additional conditions on telephone
transactions.
Personal Counsel(SM) -- A Managed Fund Portfolio Program
If you would like to receive direct guidance and management of your overall
mutual fund portfolio to help you pursue your investment goals, you may be
interested in Personal Counsel from Scudder. Personal Counsel, a program of
Scudder Investor Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser and a
subsidiary of Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., combines the benefits of a
customized portfolio of pure no-load Scudder Funds with ongoing portfolio
monitoring and individualized service, for an annual fee of generally 1% or less
of assets (with a $1,000 minimum). In addition, it draws upon the Adviser's more
than 75-year heritage of providing investment counsel to large corporate and
private clients. If you have $100,000 or more to invest initially and would like
more information about Personal Counsel, please call 1-800-700-0183.
Dividend reinvestment plan
You may have dividends and distributions automatically reinvested in additional
Fund Shares. Please call 1-800-225-5163 to request this feature.
Shareholder statements
You will receive a detailed statement summarizing account activity, including
dividend and capital gain reinvestment, purchases and redemptions. All of your
statements should be retained to help you keep track of account activity and the
cost of shares for tax purposes.
Shareholder reports
In addition to account statements, you receive periodic shareholder reports
highlighting relevant information, including investment results and a review of
portfolio changes.
To reduce the volume of mail you receive, only one copy of most Fund reports,
such as the Fund's Annual Report, may be mailed to your household (same surname,
same address). Please call 1-800-225-5163 if you wish to receive additional
shareholder reports.
Newsletters
Four times a year, Scudder sends you Perspectives, an informative newsletter
covering economic and investment developments, service enhancements and other
topics of interest to Scudder fund investors.
Scudder Investor Centers
As a convenience to shareholders who like to conduct business in person, Scudder
Investor Services, Inc. maintains Investor Centers in Boca Raton, Boston,
17
<PAGE>
Chicago, New York and San Francisco.
T.D.D. service for the hearing impaired
Scudder's full range of investor information and shareholder services is
available to hearing impaired investors through a toll-free T.D.D. (Telephone
Device for the Deaf) service. If you have access to a T.D.D., call
1-800-543-7916 for investment information or specific account questions and
transactions.
18
<PAGE>
Purchases
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Opening Minimum initial investment: $2,500; IRAs $1,000
an account Group retirement plans (401(k), 403(b), etc.) have similar or lower minimums.
See appropriate plan literature.
Make checks o By Mail Send your completed and signed application and check
payable to "The
Scudder Funds." by regular mail to: or by express, registered,
or certified mail to:
The Scudder Funds The Scudder Funds
P.O. Box 2291 66 Brooks Drive
Boston, MA Braintree, MA 02184
02107-2291
o By Wire Please see Transaction information--Purchasing shares--
By wire for details, including the ABA wire transfer number.
Then call 1-800-225-5163 for instructions.
o In Person Visit one of our Investor Centers to complete your application
with the help of a Scudder representative. Investor Center
locations are listed under Shareholder benefits.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchasing Minimum additional investment: $100; IRAs $50
additional Group retirement plans (401(k), 403(b), etc.) have similar or lower minimums.
shares See appropriate plan literature.
Make checks o By Mail Send a check with a Scudder investment slip, or with a letter of
payable to "The instruction including your account number and the complete
Scudder Funds." Fund name and class, to the appropriate address listed above.
o By Wire Please see Transaction information--Purchasing shares--
By wire for details, including the ABA wire transfer number.
o In Person Visit one of our Investor Centers to make an additional
investment in your Scudder fund account. Investor Center locations
are listed under Shareholder benefits.
o By Telephone Please see Transaction information--Purchasing shares--
By QuickBuy or By telephone order for more details.
o By Automatic You may arrange to make investments on a regular basis through automatic
Investment Plan deductions from your bank checking account. Please call 1-800-225-5163
($50 minimum) for more information and an enrollment form.
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<PAGE>
Exchanges and redemptions
Exchanging shares
Minimum investments: $2,500 to establish a new account;
$100 to exchange among existing accounts
o By Telephone To speak with a service representative, call 1-800-225-5163 from
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. eastern time or to access SAIL(TM), Scudder's Automated
Information Line, call 1-800-343-2890 (24 hours a day).
o By Mail Print or type your instructions and include:
or Fax - the name of the Fund and the account number you are exchanging from;
- your name(s) and address as they appear on your account;
- the dollar amount or number of shares you wish to exchange;
- the name of the Fund and class you are exchanging into;
- your signature(s) as it appears on your account; and
- a daytime telephone number.
Send your instructions
by regular mail to: or by express, registered, or by fax to:
or certified mail to:
The Scudder Funds The Scudder Funds 1-800-821-6234
P.O. Box 2291 66 Brooks Drive
Boston, MA 02107-2291 Braintree, MA 01284
Redeeming shares o By Telephone
To speak with a service representative, call 1-800-225-5163 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
eastern time or to access SAIL(TM), Scudder's Automated Information Line, call
1-800-343-2890 (24 hours a day). You may have redemption proceeds sent to your
predesignated bank account, or redemptionproceeds of up to $100,000 sent to your
address of record.
o By Mail Send your instructions for redemption to the appropriate address or fax number
or Fax above and include:
- the name of the Fund, class, and account number you are redeeming from;
- your name(s) and address as they appear on your account;
- the dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;
- your signature(s) as it appears on your account; and
- a daytime telephone number.
A signature guarantee is required for redemptions over $100,000. See Transaction
information--Redeeming shares.
o By Automatic You may arrange to receive automatic cash payments periodically. Call
Withdrawal Plan 1-800-225-5163 for more information and an enrollment form.
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
Scudder tax-advantaged retirement plans
Scudder offers a variety of tax-advantaged retirement plans for individuals,
businesses and non-profit organizations. These flexible plans are designed for
use with the Scudder Family of Funds (except Scudder tax-free funds, which are
inappropriate for such plans). Scudder Funds offer a broad range of investment
objectives and can be used to seek almost any investment goal. Using Scudder's
retirement plans can help shareholders save on current taxes while building
their retirement savings.
o Scudder No-Fee IRAs. These retirement plans allow a maximum annual
contribution of up to $2,000 per person for anyone with earned income (up to
$2,000 per individual for married couples filing jointly, even if only one
spouse has earned income). Many people can deduct all or part of their
contributions from their taxable income, and all investment earnings accrue
on a tax-deferred basis. The Scudder No-Fee IRA charges you no annual
custodial fee.
o Scudder Roth No-Fee IRAs. Similar to the traditional IRA in many respects,
these retirement plans provide a unique opportunity for qualifying
individuals to accumulate investment earnings tax free. Unlike a traditional
IRA, with a Roth IRA, if you meet the distribution requirements, you can
withdraw your money without paying any taxes on the earnings. No tax
deduction is allowed for contributions to a Roth IRA. The Scudder Roth IRA
charges you no annual custodial fee.
o 401(k) Plans. 401(k) plans allow employers and employees to make
tax-deductible retirement contributions. Scudder offers a full service
program that includes recordkeeping, prototype plan, employee communications
and trustee services, as well as investment options.
o Profit Sharing and Money Purchase Pension Plans. These plans allow
corporations, partnerships and people who are self-employed to make annual,
tax-deductible contributions of up to $30,000 for each person covered by the
plans. Plans may be adopted individually or paired to maximize contributions.
These are sometimes known as Keogh plans.
o 403(b) Plans. Retirement plans for tax-exempt organizations and school
systems to which employers and employees may both contribute.
o SEP-IRAs. Easily administered retirement plans for small businesses and
self-employed individuals. The maximum annual contribution to SEP-IRA
accounts is adjusted each year for inflation. The Scudder SEP-IRA charges you
no annual custodial fee.
o Scudder Horizon Plan. A no-load variable annuity that lets you build assets
by deferring taxes on your investment earnings. You can start with $2,500 or
more.
Scudder Trust Company (an affiliate of the Adviser) is Trustee or Custodian for
some of these plans and is paid an annual fee for some of the above retirement
plans. For information about establishing a Scudder No-Fee IRA, SEP-IRA, Profit
Sharing Plan, Money Purchase Pension Plan or a Scudder Horizon Plan, please call
1-800-225-2470. For information about 401(k)s or 403(b)s please call
1-800-323-6105. To effect transactions in existing IRA, SEP-IRA and most Profit
Sharing or Pension Plan accounts, call 1-800-225-5163.
The variable annuity contract is provided by Charter National Life Insurance
Company (in New York State, Intramerica Life Insurance Company [S 1802]). The
contract is offered by Scudder Insurance Agency, Inc. (in New York State, Nevada
and Montana, Scudder Insurance Agency of New York, Inc.). CNL, Inc. is the
Principal Underwriter. Scudder Horizon Plan is not available in all states.
Scudder Investor Relations is a service provided through Scudder Investor
Services, Inc., Distributor.
21
<PAGE>
Directors and Officers
Daniel Pierce*
Chairman of the Board and Director
Paul Bancroft III
Director; Venture Capitalist and Consultant
Sheryle J. Bolton
Director; Chief Executive Officer, Scientific Learning Corporation
William T. Burgin
Director; General Partner, Bessemer Venture Partners
Thomas J. Devine
Director; Consultant
Keith R. Fox
Director; President, Exeter Capital
Management Corporation
William H. Gleysteen, Jr.
Director; Consultant; Guest Scholar,
Brookings Institute
William H. Luers
Director; President, The Metropolitan
Museum of Art
Wilson Nolen
Director; Consultant
Kathryn L. Quirk*
Director, Vice President and Assistant
Secretary
Robert W. Lear
Honorary Director; Executive-in-Residence, Visiting Professor,
Columbia University Graduate School of Business
Robert G. Stone, Jr.
Honorary Director; Chairman Emeritus and Director, Kirby Corporation
Elizabeth J. Allan*
Vice President
Nicholas Bratt*
President
Irene T. Cheng*
Vice President
Joyce E. Cornell*
Vice President
Susan E. Dahl*
Vice President
Richard W. Desmond*
Assistant Secretary
Carol L. Franklin*
Vice President
Edmund B. Games, Jr.*
Vice President
Theresa Gusman*
Vice President
Jerard K. Hartman*
Vice President
John R. Hebble*
Assistant Treasurer
Thomas W. Joseph*
Vice President
Thomas F. McDonough*
Treasurer, Vice President and Secretary
Caroline Pearson*
Assistant Secretary
Sheridan Reilly*
Vice President
* Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.
22
<PAGE>
Investment products and services
The Scudder Family of Funds+++
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Money Market
- ------------
Scudder U.S. Treasury Money Fund
Scudder Cash Investment Trust
Scudder Money Market Series--
Premium Shares*
Managed Shares*
Scudder Government Money Market Series--
Managed Shares*
Tax Free Money Market+
- ----------------------
Scudder Tax Free Money Fund
Scudder Tax Free Money Market Series--
Managed Shares*
Scudder California Tax Free Money Fund**
Scudder New York Tax Free Money Fund**
Tax Free+
- ---------
Scudder Limited Term Tax Free Fund
Scudder Medium Term Tax Free Fund
Scudder Managed Municipal Bonds
Scudder High Yield Tax Free Fund
Scudder California Tax Free Fund**
Scudder Massachusetts Limited Term Tax Free Fund**
Scudder Massachusetts Tax Free Fund**
Scudder New York Tax Free Fund**
Scudder Ohio Tax Free Fund**
Scudder Pennsylvania Tax Free Fund**
U.S. Income
- -----------
Scudder Short Term Bond Fund
Scudder Zero Coupon 2000 Fund
Scudder GNMA Fund
Scudder Income Fund
Scudder High Yield Bond Fund
Global Income
- -------------
Scudder Global Bond Fund
Scudder International Bond Fund
Scudder Emerging Markets Income Fund
Asset Allocation
- ----------------
Scudder Pathway Conservative Portfolio
Scudder Pathway Balanced Portfolio
Scudder Pathway Growth Portfolio
Scudder Pathway International Portfolio
U.S. Growth and Income
- ----------------------
Scudder Balanced Fund
Scudder Growth and Income Fund
Scudder S&P 500 Index Fund
Scudder Real Estate Investment Fund
U.S. Growth
- -----------
Value
Scudder Large Company Value Fund
Scudder Value Fund***
Scudder Small Company Value Fund
Scudder Micro Cap Fund
Growth
Scudder Classic Growth Fund***
Scudder Large Company Growth Fund
Scudder Development Fund
Scudder 21st Century Growth Fund
Global Growth
- -------------
Worldwide
Scudder Global Fund
Scudder International Growth and Income Fund
Scudder International Fund
Scudder Global Discovery Fund***
Scudder Emerging Markets Growth Fund
Scudder Gold Fund
Regional
Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund
Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund
Scudder Latin America Fund
The Japan Fund, Inc.
Industry Sector Funds
- ---------------------
Choice Series
Scudder Financial Services Fund
Scudder Health Care Fund
Scudder Technology Fund
Retirement Programs and Education Accounts
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retirement Programs
- -------------------
Traditional IRA
Roth IRA
SEP-IRA
Keogh Plan
401(k), 403(b) Plans
Scudder Horizon Plan **+++ +++
(a variable annuity)
Education Accounts
- ------------------
Education IRA
UGMA/UTMA
Closed-End Funds#
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Argentina Fund, Inc.
The Brazil Fund, Inc.
The Korea Fund, Inc.
Montgomery Street Income Securities, Inc.
Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc.
Scudder New Asia Fund, Inc.
Scudder New Europe Fund, Inc.
Scudder Spain and Portugal Fund, Inc.
For complete information on any of the above Scudder funds, including management
fees and expenses, call or write for a free prospectus. Read it carefully before
you invest or send money. +++Funds within categories are listed in order from
expected least risk to most risk. Certain Scudder funds or classes thereof may
not be available for purchase or exchange. +A portion of the income from the
tax-free funds may be subject to federal, state, and local taxes. *A class of
shares of the Fund. **Not available in all states. ***Only the Scudder Shares of
the Fund are part of the Scudder Family of Funds. +++ +++A no-load variable
annuity contract provided by Charter National Life Insurance Company and its
affiliate, offered by Scudder's insurance agencies, 1-800-225-2470. #These
funds, advised by Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., are traded on the New York
Stock Exchange and, in some cases, on various foreign stock exchanges.
23
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
How to contact Scudder
Account Service and Information:
<S> <C>
For existing account service and transactions
Scudder Investor Relations -- 1-800-225-5163
For 24 hour account information, fund information, exchanges, and an
overview of all the services available to you
Scudder Electronic Account Services -- http://funds.scudder.com
For personalized information about your Scudder accounts, exchanges and redemptions
Scudder Automated Information Line (SAIL) -- 1-800-343-2890
Investment Information:
For information about the Scudder funds, including additional
applications and prospectuses, or for answers to investment questions
Scudder Investor Relations -- 1-800-225-2470
[email protected]
Scudder's World Wide Web Site -- http://funds.scudder.com
For establishing 401(k) and 403(b) plans
Scudder Defined Contribution Services -- 1-800-323-6105
Scudder Brokerage Services:
To receive information about this discount brokerage service and to obtain an application
Scudder Brokerage Services* -- 1-800-700-0820
Personal Counsel(SM) -- A Managed Fund Portfolio Program:
To receive information about this mutual fund portfolio guidance and management program
Personal Counsel from Scudder -- 1-800-700-0183
Please address all correspondence to:
The Scudder Funds
P.O. Box 2291
Boston, Massachusetts
02107-2291
Or Stop by a Scudder Investor Center:
Many shareholders enjoy the personal, one-on-one service of the Scudder
Investor Centers. Check for an Investor Center near you--they can be
found in the following cities:
Boca Raton Chicago San Francisco
Boston New York
Scudder Investor Relations and Scudder Investor Centers are services provided
through Scudder Investor Services, Inc., Distributor.
</TABLE>
* Scudder Brokerage Services, Inc., 42 Longwater Drive, Norwell, MA
02061--Member NASD/SIPC.
<PAGE>
Scudder International Fund
Scudder International Fund is a diversified series of Scudder International
Fund, Inc., an open-end management investment company. This prospectus sets
forth concisely the information about Barrett International Shares, a class of
shares of Scudder International Fund, that a prospective investor should know
before investing. Please retain it for future reference.
If you require more detailed information, a Statement of Additional Information
dated August 1, 1998, as amended from time to time, may be obtained without
charge by writing Scudder Investor Services, Inc., Two International Place,
Boston, MA 02110-4103 or calling 1-800-854-8525. The Statement, which is
incorporated by reference into this prospectus, has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and is available along with other related
materials on the SEC's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov).
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Contents--see page 3.
- -----------------------------
NOT FDIC- / MAY LOSE VALUE
INSURED / NO BANK GUARANTEE
- -----------------------------
Barrett International
Shares
---------------------
Prospectus
August 1, 1998
A mutual fund seeking long-term growth of capital primarily from foreign equity
securities.
<PAGE>
TO BE UPDATED
Expense information
This information is designed to help you understand the various costs and
expenses of investing in Barrett International Shares (the "Shares"), a class of
shares of Scudder International Fund (the "Fund").* By reviewing this table and
those in other mutual funds' prospectuses, you can compare the Fund's fees and
expenses with those of other funds.
1) Shareholder transaction expenses: Expenses charged directly to your
individual account in the Fund for various transactions.
Sales commissions to purchase shares (sales load) NONE
Commissions to reinvest dividends NONE
Redemption fees NONE**
Fees to exchange shares NONE
2) Annual operating expenses+: Expenses paid by the Fund before it distributes
its net investment income, expressed as a percentage of the average daily
net assets for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998.
Investment management fee 0.82%
12b-1 fees NONE
Other expenses 0.33%
-----
Total operating expenses 1.15%
=====
Example
Based on the level of total operating expenses listed above, the total
expenses relating to a $1,000 investment in the Barrett International Shares of
the Fund, assuming a 5% annual return and redemption at the end of each period,
are listed below. Investors do not pay these expenses directly; they are paid by
the Fund before it distributes its net investment income to shareholders. (As
noted above, the Fund has no redemption fees of any kind.)
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
------ ------- ------- --------
$12 $37 $63 $140
See "Fund organization--Investment adviser" for further information about
the investment management fee. This example assumes reinvestment of all
dividends and distributions and that the percentage amounts listed under "Annual
Fund operating expenses" remain the same each year. This example should not be
considered a representation of past or future expenses or return. Actual Fund
expenses and return vary from year to year and may be higher or lower than those
shown.
* The information set forth on this page relates only to the Fund's Barrett
International Shares. The Fund also offers International Shares, which may
have different fees and expenses (which may affect performance), have
different minimum investment requirements and may be entitled to different
services. More information may be obtained by contacting Scudder Investor
Services, Inc., Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110-4103 or calling
1-800-854-8525.
** You may redeem by writing or calling the Fund. If you wish to receive your
redemption proceeds via wire, there is a $5 wire service fee. For
additional information, please refer to "Transaction information
--Redeeming shares."
+ The inception date for the Fund's Barrett International Shares class of
shares is April 3, 1998. Accordingly, the expense rates shown are estimates
based on amounts incurred by the Fund during the fiscal year ended March
31, 1998, prior to the creation of multiple classes of the Fund. It is
estimated that actual total operating expenses for the initial fiscal year
of the Fund's Barrett International Shares ending March 31, 1999 will be
1.10%.
2
<PAGE>
Financial highlights
The inception date for the Fund's Barrett International Shares class of shares
is April 3, 1998. Accordingly, no financial information for these shares is
presented herein. Financial highlights for the Fund's International Shares class
of shares are contained in a separate prospectus dated August 1, 1997, as
revised April 3, 1998. The Fund's Annual Report is incorporated by reference
into the Shares' Statement of Additional Information and may be obtained without
charge by writing or calling Scudder Investor Services, Inc.
Scudder International Fund
Barrett International Shares
Investment objective
o long-term growth of capital primarily from foreign equity securities
Investment characteristics
o professional management to help investors without the time or expertise to
invest directly in foreign securities
o international diversification which helps reduce international investment
risk
o convenient participation in investments denominated in foreign currencies
o $25,000 initial minimum investment
Contents
Investment objective and policies 3
Why invest in the Fund? 4
International investment experience 4
Additional information about policies
and investments 5
Distribution and performance information 8
Fund organization 9
Transaction information 11
Shareholder benefits 15
Purchases and redemptions 17
How to contact Scudder 18
Investment objective and policies
Scudder International Fund (the "Fund"), a series of Scudder International Fund,
Inc. (the "Corporation"), seeks long-term growth of capital primarily from
foreign equity securities. These securities are selected primarily to permit the
Fund to participate in non-United States companies and economies with prospects
for growth. The Fund invests in companies, wherever organized, which do business
primarily outside the United States. The Fund intends to diversify investments
among several countries and to have represented in the portfolio, in substantial
proportions, business activities in not less than three different countries. The
Fund does not intend to concentrate investments in any particular industry.
Except as otherwise indicated, the Fund's investment objective and policies are
not fundamental and may be changed without a vote of shareholders. If there is a
change in investment objective, shareholders should consider whether the Fund
remains an appropriate investment in light of their then current financial
position and needs. There can be no assurance that the Fund's objective will be
met.
Investments
The Fund generally invests in equity securities of established companies, listed
on foreign exchanges, which the Fund's investment adviser, Scudder Kemper
Investments, Inc. (the "Adviser"), believes have favorable characteristics.
When the Adviser believes that it is appropriate to do so in order to achieve
the Fund's investment objective of long-term capital growth, the Fund may invest
up to 20% of its total assets in debt securities. Such debt securities include
debt securities of foreign governments, supranational organizations and private
issuers, including bonds denominated in the European Currency Unit (ECU).
3
<PAGE>
Portfolio debt investments will be selected on the basis of, among other things,
yield, credit quality, and the fundamental outlooks for currency and interest
rate trends in different parts of the globe, taking into account the ability to
hedge a degree of currency or local bond price risk. The Fund may purchase
"investment-grade" bonds, which are those rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or AAA, AA, A or BBB by Standard & Poor's
Corporation ("S&P") or, if unrated, judged by the Adviser to be of equivalent
quality. The Fund may also invest up to 5% of its total assets in debt
securities which are rated below investment-grade (see "Risk factors").
In addition, the Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase
agreements, trust preferred securities and invest in illiquid and restricted
securities, and may engage in securities lending and strategic transactions,
which may include derivatives.
When the Adviser determines that exceptional conditions exist abroad, the Fund
may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest all or a portion of its assets in
Canadian or U.S. Government obligations or currencies, or securities of
companies incorporated in and having their principal activities in Canada or the
U.S. It is impossible to accurately predict for how long such alternative
strategies may be utilized.
Why invest in the Fund?
The Fund is designed for investors seeking investment opportunity and
diversification through an actively managed portfolio of foreign securities.
One reason that some investors may wish to invest overseas is that certain
foreign economies may grow more rapidly than the U.S. economy and may offer
opportunities for achieving superior investment returns. Another reason is that
foreign stock and bond markets do not always move in step with each other or
with the U.S. markets. A portfolio invested in a number of markets worldwide
will be better diversified than one which is subject to the movements of a
single market.
Another benefit of the Fund is that it eliminates the complications and extra
costs associated with direct investment in individual foreign securities.
Individuals investing directly in foreign stocks may find it difficult to make
purchases and sales, to obtain current information, to hold securities in
safekeeping, and to convert the value of their investments from foreign
currencies into U.S. dollars. The Fund manages these tasks for the investor.
With a single investment, the investor has a diversified international
investment portfolio, which is actively managed by experienced professionals.
The Adviser has had many years of experience in dealing in foreign markets and
with brokers and custodian banks around the world. The Adviser also has the
benefit of an established information network and believes the Fund affords a
convenient and cost-effective method of investing internationally.
The Fund's investments are generally denominated in foreign currencies. The
strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar against these currencies is responsible
for part of the Fund's investment performance. If the dollar falls in value
relative to the Japanese yen, for example, the dollar value of a Japanese stock
held in the portfolio will rise even though the price of the stock remains
unchanged. Conversely, if the dollar rises in value relative to the yen, the
dollar value of the Japanese stock will fall.
International investment
experience
The Adviser has been a leader in international investment management and trading
for over 40 years. In addition to the Fund, which was initially incorporated in
Canada in 1953 as the first foreign investment company registered with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission, its investment company clients
4
<PAGE>
include Scudder International Bond Fund and Scudder International Growth and
Income Fund, which invest internationally, Scudder Global Fund, Scudder Global
Bond Fund, and Scudder Global Discovery Fund, which invest worldwide, Scudder
Greater Europe Growth Fund, which invests primarily in securities of European
companies, The Japan Fund, Inc., which invests primarily in securities of
Japanese companies, Scudder Latin America Fund, which invests primarily in Latin
American issuers, Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund, which invests primarily in
issuers located in the Pacific Basin, with the exception of Japan, Scudder
Emerging Markets Income Fund, which invests in debt securities issued in
emerging markets, and Scudder Emerging Markets Growth Fund, which invests in
equity investments in emerging markets. The Adviser also manages the assets of
seven closed-end investment companies investing in foreign securities: The
Argentina Fund, Inc., The Brazil Fund, Inc., The Korea Fund, Inc., Scudder
Global High Income Fund, Inc., Scudder New Asia Fund, Inc., Scudder New Europe
Fund, Inc., and Scudder Spain and Portugal Fund, Inc. As of December 31, 1997,
the Adviser was responsible for managing more than $200 billion in assests
globally.
Additional information about policies and investments
Investment restrictions
The Fund has certain investment restrictions which are designed to reduce the
Fund's investment risk. Fundamental investment restrictions may not be changed
without a vote of shareholders; non-fundamental investment restrictions may be
changed by a vote of the Corporation's Board of Directors. A complete listing of
investment restrictions is contained under "Investment Restrictions" in the
Shares' Statement of Additional Information.
As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not borrow money, except as
permitted under Federal law. Further, as a matter of non-fundamental policy, the
Fund may not borrow money in an amount greater than 5% of total assets, except
for temporary or emergency purposes, although the Fund may engage up to 5% of
total assets in reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls.
As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not make loans except through
the lending of portfolio securities, the purchase of debt securities or
interests in indebtedness or through repurchase agreements. The Fund has adopted
a non-fundamental policy restricting the lending of portfolio securities to no
more than 5% of total assets.
Repurchase agreements
As a means of earning income for periods as short as overnight, the Fund may
enter into repurchase agreements with selected banks and broker/dealers. Under a
repurchase agreement, the Fund acquires securities, subject to the seller's
agreement to repurchase them at a specified time and price.
Securities lending
The Fund may lend portfolio securities to registered broker/dealers as a means
of increasing its income. Loans of portfolio securities will be secured
continuously by collateral consisting of U.S. Government securities or
fixed-income obligations that are maintained at all times in an amount at least
equal to the current market value of the loaned securities. The Fund will earn
any interest or dividends paid on the loaned securities and may share with the
borrower some of the income received on the collateral for the loan or will be
paid a premium for the loan.
Illiquid securities
The Fund may invest in securities for which there is not an active trading
market, or which have resale restrictions. These types of securities generally
offer a higher return than more readily marketable securities, but carry the
5
<PAGE>
risk that the Fund may not be able to dispose of them at an advantageous time or
price.
Strategic Transactions and derivatives
The Fund may, but is not required to, utilize various other investment
strategies as described below to hedge various market risks (such as interest
rates, currency exchange rates, and broad or specific equity or fixed-income
market movements), to manage the effective maturity or duration of fixed-income
securities in the Fund's portfolio or to enhance potential gain. These
strategies may be executed through the use of derivative contracts. Such
strategies are generally accepted as a part of modern portfolio management and
are regularly utilized by many mutual funds and other institutional investors.
Techniques and instruments may change over time as new instruments and
strategies are developed or regulatory changes occur.
In the course of pursuing these investment strategies, the Fund may purchase and
sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on securities,
equity and fixed-income indices and other financial instruments, purchase and
sell financial futures contracts and options thereon, enter into various
interest rate transactions such as swaps, caps, floors or collars, and enter
into various currency transactions such as currency forward contracts, currency
futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currencies or currency futures
(collectively, all of the above are called "Strategic Transactions").
Strategic Transactions may be used without limit to attempt to protect against
possible changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased
for the Fund's portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange
rate fluctuations, to protect the Fund's unrealized gains in the value of its
portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment
purposes, to manage the effective maturity or duration of fixed-income
securities in the Fund's portfolio, or to establish a position in the
derivatives markets as a temporary substitute for purchasing or selling
particular securities. Some Strategic Transactions may also be used to enhance
potential gain although no more than 5% of the Fund's assets will be committed
to Strategic Transactions entered into for non-hedging purposes. Any or all of
these investment techniques may be used at any time and in any combination, and
there is no particular strategy that dictates the use of one technique rather
than another, as use of any Strategic Transaction is a function of numerous
variables including market conditions. The ability of the Fund to utilize these
Strategic Transactions successfully will depend on the Adviser's ability to
predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. The Fund will
comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing these
strategies, techniques and instruments.
Strategic Transactions involving financial futures and options thereon will be
purchased, sold or entered into only for bona fide hedging, risk management or
portfolio management purposes and not to create leveraged exposure in the Fund.
Please refer to "Risk factors--Strategic Transactions and derivatives" for more
information.
Risk factors
The Fund's risks are determined by the nature of the securities held and the
portfolio management strategies used by the Adviser. The following are
descriptions of certain risks related to the investments and techniques that the
Fund may use from time to time.
Foreign securities. Investments in foreign securities involve special
considerations due to limited information, higher brokerage costs, different
accounting standards, thinner trading markets as compared to domestic markets
and the likely impact of foreign taxes on the income from securities. They may
also entail other risks, such as the possibility of one or more of the
following: imposition of dividend or interest withholding or confiscatory taxes;
currency blockages or transfer restrictions; expropriation, nationalization or
6
<PAGE>
other adverse political or economic developments; less government supervision
and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies; and the
difficulty of enforcing obligations in other countries. Purchases of foreign
securities are usually made in foreign currencies and, as a result, the Fund may
incur currency conversion costs and may be affected favorably or unfavorably by
changes in the value of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar. Further, it
may be more difficult for the Fund's agents to keep currently informed about
corporate actions which may affect the prices of portfolio securities.
Communications between the U.S. and foreign countries may be less reliable than
within the U.S., increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio
transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities. The Fund's
ability and decisions to purchase and sell portfolio securities may be affected
by laws or regulations relating to the convertibility and repatriation of
assets.
Repurchase agreements. If the seller under a repurchase agreement becomes
insolvent, the Fund's right to dispose of the securities may be restricted, or
the value of the securities may decline before the Fund is able to dispose of
them. In the event of the commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings
with respect to the seller of the securities before repurchase of the securities
under a repurchase agreement, the Fund may encounter delay and incur costs,
including a decline in the value of the securities, before being able to sell
the securities.
Securities lending. From time to time the Fund may lend its portfolio securities
to registered broker/dealers as described above. The risks of lending portfolio
securities, as with other extensions of secured credit, consist of possible
delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the securities
or possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail
financially. Loans will be made to registered broker/dealers deemed by the
Adviser to be in good standing and will not be made unless, in the judgment of
the Adviser, the consideration to be received in exchange for such loans would
justify the risk.
Debt securities. The Fund may invest no more than 5% of its total assets in debt
securities which are rated below investment-grade; that is, rated below Baa by
Moody's or BBB by S&P (commonly referred to as "junk bonds"). The lower the
ratings of such debt securities, the greater their risks render them like equity
securities. Moody's considers bonds it rates Baa to have speculative elements as
well as investment-grade characteristics. The Fund may invest in securities
which are rated D by S&P or, if unrated, are of equivalent quality. Securities
rated D may be in default with respect to payment of principal or interest.
Illiquid securities. The absence of a trading market can make it difficult to
ascertain a market value for these investments. Disposing of illiquid
investments may involve time-consuming negotiation and legal expenses, and it
may be difficult or impossible for the Fund to sell them promptly at an
acceptable price.
Strategic Transactions and derivatives. Strategic Transactions, including
derivative contracts, have risks associated with them including possible default
by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the
Adviser's view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the
use of such Strategic Transactions could result in losses greater than if they
had not been used. Use of put and call options may result in losses to the Fund,
force the sale or purchase of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for
prices higher than (in the case of put options) or lower than (in the case of
call options) current market values, limit the amount of appreciation the Fund
can realize on its investments or cause the Fund to hold a security it might
otherwise sell. The use of currency transactions can result in the Fund
7
<PAGE>
incurring losses as a result of a number of factors including the imposition of
exchange controls, suspension of settlements or the inability to deliver or
receive a specified currency. The use of options and futures transactions
entails certain other risks. In particular, the variable degree of correlation
between price movements of futures contracts and price movements in the related
portfolio position of the Fund creates the possibility that losses on the
hedging instrument may be greater than gains in the value of the Fund's
position. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid in all
circumstances and certain over-the-counter options may have no markets. As a
result, in certain markets, the Fund might not be able to close out a
transaction without incurring substantial losses, if at all. Although the use of
futures contracts and options transactions for hedging should tend to minimize
the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position, at the
same time they tend to limit any potential gain which might result from an
increase in value of such position. Finally, the daily variation margin
requirements for futures contracts would create a greater ongoing potential
financial risk than would purchases of options, where the exposure is limited to
the cost of the initial premium. Losses resulting from the use of Strategic
Transactions would reduce net asset value, and possibly income, and such losses
can be greater than if the Strategic Transactions had not been utilized. The
Strategic Transactions that the Fund may use and some of their risks are
described more fully in the Shares' Statement of Additional Information.
Distribution and performance information
Dividends and capital gains distributions
The Fund intends to distribute dividends from its net investment income and any
net realized capital gains after utilization of capital loss carryforwards, if
any, in November or December to prevent application of federal excise tax. An
additional distribution may be made if necessary. Any dividends or capital gains
distributions declared in October, November or December with a record date in
such month and paid during the following January will be treated by shareholders
for federal income tax purposes as if received on December 31 of the calendar
year declared. According to preference, shareholders may receive distributions
in cash or have them reinvested in additional Shares of the Fund. If an
investment is in the form of a retirement plan, all dividends and capital gains
distributions must be reinvested into the account.
Generally, dividends from net investment income are taxable to shareholders as
ordinary income. Long-term capital gains distributions, if any, are taxable to
individuals at a maximum 20% or 28% capital gains rate (depending on the Fund's
holding period for the assets giving rise to the gain), regardless of the length
of time shareholders have owned their shares. Short-term capital gains and any
other taxable income distributions are taxable as ordinary income.
Shareholders may be able to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax
returns for their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to
foreign countries.
The Fund sends detailed tax information about the amount and type of its
distributions by January 31 of the following year.
Performance information
From time to time, quotations of the Shares' performance may be included in
advertisements, sales literature or shareholder reports. Performance information
is computed separately for each class of shares of the Fund, in accordance with
formulae prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. All performance
figures are historical, show the performance of a hypothetical investment and
are not intended to indicate future performance. "Total return" is the change in
value of an investment in a class of shares of the Fund for a specified period.
8
<PAGE>
The "average annual total return" is the average annual compound rate of return
of an investment in a class of shares of the Fund assuming the investment has
been held for one year, five years and ten years as of a stated ending date.
"Cumulative total return" represents the cumulative change in value of an
investment in a class of shares of the Fund for various periods. All types of
total return calculations assume that all dividends and capital gains
distributions during the period were reinvested in the relevant class of shares
of the Fund. Performance will vary based upon, among other things, changes in
market conditions and the level of the Fund's expenses as well as a particular
class expenses.
Fund organization
Scudder International Fund is a diversified series of Scudder International
Fund, Inc. (the "Corporation"), an open-end, management investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"). The
Corporation is a Maryland corporation whose predecessor was organized in 1953.
The Fund's activities are supervised by the Corporation's Board of Directors.
The Corporation has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 (the "Plan") under the
1940 Act to permit the Corporation to establish a multiple class distribution
system for the Fund.
Under the Plan, shares of each class of the Fund represent an equal pro rata
interest in the Fund and, generally, shall have identical voting, dividend,
liquidation, and other rights, preferences, powers, restrictions, limitations,
qualifications and terms and conditions, except that: (1) each class shall have
a different designation; (2) each class of shares shall bear its own "class
expenses;" (3) each class shall have exclusive voting rights on any matter
submitted to shareholders that relates to its administrative services,
shareholder services or distribution arrangements; (4) each class shall have
separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the
interests of one class differ from the interests of any other class; (5) each
class may have separate and distinct exchange privileges; (6) each class may
have different conversion features, and (7) each class may have separate account
size requirements. Expenses currently designated as "Class Expenses" by the
Corporation's Board of Directors under the Plan include, for example, transfer
agency fees attributable to a specific class, and certain securities
registration fees.
In addition to the Barrett International Shares class of shares offered herein,
the Fund offers one other class of shares, International Shares, which may have
different fees and expenses (which may affect performance), may have different
minimum investment requirements and are entitled to different services.
Additional information about this other class of shares of the Fund may be
obtained by contacting Scudder Investor Services, Inc., at 1-800-225-2470.
Each share of a class of the Fund shall be entitled to one vote (or fraction
thereof in respect of a fractional share) on matters that such shares (or class
of shares) shall be entitled to vote. Shareholders of the Fund shall vote
together on any matter, except to the extent otherwise required by the 1940 Act,
or when the Board of Directors of the Corporation has determined that the matter
affects only the interest of shareholders of one class of the Fund, in which
case only the shareholders of such class of the Fund shall be entitled to vote
thereon. Any matter shall be deemed to have been effectively acted upon with
respect to the Fund if acted upon as provided in Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act,
or any successor rule, and in the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation.
The Corporation is not required to, and has no current intention of, holding
annual shareholder meetings, although special meetings may be called for
purposes such as electing or removing Directors, changing fundamental investment
9
<PAGE>
policies or approving an investment advisory contract. Shareholders will be
assisted in communicating with other shareholders in connection with removing a
Director as if Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act were applicable.
Investment adviser
The Fund retains the investment management firm of Scudder Kemper Investments,
Inc., a Delaware corporation formerly known as Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc.,
to manage its daily investment and business affairs subject to the policies
established by the Board of Directors. The Directors have overall responsibility
for the management of the Fund under Maryland law.
Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc. ("Scudder"), and Zurich Insurance Company
("Zurich"), an international insurance and financial services organization, have
formed a new global investment organization by combining Scudder's business with
that of Zurich's subsidiary, Zurich Kemper Investments, Inc. and Scudder has
changed its name to Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc. As a result of the
transaction, Zurich owns approximately 70% of the Adviser, with the balance
owned by the Adviser's officers and employees.
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc. is one of the largest and most experienced
investment management organizations worldwide, managing more than $200 billion
in assets globally for mutual fund investors, retirement and pension plans,
institutional and corporate clients, and private family and individual accounts.
It is one of the ten largest mutual fund companies in the U.S.
The Adviser receives an investment management fee for these services. The Fund
pays the Adviser an annual fee of 0.90% of the first $500 million of average
daily net assets, 0.85% of such assets in excess of $500 million, 0.80% of such
assets in excess of $1 billion, 0.75% of such assets in excess of $2 billion and
0.70% of such assets in excess of $3 billion. The Fund's fee is graduated so
that increases in the Fund's net assets may result in a lower annual fee rate
and decreases in the Fund's net assets may result in a higher annual fee rate.
The fee is payable monthly, provided that the Fund will make such interim
payments as may be requested by the Adviser not to exceed 75% of the amount of
the fee then accrued on the books of the Fund and unpaid. The fee is higher than
that charged by many funds which invest primarily in U.S. securities but not
necessarily higher than the fees charged to funds with investment objectives
similar to that of the Fund.
All of the Fund's expenses are paid out of gross investment income. Shareholders
pay no direct charges or fees for investment services.
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., is located at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New
York.
Transfer agent
Scudder Service Corporation, P.O. Box 2291, Boston, Massachusetts 02107-2291, a
subsidiary of the Adviser, is the transfer, shareholder servicing and
dividend-paying agent for the Fund.
Underwriter
Scudder Investor Services, Inc., a subsidiary of the Adviser, is the Fund's
principal underwriter. Scudder Investor Services, Inc. confirms, as agent, all
purchases of shares of the Fund. Scudder Investor Relations is a telephone
information service provided by Scudder Investor Services, Inc.
Fund accounting agent
Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation, a subsidiary of the Adviser, is responsible
for determining the daily net asset value per share and maintaining the general
accounting records of the Fund.
Custodian
Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is the Fund's custodian.
10
<PAGE>
Transaction information
Purchasing shares
There is a $25,000 minimum initial investment in the Barrett International
Shares class of the Fund. The minimum subsequent investment for the Barrett
International Shares class of the Fund is $1,000. The minimum investment
requirement may be waived or lowered for investments effected through banks and
other institutions and for investments effected on a group basis by certain
other entities and their employees, such as pursuant to a payroll deduction plan
and for investments made in an Individual Retirement Account offered by the
Corporation. Investment minimums may also be waived for Directors and officers
of the Corporation and existing shareholders as of January 29, 1998, the date of
the creation of the new class. The Corporation and the Distributor reserve the
right to reject any purchase order. All funds will be invested in full and
fractional Shares.
Shares of the Fund may be purchased by writing or calling the Transfer
Agent. Orders for shares of the Fund will be executed at the net asset value per
share next determined after the Fund's transfer agent receives the request in
good order. See "Share Price."
Orders for shares of the Fund will become effective at the net asset value per
share next determined after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a check drawn on
any member of the Federal Reserve System or by the custodian of a bank wire or
Federal Reserve wire.
Checks drawn on a non-member bank or a foreign bank may take substantially
longer to be converted into federal funds and, accordingly, may delay the
execution of an order. Checks must be payable in U.S. dollars and will be
accepted subject to collection at full face value.
By investing in the Fund, a shareholder appoints the Transfer Agent to establish
an open account to which all shares purchased will be credited, together with
any dividends and capital gains distributions that are paid in additional
Shares. See "Distribution and Performance Information--Dividends and Capital
Gains Distributions."
Initial Purchase by Wire
1. Shareholders may open an account by calling toll free from any continental
state: 1-800-854-8525. Give the name(s) in which the Fund's account is to be
registered, address, Social Security or taxpayer identification number, dividend
payment election, amount to be wired, name of the class of Shares, name of the
wiring bank and name and telephone number of the person to be contacted in
connection with the order. An account number will then be assigned.
2. Instruct the wiring bank to transmit the specified amount to:
The Scudder Funds
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Boston, MA 02101
ABA Number 011000028
DDA Account 9903-5552
3. Complete a Purchase Application. A completed Purchase Application must be
received by the Transfer Agent before the Expedited Redemption Service can be
used. Indicate the services to be used and the name of the class of Shares to be
invested. Mail or fax the Purchase Application to:
Scudder Service Corporation
P.O. Box 9242
Boston, Massachusetts 02205
Fax: (617) 792-4722
Additional Purchases by Wire
Instruct the wiring bank to transmit the specified amount to State Street Bank
and Trust Company with the information stated above.
Additional Purchases by Telephone Order
Existing shareholders may purchase shares at a certain day's price by calling
the Transfer Agent before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
11
<PAGE>
Exchange (the "Exchange"), normally 4:00 p.m. eastern time, on that day. Orders
must be for $10,000 or more and cannot be for an amount greater than four times
the value of your account at the time the order is placed. A confirmation with
complete purchase information is sent shortly after your order is received. You
must include with your payment the order number given at the time the order is
placed. If payment by check or wire is not received within three business days,
the order is subject to cancellation and the shareholder will be responsible for
any loss to the Fund resulting from this cancellation. The Fund may, at its
discretion, accept purchase orders of less than $10,000 regardless of the
account size or may allow an account to be established through this service.
The Fund uses procedures designed to give reasonable assurance that telephone
instructions are genuine, including recording telephone calls, testing a
caller's identity and sending written confirmation of telephone transactions. If
the Fund does not follow such procedures, it may be liable for losses due to
unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions. The Fund will not be liable
for acting upon instructions communicated by telephone that it reasonably
believes to be genuine.
Initial Purchase by Mail
1. Complete a Purchase Application. Indicate the services to be used.
2. Mail the Purchase Application and check payable to the Scudder Funds to the
Transfer Agent at the address set forth above.
Additional Purchases by Mail
1. Make a check payable to the Scudder Funds. Write the shareholder's Fund
account number on the check.
2. Mail the check and the detachable stub from the Statement of Account (or a
letter providing the account number) to the Transfer Agent at the address set
forth above.
Redeeming shares
Upon receipt by the Transfer Agent of a redemption request in proper form,
shares of a class of the Fund will be redeemed at its next determined net asset
value. See "Share Price." For the shareholder's convenience, the Corporation has
established several different redemption procedures.
No redemption of shares purchased by check will be permitted until seven
business days after those shares have been credited to the shareholder's
account.
The Fund reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments
undesirable, to make payment of redemption proceeds in whole or in part in
readily marketable securities. The Corporation may suspend the right of
redemption during any period when (i) trading on the Exchange is restricted or
the Exchange is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings, (ii)
the SEC has by order permitted such suspension or (iii) an emergency, as defined
by rules of the SEC, exists making disposal of portfolio securities or
determination of the value of the net assets of the Fund not reasonably
practicable.
The proceeds of redemption may be more or less than the amount invested and,
therefore, a redemption may result in a gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes.
A shareholder's account in the Fund remains open for up to one year following
complete redemption, and all costs during the period will be borne by the Fund.
The Corporation reserves the right to redeem upon not less than 30 days' written
notice the Shares in an account of the Fund that has a value of $25,000 or less.
Reductions in value that result solely from market activity will not trigger an
involuntary redemption. However, any shareholder affected by the exercise of
this right will be allowed to make additional investments prior to the date
fixed for redemption to avoid liquidation of the account.
12
<PAGE>
The Corporation also reserves the right, following 30 days' notice to
shareholders, to redeem all shares in accounts without certified Social Security
or taxpayer identification numbers. A shareholder may avoid involuntary
redemption by providing the Corporation with a taxpayer identification number
during the 30-day notice period.
Redemption by Mail
1. Write a letter of instruction. Indicate the dollar amount or number of shares
to be redeemed. Refer to the shareholder's Fund account number and give Social
Security or taxpayer identification number (where applicable).
2. Sign the letter in exactly the same way the account is registered. If there
is more than one owner of the shares, all must sign.
3. If shares to be redeemed have a value of $100,000 or more, the signature(s)
must be guaranteed by a commercial bank that is a member of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, a trust company, a member firm of a domestic stock
exchange or a foreign branch of any of the foregoing. In addition, signatures
may be guaranteed by other Eligible Guarantor Institutions, i.e., other banks,
brokers/dealers, municipal securities brokers/dealers, government securities
brokers/dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered
securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations. The
Transfer Agent, however, may reject redemption instructions if the guarantor is
neither a member of nor a participant in a signature guarantee program
(currently known as "STAMP(sm)"). Signature guarantees by notaries public are
not acceptable. Further documentation, such as copies of corporate resolutions
and instruments of authority, may be requested from corporations,
administrators, executors, personal representatives, trustees or custodians to
evidence the authority of the person or entity making the redemption request.
4. Mail the letter to the Transfer Agent at the address set forth under
"Purchasing shares."
Checks for redemption proceeds will normally be mailed the day following receipt
of the request in proper form, although the Corporation reserves the right to
take up to seven days. Unless other instructions are given in proper form, a
check for the proceeds of a redemption will be sent to the shareholder's address
of record. The Custodian may benefit from the use of redemption proceeds until
the check issued to a redeeming shareholder for such proceeds has cleared.
When proceeds of a redemption are to be paid to someone other than the
shareholder, either by wire or check, the signature(s) on the letter of
instruction must be guaranteed regardless of the amount of the redemption.
Redemption by Expedited Redemption Service
If Expedited Redemption Service has been elected on the Purchase Application on
file with the Transfer Agent, redemption of shares may be requested by
telephoning the Transfer Agent on any day the Corporation and State Street Bank
and Trust Corporation are open for business.
1. Telephone the request to the Transfer Agent by calling toll free from any
continental state: 1-800-854-8525, or
2. Mail the request to the Transfer Agent at the address set forth under
"Purchasing Shares."
Proceeds of Expedited Redemptions of $1,000 or more will be wired to the
shareholder's bank indicated in the Purchase Application. If an Expedited
Redemption request for the Fund is received by the Transfer Agent by the close
of regular trading on the Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m. eastern time) on a day
the Corporation and State Street Bank and Trust Company are open for business,
the redemption proceeds will be transmitted to the shareholder's bank the
following business day. A check for proceeds of less than $1,000 will be mailed
to the shareholder's address of record.
13
<PAGE>
Share price
Purchases and redemptions are made at net asset value. Scudder Fund Accounting
Corporation determines the net asset value per share of the Barrett
International Shares class as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange,
normally 4 p.m. eastern time, on each day the Exchange is open for trading. Net
asset value per share of the Barrett International Shares class is calculated by
dividing the value of total assets attributable to the Barrett International
Shares class, less all liabilities attributable to that class, by the total
number of shares outstanding for that class.
Processing time
All purchase and redemption requests must be received in good order by the
Fund's transfer agent. Those requests received by the close of regular trading
on the Exchange are executed at the net asset value per Share calculated at the
close of regular trading that day.
Purchase and redemption requests received after the close of regular trading on
the Exchange will be executed the following business day.
The Fund will normally send your redemption proceeds within one business day
following the redemption request, but may take up to seven business days (or
longer in the case of shares recently purchased by check).
Purchase restrictions
Purchases and sales should be made for long-term investment purposes only. The
Fund and Scudder Investor Services, Inc. each reserves the right to reject
purchases of Fund shares for any reason, including when a pattern of frequent
purchases and sales made in response to short-term fluctuations in the Fund's
share price appears evident.
Tax information
A redemption of shares is a sale of shares and may result in a gain or loss for
income tax purposes.
Tax identification number
Be sure to complete the Tax Identification Number section of the Fund's
application when you open an account. Federal tax law requires the Fund to
withhold 31% of taxable dividends, capital gains distributions and redemption
proceeds from accounts (other than those of certain exempt payees) without a
correct certified Social Security or tax identification number and certain other
certified information or upon notification from the IRS or a broker that
withholding is required. The Fund reserves the right to reject new account
applications without a correct certified Social Security or tax identification
number. The Fund also reserves the right, following 30 days' notice, to redeem
all shares in accounts without a correct certified Social Security or tax
identification number. A shareholder may avoid involuntary redemption by
providing the Fund with a tax identification number during the 30-day notice
period.
Third party transactions
If purchases and redemptions of Fund shares are arranged and settlement is made
at an investor's election through a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., other than Scudder Investor Services, Inc., that
member may, at its discretion, charge a fee for that service.
Redemption-in-kind
The Fund reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments
undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase order by making
payment in whole or in part in readily marketable securities chosen by the Fund
and valued as they are for purposes of computing the Fund's net asset value (a
redemption-in-kind).
If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction expenses
in converting these securities to cash. The Corporation has elected, however, to
be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, as a result of which the Fund is
obligated to redeem shares, with respect to any one shareholder during any
14
<PAGE>
90-day period, solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net
asset value of the Fund at the beginning of the period.
Shareholder benefits
Experienced professional management
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc., one of the nation's most experienced
investment management firms, actively manages your Scudder fund investment.
Professional management is an important advantage for investors who do not have
the time or expertise to invest directly in individual securities.
A team approach to investing
Scudder International Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who
each play an important role in the Fund's management process. Team members work
together to develop investment strategies and select securities for the Fund's
portfolio. They are supported by the Adviser's large staff of economists,
research analysts, traders and other investment specialists who work in the
Adviser's offices across the United States and abroad. The Adviser believes its
team approach benefits Fund investors by bringing together many disciplines and
leveraging its extensive resources.
Irene Cheng, Lead Portfolio Manager, joined the Adviser in 1993. Ms. Cheng,
who has over 13 years of industry experience, focuses on portfolio management
and equity strategy for the Adviser's international equity accounts.
Nicholas Bratt, Portfolio Manager, directs the Adviser's overall global
equity investment strategies. Mr. Bratt joined the Adviser and the team in 1976.
Deborah A. Chaplin, Portfolio Manager, focuses on stock selection and investment
strategy. Ms. Chaplin has five years of experience in investment management as
both a securities analyst and equity portfolio manager, prior to joining the
Adviser in 1996.
Carol L. Franklin, Portfolio Manager, joined Scudder International Fund's
portfolio management team in 1986. Ms. Franklin, who has over 20 years of
experience in finance and investing, joined the Adviser in 1981.
Joan Gregory, Portfolio Manager, focuses on stock selection, a role she has
played since she joined the Adviser in 1992. Ms. Gregory, who joined the team in
1994, has been involved with investment in global and international stocks.
Sheridan Reilly, Portfolio Manager, joined the Adviser in 1995 and is a member
of the Adviser's Global Equity Group. Mr. Reilly has over 10 years of industry
experience focusing on strategies for global portfolios, currency hedging and
foreign equity markets.
Account services
Shareholders will be sent a Statement of Account from the Distributor, as agent
of the Corporation, whenever a share transaction is effected in the accounts.
Shareholders can write or call the Corporation at the address and telephone
number on the cover of this Prospectus with any questions relating to their
investment in shares of the Fund.
Special monthly summary of accounts
A special service is available to banks, brokers, investment advisers, trust
companies and others who have a number of accounts in the Fund. A monthly
summary of accounts can be provided, showing for each account the account
number, the month-end share balance and the dividends and distributions paid
during the month.
Shareholder reports
The fiscal year of the Fund ends on March 31 of each year. The Fund sends to its
shareholders, at least semiannually, reports showing the investments in the Fund
and other information (including unaudited financial statements) pertaining to
the Fund. An annual report, containing financial statements audited by the
Fund's independent accountants, is sent to shareholders each year.
15
<PAGE>
Dividend reinvestment plan
You may have dividends and distributions automatically reinvested in additional
Fund Shares. Please call 1-800-854-8525 to request this feature.
16
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Purchases and redemptions
<S> <C> <C>
Opening Minimum initial investment: $25,000
an account
o By Mail Send your completed and signed application and check by regular,
Make checks express, registered or certified mail to:
payable to "The
Scudder Funds."
The Scudder Funds
66 Brooks Drive
Braintree, MA 02184
o By Wire Please see Transaction information--Purchasing shares--
By wire for details, including the ABA wire transfer number.
Then call 1-800-854-8525 for instructions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchasing Minimum additional investment: $1,000
additional
shares o By Mail Send a check with a purchase application, or with a letter of
instruction including your account number and the complete Fund
Make checks name and class, to the address listed above.
payable to "The
Scudder Funds." o By Wire Please see Transaction information--Purchasing shares--
By wire for details, including the ABA wire transfer number.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redeeming o By Telephone To speak with a service representative, call 1-800-854-8525 from
shares 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. eastern time.
o By Mail Send your instructions for redemption to the address set forth
under Opening an Account above and include:
- the name of the Fund and class and account number you are
redeeming from;
- your name(s) and address as they appear on your account;
- the dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;
- your signature(s) as it appears on your account; and
- a daytime telephone number.
A signature guarantee is required for redemptions over $100,000.
See Transaction information--Redeeming shares.
</TABLE>
17
<PAGE>
How to contact Scudder
Account Service and Information:
For existing account service and transactions
Scudder Financial Intermediary Services Group -- 1-800-854-8525
Please address all correspondence to:
The Scudder Funds
66 Brooks Drive
Braintree, MA 02184
18
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND
International Shares
A Pure No-Load(TM) (No Sales Charges) Mutual Fund Seeking
Long-Term Growth of Capital Primarily
From Foreign Equity Securities
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
August 1, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should
be read in conjunction with the prospectus for the International Shares class of
Scudder International Fund dated August 1, 1998, a copy of which may be obtained
without charge by writing to Scudder Investor Services, Inc., Two International
Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-4103.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES..........................................................................1
General Investment Objective and Policies....................................................................1
Master/feeder structure......................................................................................1
Investment Restrictions.....................................................................................11
PURCHASES............................................................................................................12
Additional Information About Opening An Account.............................................................12
Additional Information About Making Subsequent Investments..................................................13
Additional Information About Making Subsequent Investments by QuickBuy......................................13
Checks......................................................................................................14
Wire Transfer of Federal Funds..............................................................................14
Share Price.................................................................................................14
Share Certificates..........................................................................................14
Other Information...........................................................................................14
EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS............................................................................................15
Exchanges...................................................................................................15
Redemption By Telephone.....................................................................................16
Redemption by QuickSell.....................................................................................16
Redemption by Mail or Fax...................................................................................17
Redemption-in-Kind..........................................................................................17
Other Information...........................................................................................17
FEATURES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE FUND............................................................................18
The Pure No-Load(TM) Concept................................................................................18
Internet access.............................................................................................19
Dividend and Capital Gain Distribution Options..............................................................20
Scudder Investor Centers...................................................................................20
Reports to Shareholders.....................................................................................20
Transaction Summaries.......................................................................................20
THE SCUDDER FAMILY OF FUNDS..........................................................................................20
SPECIAL PLAN ACCOUNTS................................................................................................25
Scudder Retirement Plans: Profit-Sharing and Money Purchase Pension Plans for Corporations and
Self-Employed Individuals..............................................................................25
Scudder 401(k): Cash or Deferred Profit-Sharing Plan for Corporations and Self-Employed Individuals........26
Scudder IRA: Individual Retirement Account.................................................................26
Scudder 403(b) Plan.........................................................................................27
Automatic Withdrawal Plan...................................................................................27
Group or Salary Deduction Plan..............................................................................27
Automatic Investment Plan...................................................................................28
Uniform Transfers/Gifts to Minors Act.......................................................................28
Scudder Roth IRA: Individual Retirement Account............................................................28
DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS............................................................................29
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION..............................................................................................29
Average Annual Total Return.................................................................................29
Cumulative Total Return.....................................................................................30
Total Return................................................................................................30
Comparison of Fund Performance.............................................................................30
FUND ORGANIZATION....................................................................................................35
INVESTMENT ADVISER...................................................................................................36
i
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
Page
Personal Investments by Employees of the Adviser............................................................39
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS...............................................................................................39
REMUNERATION.........................................................................................................42
Responsibilities of the Board--Board and Committee Meetings.................................................42
Compensation of Officers and Directors......................................................................42
DISTRIBUTOR..........................................................................................................43
TAXES................................................................................................................44
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS...............................................................................................48
Brokerage Commissions.......................................................................................48
Portfolio Turnover..........................................................................................49
NET ASSET VALUE......................................................................................................49
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...............................................................................................50
Experts.....................................................................................................50
Other Information...........................................................................................50
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.................................................................................................51
APPENDIX
</TABLE>
ii
<PAGE>
THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
(See"Investment objective and policies" and "Additional information about
policies and investments" in the Shares' prospectus.)
Scudder International Fund (the "Fund"), is a series of Scudder
International Fund, Inc. (the "Corporation"), is a pure no-load(TM), open-end
management investment company which continuously offers and redeems its shares
at net asset value. It is a company of the type commonly known as a mutual fund.
The Fund is a diversified series of the Corporation. The Fund offers two classes
of shares, International Shares (the "Shares") and Barrett International Shares.
This statement of additional information applies only to the Shares.
General Investment Objective and Policies
The Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term growth of capital
primarily through a diversified portfolio of marketable foreign equity
securities. These securities are selected primarily to permit the Fund to
participate in non-U.S. companies and economies with prospects for growth.
The Fund invests in companies, wherever organized, which do business
primarily outside the United States.
The Fund intends to diversify investments among several countries and
to have represented in the portfolio, in substantial proportions, business
activities in not less than three different countries. The Fund does not intend
to concentrate investments in any particular industry.
Except as otherwise indicated, the Fund's investment objective and
policies are not fundamental and may be changed without a vote of shareholders.
If there is a change in investment objective, shareholders should consider
whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of their then
current financial position and needs.
There can be no assurance that the Fund's objective will be met.
When the Adviser believes that it is appropriate to do so in order to
achieve the Fund's investment objective of long-term capital growth, the Fund
may invest up to 20% of its total assets in debt securities. Such debt
securities include debt securities of foreign governments, supranational
organizations and private issuers, including bonds denominated in the European
Currency Unit (ECU). Portfolio debt investments will be selected on the basis
of, among other things, yield, credit quality, and the fundamental outlooks for
currency and interest rate trends in different parts of the globe, taking into
account the ability to hedge a degree of currency or local bond price risk. The
Fund may purchase "investment-grade" bonds, which are those rated Aaa, Aa, A or
Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or AAA, AA, A or BBB by
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or, if unrated, judged by the Adviser to
be of equivalent quality. The Fund may also invest up to 5% of its total assets
in debt securities which are rated below investment -grade (see "Risk factors").
In addition, the Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, reverse
repurchase agreements, trust deferred securities and invest in illiquid and
restricted securities, and may engage in securities lending and strategic
transactions, which may include derivatives.
When the Adviser determines that exceptional conditions exist abroad,
the Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest all or a portion of its
assets in Canadian or U.S. Government obligations or currencies, or securities
of companies incorporated in and having their principal activities in Canada or
the U.S. It is impossible to accurately predict for how long such alternative
strategies may be utilized.
Foreign securities such as those purchased by the Fund may be subject
to foreign government taxes which could reduce the yield on such securities,
although a shareholder of the Fund may, subject to certain limitations, be
entitled to claim a credit or deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes for
his or her proportionate share of such foreign taxes paid by the Fund. (See
"TAXES.")
Master/feeder structure
The Board of Directors has the discretion to retain the current
distribution arrangement for the Fund while investing in a master fund in a
master/feeder structure as described below.
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A master/feeder fund structure is one in which a fund (a "feeder
fund"), instead of investing directly in a portfolio of securities, invests most
or all of its investment assets in a separate registered investment company (the
"master fund") with substantially the same investment objective and policies as
the feeder fund. Such a structure permits the pooling of assets of two or more
feeder funds, preserving separate identities or distribution channels at the
feeder fund level. Based on the premise that certain of the expenses of
operating an investment portfolio are relatively fixed, a larger investment
portfolio may eventually achieve a lower ratio of operating expenses to average
net assets. An existing investment company is able to convert to a feeder fund
by selling all of its investments, which involves brokerage and other
transaction costs and realization of a taxable gain or loss, or by contributing
its assets to the master fund and avoiding transaction costs and, if proper
procedures are followed, the realization of taxable gain or loss.
Foreign Securities. The Fund is intended to provide individual and institutional
investors with an opportunity to invest a portion of their assets in a
diversified group of securities of companies, wherever organized, which do
business primarily outside the U.S., and foreign governments. The Adviser
believes that diversification of assets on an international basis decreases the
degree to which events in any one country, including the U.S., will affect an
investor's entire investment holdings. In certain periods since World War II,
many leading foreign economies and foreign stock market indices have grown more
rapidly than the U.S. economy and leading U.S. stock market indices, although
there can be no assurance that this will be true in the future. Because of the
Fund's investment policy, the Fund is not intended to provide a complete
investment program for an investor.
Investors should recognize that investing in foreign securities
involves certain special considerations, including those set forth below, which
are not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities and which may
favorably or unfavorably affect the Fund's performance. As foreign companies are
not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting
standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to domestic
companies, there may be less publicly available information about a foreign
company than about a domestic company. Many foreign securities markets, while
growing in volume of trading activity, have substantially less volume than the
U.S. market, and securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and more
volatile than securities of domestic issuers. Similarly, volume and liquidity in
most foreign bond markets is less than in the U.S. and, at times, volatility of
price can be greater than in the U.S. Fixed commissions on some foreign
securities exchanges and bid to asked spreads in foreign bond markets are
generally higher than commissions or bid to asked spreads on U.S. markets,
although the Fund will endeavor to achieve the most favorable net results on its
portfolio transactions. There is generally less government supervision and
regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies than in the
U.S. It may be more difficult for the Fund's agents to keep currently informed
about corporate actions which may affect the prices of portfolio securities.
Communications between the U.S. and foreign countries may be less reliable than
within the U.S., thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio
transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities. Payment for
securities without delivery may be required in certain foreign markets. In
addition, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of
expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, or
diplomatic developments which could affect U.S. investments in those countries.
Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from
the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of
inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of
payments position. The management of the Fund seeks to mitigate the risks
associated with the foregoing considerations through continuous professional
management.
Foreign Currencies. Because investments in foreign securities usually will
involve currencies of foreign countries, and because the Fund may hold foreign
currencies and forward contracts, futures contracts and options on foreign
currencies and foreign currency futures contracts, the value of the assets of
the Fund as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by
changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations, and
the Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between various
currencies. Although the Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars,
it does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S.
dollars on a daily basis. It will do so from time to time, and investors should
be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers
do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the
difference (the "spread") between the prices at which they are buying and
selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency
to the Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the
Fund desire to resell that currency to the dealer. The Fund will conduct its
foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at
the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through
entering into options or forward or futures contracts to purchase or sell
foreign currencies.
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Trust Preferred Securities. The Fund may invest in Trust Preferred Securities,
which are hybrid instruments issued by a special purpose trust (the "Special
Trust"), the entire equity interest of which is owned by a single issuer. The
proceeds of the issuance to the Fund of Trust Preferred Securities are typically
used to purchase a junior subordinated debenture, and distributions from the
Special Trust are funded by the payments of principal and interest on the
subordinated debenture.
If payments on the underlying junior subordinated debentures held by
the Special Trust are deferred by the debenture issuer, the debentures would be
treated as original issue discount ("OID") obligations for the remainder of
their term. As a result, holders of Trust Preferred Securities, such as the
Fund, would be required to accrue daily for Federal income tax purposes, their
share of the stated interest and the de minimis OID on the debentures
(regardless of whether the Fund receives any cash distributions from the Special
Trust), and the value of Trust Preferred Securities would likely be negatively
affected. Interest payments on the underlying junior subordinated debentures
typically may only be deferred if dividends are suspended on both common and
preferred stock of the issuer. The underlying junior subordinated debentures
generally rank slightly higher in terms of payment priority than both common and
preferred securities of the issuer, but rank below other subordinated debentures
and debt securities. Trust Preferred Securities may be subject to mandatory
prepayment under certain circumstances. The market values of Trust Preferred
Securities may be more volatile than those of conventional debt securities.
Trust Preferred Securities may be issued in reliance on Rule 144A under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and, unless and until registered, are
restricted securities; there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of Trust
Preferred Securities and the ability of holders of Trust Preferred Securities,
such as the Fund, to sell their holdings.
Debt Securities. When the Adviser believes that it is appropriate to do so in
order to achieve the Fund's objective of long-term capital growth, the Fund may
invest up to 20% of its total assets in debt securities including bonds of
foreign governments, supranational organizations and private issuers, including
bonds denominated in the ECU. Portfolio debt investments will be selected on the
basis of, among other things, yield, credit quality, and the fundamental
outlooks for currency and interest rate trends in different parts of the globe,
taking into account the ability to hedge a degree of currency or local bond
price risk. The Fund may purchase "investment-grade" bonds, which are those
rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's) or AAA,
AA, A or BBB by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or, if unrated, judged to
be of equivalent quality as determined by the Adviser. Moody's considers bonds
it rates Baa to have speculative elements as well as investment-grade
characteristics.
High Yield/High Risk Bonds. The Fund may also purchase, to a limited extent,
debt securities which are rated below investment-grade (commonly referred to as
"junk bonds"), that is, rated below Baa by Moody's or below BBB by S&P and
unrated securities, which usually entail greater risk (including the possibility
of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of such securities), generally involve
greater volatility of price and risk of principal and income, and may be less
liquid, than securities in the higher rating categories. The lower the ratings
of such debt securities, the greater their risks render them like equity
securities. The Fund will invest no more than 5% of its total assets in
securities rated BB or lower by Moody's or Ba by S&P, and may invest in
securities which are rated D by S&P. Securities rated D may be in default with
respect to payment of principal or interest. See the Appendix to this Statement
of Additional Information for a more complete description of the ratings
assigned by ratings organizations and their respective characteristics.
An economic downturn could disrupt the high yield market and impair the
ability of issuers to repay principal and interest. Also, an increase in
interest rates would have a greater adverse impact on the value of such
obligations than on higher quality debt securities. During an economic downturn
or period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issues may experience
financial stress which would adversely affect their ability to service their
principal and interest payment obligations. Prices and yields of high yield
securities will fluctuate over time and, during periods of economic uncertainty,
volatility of high yield securities may adversely affect the Fund's net asset
value. In addition, investments in high yield zero coupon or pay-in-kind bonds,
rather than income-bearing high yield securities, may be more speculative and
may be subject to greater fluctuations in value due to changes in interest
rates.
The trading market for high yield securities may be thin to the extent
that there is no established retail secondary market. A thin trading market may
limit the ability of the Fund to accurately value high yield securities in its
portfolio and to dispose of those securities. Adverse publicity and investor
perceptions may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities.
These securities may also involve special registration responsibilities,
liabilities and costs, and liquidity and valuation difficulties.
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Credit quality in the high-yield securities market can change suddenly
and unexpectedly, and even recently-issued credit ratings may not fully reflect
the actual risks posed by a particular high-yield security. For these reasons,
it is the policy of the Adviser not to rely exclusively on ratings issued by
established credit rating agencies, but to supplement such ratings with its own
independent and on-going review of credit quality. The achievement of the Fund's
investment objective by investment in such securities may be more dependent on
the Adviser's credit analysis than is the case for higher quality bonds. Should
the rating of a portfolio security be downgraded, the Adviser will determine
whether it is in the best interest of the Fund to retain or dispose of such
security.
Prices for below investment-grade securities may be affected by
legislative and regulatory developments. For example, new federal rules require
savings and loan institutions to gradually reduce their holdings of this type of
security. Also, Congress has from time to time considered legislation which
would restrict or eliminate the corporate tax deduction for interest payments in
these securities and regulate corporate restructurings. Such legislation may
significantly depress the prices of outstanding securities of this type.
On average, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997, the Fund's
holdings in debt securities rated below investment grade by one or more
nationally recognized rating services, or judged by the Adviser to be of
equivalent quality to the established categories of such rating services
comprised less than 5% of the Fund's total assets. For more information
regarding tax issues related to high yield securities, see "TAXES."
Illiquid Securities. The Fund may occasionally purchase securities other than in
the open market. While such purchases may often offer attractive opportunities
for investment not otherwise available on the open market, the securities so
purchased are often "restricted securities" or "not readily marketable," i.e.,
securities which cannot be sold to the public without registration under the
Securities Act of 1933 or the availability of an exemption from registration
(such as Rules 144 or 144A) or because they are subject to other legal or
contractual delays in or restrictions on resale.
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with any
member bank of the Federal Reserve System and any broker-dealer which is
recognized as a reporting government securities dealer if the creditworthiness
of the bank or broker-dealer has been determined by the Adviser to be at least
as high as that of other obligations the Fund may purchase or to be at least
equal to that of issuers of commercial paper rated within the two highest grades
assigned by Moody's or S&P.
A repurchase agreement provides a means for the Fund to earn income on
funds for periods as short as overnight. It is an arrangement under which the
purchaser (i.e., the Fund) acquires a security ("Obligation") and the seller
agrees, at the time of sale, to repurchase the Obligation at a specified time
and price. Securities subject to a repurchase agreement are held in a segregated
account and the value of such securities kept at least equal to the repurchase
price on a daily basis. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase
price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase
prices may be the same, with interest at a stated rate due to the Fund together
with the repurchase price upon repurchase. In either case, the income to the
Fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the Obligation itself. Obligations
will be held by the Custodian or in the Federal Reserve Book Entry system.
For purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act"), a repurchase agreement is deemed to be a loan from the Fund to the
seller of the Obligation subject to the repurchase agreement and is therefore
subject to the Fund's investment restriction applicable to loans. It is not
clear whether a court would consider the Obligation purchased by the Fund
subject to a repurchase agreement as being owned by the Fund or as being
collateral for a loan by the Fund to the seller. In the event of the
commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller
of the Obligation before repurchase of the Obligation under a repurchase
agreement, the Fund may encounter delay and incur costs before being able to
sell the security. Delays may involve loss of interest or decline in price of
the Obligation. If the court characterizes the transaction as a loan and the
Fund has not perfected a security interest in the Obligation, the Fund may be
required to return the Obligation to the seller's estate and be treated as an
unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, the Fund would be at
risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the
transaction. As with any unsecured debt instrument purchased for the Fund, the
Adviser seeks to minimize the risk of loss through repurchase agreements by
analyzing the creditworthiness of the obligor, in this case the seller of the
Obligation. Apart from the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there
is also the risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the Obligation, in which
case the Fund may incur a loss if the proceeds to the Fund of the sale to a
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<PAGE>
third party are less than the repurchase price. However, if the market value of
the Obligation subject to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the
repurchase price (including interest), the Fund will direct the seller of the
Obligation to deliver additional securities so that the market value of all
securities subject to the repurchase agreement will equal or exceed the
repurchase price. It is possible that the Fund will be unsuccessful in seeking
to enforce the seller's contractual obligation to deliver additional securities.
Lending of Portfolio Securities. The Fund may seek to increase its income by
lending portfolio securities. Such loans may be made to registered
broker/dealers and are required to be secured continuously by collateral in
cash, U.S. Government Securities and liquid high grade debt obligations
maintained on a current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value
and accrued interest of the securities loaned. The Fund has the right to call a
loan and obtain the securities loaned on no more than five days' notice. During
the existence of a loan, the Fund will continue to receive the equivalent of any
distributions paid by the issuer on the securities loaned and will also receive
compensation based on investment of the collateral. As with other extensions of
credit there are risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the
collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, the
loans will be made only to firms deemed by the Adviser to be in good standing.
The value of the securities loaned will not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's
total assets at the time any loan is made.
Strategic Transactions and Derivatives. The Fund may, but is not required to,
utilize various other investment strategies as described below to hedge various
market risks (such as interest rates, currency exchange rates, and broad or
specific equity or fixed-income market movements), to manage the effective
maturity or duration of fixed-income securities in the Fund's portfolio, or to
enhance potential gain. These strategies may be executed through the use of
derivative contracts. Such strategies are generally accepted as a part of modern
portfolio management and are regularly utilized by many mutual funds and other
institutional investors. Techniques and instruments may change over time as new
instruments and strategies are developed or regulatory changes occur.
In the course of pursuing these investment strategies, the Fund may
purchase and sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on
securities, equity and fixed-income indices and other financial instruments,
purchase and sell financial futures contracts and options thereon, enter into
various interest rate transactions such as swaps, caps, floors or collars, and
enter into various currency transactions such as currency forward contracts,
currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currencies or currency
futures (collectively, all the above are called "Strategic Transactions").
Strategic Transactions may be used without limit to attempt to protect against
possible changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased
for the Fund's portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange
rate fluctuations, to protect the Fund's unrealized gains in the value of its
portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment
purposes, to manage the effective maturity or duration of fixed-income
securities in the Fund's portfolio, or to establish a position in the
derivatives markets as a temporary substitute for purchasing or selling
particular securities. Some Strategic Transactions may also be used to enhance
potential gain although no more than 5% of the Fund's assets will be committed
to Strategic Transactions entered into for non-hedging purposes. Any or all of
these investment techniques may be used at any time and in any combination, and
there is no particular strategy that dictates the use of one technique rather
than another, as use of any Strategic Transaction is a function of numerous
variables including market conditions. The ability of the Fund to utilize these
Strategic Transactions successfully will depend on the Adviser's ability to
predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. The Fund will
comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing these
strategies, techniques and instruments. Strategic Transactions involving
financial futures and options thereon will be purchased, sold or entered into
only for bona fide hedging, risk management or portfolio management purposes and
not to create leveraged exposure in the Fund.
Strategic Transactions, including derivative contracts, have risks
associated with them including possible default by the other party to the
transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Adviser's view as to certain
market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of such Strategic
Transactions could result in losses greater than if they had not been used. Use
of put and call options may result in losses to the Fund, force the sale or
purchase of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices higher than
(in the case of put options) or lower than (in the case of call options) current
market values, limit the amount of appreciation the Fund can realize on its
investments or cause the Fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell. The
use of currency transactions can result in the Fund incurring losses as a result
of a number of factors including the imposition of exchange controls, suspension
of settlements, or the inability to deliver or receive a specified currency. The
use of options and futures transactions entails certain other risks. In
particular, the variable degree of correlation between price movements of
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futures contracts and price movements in the related portfolio position of the
Fund creates the possibility that losses on the hedging instrument may be
greater than gains in the value of the Fund's position. In addition, futures and
options markets may not be liquid in all circumstances and certain
over-the-counter options may have no markets. As a result, in certain markets,
the Fund might not be able to close out a transaction without incurring
substantial losses, if at all. Although the use of futures and options
transactions for hedging should tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a
decline in the value of the hedged position, at the same time they tend to limit
any potential gain which might result from an increase in value of such
position. Finally, the daily variation margin requirements for futures contracts
would create a greater ongoing potential financial risk than would purchases of
options, where the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium.
Losses resulting from the use of Strategic Transactions would reduce net asset
value, and possibly income, and such losses can be greater than if the Strategic
Transactions had not been utilized.
General Characteristics of Options. Put options and call options typically have
similar structural characteristics and operational mechanics regardless of the
underlying instrument on which they are purchased or sold. Thus, the following
general discussion relates to each of the particular types of options discussed
in greater detail below. In addition, many Strategic Transactions involving
options require segregation of Fund assets in special accounts, as described
below under "Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts."
A put option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a
premium, the right to sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying
security, commodity, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise price.
For instance, the Fund's purchase of a put option on a security might be
designed to protect its holdings in the underlying instrument (or, in some
cases, a similar instrument) against a substantial decline in the market value
by giving the Fund the right to sell such instrument at the option exercise
price. A call option, upon payment of a premium, gives the purchaser of the
option the right to buy, and the seller the obligation to sell, the underlying
instrument at the exercise price. The Fund's purchase of a call option on a
security, financial future, index, currency or other instrument might be
intended to protect the Fund against an increase in the price of the underlying
instrument that it intends to purchase in the future by fixing the price at
which it may purchase such instrument. An American style put or call option may
be exercised at any time during the option period while a European style put or
call option may be exercised only upon expiration or during a fixed period prior
thereto. The Fund is authorized to purchase and sell exchange listed options and
over-the-counter options ("OTC options"). Exchange listed options are issued by
a regulated intermediary such as the Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC"), which
guarantees the performance of the obligations of the parties to such options.
The discussion below uses the OCC as an example, but is also applicable to other
financial intermediaries.
With certain exceptions, OCC issued and exchange listed options
generally settle by physical delivery of the underlying security or currency,
although in the future cash settlement may become available. Index options and
Eurodollar instruments are cash settled for the net amount, if any, by which the
option is "in-the-money" (i.e., where the value of the underlying instrument
exceeds, in the case of a call option, or is less than, in the case of a put
option, the exercise price of the option) at the time the option is exercised.
Frequently, rather than taking or making delivery of the underlying instrument
through the process of exercising the option, listed options are closed by
entering into offsetting purchase or sale transactions that do not result in
ownership of the new option.
The Fund's ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller
of an OCC or exchange listed put or call option is dependent, in part, upon the
liquidity of the option market. Among the possible reasons for the absence of a
liquid option market on an exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in
certain options; (ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii)
trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to
particular classes or series of options or underlying securities including
reaching daily price limits; (iv) interruption of the normal operations of the
OCC or an exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an exchange or OCC to
handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by one or more exchanges to
discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options),
in which event the relevant market for that option on that exchange would cease
to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange would generally continue
to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
The hours of trading for listed options may not coincide with the hours
during which the underlying financial instruments are traded. To the extent that
the option markets close before the markets for the underlying financial
instruments, significant price and rate movements can take place in the
underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets.
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OTC options are purchased from or sold to securities dealers, financial
institutions or other parties ("Counterparties") through direct bilateral
agreement with the Counterparty. In contrast to exchange listed options, which
generally have standardized terms and performance mechanics, all the terms of an
OTC option, including such terms as method of settlement, term, exercise price,
premium, guarantees and security, are set by negotiation of the parties. The
Fund will only sell OTC options (other than OTC currency options) that are
subject to a buy-back provision permitting the Fund to require the Counterparty
to sell the option back to the Fund at a formula price within seven days. The
Fund expects generally to enter into OTC options that have cash settlement
provisions, although it is not required to do so.
Unless the parties provide for it, there is no central clearing or
guaranty function in an OTC option. As a result, if the Counterparty fails to
make or take delivery of the security, currency or other instrument underlying
an OTC option it has entered into with the Fund or fails to make a cash
settlement payment due in accordance with the terms of that option, the Fund
will lose any premium it paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit
of the transaction. Accordingly, the Adviser must assess the creditworthiness of
each such Counterparty or any guarantor or credit enhancement of the
Counterparty's credit to determine the likelihood that the terms of the OTC
option will be satisfied. The Fund will engage in OTC option transactions only
with U.S. government securities dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank
of New York as "primary dealers" or broker/dealers, domestic or foreign banks or
other financial institutions which have received (or the guarantors of the
obligation of which have received) a short-term credit rating of A-1 from S&P or
P-1 from Moody's or an equivalent rating from any nationally recognized
statistical rating organization ("NRSRO") or, in the case of OTC currency
transactions, are determined to be of equivalent credit quality by the Adviser.
The staff of the SEC currently takes the position that OTC options purchased by
the Fund, and portfolio securities "covering" the amount of the Fund's
obligation pursuant to an OTC option sold by it (the cost of the sell-back plus
the in-the-money amount, if any) are illiquid, and are subject to the Fund's
limitation on investing no more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid
securities.
If the Fund sells a call option, the premium that it receives may serve
as a partial hedge, to the extent of the option premium, against a decrease in
the value of the underlying securities or instruments in its portfolio or will
increase the Fund's income. The sale of put options can also provide income.
The Fund may purchase and sell call options on securities including
U.S. Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, corporate debt
securities, equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar
instruments that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and in the
over-the-counter markets, and on securities indices, currencies and futures
contracts. All calls sold by the Fund must be "covered" (i.e., the Fund must own
the securities or futures contract, subject to the call) or must meet the asset
segregation requirements described below as long as the call is outstanding.
Even though the Fund will receive the option premium to help protect it against
loss, a call sold by the Fund exposes the Fund during the term of the option to
possible loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the market price of the
underlying security or instrument and may require the Fund to hold a security or
instrument which it might otherwise have sold.
The Fund may purchase and sell put options on securities including U.S.
Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, foreign sovereign
debt, corporate debt securities, equity securities (including convertible
securities) and Eurodollar instruments (whether or not it holds the above
securities in its portfolio), and on securities indices, currencies and futures
contracts, other than futures on individual corporate debt and individual equity
securities. The Fund will not sell put options if, as a result, more than 50% of
the Fund's assets would be required to be segregated to cover its potential
obligations under such put options other than those with respect to futures and
options thereon. In selling put options, there is a risk that the Fund may be
required to buy the underlying security at a disadvantageous price above the
market price.
General Characteristics of Futures. The Fund may enter into financial futures
contracts or purchase or sell put and call options on such futures as a hedge
against anticipated interest rate, currency or equity market changes, for
duration management and for risk management purposes. Futures are generally
bought and sold on the commodities exchanges where they are listed with payment
of initial and variation margin as described below. The sale of a futures
contract creates a firm obligation by the Fund, as seller, to deliver to the
buyer the specific type of financial instrument called for in the contract at a
specific future time for a specified price (or, with respect to index futures
and Eurodollar instruments, the net cash amount). Options on futures contracts
are similar to options on securities except that an option on a futures contract
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gives the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a
position in a futures contract and obligates the seller to deliver such
position.
The Fund's use of financial futures and options thereon will in all
cases be consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and in particular
the rules and regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and will
be entered into only for bona fide hedging, risk management (including duration
management) or other portfolio management purposes. Typically, maintaining a
futures contract or selling an option thereon requires the Fund to deposit with
a financial intermediary as security for its obligations an amount of cash or
other specified assets (initial margin) which initially is typically 1% to 10%
of the face amount of the contract (but may be higher in some circumstances).
Additional cash or assets (variation margin) may be required to be deposited
thereafter on a daily basis as the marked to market value of the contract
fluctuates. The purchase of an option on financial futures involves payment of a
premium for the option without any further obligation on the part of the Fund.
If the Fund exercises an option on a futures contract it will be obligated to
post initial margin (and potential subsequent variation margin) for the
resulting futures position just as it would for any position. Futures contracts
and options thereon are generally settled by entering into an offsetting
transaction but there can be no assurance that the position can be offset prior
to settlement at an advantageous price, nor that delivery will occur.
The Fund will not enter into a futures contract or related option
(except for closing transactions) if, immediately thereafter, the sum of the
amount of its initial margin and premiums on open futures contracts and options
thereon would exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets (taken at current value);
however, in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of the
purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating the 5%
limitation. The segregation requirements with respect to futures contracts and
options thereon are described below.
Options on Securities Indices and Other Financial Indices. The Fund also may
purchase and sell call and put options on securities indices and other financial
indices and in so doing can achieve many of the same objectives it would achieve
through the sale or purchase of options on individual securities or other
instruments. Options on securities indices and other financial indices are
similar to options on a security or other instrument except that, rather than
settling by physical delivery of the underlying instrument, they settle by cash
settlement, i.e., an option on an index gives the holder the right to receive,
upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the index
upon which the option is based exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than,
in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option (except if, in the case
of an OTC option, physical delivery is specified). This amount of cash is equal
to the excess of the closing price of the index over the exercise price of the
option, which also may be multiplied by a formula value. The seller of the
option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of
this amount. The gain or loss on an option on an index depends on price
movements in the instruments making up the market, market segment, industry or
other composite on which the underlying index is based, rather than price
movements in individual securities, as is the case with respect to options on
securities.
Currency Transactions. The Fund may engage in currency transactions with
Counterparties in order to hedge the value of portfolio holdings denominated in
particular currencies against fluctuations in relative value. Currency
transactions include forward currency contracts, exchange listed currency
futures, exchange listed and OTC options on currencies, and currency swaps. A
forward currency contract involves a privately negotiated obligation to purchase
or sell (with delivery generally required) a specific currency at a future date,
which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon
by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. A currency swap is
an agreement to exchange cash flows based on the notional difference among two
or more currencies and operates similarly to an interest rate swap, which is
described below. The Fund may enter into currency transactions with
Counterparties which have received (or the guarantors of the obligations which
have received) a credit rating of A-1 or P-1 by S&P or Moody's, respectively, or
that have an equivalent rating from a NRSRO or are determined to be of
equivalent credit quality by the Adviser.
The Fund's dealings in forward currency contracts and other currency
transactions such as futures, options, options on futures and swaps will be
limited to hedging involving either specific transactions or portfolio
positions. Transaction hedging is entering into a currency transaction with
respect to specific assets or liabilities of the Fund, which will generally
arise in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities or the
receipt of income therefrom. Position hedging is entering into a currency
transaction with respect to portfolio security positions denominated or
generally quoted in that currency.
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The Fund will not enter into a transaction to hedge currency exposure
to an extent greater, after netting all transactions intended wholly or
partially to offset other transactions, than the aggregate market value (at the
time of entering into the transaction) of the securities held in its portfolio
that are denominated or generally quoted in or currently convertible into such
currency, other than with respect to proxy hedging or cross hedging as described
below.
The Fund may also cross-hedge currencies by entering into transactions
to purchase or sell one or more currencies that are expected to decline in value
relative to other currencies to which the Fund has or in which the Fund expects
to have portfolio exposure.
To reduce the effect of currency fluctuations on the value of existing
or anticipated holdings of portfolio securities, the Fund may also engage in
proxy hedging. Proxy hedging is often used when the currency to which the Fund's
portfolio is exposed is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the dollar. Proxy
hedging entails entering into a commitment or option to sell a currency whose
changes in value are generally considered to be correlated to a currency or
currencies in which some or all of the Fund's portfolio securities are or are
expected to be denominated, in exchange for U.S. dollars. The amount of the
commitment or option would not exceed the value of the Fund's securities
denominated in correlated currencies. For example, if the Adviser considers that
the Austrian schilling is correlated to the German deutschemark (the "D-mark"),
the Fund holds securities denominated in schillings and the Adviser believes
that the value of schillings will decline against the U.S. dollar, the Adviser
may enter into a commitment or option to sell D-marks and buy dollars. Currency
hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as other transactions
with similar instruments. Currency transactions can result in losses to the Fund
if the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction
that is not anticipated. Further, there is the risk that the perceived
correlation between various currencies may not be present or may not be present
during the particular time that the Fund is engaging in proxy hedging. If the
Fund enters into a currency hedging transaction, the Fund will comply with the
asset segregation requirements described below.
Risks of Currency Transactions. Currency transactions are subject to risks
different from those of other portfolio transactions. Because currency control
is of great importance to the issuing governments and influences economic
planning and policy, purchases and sales of currency and related instruments can
be negatively affected by government exchange controls, blockages, and
manipulations or exchange restrictions imposed by governments. These can result
in losses to the Fund if it is unable to deliver or receive currency or funds in
settlement of obligations and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be
rendered useless, resulting in full currency exposure as well as incurring
transaction costs. Buyers and sellers of currency futures are subject to the
same risks that apply to the use of futures generally. Further, settlement of a
currency futures contract for the purchase of most currencies must occur at a
bank based in the issuing nation. Trading options on currency futures is
relatively new, and the ability to establish and close out positions on such
options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid market which may not always be
available. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate based on factors extrinsic to
that country's economy.
Combined Transactions. The Fund may enter into multiple transactions, including
multiple options transactions, multiple futures transactions, multiple currency
transactions (including forward currency contracts) and multiple interest rate
transactions and any combination of futures, options, currency and interest rate
transactions ("component" transactions), instead of a single Strategic
Transaction, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the opinion of
the Adviser, it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so. A combined
transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of
its component transactions. Although combined transactions are normally entered
into based on the Adviser's judgment that the combined strategies will reduce
risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management
goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase such risks or
hinder achievement of the portfolio management objective.
Swaps, Caps, Floors and Collars. Among the Strategic Transactions into which the
Fund may enter are interest rate, currency and index swaps and the purchase or
sale of related caps, floors and collars. The Fund expects to enter into these
transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment
or portion of its portfolio, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a
duration management technique or to protect against any increase in the price of
securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date. The Fund intends to
use these transactions as hedges and not as speculative investments and will not
sell interest rate caps or floors where it does not own securities or other
instruments providing the income stream the Fund may be obligated to pay.
Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their
respective commitments to pay or receive interest, e.g., an exchange of floating
rate payments for fixed rate payments with respect to a notional amount of
principal. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional
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amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among
them and an index swap is an agreement to swap cash flows on a notional amount
based on changes in the values of the reference indices. The purchase of a cap
entitles the purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from
the party selling such cap to the extent that a specified index exceeds a
predetermined interest rate or amount. The purchase of a floor entitles the
purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party
selling such floor to the extent that a specified index falls below a
predetermined interest rate or amount. A collar is a combination of a cap and a
floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest
rates or values.
The Fund will usually enter into swaps on a net basis, i.e., the two
payment streams are netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates
specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may
be, only the net amount of the two payments. Inasmuch as these swaps, caps,
floors and collars are entered into for good faith hedging purposes, the Adviser
and the Fund believe such obligations do not constitute senior securities under
the 1940 Act, and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to its
borrowing restrictions. The Fund will not enter into any swap, cap, floor or
collar transaction unless, at the time of entering into such transaction, the
unsecured long-term debt of the Counterparty, combined with any credit
enhancements, is rated at least A by S&P or Moody's or has an equivalent rating
from a NRSRO or is determined to be of equivalent credit quality by the Adviser.
If there is a default by the Counterparty, the Fund may have contractual
remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. The swap market
has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and
investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing
standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become
relatively liquid. Caps, floors and collars are more recent innovations for
which standardized documentation has not yet been fully developed and,
accordingly, they are less liquid than swaps.
Eurodollar Instruments. The Fund may make investments in Eurodollar instruments.
Eurodollar instruments are U.S. dollar-denominated futures contracts or options
thereon which are linked to the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"),
although foreign currency-denominated instruments are available from time to
time. Eurodollar futures contracts enable purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for
the lending of funds and sellers to obtain a fixed rate for borrowings. The Fund
might use Eurodollar futures contracts and options thereon to hedge against
changes in LIBOR, to which many interest rate swaps and fixed income instruments
are linked.
Risks of Strategic Transactions Outside the U.S. When conducted outside the
U.S., Strategic Transactions may not be regulated as rigorously as in the U.S.,
may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to
the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign
securities, currencies and other instruments. The value of such positions also
could be adversely affected by: (i) other complex foreign political, legal and
economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the U.S. of data on which to
make trading decisions, (iii) delays in the Fund's ability to act upon economic
events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the U.S., (iv)
the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and
margin requirements than in the U.S., and (v) lower trading volume and
liquidity.
Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts. Many Strategic Transactions, in
addition to other requirements, require that the Fund segregate cash or liquid
assets with its custodian to the extent Fund obligations are not otherwise
"covered" through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument or
currency. In general, either the full amount of any obligation by the Fund to
pay or deliver securities or assets must be covered at all times by the
securities, instruments or currency required to be delivered, or, subject to any
regulatory restrictions, an amount of cash or liquid securities at least equal
to the current amount of the obligation must be segregated with the custodian.
The segregated assets cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are
substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate them. For
example, a call option written by the Fund will require the Fund to hold the
securities subject to the call (or securities convertible into the needed
securities without additional consideration) or to segregate cash or liquid
securities sufficient to purchase and deliver the securities if the call is
exercised. A call option sold by the Fund on an index will require the Fund to
own portfolio securities which correlate with the index or to segregate cash or
liquid assets equal to the excess of the index value over the exercise price on
a current basis. A put option written by the Fund requires the Fund to segregate
cash or liquid assets equal to the exercise price.
Except when the Fund enters into a forward contract for the purchase or
sale of a security denominated in a particular currency, which requires no
segregation, a currency contract which obligates the Fund to buy or sell
currency will generally require the Fund to hold an amount of that currency or
liquid securities denominated in that currency equal to the Fund's obligations
or to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the amount of the Fund's
obligation.
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OTC options entered into by the Fund, including those on securities,
currency, financial instruments or indices and OCC issued and exchange listed
index options, will generally provide for cash settlement. As a result, when the
Fund sells these instruments it will only segregate an amount of assets equal to
its accrued net obligations, as there is no requirement for payment or delivery
of amounts in excess of the net amount. These amounts will equal 100% of the
exercise price in the case of a non cash-settled put, the same as an OCC
guaranteed listed option sold by the Fund, or the in-the-money amount plus any
sell-back formula amount in the case of a cash-settled put or call. In addition,
when the Fund sells a call option on an index at a time when the in-the-money
amount exceeds the exercise price, the Fund will segregate, until the option
expires or is closed out, cash or cash equivalents equal in value to such
excess. OCC issued and exchange listed options sold by the Fund other than those
above generally settle with physical delivery, or with an election of either
physical delivery or cash settlement and the Fund will segregate an amount of
assets equal to the full value of the option. OTC options settling with physical
delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement
will be treated the same as other options settling with physical delivery.
In the case of a futures contract or an option thereon, the Fund must
deposit initial margin and possible daily variation margin in addition to
segregating assets sufficient to meet its obligation to purchase or provide
securities or currencies, or to pay the amount owed at the expiration of an
index-based futures contract. Such assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents,
liquid debt or equity securities or other acceptable assets.
With respect to swaps, the Fund will accrue the net amount of the
excess, if any, of its obligations over its entitlements with respect to each
swap on a daily basis and will segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets
having a value equal to the accrued excess. Caps, floors and collars require
segregation of assets with a value equal to the Fund's net obligation, if any.
Strategic Transactions may be covered by other means when consistent
with applicable regulatory policies. The Fund may also enter into offsetting
transactions so that its combined position, coupled with any segregated assets,
equals its net outstanding obligation in related options and Strategic
Transactions. For example, the Fund could purchase a put option if the strike
price of that option is the same or higher than the strike price of a put option
sold by the Fund. Moreover, instead of segregating assets if the Fund held a
futures or forward contract, it could purchase a put option on the same futures
or forward contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the
contract held. Other Strategic Transactions may also be offset in combinations.
If the offsetting transaction terminates at the time of or after the primary
transaction no segregation is required, but if it terminates prior to such time,
assets equal to any remaining obligation would need to be segregated.
Investment Restrictions
The fundamental policies of the Fund set forth below may not be changed
without the approval of a majority of the Fund's outstanding shares. As used in
this Statement of Additional Information, a "majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund" means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the voting
securities present at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund are present or represented by proxy;
or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The Fund
has elected to be classified as a diversified series of an open-end investment
company.
In addition, as a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will not:
(1) borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as
amended, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory
authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;
(2) issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940
Act, as amended, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory
authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;
(3) concentrate its investments in a particular industry, as that
term is used in the 1940 Act, as amended, and as interpreted
or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from
time to time;
(4) engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by
others, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be
an underwriter in connection with the disposition of portfolio
securities ;
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(5) purchase or sell real estate, which term does not include
securities of companies which deal in real estate or mortgages
or investments secured by real estate or interests therein,
except that the Fund reserves freedom of action to hold and to
sell real estate acquired as a result of the Fund's ownership
of securities;
(6) purchase physical commodities or contracts relating to
physical commodities; or
(7) make loans to other persons, except (i) loans of portfolio
securities, and (ii) to the extent that entry into repurchase
agreements and the purchase of debt instruments or interests
in indebtedness in accordance with the Fund's objective and
policies may be deemed to be loans.
Nonfundamental policies may be changed without shareholder approval. As a
matter of nonfundamental policy, the Fund will not:
(1) borrow money in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets,
except (i) for temporary or emergency purposes and (ii) by
engaging in reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, or
other investments or transactions described in the Fund's
registration statement which may be deemed to be borrowings;
(2) enter into either of reverse repurchase agreements or dollar
rolls in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets;
(3) purchase securities on margin or make short sales, except (i)
short sales against the box, (ii) in connection with arbitrage
transactions , (iii) for margin deposits in connection with
futures contracts, options or other permitted investments,
(iv) that transactions in futures contracts and options shall
not be deemed to constitute selling securities short, and (v)
that the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be
necessary for the clearance of securities transactions;
(4) purchase options, unless the aggregate premiums paid on all
such options held by the Fund at any time do not exceed 20% of
its total assets; or sell put options , if as a result, the
aggregate value of the obligations underlying such put options
would exceed 50% of its total assets;
(5) enter into futures contracts or purchase options thereon
unless immediately after the purchase, the value of the
aggregate initial margin with respect to such futures
contracts entered into on behalf of the Fund and the premiums
paid for such options on futures contracts does not exceed 5%
of the fair market value of the Fund's total assets; provided
that in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time
of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in
computing the 5% limit;
(6) purchase warrants if as a result , such securities, taken at
the lower of cost or market value, would represent more than
5% of the value of the Fund's total assets (for this purpose,
warrants acquired in units or attached to securities will be
deemed to have no value); and
(7) lend portfolio securities in an amount greater than 5% of its
total assets.
Any investment restrictions herein which involve a maximum percentage
of securities or assets shall not be considered to be violated unless an excess
over the percentage occurs immediately after, and is caused by, an acquisition
or encumbrance of securities or assets of, or borrowings by, the Fund.
PURCHASES
(See "Purchases" and "Transaction information" in the Shares' prospectus.)
Additional Information About Opening An Account
Clients having a regular investment counsel account with the Adviser or
its affiliates and members of their immediate families, officers and employees
of the Adviser or of any affiliated organization and their immediate families,
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members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") and
banks may, if they prefer, subscribe initially for at least $2,500 of Shares
through Scudder Investor Services, Inc. by letter, telegram, fax, TWX, or
telephone.
Shareholders of other Scudder funds who have submitted an account
application and have certified a tax identification number, clients having a
regular investment counsel account with the Adviser or its affiliates and
members of their immediate families, officers and employees of the Adviser or of
any affiliated organization and their immediate families, members of the NASD,
and banks may open an account by wire. These investors must call 1-800-225-5163
to get an account number. During the call the investor will be asked to indicate
the Fund name, class name, amount to be wired ($2,500 minimum), name of bank or
trust company from which the wire will be sent, the exact registration of the
new account, the tax identification number or Social Security number, address
and telephone number. The investor must then call the bank to arrange a wire
transfer to The Scudder Funds, Boston, MA 02101, ABA Number 011000028, DDA
Account 9903-5552. The investor must give the Scudder fund, class name, account
name and the new account number. Finally, the investor must send a completed and
signed application to the Fund promptly.
The minimum initial purchase amount is less than $2,500 under certain
special plan accounts.
Additional Information About Making Subsequent Investments
Subsequent purchase orders for $10,000 or more and for an amount not
greater than four times the value of the shareholder's account may be placed by
telephone, telegram, etc. by established shareholders (except by Scudder
Individual Retirement Account (IRA), Scudder pension and profit sharing, Scudder
401(k) and Scudder 403(b) Plan holders), members of the NASD, and banks. Orders
placed in this manner may be directed to any Scudder Investor Services, Inc.
office listed in the Fund's prospectus. A two-part invoice of the purchase will
be mailed out promptly following receipt of a request to buy. Payment should be
attached to a copy of the invoice for proper identification. Federal regulations
require that payment be received within three (3) business days. If payment is
not received within that time, the shares may be canceled. In the event of such
cancellation or cancellation at the purchaser's request, the purchaser will be
responsible for any loss incurred by the Fund or the principal underwriter by
reason of such cancellation. If the purchaser is a shareholder, the Fund shall
have the authority, as agent of the shareholder, to redeem shares in the account
in order to reimburse the Fund or the principal underwriter for the loss
incurred. Net losses on such transactions which are not recovered from the
purchaser will be absorbed by the principal underwriter. Any net profit on the
liquidation of unpaid shares will accrue to the Fund.
Additional Information About Making Subsequent Investments by QuickBuy
Shareholders, whose predesignated bank account of record is a member of
the Automated Clearing House Network (ACH) and who have elected to participate
in the QuickBuy program, may purchase shares of the Fund by telephone. Through
this service shareholders may purchase up to $250,000. To purchase shares by
QuickBuy, shareholders should call before the close of regular trading on the
Exchange, normally 4 p.m. eastern time. Proceeds in the amount of your purchase
will be transferred from your bank checking account two or three business days
following your call. For requests received by the close of regular trading on
the Exchange, shares will be purchased at the net asset value per share
calculated at the close of trading on the day of your call. QuickBuy requests
received after the close of regular trading on the Exchange will begin their
processing and be purchased at the net asset value calculated the following
business day. If you purchase shares by QuickBuy and redeem them within seven
days of the purchase, the Fund may hold the redemption proceeds for a period of
up to seven business days. If you purchase shares and there are insufficient
funds in your bank account the purchase will be canceled and you will be subject
to any losses or fees incurred in the transaction. QuickBuy transactions are not
available for most retirement plan accounts. However, QuickBuy transactions are
available for Scudder IRA accounts.
In order to request purchases by QuickBuy, shareholders must have
completed and returned to the Transfer Agent the application, including the
designation of a bank account from which the purchase payment will be debited.
New investors wishing to establish QuickBuy may so indicate on the application.
Existing shareholders who wish to add QuickBuy to their account may do so by
completing an QuickBuy Enrollment Form. After sending in an enrollment form
shareholders should allow 15 days for this service to be available.
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The Fund employs procedures, including recording telephone calls,
testing a caller's identity, and sending written confirmation of telephone
transactions, designed to give reasonable assurance that instructions
communicated by telephone are genuine. and to discourage fraud. To the extent
that the Fund does not follow such procedures, it may be liable for losses due
to unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions. The Fund will not be
liable for acting upon instructions communicated by telephone that it reasonably
believes to be genuine.
Checks
A certified check is not necessary, but checks are only accepted
subject to collection at full face value in U.S. funds and must be drawn on, or
payable through, a U.S. bank.
If shares of the Fund are purchased by a check which proves to be
uncollectible, the Fund reserves the right to cancel the purchase immediately
and the purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by the Fund or the
principal underwriter by reason of such cancellation. If the purchaser is a
shareholder, the Fund shall have the authority, as agent of the shareholder, to
redeem shares in the account in order to reimburse the Fund or the principal
underwriter for the loss incurred. Investors whose orders have been canceled may
be prohibited from or restricted in placing future orders in any of the Scudder
funds.
Wire Transfer of Federal Funds
To obtain the net asset value determined as of the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("the Exchange") on a selected day, your
bank must forward federal funds by wire transfer and provide the required
account information so as to be available to the Fund prior to the regular close
of trading on the Exchange (normally 4 p.m. eastern time).
The bank sending an investor's federal funds by bank wire may charge
for the service. Presently, the Fund pays a fee for receipt by the Custodian of
"wired funds," but the right to charge investors for this service is reserved.
Boston banks are presently closed on certain holidays although the
Exchange may be open. These holidays are Columbus Day (the 2nd Monday in
October) and Veterans' Day (November 11). Investors are not able to purchase
shares by wiring federal funds on such holidays because the Custodian is not
open to receive such federal funds on behalf of the Fund.
Share Price
Purchases will be filled without sales charge at the net asset value
per share next computed after receipt of the purchase order in good order. Net
asset value normally will be computed as of the close of regular trading on each
day the Exchange is open for trading. Orders received after the close of regular
trading on the Exchange will be executed at the next business day's net asset
value. If the order has been placed by a member of the NASD, other than Scudder
Investor Services, Inc., it is the responsibility of that member broker, rather
than the Fund, to forward the purchase order to Scudder Service Corporation (the
"Transfer Agent") in Boston by the close of regular trading on the Exchange.
Share Certificates
Due to the desire of the Fund's management to afford ease of
redemption, certificates will not be issued to indicate ownership in the Fund.
Share certificates now in a shareholder's possession may be sent to the Fund's
Transfer Agent for cancellation and credit to such shareholder's account.
Shareholders who prefer may hold the certificates in their possession until they
wish to exchange or redeem such shares.
Other Information
The Fund has authorized certain members of the NASD other than the
Distributor to accept purchase and redemption orders for the Fund's shares.
Those brokers may also designate other parties to accept purchase and redemption
orders on the Fund's behalf. Orders for purchase or redemption will be deemed to
have been received by the Fund when such brokers or their authorized designees
accept the orders. Subject to the terms of the contract between the Fund and the
broker, ordinarily orders will be priced at the Fund's net asset value next
computed after acceptance by such brokers or their authorized designees.
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Further, if purchases or redemptions of the Fund's shares are arranged and
settlement is made at an investor's election through any other authorized NASD
member, that member may, at its discretion, charge a fee for that service. The
Board of Directors and the Distributor, also the Fund's principal underwriter,
each has the right to limit the amount of purchases by, and to refuse to sell
to, any person. The Directors and the Distributor may suspend or terminate the
offering of shares of the Fund at any time for any reason.
The Board of Directors of the Fund and Scudder Investor Services, Inc.,
the Fund's principal underwriter, each has the right to limit the amount of
purchases by and to refuse to sell to any person and each may suspend or
terminate the offering of shares of the Fund at any time.
The "Tax Identification Number" section of the Application must be
completed when opening an account. Applications and purchase orders without a
certified tax identification number and certain other certified information
(e.g., from exempt organizations a certification of exempt status), may be
returned to the investor if a correct, certified tax identification number and
certain other required certificates are not supplied.
The Fund may issue shares at net asset value in connection with any
merger or consolidation with, or acquisition of the assets of, any investment
company or personal holding company, subject to the requirements of the 1940
Act.
EXCHANGES AND REDEMPTIONS
(See "Exchanges and redemptions" and "Transaction information" in
the Shares' prospectus.)
Exchanges
Exchanges are comprised of a redemption from one Scudder fund and a
purchase into another Scudder fund. The purchase side of the exchange either may
be an additional investment into an existing account or may involve opening a
new account in the other fund. When an exchange involves a new account, the new
account will be established with the same registration, tax identification
number, address, telephone redemption option, "Scudder Automated Information
Line" (SAIL) transaction authorization and dividend option as the existing
account. Other features will not carry over automatically to the new account.
Exchanges to a new fund account must be for a minimum of $2,500. When an
exchange represents an additional investment into an existing account, the
account receiving the exchange proceeds must have identical registration,
address, and account options/features as the account of origin. Exchanges into
an existing account must be for $100 or more. If the account receiving the
exchange proceeds is to be different in any respect, the exchange request must
be in writing and must contain an original signature guarantee as described
under "Transaction Information--Redeeming shares--Signature guarantees" in the
Fund's prospectus.
Exchange orders received before the close of regular trading on the
Exchange on any business day ordinarily will be executed at respective net asset
values determined on that day. Exchange orders received after the close of
regular trading on the Exchange will be executed on the following business day.
Investors may also request, at no extra charge, to have exchanges
automatically executed on a predetermined schedule from one Scudder fund to an
existing account in another Scudder fund, at current net asset value, through
Scudder's Automatic Exchange Program. Exchanges must be for a minimum of $50.
Shareholders may add this free feature over the telephone or in writing.
Automatic Exchanges will continue until the shareholder requests by telephone or
in writing to have the feature removed, or until the originating account is
depleted. The Corporation and the Transfer Agent each reserves the right to
suspend or terminate the privilege of the Automatic Exchange Program at any
time.
There is no charge to the shareholder for any exchange described above.
An exchange into another Scudder fund is a redemption of shares and therefore
may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder, and the
proceeds of such an exchange may be subject to backup withholding. (See
"TAXES.")
Investors currently receive the exchange privilege, including exchange
by telephone, automatically without having to elect it. The Fund employs
procedures, including recording telephone calls, testing a caller's identity,
and sending written confirmation of telephone transactions, designed to give
15
<PAGE>
reasonable assurance that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine,
and to discourage fraud. To the extent that the Fund does not follow such
procedures, it may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent
telephone instructions. The Fund will not be liable for acting upon instructions
communicated by telephone that it reasonably believes to be genuine. The Fund
and the Transfer Agent each reserves the right to suspend or terminate the
privilege of exchanging by telephone or fax at any time.
The Scudder Funds into which investors may make an exchange are listed
under "THE SCUDDER FAMILY OF FUNDS" herein. Before making an exchange,
shareholders should obtain from Scudder Investor Services, Inc. a prospectus of
the Scudder fund into which the exchange is being contemplated. The exchange
privilege may not be available for certain Scudder Funds or classes of Scudder
Funds.
Scudder retirement plans may have different exchange requirements.
Please refer to appropriate plan literature.
Redemption By Telephone
Shareholders currently receive the right, automatically without having
to elect it, to redeem by telephone up to $100,000 to their address of record.
Shareholders may also request by telephone to have the proceeds mailed or wired
to their predesignated bank account. In order to request wire redemptions by
telephone, shareholders must have completed and returned to the Transfer Agent
the application, including the designation of a bank account to which the
redemption proceeds are to be sent.
(a) NEW INVESTORS wishing to establish the telephone redemption
privilege must complete the appropriate section on the
application.
(b) EXISTING SHAREHOLDERS (except those who are Scudder IRA, Scudder
pension and profit-sharing, Scudder 401(k) and Scudder 403(b)
Planholders) who wish to establish telephone redemption to a
predesignated bank account or who want to change the bank account
previously designated to receive redemption proceeds should
either return a Telephone Redemption Option Form (available upon
request), or send a letter identifying the account and specifying
the exact information to be changed. The letter must be signed
exactly as the shareholder's name(s) appears on the account. An
original signature and an original signature guarantee are
required for each person in whose name the account is registered.
If a request for a redemption to a shareholder's bank account is made
by telephone or fax, payment will be by Federal Reserve bank wire to the bank
account designated on the application, unless a request is made that the
redemption check be mailed to the designated bank account. There will be a $5
charge for all wire redemptions.
Note: Investors designating a savings bank to receive their telephone
redemption proceeds are advised that if the savings bank is not a participant in
the Federal Reserve System, redemption proceeds must be wired through a
commercial bank which is a correspondent of the savings bank. As this may delay
receipt by the shareholder's account, it is suggested that investors wishing to
use a savings bank discuss wire procedures with their bank and submit any
special wire transfer information with the telephone redemption authorization.
If appropriate wire information is not supplied, redemption proceeds will be
mailed to the designated bank.
The Fund employs procedures, including recording telephone calls,
testing a caller's identity, and sending written confirmation of telephone
transactions, designed to give reasonable assurance that instructions
communicated by telephone are genuine, and to discourage fraud. To the extent
that the Fund does not follow such procedures, it may be liable for losses due
to unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions. The Fund will not be
liable for acting upon instructions communicated by telephone that it reasonably
believes to be genuine.
Redemption by QuickSell
Shareholders, whose predesignated bank account of record is a member of
the Automated Clearing House Network (ACH) and have elected to participate in
the QuickSell program may sell shares of the Fund by telephone. Redemptions must
be for at least $250. Proceeds in the amount of your redemption will be
transferred to your bank checking account in two or three business days
16
<PAGE>
following your call. For requests received by the close of regular trading on
the Exchange, normally 4 p.m. eastern time, Shares will be redeemed at the net
asset value per Share calculated at the close of trading on the day of your
call. QuickSell requests after 4 p.m. eastern time will begin their processing
the following business day. QuickSell transactions are not available for Scudder
IRA accounts and most other retirement plan accounts.
In order to request redemptions by QuickSell, shareholders must have
completed and returned to the Transfer Agent the application, including the
designation of a bank account to which redemption proceeds will be credited. New
investors wishing to establish QuickSell may so indicate on the application.
Existing shareholders who wish to add QuickSell to their account may do so by
completing an QuickSell Enrollment Form. After sending in an enrollment form,
shareholders should allow for 15 days for this service to be available.
The Fund employs procedures, including recording telephone calls,
testing a caller's identity, and sending written confirmation of telephone
transactions, designed to give reasonable assurance that instructions
communicated by telephone are genuine, and to discourage fraud. To the extent
that the Fund does not follow such procedures, it may be liable for losses due
to unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions. The Fund will not be
liable for acting upon instructions communicated by telephone that it reasonably
believes to be genuine.
Redemption by Mail or Fax
Any existing share certificates representing shares being redeemed must
accompany a request for redemption and be duly endorsed or accompanied by a
proper stock assignment form with signature(s) guaranteed.
In order to ensure proper authorization before redeeming shares, the
Transfer Agent may request additional documents such as, but not restricted to,
stock powers, trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as
executor, certificates of corporate authority and waivers of tax (required in
some states when settling estates).
It is suggested that shareholders holding share certificates or shares
registered in other than individual names contact the Transfer Agent prior to
any redemptions to ensure that all necessary documents accompany the request.
When shares are held in the name of a corporation, trust, fiduciary agent,
attorney or partnership, the Transfer Agent requires, in addition to the stock
power, certified evidence of authority to sign. These procedures are for the
protection of shareholders and should be followed to ensure prompt payment.
Redemption requests must not be conditional as to date or price of the
redemption. Proceeds of a redemption will be sent within seven (7) business days
after receipt by the Transfer Agent of a request for redemption that complies
with the above requirements. Delays of more than seven (7) days of payment for
shares tendered for repurchase or redemption may result, but only until the
purchase check has cleared.
The requirements for IRA redemptions are different from those for
regular accounts. For more information call 1-800-225-5163.
Redemption-in-Kind
The Fund reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash
payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase order by
making payment in whole or in part in readily marketable securities chosen by
the Fund and valued as they are for purposes of computing the Fund's net asset
value (a redemption-in-kind). If payment is made in securities, a shareholder
may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities into cash. The
Corporation has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940
Act as a result of which the Fund is obligated to redeem shares, with respect to
any one shareholder during any 90 day period, solely in cash up to the lesser of
$250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of that Fund at the beginning of the
period.
Other Information
If a shareholder redeems all shares in the account after the record
date of a dividend, the shareholder receives in addition to the net asset value
thereof, all declared but unpaid dividends thereon. The value of shares redeemed
or repurchased may be more or less than the shareholder's cost depending on the
net asset value at the time of redemption or repurchase. The Fund does not
impose a redemption or repurchase charge, although a wire charge may be
17
<PAGE>
applicable for redemption proceeds wired to an investor's bank account.
Redemption of shares, including redemptions undertaken to effect an exchange for
shares of another Scudder fund, may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to
the shareholder and the proceeds of such redemptions may be subject to backup
withholding. (See "TAXES.")
Shareholders who wish to redeem shares from Special Plan Accounts
should contact the employer, trustee or custodian of the Plan for the
requirements.
The determination of net asset value may be suspended at times and a
shareholder's right to redeem shares and to receive payment therefore may be
suspended at times (a) during which the Exchange is closed, other than customary
weekend and holiday closings, (b) during which trading on the Exchange is
restricted for any reason, (c) during which an emergency exists as a result of
which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably
practicable or it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine
the value of its net assets, or (d) during which the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"), by order permits a suspension of the right of
redemption or a postponement of the date of payment or of redemption; provided
that applicable rules and regulations of the Commission (or any succeeding
governmental authority) shall govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in
(b), (c) or (d) exist.
If transactions at any time reduce a shareholder's account balance in
the Fund to below $2,500 in value, the Fund will notify the shareholder that,
unless the account balance is brought up to at least $2,500, the Fund will
redeem all Shares and close the account by sending redemption proceeds to the
shareholder. The shareholder has sixty days to bring the account balance up to
$2,500 before any action will be taken by the Fund. (This policy applies to
accounts of new shareholders, but does not apply to certain Special Plan
Accounts.) The Directors have the authority to change the minimum account size.
FEATURES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE FUND
(See "Shareholder benefits" in the Shares' prospectus.)
The Pure No-Load(TM) Concept
Investors are encouraged to be aware of the full ramifications of
mutual fund fee structures, and of how Scudder distinguishes its Family of Funds
from the vast majority of mutual funds available today. The primary distinction
is between load and no-load funds.
Load funds generally are defined as mutual funds that charge a fee for
the sale and distribution of fund shares. There are three types of loads:
front-end loads, back-end loads, and asset-based 12b-1 fees. 12b-1 fees are
distribution-related fees charged against fund assets and are distinct from
service fees, which are charged for personal services and/or maintenance of
shareholder accounts. Asset-based sales charges and service fees are typically
paid pursuant to distribution plans adopted under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
A front-end load is a sales charge, which can be as high as 8.50% of
the amount invested. A back-end load is a contingent deferred sales charge,
which can be as high as 8.50% of either the amount invested or redeemed. The
maximum front-end or back-end load varies, and depends upon whether or not a
fund also charges a 12b-1 fee and/or a service fee or offers investors various
sales-related services such as dividend reinvestment. The maximum charge for a
12b-1 fee is 0.75% of a fund's average annual net assets, and the maximum charge
for a service fee is 0.25% of a fund's average annual net assets.
A no-load fund does not charge a front-end or back-end load, but can
charge a small 12b-1 fee and/or service fee against fund assets. Under the
National Association of Securities Dealers Conduct Rules, a mutual fund can call
itself a "no-load" fund only if the 12b-1 fee and/or service fee does not exceed
0.25% of a fund's average annual net assets.
Because funds in the Scudder Family of Funds do not pay any asset-based
sales charges or service fees, Scudder developed and trademarked the phrase pure
no-load(TM) to distinguish Scudder funds from other no-load mutual funds.
Scudder pioneered the no-load concept when it created the nation's first no-load
fund in 1928, and later developed the nation's first family of no-load mutual
funds.
18
<PAGE>
The following chart shows the potential long-term advantage of
investing $10,000 in a Scudder Family of Funds pure no-load fund over investing
the same amount in a load fund that collects an 8.50% front-end load, a load
fund that collects only a 0.75% 12b-1 and/or service fee, and a no-load fund
charging only a 0.25% 12b-1 and/or service fee. The hypothetical figures in the
chart show the value of an account assuming a constant 10% rate of return over
the time periods indicated and reinvestment of dividends and distributions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
======================== ---------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ======================
YEARS ScudderPure No-Load(TM) 8.50% Load Fund Load Fund with 0.75%
Fund 12b-1 Fee No-Load Fund with
0.25% 12b-1 Fee
======================= ---------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ======================
10 $ 25,937 $ 23,733 $ 24,222 $ 25,354
======================= ---------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ======================
15 41,772 38,222 37,698 40,371
======================= ====================== ====================== ====================== ======================
20 67,275 61,557 58,672 64,282
======================= ====================== ====================== ====================== ======================
</TABLE>
Investors are encouraged to review the fee tables on page 2 of the
Shares' prospectuses for more specific information about the rates at which
management fees and other expenses are assessed.
Internet access
World Wide Web Site -- The address of the Scudder Funds site is
http://funds.scudder.com. The site offers guidance on global investing and
developing strategies to help meet financial goals and provides access to the
Scudder investor relations department via e-mail. The site also enables users to
access or view fund prospectuses and profiles with links between summary
information in Profiles and details in the Prospectus. Users can fill out new
account forms on-line, order free software, and request literature on funds.
The site is designed for interactivity, simplicity and maneuverability.
A section entitled "Planning Resources" provides information on asset
allocation, tuition, and retirement planning to users who fill out interactive
"worksheets." Investors can easily establish a "Personal Page," that presents
price information, updated daily, on funds they're interested in following. The
"Personal Page" also offers easy navigation to other parts of the site. Fund
performance data from both Scudder and Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. are
available on the site. Also offered on the site is a news feature, which
provides timely and topical material on the Scudder Funds.
The Adviser has communicated with shareholders and other interested
parties on Prodigy since 1988 and has participated since 1994 in GALT's Networth
"financial marketplace" site on the Internet. The firm made Scudder Funds
information available on America Online in early 1996.
Account Access -- The Adviser is among the first mutual fund families to allow
shareholders to manage their fund accounts through the World Wide Web. Scudder
Fund shareholders can view a snapshot of current holdings, review account
activity and move assets between Scudder Fund accounts.
The Adviser's personal portfolio capabilities -- known as SEAS (Scudder
Electronic Account Services) -- are accessible only by current Scudder Fund
shareholders who have set up a Personal Page on Scudder's Web site. Using a
secure Web browser, shareholders sign on to their account with their Social
Security number and their SAIL password. As an additional security measure,
users can change their current password or disable access to their portfolio
through the World Wide Web.
An Account Activity option reveals a financial history of transactions
for an account, with trade dates, type and amount of transaction, share price
and number of shares traded. For users who wish to trade shares between Scudder
Funds, the Fund Exchange option provides a step-by-step procedure to exchange
shares among existing fund accounts or to new Scudder Fund accounts.
19
<PAGE>
A Call MeTM feature enables users to speak with a Scudder Investor
Relations telephone representative while viewing their account on the Web site.
In order to use the Call MeTM feature, an individual must have two phone lines
and enter on the screen the phone number that is not being used to connect to
the Internet. They are connected to the next available Scudder Investor
Relations representative from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. eastern time.
Dividend and Capital Gain Distribution Options
Investors have freedom to choose whether to receive cash or to reinvest
any dividends from net investment income or distributions from realized capital
gains in additional Shares of the Fund. A change of instructions for the method
of payment may be given to the Transfer Agent in writing at least five days
prior to a dividend record date. Shareholders may change their dividend option
by calling 1-800-225-5163 or by sending written instructions to the Transfer
Agent. Please include your account number with your written request. See "How to
Contact Scudder" in the Prospectus for the address.
Reinvestment is usually made at the closing net asset value determined
on the business day following the record date. Investors may leave standing
instructions with the Transfer Agent designating their option for either
reinvestment or cash distribution of any income dividends or capital gains
distributions. If no election is made, dividends and distributions will be
invested in additional shares of the Fund.
Investors may also have dividends and distributions automatically
deposited to their predesignated bank account through Scudder's
DistributionsDirect Program. Shareholders who elect to participate in the
DistributionsDirect Program, and whose predesignated checking account of record
is with a member bank of Automated Clearing House Network (ACH) can have income
and capital gain distributions automatically deposited to their personal bank
account usually within three business days after the Fund pays its distribution.
A DistributionsDirect request form can be obtained by calling 1-800-225-5163.
Confirmation Statements will be mailed to shareholders as notification that
distributions have been deposited.
Investors choosing to participate in Scudder's Automatic Withdrawal
Plan must reinvest any dividends or capital gains. For most retirement plan
accounts, the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains is also required.
Scudder Investor Centers
Investors may visit any of the Investor Centers maintained by Scudder
Investor Services, Inc. listed in the Fund's Prospectus. The Centers are
designed to provide individuals with services during any business day. Investors
may pick up literature or find assistance with opening an account, adding monies
or special options to existing accounts, making exchanges within the Scudder
Family of Funds, redeeming shares or opening retirement plans. Checks should not
be mailed to the Centers but should be mailed to "The Scudder Funds" at the
address listed under "How to contact Scudder" in the prospectus.
Reports to Shareholders
The Fund issues to its shareholders audited semiannual financial
statements, including a list of investments held and statements of assets and
liabilities, operations, changes in net assets and financial highlights. The
Fund presently intends to distribute to shareholders informal quarterly reports
during the intervening quarters, containing certain performance and investment
highlights of the Fund. Each distribution will be accompanied by a brief
explanation of the source of the distribution.
Transaction Summaries
Annual summaries of all transactions in each Fund account are available
to shareholders. The summaries may be obtained by calling 1-800-225-5163.
20
<PAGE>
THE SCUDDER FAMILY OF FUNDS
(See "Investment products and services" in the Shares' prospectus.)
The Scudder Family of Funds is America's first family of mutual funds
and the nation's oldest family of no-load mutual funds. To assist investors in
choosing a Scudder fund, descriptions of the Scudder funds' objectives follow.
MONEY MARKET
Scudder U.S. Treasury Money Fund seeks to provide safety, liquidity and
stability of capital and, consistent therewith, to provide current
income . The Fund seeks to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00
per share, although in certain circumstances this may not be possible,
and declares dividends daily.
Scudder Cash Investment Trust ("SCIT") seeks to maintain the stability
of capital and, consistent therewith, to maintain the liquidity of
capital and to provide current income . SCIT seeks to maintain a
constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, although in certain
circumstances this may not be possible, and declares dividends daily.
Scudder Money Market Series seeks to provide investors with as high a
level of current income as is consistent with its investment polices
and with preservation of capital and liquidity. The Fund seeks to
maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share , but there is
no assurance that it will be able to do so. The institutional class of
shares of this Fund is not within the Scudder Family of Funds.
Scudder Government Money Market Series seeks to provide investors with
as high a level of current income as is consistent with its investment
polices and with preservation of capital and liquidity. The Fund seeks
to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, but there is
no assurance that it will be able to do so. The institutional class of
shares of this Fund is not within the Scudder Family of Funds.
TAX FREE MONEY MARKET
Scudder Tax Free Money Fund ("STFMF") seeks to provide income exempt
from regular federal income tax and stability of principal through
investments primarily in municipal securities. STFMF seeks to maintain
a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, although in extreme
circumstances this may not be possible.
Scudder Tax Free Money Market Series seeks to provide investors with as
high a level of current income that cannot be subjected to federal
income tax by reason of federal law as is consistent with its
investment policies and with preservation of capital and liquidity. The
Fund seeks to maintain a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share,
but there is no assurance that it will be able to do so. The
institutional class of shares of this Fund is not within the Scudder
Family of Funds.
Scudder California Tax Free Money Fund* seeks stability of capital and
the maintenance of a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share while
providing California taxpayers income exempt from both California State
personal and regular federal income taxes. The Fund is a professionally
managed portfolio of high quality, short-term California municipal
securities. There can be no assurance that the stable net asset value
will be maintained.
Scudder New York Tax Free Money Fund* seeks stability of capital and
the maintenance of a constant net asset value of $1.00 per share, while
providing New York taxpayers income exempt from New York State and New
York City personal income taxes and regular federal income tax. There
can be no assurance that the stable net asset value will be maintained.
- --------
* These funds are not available for sale in all states. For information,
contact Scudder Investor Services, Inc.
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<PAGE>
TAX FREE
Scudder Limited Term Tax Free Fund seeks to provide as high a level of
income exempt from regular federal income tax as is consistent with a
high degree of principal stability.
Scudder Medium Term Tax Free Fund seeks to provide a high level of
income free from regular federal income taxes and to limit principal
fluctuation. The Fund will invest primarily in high-grade,
intermediate-term bonds.
Scudder Managed Municipal Bonds seeks to provide income exempt from
regular federal income tax primarily through investments in high-grade,
long-term municipal securities.
Scudder High Yield Tax Free Fund seeks to provide a high level of
interest income , exempt from regular federal income tax, from an
actively managed portfolio consisting primarily of investment-grade
municipal securities .
Scudder California Tax Free Fund* seeks to provide California taxpayers
with income exempt from both California State personal income and
regular federal income tax. The Fund is a professionally managed
portfolio consisting primarily of California municipal securities.
Scudder Massachusetts Limited Term Tax Free Fund* seeks to provide
Massachusetts taxpayers with as high a level of income exempt from
Massachusetts personal income tax and regular federal income tax, as is
consistent with a high degree of price stability, through a
professionally managed portfolio consisting primarily of
investment-grade municipal securities.
Scudder Massachusetts Tax Free Fund* seeks to provide Massachusetts
taxpayers with income exempt from both Massachusetts personal income
tax and regular federal income tax. The Fund is a professionally
managed portfolio consisting primarily of investment-grade municipal
securities.
Scudder New York Tax Free Fund* seeks to provide New York taxpayers
with income exempt from New York State and New York City personal
income taxes and regular federal income tax. The Fund is a
professionally managed portfolio consisting primarily of New York
municipal securities.
Scudder Ohio Tax Free Fund* seeks to provide Ohio taxpayers with income
exempt from both Ohio personal income tax and regular federal income
tax. The Fund is a professionally managed portfolio consisting
primarily of investment-grade municipal securities.
Scudder Pennsylvania Tax Free Fund* seeks to provide Pennsylvania
taxpayers with income exempt from both Pennsylvania personal income tax
and regular federal income tax. The Fund is a professionally managed
portfolio consisting primarily of investment-grade municipal
securities.
U.S. INCOME
Scudder Short Term Bond Fund seeks to provide a high level of income
consistent with a high degree of principal stability by investing
primarily in high quality short-term bonds.
Scudder Zero Coupon 2000 Fund seeks to provide as high an investment
return over a selected period as is consistent with investment in U.S.
Government securities and the minimization of reinvestment risk.
Scudder GNMA Fund seeks to provide high current income primarily from
U.S. Government guaranteed mortgage-backed (Ginnie Mae) securities.
Scudder Income Fund seeks a high level of income, consistent with the
prudent investment of capital, through a flexible investment program
emphasizing high-grade bonds.
- --------
* These funds are not available for sale in all states. For information,
contact Scudder Investor Services, Inc.
22
<PAGE>
Scudder High Yield Bond Fund seeks a high level of current income and,
secondarily, capital appreciation through investment primarily in below
investment-grade domestic debt securities.
GLOBAL INCOME
Scudder Global Bond Fund seeks to provide total return with an emphasis
on current income by investing primarily in high-grade bonds
denominated in foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. As a secondary
objective, the Fund will seek capital appreciation.
Scudder International Bond Fund seeks to provide income primarily by
investing in a managed portfolio of high-grade international bonds. As
a secondary objective, the Fund seeks protection and possible
enhancement of principal value by actively managing currency, bond
market and maturity exposure and by security selection.
Scudder Emerging Markets Income Fund seeks to provide high current
income and, secondarily, long-term capital appreciation through
investments primarily in high-yielding debt securities issued by
governments and corporations in emerging markets.
ASSET ALLOCATION
Scudder Pathway Series: Conservative Portfolio seeks primarily current
income and secondarily long-term growth of capital. In pursuing these
objectives, the Portfolio , under normal market conditions, will invest
substantially in a select mix of Scudder bond mutual funds, but will
have some exposure to Scudder equity mutual funds.
Scudder Pathway Series: Balanced Portfolio seeks to provide investors
with a balance of growth and income by investing in a select mix of
Scudder money market, bond and equity mutual funds.
Scudder Pathway Series: Growth Portfolio seeks to provide investors
with long-term growth of capital. In pursuing this objective, the
Portfolio will, under normal market conditions, invest predominantly in
a select mix of Scudder equity mutual funds designed to provide
long-term growth.
Scudder Pathway Series: International Portfolio seeks maximum total
return for investors. Total return consists of any capital appreciation
plus dividend income and interest. To achieve this objective, the
Portfolio invests in a select mix of established international and
global Scudder funds.
U.S. GROWTH AND INCOME
Scudder Balanced Fund seeks a balance of growth and income from a
diversified portfolio of equity and fixed-income securities. The Fund
also seeks long-term preservation of capital through a quality-oriented
approach that is designed to reduce risk.
Scudder Growth and Income Fund seeks long-term growth of capital,
current income, and growth of income.
Scudder S&P 500 Index Fund seeks to provide investment results that,
before expenses, correspond to the total return of common stocks
publicly traded in the United States, as represented by the Standard &
Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index.
Scudder Real Estate Investment Fund seeks long-term capital growth and
current income by investing primarily in equity securities of companies
in the real estate industry.
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<PAGE>
U.S. GROWTH
Value
Scudder Large Company Value Fund seeks to maximize long-term capital
appreciation through a value-driven investment program.
Scudder Value Fund seeks long-term growth of capital through investment
in undervalued equity securities.
Scudder Small Company Value Fund invests for long-term growth of
capital by seeking out undervalued stocks of small U.S. companies.
Scudder Micro Cap Fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing
primarily in a diversified portfolio of U.S. micro-capitalization
("micro-cap") common stocks.
Growth
Scudder Classic Growth Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of
capital with reduced share price volatility compared to other growth
mutual funds.
Scudder Large Company Growth Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of
capital through investment primarily in the equity securities of
seasoned, financially strong U.S. growth companies.
Scudder Development Fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing
primarily in securities of small and medium-size growth companies.
Scudder 21st Century Growth Fund seeks long-term growth of capital by
investing primarily in the securities of emerging growth companies
poised to be leaders in the 21st century.
SCUDDER CHOICE SERIES
Scudder Financial Services Fund seeks long-term growth of capital
primarily through investment in equity securities of financial services
companies.
Scudder Health Care Fund seeks long-term growth of capital primarily
through investment in securities of companies that are engaged in the
development, production or distribution of products or services related
to the treatment or prevention of diseases and other medical problems.
Scudder Technology Fund seeks long-term growth of capital primarily
through investment in securities of companies engaged in the
development, production or distribution of technology-related products
or services.
GLOBAL GROWTH
Worldwide
Scudder Global Fund seeks long-term growth of capital through a
diversified portfolio of marketable securities, primarily equity
securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and debt
securities convertible into common stocks.
Scudder International Growth and Income Fund seeks long-term growth of
capital and current income primarily from foreign equity securities.
Scudder International Fund seeks long-term growth of capital primarily
through a diversified portfolio of marketable foreign equity
securities.
24
<PAGE>
Scudder Global Discovery Fund seeks above-average capital appreciation
over the long term by investing primarily in the equity securities of
small companies located throughout the world.
Scudder Emerging Markets Growth Fund seeks long-term growth of capital
primarily through equity investment in emerging markets around the
globe.
Scudder Gold Fund seeks maximum return (principal change and income)
consistent with investing in a portfolio of gold-related equity
securities and gold.
Regional
Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund seeks long-term growth of capital
through investments primarily in the equity securities of European
companies.
Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund seeks long-term growth of capital
through investment primarily in the equity securities of Pacific Basin
companies, excluding Japan.
Scudder Latin America Fund seeks to provide long-term capital
appreciation through investment primarily in the securities of Latin
American issuers.
The Japan Fund, Inc. seeks long-term capital appreciation by
investing primarily in equity securities (including American
Depository Receipts) of Japanese companies.
The net asset values of most Scudder funds can be found daily in the
"Mutual Funds" section of The Wall Street Journal under "Scudder Funds," and in
other leading newspapers throughout the country. Investors will notice the net
asset value and offering price are the same, reflecting the fact that no sales
commission or "load" is charged on the sale of shares of the Scudder funds. The
latest seven-day yields for the money-market funds can be found every Monday and
Thursday in the "Money-Market Funds" section of The Wall Street Journal. This
information also may be obtained by calling the Scudder Automated Information
Line (SAIL) at 1-800-343-2890.
The Scudder Family of Funds offers many conveniences and services,
including: active professional investment management; broad and diversified
investment portfolios; pure no-load funds with no commissions to purchase or
redeem shares or Rule 12b-1 distribution fees; individual attention from a
service representative of Scudder Investor Relations; and easy telephone
exchanges into other Scudder funds. Certain Scudder funds or classes thereof may
not be available for purchase or exchange. For more information, please call
1-800-225-5163.
SPECIAL PLAN ACCOUNTS
(See "Scudder tax-advantaged retirement plans," "Purchases--By Automatic
Investment Plan" and "Exchanges and redemptions--By Automatic Withdrawal Plan"
in the Shares' prospectus.)
Detailed information on any Scudder investment plan, including the
applicable charges, minimum investment requirements and disclosures made
pursuant to Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") requirements, may be obtained
by contacting Scudder Investor Services, Inc., Two International Place, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110-4103 or by calling toll free, 1-800-225-2470. The
discussions of the plans below describe only certain aspects of the federal
income tax treatment of the plan. The state tax treatment may be different and
may vary from state to state. It is advisable for an investor considering the
funding of the investment plans described below to consult with an attorney or
other investment or tax adviser with respect to the suitability requirements and
tax aspects thereof.
Shares of the Fund may also be a permitted investment under profit
sharing and pension plans and IRA's other than those offered by the Fund's
distributor depending on the provisions of the relevant plan or IRA.
None of the plans assures a profit or guarantees protection against
depreciation, especially in declining markets.
25
<PAGE>
Scudder Retirement Plans: Profit-Sharing and Money Purchase
Pension Plans for Corporations and Self-Employed Individuals
Shares of the Fund may be purchased as the investment medium under a
plan in the form of a Scudder Profit-Sharing Plan (including a version of the
Plan which includes a cash-or-deferred feature) or a Scudder Money Purchase
Pension Plan (jointly referred to as the Scudder Retirement Plans) adopted by a
corporation, a self-employed individual or a group of self-employed individuals
(including sole proprietorships and partnerships), or other qualifying
organization. Each of these forms was approved by the IRS as a prototype. The
IRS's approval of an employer's plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code will be greatly facilitated if it is in such approved form. Under
certain circumstances, the IRS will assume that a plan, adopted in this form,
after special notice to any employees, meets the requirements of Section 401(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code as to form.
Scudder 401(k): Cash or Deferred Profit-Sharing Plan
for Corporations and Self-Employed Individuals
Shares of the Fund may be purchased as the investment medium under a
plan in the form of a Scudder 401(k) Plan adopted by a corporation, a
self-employed individual or a group of self-employed individuals (including sole
proprietors and partnerships), or other qualifying organization. This plan has
been approved as a prototype by the IRS.
Scudder IRA: Individual Retirement Account
Shares of the Fund may be purchased as the underlying investment for an
Individual Retirement Account which meets the requirements of Section 408(a) of
the Internal Revenue Code.
A single individual who is not an active participant in an
employer-maintained retirement plan, a simplified employee pension plan, or a
tax-deferred annuity program (a "qualified plan"), and a married individual who
is not an active participant in a qualified plan and whose spouse is also not an
active participant in a qualified plan, are eligible to make tax deductible
contributions of up to $2,000 to an IRA prior to the year such individual
attains age 70 1/2. In addition, certain individuals who are active participants
in qualified plans (or who have spouses who are active participants) are also
eligible to make tax-deductible contributions to an IRA; the annual amount, if
any, of the contribution which such an individual will be eligible to deduct
will be determined by the amount of his, her, or their adjusted gross income for
the year. Whenever the adjusted gross income limitation prohibits an individual
from contributing what would otherwise be the maximum tax-deductible
contribution he or she could make, the individual will be eligible to contribute
the difference to an IRA in the form of nondeductible contributions.
An eligible individual may contribute as much as $2,000 of qualified
income (earned income or, under certain circumstances, alimony) to an IRA each
year (up to $2,000 per individual for married couples if only one spouse has
earned income). All income and capital gains derived from IRA investments are
reinvested and compound tax-deferred until distributed. Such tax-deferred
compounding can lead to substantial retirement savings.
The table below shows how much individuals would accumulate in a fully
tax-deductible IRA by age 65 (before any distributions) if they contribute
$2,000 at the beginning of each year, assuming average annual returns of 5, 10,
and 15%. (At withdrawal, accumulations in this table will be taxable.)
Value of IRA at Age 65
Assuming $2,000 Deductible Annual Contribution
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
- ---------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------
Starting
Age of Annual Rate of Return
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Contributions 5% 10% 15%
- ---------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------
25 $253,680 $973,704 $4,091,908
35 139,522 361,887 999,914
45 69,439 126,005 235,620
55 26,414 35,062 46,699
</TABLE>
26
<PAGE>
This next table shows how much individuals would accumulate in non-IRA
accounts by age 65 if they start with $2,000 in pretax earned income at the
beginning of each year (which is $1,380 after taxes are paid), assuming average
annual returns of 5, 10 and 15%. (At withdrawal, a portion of the accumulation
in this table will be taxable.)
Value of a Non-IRA Account at
Age 65 Assuming $1,380 Annual Contributions
(post tax, $2,000 pretax) and a 31% Tax Bracket
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
- ---------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------
Starting
Age of Annual Rate of Return
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Contributions 5% 10% 15%
- ---------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------
25 $119,318 $287,021 $741,431
35 73,094 136,868 267,697
45 40,166 59,821 90,764
55 16,709 20,286 24,681
</TABLE>
Scudder 403(b) Plan
Shares of the Fund may also be purchased as the underlying investment
for tax sheltered annuity plans under the provisions of Section 403(b)(7) of the
Internal Revenue Code. In general, employees of tax-exempt organizations
described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (such as hospitals,
churches, religious, scientific, or literary organizations and educational
institutions) or a public school system are eligible to participate in a 403(b)
plan.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan
Non-retirement plan shareholders may establish an Automatic Withdrawal
Plan to receive monthly, quarterly or periodic redemptions from his or her
account for any designated amount of $50 or more. Shareholders may designate
which day they want the automatic withdrawal to be processed. The check amounts
may be based on the redemption of a fixed dollar amount, fixed share amount,
percent of account value or declining balance. The Plan provides for income
dividends and capital gains distributions, if any, to be reinvested in
additional Shares. Shares are then liquidated as necessary to provide for
withdrawal payments. Since the withdrawals are in amounts selected by the
investor and have no relationship to yield or income, payments received cannot
be considered as yield or income on the investment and the resulting
liquidations may deplete or possibly extinguish the initial investment and any
reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions. Requests for increases in
withdrawal amounts or to change the payee must be submitted in writing, signed
exactly as the account is registered, and contain signature guarantee(s) as
described under "Transaction information--Redeeming shares--Signature
guarantees" in the Shares' prospectuses. Any such requests must be received by
the Fund's transfer agent ten days prior to the date of the first automatic
withdrawal. An Automatic Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time by the
shareholder, the Corporation or its agent on written notice, and will be
terminated when all Shares of the Fund under the Plan have been liquidated or
upon receipt by the Corporation of notice of death of the shareholder.
An Automatic Withdrawal Plan request form can be obtained by calling
1-800-225-5163.
Group or Salary Deduction Plan
An investor may join a Group or Salary Deduction Plan where
satisfactory arrangements have been made with Scudder Investor Services, Inc.
for forwarding regular investments through a single source. The minimum annual
investment is $240 per investor which may be made in monthly, quarterly,
semiannual or annual payments. The minimum monthly deposit per investor is $20.
Except for trustees or custodian fees for certain retirement plans, at present
there is no separate charge for maintaining group or salary deduction plans;
however, the Corporation and its agents reserve the right to establish a
maintenance charge in the future depending on the services required by the
investor.
The Corporation reserves the right, after notice has been given to the
shareholder, to redeem and close a shareholder's account in the event that the
shareholder ceases participating in the group plan prior to investment of $1,000
per individual or in the event of a redemption which occurs prior to the
27
<PAGE>
accumulation of that amount or which reduces the account value to less than
$1,000 and the account value is not increased to $1,000 within a reasonable time
after notification. An investor in a plan who has not purchased shares for six
months shall be presumed to have stopped making payments under the plan.
Automatic Investment Plan
Shareholders may arrange to make periodic investments through automatic
deductions from checking accounts by completing the appropriate form and
providing the necessary documentation to establish this service. The minimum
investment is $50.
The Automatic Investment Plan involves an investment strategy called
dollar cost averaging. Dollar cost averaging is a method of investing whereby a
specific dollar amount is invested at regular intervals. By investing the same
dollar amount each period, when shares are priced low the investor will purchase
more shares than when the share price is higher. Over a period of time this
investment approach may allow the investor to reduce the average price of the
shares purchased. However, this investment approach does not assure a profit or
protect against loss. This type of regular investment program may be suitable
for various investment goals such as, but not limited to, college planning or
saving for a home.
Uniform Transfers/Gifts to Minors Act
Grandparents, parents or other donors may set up custodian accounts for
minors. The minimum initial investment is $1,000 unless the donor agrees to
continue to make regular share purchases for the account through Scudder's
Automatic Investment Plan (AIP). In this case, the minimum initial investment is
$500.
The Corporation reserves the right, after notice has been given to the
shareholder and custodian, to redeem and close a shareholder's account in the
event that regular investments to the account cease before the $1,000 minimum is
reached.
Scudder Roth IRA: Individual Retirement Account
Shares of the Funds may be purchased as the underlying investment for a
Roth Individual Retirement Account which meets the requirements of Section 408A
of the Internal Revenue Code.
A single individual earning below $95,000 can contribute up to $2,000
per year to a Roth IRA. The maximum contribution amount diminishes and gradually
falls to zero for single filers with adjusted gross incomes ranging from $95,000
to $110,000. Married couples earning less than $150,000 combined, and filing
jointly, can contribute a full $4,000 per year ($2,000 per IRA). The maximum
contribution amount for married couples filing jointly phases out from $150,000
to $160,000.
An eligible individual can contribute money to a traditional IRA and a
Roth IRA as long as the total contribution to all IRAs does not exceed $2,000.
No tax deduction is allowed under Section 219 of the Internal Revenue Code for
contributions to a Roth IRA. Contributions to a Roth IRA may be made even after
the individual for whom the account is maintained has attained age 70 1/2.
All income and capital gains derived from Roth IRA investments are
reinvested and compounded tax-free. Such tax-free compounding can lead to
substantial retirement savings. No distributions are required to be taken prior
to the death of the original account holder. If a Roth IRA has been established
for a minimum of five years, distributions can be taken tax-free after reaching
age 59 1/2, for a first-time home purchase ($10,000 maximum, one-time use) or
upon death or disability. All other distributions of earnings from a Roth IRA
are taxable and subject to a 10% tax penalty unless an exception applies.
Exceptions to the 10% penalty include: disability, excess medical expenses, the
purchase of health insurance for an unemployed individual and education
expenses.
An individual with an income of less than $100,000 (who is not married
filing separately) can roll his or her existing IRA into a Roth IRA. However,
the individual must pay taxes on the taxable amount in his or her traditional
IRA. Individuals who complete the rollover in 1998 will be allowed to spread the
tax payments over a four-year period. After 1998, all taxes on such a rollover
will have to be paid in the tax year in which the rollover is made.
28
<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
(See "Distribution and performance information -- Dividends and capital
gains distributions" in the Shares' prospectus.)
The Fund intends to follow the practice of distributing all of its
investment company taxable income, which includes any excess of net realized
short-term capital gains over net realized long-term capital losses. The Fund
may follow the practice of distributing the entire excess of net realized
long-term capital gains over net realized short-term capital losses. However,
the Fund may retain all or part of such gain for reinvestment after paying the
related federal income taxes for which the shareholders may then be asked to
claim a credit against their federal income tax liability. (See "TAXES.")
If the Fund does not distribute the amount of capital gain and/or
ordinary income required to be distributed by an excise tax provision of the
Code, the Fund may be subject to that excise tax. (See "TAXES.") In certain
circumstances, the Fund may determine that it is in the interest of shareholders
to distribute less than the required amount.
Earnings and profits distributed to shareholders on redemptions of Fund
shares may be utilized by the Fund, to the extent permissible, as part of the
Fund's dividends paid deduction on its federal tax return.
The Fund intends to distribute its investment company taxable income
and any net realized capital gains in November or December to avoid federal
excise tax, although an additional distribution may be made if necessary.
Both types of distributions will be made in Shares of the Fund and
confirmations will be mailed to each shareholder unless a shareholder has
elected to receive cash, in which case a check will be sent. Distributions of
investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains are taxable
(See "TAXES"), whether made in Shares or cash.
Each distribution is accompanied by a brief explanation of the form and
character of the distribution. The characterization of distributions on such
correspondence may differ from the characterization for federal tax purposes. In
January of each year the Fund issues to each shareholder a statement of the
federal income tax status of all distributions in the prior calendar year.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
(See "Distribution and performance information--Performance
information" in the Shares' prospectus.)
From time to time, quotations of the Shares' performance may be
included in advertisements, sales literature or reports to shareholders or
prospective investors. These performance figures will be calculated in the
following manner:
Average Annual Total Return
Average Annual Total Return is the average annual compound rate of
return for the periods of one year, five years, and ten years, all ended on the
last day of a recent calendar quarter. Average annual total return quotations
reflect changes in the price of the Shares and assume that all dividends and
capital gains distributions during the respective periods were reinvested in
Shares. Average annual total return is calculated by finding the average annual
compound rates of return of a hypothetical investment over such periods,
according to the following formula (average annual total return is then
expressed as a percentage):
29
<PAGE>
T = (ERV/P)^1/n - 1
Where:
P = a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000
T = Average Annual Total Return
n = number of years
ERV = ending redeemable value: ERV is the value,
at the end of the applicable period, of a
hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the
beginning of the applicable period.
Average Annual Total Return for years ended March 31, 1997
One Year Five Years Ten Years
10.74% 11.61% 8.90%
Cumulative Total Return
Cumulative Total Return is the compound rate of return on a
hypothetical initial investment of $1,000 for a specified period. Cumulative
Total Return quotations reflect changes in the price of the Shares and assume
that all dividends and capital gains distributions during the period were
reinvested in Shares. Cumulative Total Return is calculated by finding the
cumulative rates of return of a hypothetical investment over such periods,
according to the following formula (Cumulative Total Return is then expressed as
a percentage):
C = (ERV/P) -1
Where:
C = Cumulative Total Return
P = a hypothetical initial investment
of $1,000
ERV = ending redeemable value: ERV is
the value, at the end of the
applicable period, of a hypothetical
$1,000 investment made at the
beginning of the applicable period.
Cumulative Total Return for years ended March 31, 1997
One Year Five Years Ten Years
10.74% 73.22% 134.56%
Total Return
Total Return is the rate of return on an investment for a specified
period of time calculated in the same manner as Cumulative Total Return.
Comparison of Fund Performance
A comparison of the quoted non-standard performance offered for various
investments is valid only if performance is calculated in the same manner. Since
there are different methods of calculating performance, investors should
consider the effects of the methods used to calculate performance when comparing
performance of the Fund with performance quoted with respect to other investment
companies or types of investments.
In connection with communicating its performance to current or
prospective shareholders, the Fund also may compare these figures to the
performance of unmanaged indices which may assume reinvestment of dividends or
interest but generally do not reflect deductions for administrative and
management costs. Examples include, but are not limited to the Dow Jones
Industrial Average, the Consumer Price Index, Standard & Poor's 500 Composite
Stock Price Index (S&P 500), the Nasdaq OTC Composite Index, the Nasdaq
30
<PAGE>
Industrials Index, the Russell 2000 Index, the Wilshire Real Estate Securities
Index and statistics published by the Small Business Administration.
Because some or all of the Fund's investments are denominated in
foreign currencies, the strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar as against these
currencies may account for part of the Fund's investment performance. Historical
information on the value of the dollar versus foreign currencies may be used
from time to time in advertisements concerning the Fund. Such historical
information is not indicative of future fluctuations in the value of the U.S.
dollar against these currencies. In addition, marketing materials may cite
country and economic statistics and historical stock market performance for any
of the countries in which the Fund invests, including, but not limited to, the
following: population growth, gross domestic product, inflation rate, average
stock market price-earnings ratios and the total value of stock markets. Sources
for such statistics may include official publications of various foreign
governments and exchanges.
From time to time, in advertising and marketing literature, this Fund's
performance may be compared to the performance of broad groups of mutual funds
with similar investment goals, as tracked by independent organizations such as,
Investment Company Data, Inc. ("ICD"), Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
("Lipper"), CDA Investment Technologies, Inc. ("CDA"), Morningstar, Inc., Value
Line Mutual Fund Survey and other independent organizations. When these
organizations' tracking results are used, the Fund will be compared to the
appropriate fund category, that is, by fund objective and portfolio holdings, or
to the appropriate volatility grouping, where volatility is a measure of a
fund's risk. For instance, a Scudder growth fund will be compared to funds in
the growth fund category; a Scudder income fund will be compared to funds in the
income fund category; and so on. Scudder funds (except for money market funds)
may also be compared to funds with similar volatility, as measured statistically
by independent organizations. In addition, the Fund's performance may also be
compared to the performance of broad groups of comparable mutual funds.
Unmanaged indices with which the Fund's performance may be compared include, but
are not limited to, the following:
The Europe/Australia/Far East (EAFE) Index
International Finance Corporation's Latin America Investable
Total Return Index
Morgan Stanley Capital International World Index
J.P. Morgan Global Traded Bond Index
Salomon Brothers World Government Bond Index
Nasdaq Composite Index
Wilshire 5000 Stock Index
From time to time, in marketing and other Fund literature, Directors
and officers of the Fund, the Fund's portfolio manager, or members of the
portfolio management team may be depicted and quoted to give prospective and
current shareholders a better sense of the outlook and approach of those who
manage the Fund. In addition, the amount of assets that the Adviser has under
management in various geographical areas may be quoted in advertising and
marketing materials.
The Fund may be advertised as an investment choice in Scudder's college
planning program. The description may contain illustrations of projected future
college costs based on assumed rates of inflation and examples of hypothetical
fund performance, calculated as described above.
Statistical and other information, as provided by the Social Security
Administration, may be used in marketing materials pertaining to retirement
planning in order to estimate future payouts of social security benefits.
Estimates may be used on demographic and economic data.
Marketing and other Fund literature may include a description of the
potential risks and rewards associated with an investment in the Fund. The
description may include a "risk/return spectrum" which compares the Fund to
other Scudder funds or broad categories of funds, such as money market, bond or
equity funds, in terms of potential risks and returns. Money market funds are
designed to maintain a constant $1.00 share price and have a fluctuating yield.
Share price, yield and total return of a bond fund will fluctuate. The share
price and return of an equity fund also will fluctuate. The description may also
compare the Fund to bank products, such as certificates of deposit. Unlike
mutual funds, certificates of deposit are insured up to $100,000 by the U.S.
government and offer a fixed rate of return.
31
<PAGE>
Because bank products guarantee the principal value of an investment
and money market funds seek stability of principal, these investments are
considered to be less risky than investments in either bond or equity funds,
which may involve the loss of principal. However, all long-term investments,
including investments in bank products, may be subject to inflation risk, which
is the risk of erosion of the value of an investment as prices increase over a
long time period. The risks/returns associated with an investment in bond or
equity funds depend upon many factors. For bond funds these factors include, but
are not limited to, a fund's overall investment objective, the average portfolio
maturity, credit quality of the securities held, and interest rate movements.
For equity funds, factors include a fund's overall investment objective, the
types of equity securities held and the financial position of the issuers of the
securities. The risks/returns associated with an investment in international
bond or equity funds also will depend upon currency exchange rate fluctuation.
A risk/return spectrum generally will position the various investment
categories in the following order: bank products, money market funds, bond funds
and equity funds. Shorter-term bond funds generally are considered less risky
and offer the potential for less return than longer-term bond funds. The same is
true of domestic bond funds relative to international bond funds, and bond funds
that purchase higher quality securities relative to bond funds that purchase
lower quality securities. Growth and income equity funds are generally
considered to be less risky and offer the potential for less return than growth
funds. In addition, international equity funds usually are considered more risky
than domestic equity funds but generally offer the potential for greater return.
Risk/return spectrums also may depict funds that invest in both
domestic and foreign securities or a combination of bond and equity securities.
Evaluation of Fund performance or other relevant statistical
information made by independent sources may also be used in advertisements
concerning the Fund, including reprints of, or selections from, editorials or
articles about this Fund. Sources for Fund performance information and articles
about the Fund include the following:
American Association of Individual Investors' Journal, a monthly publication of
the AAII that includes articles on investment analysis techniques.
Asian Wall Street Journal, a weekly Asian newspaper that often reviews U.S.
mutual funds investing internationally.
Banxquote, an on-line source of national averages for leading money market and
bank CD interest rates, published on a weekly basis by Masterfund, Inc. of
Wilmington, Delaware.
Barron's, a Dow Jones and Company, Inc. business and financial weekly that
periodically reviews mutual fund performance data.
Business Week, a national business weekly that periodically reports the
performance rankings and ratings of a variety of mutual funds investing abroad.
CDA Investment Technologies, Inc., an organization which provides performance
and ranking information through examining the dollar results of hypothetical
mutual fund investments and comparing these results against appropriate market
indices.
Consumer Digest, a monthly business/financial magazine that includes a "Money
Watch" section featuring financial news.
Financial Times, Europe's business newspaper, which features from time to time
articles on international or country-specific funds.
Financial World, a general business/financial magazine that includes a "Market
Watch" department reporting on activities in the mutual fund industry.
Forbes, a national business publication that from time to time reports the
performance of specific investment companies in the mutual fund industry.
32
<PAGE>
Fortune, a national business publication that periodically rates the performance
of a variety of mutual funds.
The Frank Russell Company, a West-Coast investment management firm that
periodically evaluates international stock markets and compares foreign equity
market performance to U.S. stock market performance.
Global Investor, a European publication that periodically reviews the
performance of U.S. mutual funds investing internationally.
IBC Money Fund Report, a weekly publication of IBC Financial Data, Inc.,
reporting on the performance of the nation's money market funds, summarizing
money market fund activity and including certain averages as performance
benchmarks, specifically "IBC's Money Fund Average," and "IBC's Government Money
Fund Average."
Ibbotson Associates, Inc., a company specializing in investment research and
data.
Investment Company Data, Inc., an independent organization which provides
performance ranking information for broad classes of mutual funds.
Investor's Business Daily, a daily newspaper that features financial, economic,
and business news.
Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly investment advisory publication
that periodically features the performance of a variety of securities.
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.'s Mutual Fund Performance Analysis, a weekly
publication of industry-wide mutual fund averages by type of fund.
Money, a monthly magazine that from time to time features both specific funds
and the mutual fund industry as a whole.
Morgan Stanley International, an integrated investment banking firm that
compiles statistical information.
Mutual Fund Values, a biweekly Morningstar, Inc. publication that provides
ratings of mutual funds based on fund performance, risk and portfolio
characteristics.
The New York Times, a nationally distributed newspaper which regularly covers
financial news.
The No-Load Fund Investor, a monthly newsletter, published by Sheldon Jacobs,
that includes mutual fund performance data and recommendations for the mutual
fund investor.
No-Load Fund*X, a monthly newsletter, published by DAL Investment Company, Inc.,
that reports on mutual fund performance, rates funds and discusses investment
strategies for the mutual fund investor.
Personal Investing News, a monthly news publication that often reports on
investment opportunities and market conditions.
Personal Investor, a monthly investment advisory publication that includes a
"Mutual Funds Outlook" section reporting on mutual fund performance measures,
yields, indices and portfolio holdings.
Smart Money, a national personal finance magazine published monthly by Dow Jones
and Company, Inc. and The Hearst Corporation. Focus is placed on ideas for
investing, spending and saving.
Success, a monthly magazine targeted to the world of entrepreneurs and growing
business, often featuring mutual fund performance data.
United Mutual Fund Selector, a semi-monthly investment newsletter, published by
Babson United Investment Advisors, that includes mutual fund performance data
and reviews of mutual fund portfolios and investment strategies.
33
<PAGE>
USA Today, a leading national daily newspaper.
U.S. News and World Report, a national news weekly that periodically reports
mutual fund performance data.
Value Line Mutual Fund Survey, an independent organization that provides
biweekly performance and other information on mutual funds.
The Wall Street Journal, a Dow Jones and Company, Inc. newspaper which regularly
covers financial news.
Wiesenberger Investment Companies Services, an annual compendium of information
about mutual funds and other investment companies, including comparative data on
funds' backgrounds, management policies, salient features, management results,
income and dividend records and price ranges.
Working Woman, a monthly publication that features a "Financial Workshop"
section reporting on the mutual fund/financial industry.
Worth, a national publication issued 10 times per year by Capital Publishing
Company, a subsidiary of Fidelity Investments. Focus is placed on personal
financial journalism.
Taking a Global Approach
Many U.S. investors limit their holdings to U.S. securities because
they assume that international or global investing is too risky. While there are
risks connected with investing overseas, it's important to remember that no
investment -- even in blue-chip domestic securities -- is entirely risk free.
Looking outside U.S. borders, an investor today can find opportunities that
mirror domestic investments -- everything from large, stable multinational
companies to start-ups in emerging markets. To determine the level of risk with
which you are comfortable, and the potential for reward you're seeking over the
long term, you need to review the type of investment, the world markets, and
your time horizon.
The U.S. is unusual in that it has a very broad economy that is well
represented in the stock market. However, many countries around the world are
not only undergoing a revolution in how their economies operate, but also in
terms of the role their stock markets play in financing activities. There is
vibrant change throughout the global economy and all of this represents
potential investment opportunity.
Investing beyond the United States can open this world of opportunity,
due partly to the dramatic shift in the balance of world markets. In 1970, the
United States alone accounted for two-thirds of the value of the world's stock
markets. Now, the situation is reversed -- only 35% of global stock market
capitalization resides here. There are companies in Southeast Asia that are
starting to dominate regional activity; there are companies in Europe that are
expanding outside of their traditional markets and taking advantage of faster
growth in Asia and Latin America; other companies throughout the world are
getting out from under state control and restructuring; developing countries
continue to open their doors to foreign investment.
Stocks in many foreign markets can be attractively priced. The global
stock markets do not move in lock step. When the valuations in one market rise,
there are other markets that are less expensive. There is also volatility within
markets in that some sectors may be more expensive while others are depressed in
valuation. A wider set of opportunities can help make it possible to find the
best values available.
International or global investing offers diversification because the
investment is not limited to a single country or economy. In fact, many experts
agree that investment strategies that include both U.S. and non-U.S.
investments strike the best balance between risk and reward.
Scudder's 30% Solution
The 30 Percent Solution -- A Global Guide for Investors Seeking Better
Performance With Reduced Portfolio Risk is a booklet, created by Scudder, to
convey its vision about the new global investment dynamic. This dynamic is a
result of the profound and ongoing changes in the global economy and the
financial markets. The booklet explains how Scudder believes an equity
34
<PAGE>
investment portfolio with up to 30% in international holdings and 70% in
domestic holdings can improve long-term performance while simultaneously helping
to reduce overall risk.
FUND ORGANIZATION
(See "Fund organization" in the Shares' prospectus.)
The Corporation was organized as Scudder Fund of Canada Ltd. in Canada
in 1953 by the investment management firm of Scudder, Stevens & Clark. On March
16, 1964, the name of the Corporation was changed to Scudder International
Investments Ltd. On July 31, 1975, the corporate domicile of the Corporation was
changed to the U.S. through the transfer of its net assets to a newly formed
Maryland corporation, Scudder International Fund, Inc., in exchange for shares
of the Corporation which then were distributed to the shareholders of the
Corporation.
The authorized capital stock of the Corporation consists of 700 million
shares of a par value of $.01 each--all of one class except for Scudder
International Fund which consists of two classes of shares, the Shares and the
Barrett International class of shares of the Fund. All shares have equal rights
as to voting, redemption, dividends and liquidation. Shareholders have one vote
for each share held. The Corporation's capital stock is comprised of six series:
Scudder International Fund, the original series; Scudder Latin America Fund,
Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund, both organized in December 1992, Scudder
Greater Europe Growth Fund, organized in October 1994, Scudder Emerging Markets
Growth Fund, organized in May 1996 and Scudder International Growth and Income
Fund, organized in June 1997. Each series consists of 100 million shares except
for the Fund which consists of 200 million shares. The Directors have the
authority to issue additional series of shares and to designate the relative
rights and preferences as between the different series. All shares issued and
outstanding are fully paid and non-assessable, transferable, and redeemable at
net asset value at the option of the shareholder. Shares have no pre-emptive or
conversion rights.
The shares of the Corporation have non-cumulative voting rights, which
means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of
Directors can elect 100% of the Directors if they choose to do so, and, in such
event, the holders of the remaining less than 50% of the shares voting for the
election of Directors will not be able to elect any person or persons to the
Board of Directors. The assets of the Corporation received for the issue or sale
of the shares of each series and all income, earnings, profits and proceeds
thereof, subject only to the rights of creditors, are specifically allocated to
such series and constitute the underlying assets of such series. The underlying
assets of each series are segregated on the books of account, and are to be
charged with the liabilities in respect to such series and with such a share of
the general liabilities of the Corporation. If a series were unable to meet its
obligations, the assets of all other series may in some circumstances be
available to creditors for that purpose, in which case the assets of such other
series could be used to meet liabilities which are not otherwise properly
chargeable to them. Expenses with respect to any two or more series are to be
allocated in proportion to the asset value of the respective series except where
allocations of direct expenses can otherwise be fairly made. The officers of the
Corporation, subject to the general supervision of the Directors, have the power
to determine which liabilities are allocable to a given series, or which are
general or allocable to two or more series. In the event of the dissolution or
liquidation of the Corporation or any series, the holders of the shares of any
series are entitled to receive as a class the underlying assets of such shares
available for distribution to shareholders.
Shares of the Corporation entitle their holders to one vote per share;
however, separate votes are taken by each series on matters affecting an
individual series. For example, a change in investment policy for a series would
be voted upon only by shareholders of the series involved. Additionally,
approval of the investment advisory agreement is a matter to be determined
separately by each series. Approval by the shareholders of one series is
effective as to that series whether or not enough votes are received from the
shareholders of the other series to approve such agreement as to the other
series.
The Directors, in their discretion, may authorize the division of
shares of the Corporation (or shares of a series) into different classes
permitting shares of different classes to be distributed by different methods.
Although shareholders of different classes of a series would have an interest in
the same portfolio of assets, shareholders of different classes may bear
different expenses in connection with different methods of distribution.
35
<PAGE>
The Corporation's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the
"Articles") provide that the Directors of the Corporation, to the fullest extent
permitted by Maryland General Corporation Law and the 1940 Act, shall not be
liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for damages. Maryland law
currently provides that Directors shall be immune from liability for any action
taken by them in good faith, in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best
interests of the Corporation and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person
in a like position would use under similar circumstances. In so acting, a
Director shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of
the Corporation and upon reports made to the Corporation by persons selected in
good faith by the Directors as qualified to make such reports. The Articles and
the By-Laws provide that the Corporation will indemnify its Directors, officers,
employees or agents against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with
litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the
Corporation consistent with applicable law. Nothing in the Articles or the
By-Laws protects or indemnifies a Director, officer, employee or agent against
any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his or her office.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
(See "Fund organization--Investment adviser" in the Shares' prospectus.)
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc. (the "Adviser"), an investment counsel
firm, acts as investment adviser to the Fund. This organization, the predecessor
of which is Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc., is one of the most experienced
investment counsel firms in the U. S. It was established as a partnership in
1919 and pioneered the practice of providing investment counsel to individual
clients on a fee basis. In 1928 it introduced the first no-load mutual fund to
the public. In 1953 the Adviser introduced Scudder International Fund, Inc., the
first mutual fund available in the U.S. investing internationally in securities
of issuers in several foreign countries. The predecessor firm reorganized from a
partnership to a corporation on June 28, 1985. On June 26, 1997, Scudder,
Stevens & Clark, Inc. ("Scudder") entered into an agreement with Zurich
Insurance Company ("Zurich") pursuant to which Scudder and Zurich agreed to form
an alliance. On December 31, 1997, Zurich acquired a majority interest in
Scudder, and Zurich Kemper Investments, Inc., a Zurich subsidiary, became part
of Scudder. Scudder's name has been changed to Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.
Founded in 1872, Zurich is a multinational, public corporation
organized under the laws of Switzerland. Its home office is located at
Mythenquai 2, 8002 Zurich, Switzerland. Historically, Zurich's earnings have
resulted from its operations as an insurer as well as from its ownership of its
subsidiaries and affiliated companies (the "Zurich Insurance Group"). Zurich and
the Zurich Insurance Group provide an extensive range of insurance products and
services and have branch offices and subsidiaries in more than 40 countries
throughout the world.
The principal source of the Adviser's income is professional fees
received from providing continuous investment advice, and the firm derives no
income from brokerage or underwriting of securities. Today, it provides
investment counsel for many individuals and institutions, including insurance
companies, colleges, industrial corporations, and financial and banking
organizations. In addition, it manages Montgomery Street Income Securities,
Inc., Scudder California Tax Free Trust, Scudder Cash Investment Trust, Scudder
Equity Trust, Scudder Fund, Inc., Scudder Funds Trust, Scudder Global Fund,
Inc., Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc., Scudder GNMA Fund, Scudder
Portfolio Trust, Scudder Institutional Fund, Inc., Scudder International Fund,
Inc., Scudder Investment Trust, Scudder Municipal Trust, Scudder Mutual Funds,
Inc., Scudder New Asia Fund, Inc., Scudder New Europe Fund, Inc., Scudder
Pathway Series, Scudder Securities Trust, Scudder State Tax Free Trust, Scudder
Tax Free Money Fund, Scudder Tax Free Trust, Scudder U.S. Treasury Money Fund,
Scudder Variable Life Investment Fund, The Argentina Fund, Inc., The Brazil
Fund, Inc., The Korea Fund, Inc., The Japan Fund, Inc. and Scudder Spain and
Portugal Fund, Inc. Some of the foregoing companies or trusts have two or more
series.
The Adviser also provides investment advisory services to the mutual
funds which comprise the AARP Investment Program from Scudder. The AARP
Investment Program from Scudder has assets over $13 billion and includes the
AARP Growth Trust, AARP Income Trust, AARP Tax Free Income Trust, AARP Managed
Investment Portfolios Trust and AARP Cash Investment Funds.
Pursuant to an Agreement between Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.
("Scudder") and AMA Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of the American Medical
Association (the "AMA"), dated May 9, 1997, Scudder has agreed, subject to
36
<PAGE>
applicable state regulations, to pay AMA Solutions, Inc. royalties in an amount
equal to 5% of the management fee received by the Adviser with respect to assets
invested by AMA members in Scudder funds in connection with the AMA
InvestmentLinkSM Program. The Adviser will also pay AMA Solutions, Inc. a
general monthly fee, currently in the amount of $833. The AMA and AMA Solutions,
Inc. are not engaged in the business of providing investment advice and neither
is registered as an investment adviser or broker/dealer under federal securities
laws. Any person who participates in the AMA InvestmentLinkSM Program will be a
customer of the Adviser (or of a subsidiary thereof) and not the AMA or AMA
Solutions, Inc. AMA InvestmentLinkSM is a service mark of AMA Solutions, Inc.
The Adviser maintains a large research department, which conducts
continuous studies of the factors that affect the position of various
industries, companies and individual securities. The Adviser receives published
reports and statistical compilations from issuers and other sources, as well as
analyses from brokers and dealers who may execute portfolio transactions for the
Adviser's clients. However, the Adviser regards this information and material as
an adjunct to its own research activities. Scudder's international investment
management team travels the world, researching hundreds of companies. In
selecting the securities in which the Fund may invest, the conclusions and
investment decisions of the Adviser with respect to the Fund are based primarily
on the analyses of its own research department.
Certain investments may be appropriate for the Fund and also for other
clients advised by the Adviser. Investment decisions for the Fund and other
clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives
and after consideration of such factors as their current holdings, availability
of cash for investment and the size of their investments generally. Frequently,
a particular security may be bought or sold for only one client or in different
amounts and at different times for more than one but less than all clients.
Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one
or more other clients are selling the security. In addition, purchases or sales
of the same security may be made for two or more clients on the same day. In
such event, such transactions will be allocated among the clients in a manner
believed by the Adviser to be equitable to each. In some cases, this procedure
could have an adverse effect on the price or amount of the securities purchased
or sold by the Fund. Purchase and sale orders for the Fund may be combined with
those of other clients of the Adviser in the interest of achieving the most
favorable net results to the Fund.
The Investment Management Agreement (the "Agreement") dated September
5, 1996 was approved by the Directors of the Fund on September 5, 1996. Because
the transaction between Scudder and Zurich resulted in the assignment of the
Fund's investment management agreement with Scudder, that agreement was deemed
to be automatically terminated at the consummation of the transaction. In
anticipation of the transaction, however, a new investment management agreement
between the Fund and the Adviser was approved by the Corporation's Directors on
October 29, 1997. At the special meeting of the Fund's stockholders held on
October 27, 1997, the stockholders also approved the new investment management
agreement. The new investment management agreement (the "Agreement") became
effective as of December 31, 1997 and will be in effect for an initial term
ending on September 30, 1998. The Agreement is in all material respects on the
same terms as the previous investment management agreement which it supersedes.
The Agreement incorporates conforming changes which promote consistency among
all of the funds advised by the Adviser and which permit ease of administration.
The Agreement will continue in effect and from year to year thereafter only if
its continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority of those
Directors who are not parties to such Agreement or interested persons of the
Adviser or the Fund, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval, and either by a vote of the Corporation's Directors or
of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The Agreement
may be terminated at any time without payment of penalty by either party on
sixty days' written notice, and automatically terminates in the event of its
assignment.
Under the Agreement, the Adviser regularly provides the Fund with
continuing investment management for the Fund's portfolio consistent with the
Fund's investment objectives, policies and restrictions and determines which
securities shall be purchased, held or sold and what portion of the Fund's
assets shall be held uninvested, subject to the Corporation's Articles, By-Laws,
the 1940 Act, the Code and to the Fund's investment objective, policies and
restrictions, and subject, further, to such policies and instructions as the
Board of Directors of the Corporation may from time to time establish.
Under the Agreement, the Adviser renders significant administrative
services (not otherwise provided by third parties) necessary for the
Corporation's operations as an open-end investment company including, but not
limited to, preparing reports and notices to the Directors and shareholders;
supervising, negotiating contractual arrangements with, and monitoring various
37
<PAGE>
third-party service providers to the Fund (such as the Fund's transfer agent,
pricing agents, custodian, accountants and others); preparing and making filings
with the Commission and other regulatory agencies; assisting in the preparation
and filing of the Fund's federal, state and local tax returns; preparing and
filing the Fund's federal excise tax returns; assisting with investor and public
relations matters; monitoring the valuation of securities and the calculation of
net asset value; monitoring the registration of shares of the Fund under
applicable federal and state securities laws; maintaining the Fund's books and
records to the extent not otherwise maintained by a third party; assisting in
establishing accounting policies of the Fund; assisting in the resolution of
accounting and legal issues; establishing and monitoring the Fund's operating
budget; processing the payment of the Fund's bills; assisting the Fund in, and
otherwise arranging for, the payment of distributions and dividends and
otherwise assisting the Fund in the conduct of its business, subject to the
direction and control of the Directors.
The Adviser pays the compensation and expenses (except those of
attending Board and committee meetings outside New York, New York or Boston,
Massachusetts) of all Directors, officers and executive employees of the Fund
affiliated with the Adviser and makes available, without expense to the Fund,
the services of such Directors, officers and employees of the Adviser as may
duly be elected officers of the Fund, subject to their individual consent to
serve and to any limitations imposed by law, and provides the Fund's office
space and facilities.
On September 5, 1996, the Fund's Board of Directors approved a new
Investment Management Agreement (the "Management Agreement") with Scudder,
Stevens & Clark, Inc. ("Scudder"). The management fee payable under the
Management Agreement is equal to an annual rate of approximately 0.90% of the
first $500,000,000 of average daily net assets, 0.85% of the next $500,000,000
of such net assets, 0.80% of the next $1,000,000,000 of such net assets, 0.75%
of the next $1,000,000,000 of such net assets, and 0.70% of such net assets in
excess of $3,000,000,000, computed and accrued daily and payable monthly.
Under the Investment Management Agreement between the Fund and Scudder
which was in effect prior to September 5, 1996 (the "Agreement"), the Fund
agreed to pay to the Adviser a fee equal to an annual rate of 0.90% on the first
$500,000,000 of the Fund's average daily net assets, 0.85% on the next
$500,000,000, 0.80% on the next $1,000,000,000, and 0.75% of such net assets in
excess of $2,000,000,000, computed and accrued daily and payable monthly.
The net investment advisory fees for the fiscal years ended March 31,
1997, 1996 and 1995 were $20,989,160, $19,502,443 and $19,032,146,
respectively.
Under the Agreement the Fund is responsible for all of its other
expenses including: fees and expenses incurred in connection with membership in
investment company organizations; brokers' commissions; legal, auditing and
accounting expenses; the calculation of net asset value; taxes and governmental
fees; the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent; the cost of preparing share
certificates or any other expenses of issue, sale, underwriting, distribution,
redemption or repurchase of shares; the expenses of and the fees for registering
or qualifying securities for sale; the fees and expenses of Directors, officers
and employees of the Fund who are not affiliated with the Adviser; the cost of
printing and distributing reports and notices to stockholders; and the fees and
disbursements of custodians. The Fund may arrange to have third parties assume
all or part of the expenses of sale, underwriting and distribution of shares of
the Fund. The Fund is also responsible for its expenses of shareholders'
meetings, the cost of responding to shareholders' inquiries, and its expenses
incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings and claims and the legal
obligation it may have to indemnify its officers and Directors of the Fund with
respect thereto.
The Agreement expressly provides that the Adviser shall not be required
to pay a pricing agent of the Fund for portfolio pricing services, if any.
The Agreement identifies the Adviser as the exclusive licensee of the
rights to use and sublicense the names "Scudder," "Scudder Kemper Investments,
Inc." and "Scudder Stevens & Clark, Inc." (together, the "Scudder Marks"). Under
this license, the Corporation, with respect to the Fund, has the non-exclusive
right to use and sublicense the Scudder name and marks as part of its name, and
to use the Scudder Marks in the Corporation's investment products and services.
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<PAGE>
In reviewing the terms of the Agreement and in discussions with the
Adviser concerning such Agreement, the Directors of the Fund who are not
"interested persons" of the Adviser are represented by independent counsel at
the Fund's expense.
The Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be liable for any
error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in
connection with matters to which the Agreement relates, except a loss resulting
from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the
Adviser in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by the
Adviser of its obligations and duties under the Agreement.
Officers and employees of the Adviser from time to time may have
transactions with various banks, including the Fund's custodian bank. It is the
Adviser's opinion that the terms and conditions of those transactions which have
occurred were not influenced by existing or potential custodial or other Fund
relationships.
The Adviser may serve as adviser to other funds with investment
objectives and policies similar to those of the Funds that may have different
distribution arrangements or expenses, which may affect performance.
None of the officers or Directors of the Fund may have dealings with
the Fund as principals in the purchase or sale of securities, except as
individual subscribers to or holders of shares of the Fund.
Personal Investments by Employees of the Adviser
Employees of the Adviser are permitted to make personal securities
transactions, subject to requirements and restrictions set forth in the
Adviser's Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics contains provisions and
requirements designed to identify and address certain conflicts of interest
between personal investment activities and the interests of investment advisory
clients such as the Fund. Among other things, the Code of Ethics, which
generally complies with standards recommended by the Investment Company
Institute's Advisory Group on Personal Investing, prohibits certain types of
transactions absent prior approval, imposes time periods during which personal
transactions may not be made in certain securities, and requires the submission
of duplicate broker confirmations and monthly reporting of securities
transactions. Additional restrictions apply to portfolio managers, traders,
research analysts and others involved in the investment advisory process.
Exceptions to these and other provisions of the Code of Ethics may be granted in
particular circumstances after review by appropriate personnel.
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Name, Age, and Address Position with Fund Principal Occupation** Position with
Underwriter, Scudder
Investor Services,
Inc.
Daniel Pierce (64)+*@ Chairman of the Board Managing Director of Scudder Vice President,
and Director Kemper Investments, Inc. Director and
Assistant Treasurer
Paul Bancroft III (67) Director Venture Capitalist and Consultant; --
79 Pine Lane Retired, President, Chief Executive
Snowmass Village, CO 81615 Officer and Director, Bessemer
Securities Corporation
39
<PAGE>
Name, Age, and Address Position with Fund Principal Occupation** Position with
Underwriter, Scudder
Investor Services,
Inc.
Sheryle J. Bolton Director Chief Executive Officer, Scientific --
(51)Scientific Learning Learning Corporation, Former
Corporation417 Montgomery President and Chief Operating
Street Suite 500 San Officer, Physicians' Online, Inc.
Francisco, CA 94104 (electronic transmission of clinical
information for physicians
(1994-1995); Member, Senior
Management Team, Rockefeller & Co.
(1990-1993).
William T. Burgin (53)83 Director General Partner, Bessemer Venture --
Walnut StreetWellesley, MA Partners; General Partner, Deer &
02181 Company; Director, James River
Corp.; Director, Galile Corp.,
Director of various privately held
companies.
Thomas J. Devine (70)450 Director Consultant --
Park AvenueNew York, NY
10022
Keith R. Fox (43)10 East Director President, Exeter Capital Management --
53rd StreetNew York, NY Corporation
10022
William H. Gleysteen, Jr. Director Consultant; Guest Scholar, Brookings --
(71) 4937 Crescent Institute
StreetBethesda, MD 20816
William H. Luers (68)The Director President, The Metropolitan Museum --
MetropolitanMuseum of Art of Art (1986 to present)
993 Fifth AvenueNew York,
NY 10028
Wilson Nolen (70)1120 Fifth Director Consultant (1989 to present); --
Avenue New York, NY 10128 Corporate Vice President, Becton,
Dickinson & Company (manufacturer of
medical and scientific products)
until 1989
Kathryn L. Quirk (45)#@* Director; Vice Managing Director of Scudder Kemper Director, Senior Vice
President and Investments, Inc. President and Assistant
Assistant Secretary Clerk
Robert G. Stone, Jr. (74) Honorary Director Chairman Emeritus and Director, --
405 Lexington AvenueNew Kirby Corporation (inland and
York, NY 10174 offshore marine transportation and
diesel repairs)
40
<PAGE>
Name, Age, and Address Position with Fund Principal Occupation** Position with
Underwriter, Scudder
Investor Services,
Inc.
Robert W. Lear (80)429 Honorary Director Executive-in-Residence, Visiting --
Silvermine RoadNew Canaan, Professor, Columbia
CT 06840 UniversityGraduate School of Business
Elizabeth J. Allan (44) # Vice President Senior Vice President of Scudder --
Kemper Investments, Inc.
Nicholas Bratt (49) # President Managing Director of ScudderKemper --
Investments, Inc.
Irene T. Cheng (43) # Vice President Managing Director of Scudder Kemper --
Investments, Inc.
Joyce E. Cornell (53)# Vice President Managing Director of Scudder Kemper --
Investments, Inc.
Susan E. Dahl (32)+ Vice President Senior Vice President of Scudder --
Kemper Investments, Inc.
Carol L. Franklin (44)# Vice President Managing Director of Scudder Kemper --
Investments, Inc.
Edmund B. Games, Jr. (60)+ Vice President Senior Vice President of Scudder --
Kemper Investments, Inc.
Theresa Gusman (38)# Vice President Vice President of Scudder Kemper --
Investments, Inc.
Jerard K. Hartman (64) # Vice President Managing Director of Scudder Kemper --
------- -
Investments, Inc.
John R. Hebble (39) + Assistant Treasurer Senior Vice President of Scudder --
Kemper Investments, Inc.
Thomas W. Joseph (58)+ Vice President Senior Vice President of Scudder Vice President,
Kemper Investments, Inc. Director, Treasurer
and Assistant Clerk
Thomas F. McDonough (51)+ Treasurer, Vice Senior Vice President of Scudder Clerk
President and Secretary Kemper Investments, Inc.
Caroline Pearson (36) + Assistant Secretary Vice President of Scudder Kemper --
Investments, Inc.
Sheridan Reilly (46) # Vice President Vice President of Scudder Kemper --
Investments, Inc.
Richard W. Desmond (61)# Assistant Secretary Vice President of Scudder Kemper Vice President
Investments, Inc.
</TABLE>
41
<PAGE>
* Mr. Pierce and Ms. Quirk are considered by the Fund and its counsel to be
persons who are "interested persons" of the Adviser or of the Fund within
the meaning of the 1940 Act.
** Unless otherwise stated, all officers and directors have been associated
with their respective companies for more than five years, but not
necessarily in the same capacity.
@ Mr. Pierce and Ms. Quirk are members of the Executive Committee which may
exercise substantially all of the powers of the Board of Directors when it
is not in session.
+ Address: Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
# Address: 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154
As of June 30, 1997, all Directors and officers of the Fund as a group
owned beneficially (as that term is defined under Section 13(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) less than 1% of the shares of the Fund
outstanding on such date.
As of June 30, 1997, 3,476,330 shares in the aggregate, 6.48% of the
outstanding shares of the Fund, were held in the name of Charles Schwab, c/o
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Attn: Mutual Fund Department, 101 Montgomery Street,
San Francisco, CA 94104-4122, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of
certain of these shares, but disclaims any beneficial ownership therein.
To the best of the Fund's knowledge, as of June 30, 1997 no person
owned beneficially (as so defined) more than 5% of the Fund's outstanding shares
except as stated above.
The Directors and officers of the Fund also serve in similar capacities
with other Scudder Funds.
REMUNERATION
Responsibilities of the Board--Board and Committee Meetings
The Board of Directors is responsible for the general oversight of the
Fund's business. A majority of the Board's members are not affiliated with
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc. (the "Adviser"). These "Independent Directors"
have primary responsibility for assuring that the Fund is managed in the best
interests of its shareholders.
The Board of Directors meets at least quarterly to review the
investment performance of the Fund and other operational matters, including
policies and procedures designated to assure compliance with various regulatory
requirements. At least annually, the Independent Directors review the fees paid
to the Adviser and its affiliates for investment advisory services and other
administrative and shareholder services. In this regard, they evaluate, among
other things, the Fund's investment performance, the quality and efficiency of
the various other services provided, costs incurred by the Adviser and its
affiliates, and comparative information regarding fees and expenses of
competitive funds. They are assisted in this process by the Fund's independent
public accountants and by independent legal counsel selected by the Independent
Directors.
All of the Independent Directors serve on the Committee on Independent
Directors, which nominates Independent Directors and considers other related
matters, and the Audit Committee, which selects the Fund's independent public
accountants and reviews accounting policies and controls. In addition,
Independent Directors from time to time have established and served on task
forces and subcommittees focusing on particular matters such as investment,
accounting and shareholder service issues.
Compensation of Officers and Directors
The Independent Directors receive the following compensation : an
annual director's fee of $4,000; a fee of $400 for attendance at each Board
meeting, audit committee meeting, or other meeting held for the purposes of
considering arrangements between the Funds and the Adviser or any affiliate of
the Adviser; $150 for any other committee meeting (although in some cases the
Independent Directors have waived committee meeting fees); and reimbursement of
expenses incurred for travel to and from Board Meetings. No additional
compensation is paid to any Independent Director for travel time to meetings,
attendance at directors' educational seminars or conferences, service on
industry or association committees, participation as speakers at directors'
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conferences, service on special director task forces or subcommittees or service
as lead or liaison director. Independent Directors do not receive any employee
benefits such as pension, retirement or health insurance.
The Independent Directors also serve in the same capacity for other
funds managed by the Adviser. These funds differ broadly in type and complexity
and in some cases have substantially different Director fee schedules. The
following table shows the aggregate compensation received by each Independent
Director during 1997 from the Corporation and from all of the Scudder funds as a
group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Name Scudder International Fund, Inc.* All Scudder Funds
Paul Bancroft III, Director $43,400 $156,922 (20 funds)
Sheryle J. Bolton, Director** $9,285 $86,213 (20 funds)
William T. Burgin, Director** $9,285 $85,950 (20 funds)
Thomas J. Devine, Director $50,400 $186,598 (21 funds)
Keith R. Fox, Director $52,950 $134,390 (18 funds)
William H. Gleysteen, Jr., $48,900 $136,150*** (15 funds)
Director
William H. Luers, Director $49,800 $117,729 (20 funds)
Wilson Nolen, Director $46,900 $189,548 (21 funds)
Dr. Gordon Shillinglaw, Director $42,215 $139,324 (26 funds)
* Scudder International Fund, Inc. consists of six funds: Scudder
International Fund, Scudder Latin America Fund, Scudder Pacific
Opportunities Fund, Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund, Scudder Emerging
Markets Growth Fund and Scudder International Growth and Income Fund.
** Elected as Director on October 27, 1997.
*** This amount does not reflect $6,098 in retirement benefits accrued as part
of Fund Complex expenses, and $3,000 in estimated annual benefits payable
upon retirement. Retirement benefits accrued and proposed are to be paid to
Mr. Gleysteen as additional compensation for serving on the Board of The
Japan Fund, Inc.
</TABLE>
Members of the Board of Directors who are employees of the Adviser or
its affiliates receive no direct compensation from the Corporation, although
they are compensated as employees of the Adviser, or its affiliates, as a result
of which they may be deemed to participate in fees paid by each Fund.
DISTRIBUTOR
The Corporation has an underwriting agreement with Scudder Investor
Services, Inc. (the "Distributor"), a Massachusetts corporation, which is a
subsidiary of the Adviser, a Delaware corporation. The Corporation's
underwriting agreement dated September 17, 1992 will remain in effect until
September 30, 1998 and from year to year thereafter only if its continuance is
approved annually by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are
not parties to such agreement or interested persons of any such party and either
by vote of a majority of the Board of Directors or a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund. The underwriting agreement was last approved by
the Directors on September 10-11, 1997.
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Under the underwriting agreement, the Fund is responsible for: the
payment of all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing
with the Commission of its registration statement and prospectus and any
amendments and supplements thereto; the registration and qualification of shares
for sale in the various states, including registering the Fund as a broker or
dealer in various states as required; the fees and expenses of preparing,
printing and mailing prospectuses annually to existing shareholders (see below
for expenses relating to prospectuses paid by the Distributor); notices, proxy
statements, reports or other communications to shareholders of the Fund; the
cost of printing and mailing confirmations of purchases of shares and any
prospectuses accompanying such confirmations; any issuance taxes and/or any
initial transfer taxes; a portion of shareholder toll-free telephone charges and
expenses of shareholder service representatives; the cost of wiring funds for
share purchases and redemptions (unless paid by the shareholder who initiates
the transaction); the cost of printing and postage of business reply envelopes;
and a portion of the cost of computer terminals used by both the Fund and the
Distributor.
The Distributor will pay for printing and distributing prospectuses or
reports prepared for its use in connection with the offering of the Fund's
shares to the public and preparing, printing and mailing any other literature or
advertising in connection with the offering of shares of the Fund to the public.
The Distributor will pay all fees and expenses in connection with its
qualification and registration as a broker or dealer under federal and state
laws, a portion of the cost of toll-free telephone service and expenses of
shareholder service representatives, a portion of the cost of computer
terminals, and expenses of any activity which is primarily intended to result in
the sale of shares issued by the Fund, unless a Rule 12b-1 Plan is in effect
which provides that the Fund shall bear some or all of such expenses.
Note: Although the Fund does not currently have a 12b-1 Plan, and the
Directors have no current intention of adopting one, the Fund would
also pay those fees and expenses permitted to be paid or assumed by the
Fund pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 Plan, if any, were adopted by the Fund,
notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in the underwriting
agreement.
As agent, the Distributor currently offers shares of the Fund on a
continuous basis to investors in all states in which shares of the Fund may from
time to time be registered or where permitted by applicable law. The
underwriting agreement provides that the Distributor accepts orders for shares
at net asset value as no sales commission or load is charged to the investor.
The Distributor has made no firm commitment to acquire shares of the Fund.
TAXES
(See "Distribution and performance information -- Dividends and capital
gains distributions" and "Transaction information--Tax information,
Tax identification number" in the Shares' prospectus.)
The Fund has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company
under Subchapter M of the Code, or a predecessor statute and has qualified as
such since its inception. Such qualification does not involve governmental
supervision or management of investment practices or policy.
A regulated investment company qualifying under Subchapter M of the
Code is required to distribute to its shareholders at least 90 percent of its
investment company taxable income (including net short-term capital gain) and
generally is not subject to federal income tax to the extent that it distributes
annually its investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains in
the manner required under the Code.
The Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on amounts
required to be but not distributed under a prescribed formula. The formula
requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions
representing at least 98% of the Fund's ordinary income for the calendar year,
at least 98% of the excess of its capital gains over capital losses (adjusted
for certain ordinary losses) realized during the one-year period ending October
31 during such year, and all ordinary income and capital gains for prior years
that were not previously distributed.
Investment company taxable income generally is made up of dividends,
interest and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital
losses, less expenses. Net realized capital gains for a fiscal year are computed
by taking into account any capital loss carryforward of the Fund. Presently, the
Fund has no capital loss carryforwards.
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<PAGE>
If any net realized long-term capital gains in excess of net realized
short-term capital losses are retained by the Fund for reinvestment, requiring
federal income taxes to be paid thereon by the Fund, the Fund intends to elect
to treat such capital gains as having been distributed to shareholders. As a
result, each shareholder will report such capital gains as capital gains taxable
at a maximum 20% or 28% rate (depending on the Fund's holding period for the
assets giving rise to the gain), will be able to claim a proportionate share of
federal income taxes paid by the Fund on such gains as a credit against the
shareholder's federal income tax liability, and will be entitled to increase the
adjusted tax basis of the shareholder's Fund shares by the difference between
the shareholder's pro rata share of such gains and the shareholder's tax credit.
Distributions of investment company taxable income are taxable to
shareholders as ordinary income.
Dividends from domestic corporations are not expected to comprise a
substantial part of the Fund's gross income. If any such dividends constitute a
portion of the Fund's gross income, a portion of the income distributions of the
Fund may be eligible for the 70% deduction for dividends received by
corporations. Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so
qualify. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent the shares of
the Fund with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as
debt-financed under federal income tax law and is eliminated if either those
shares or the shares of the Fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund or the
shareholders, as the case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period
beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend.
Properly designated distributions of the excess of net long-term
capital gain over net short-term capital loss are taxable to shareholders at a
maximum 20% or 28% rate (depending on the Fund's holding period for the assets
giving rise to the gain) as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length of
time the shares of the Fund have been held by such shareholders. Such
distributions are not eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Any loss
realized upon the redemption of shares held at the time of redemption for six
months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any
amounts treated as distributions of long-term capital gain during such six-month
period.
Distributions of investment company taxable income and net realized
capital gains will be taxable as described above, whether received in shares or
in cash. Shareholders electing to receive distributions in the form of
additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each
share so received equal to the net asset value of a share on the reinvestment
date.
All distributions of investment company taxable income and net realized
capital gain, whether received in shares or in cash, must be reported by each
shareholder on his or her federal income tax return. Dividends declared in
October, November or December with a record date in such a month will be deemed
to have been received by shareholders on December 31, if paid during January of
the following year. Redemptions of shares, including exchanges for shares of
another Scudder Fund, may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the
shareholder and are also subject to these reporting requirements.
An individual may make a deductible IRA contribution of up to $2,000
or, if less, the amount of the individual's earned income for any taxable year
only if (i) neither the individual nor his or her spouse (unless filing separate
returns) is an active participant in an employer's retirement plan, or (ii) the
individual (and his or her spouse, if applicable) has an adjusted gross income
below a certain level ($40,050 for married individuals filing a joint return,
with a phase-out of the deduction for adjusted gross income between $40,050 and
$50,000; $25,050 for a single individual, with a phase-out for adjusted gross
income between $25,050 and $35,000). However, an individual not permitted to
make a deductible contribution to an IRA for any such taxable year may
nonetheless make nondeductible contributions up to $2,000 to an IRA (up to
$2,000 per individual for married couples if only one spouse has earned income)
for that year. There are special rules for determining how withdrawals are to be
taxed if an IRA contains both deductible and nondeductible amounts. In general,
a proportionate amount of each withdrawal will be deemed to be made from
nondeductible contributions; amounts treated as a return of nondeductible
contributions will not be taxable. Also, annual contributions may be made to a
spousal IRA even if the spouse has earnings in a given year if the spouse elects
to be treated as having no earnings (for IRA contribution purposes) for the
year.
Distributions by the Fund result in a reduction in the net asset value
of the Fund's shares. Should a distribution reduce the net asset value below a
shareholder's cost basis, such distribution would nevertheless be taxable to the
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<PAGE>
shareholder as ordinary income or capital gain as described above, even though,
from an investment standpoint, it may constitute a partial return of capital. In
particular, investors should consider the tax implications of buying shares just
prior to a distribution. The price of shares purchased at that time includes the
amount of the forthcoming distribution. Those purchasing just prior to a
distribution will then receive a partial return of capital upon the
distribution, which will nevertheless be taxable to them.
The Fund intends to qualify for and may make the election permitted
under Section 853 of the Code so that shareholders may (subject to limitations)
be able to claim a credit or deduction on their federal income tax returns for,
and will be required to treat as part of the amounts distributed to them, their
pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries (which
taxes relate primarily to investment income). The Fund may make an election
under Section 853 of the Code, provided that more than 50% of the value of the
total assets of the Fund at the close of the taxable year consists of securities
in foreign corporations. The foreign tax credit available to shareholders is
subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, except in the case of
certain electing individual taxpayers who have limited creditable foreign taxes
and no foreign source income other than passive investment-type income.
Furthermore, the foreign tax credit is eliminated with respect to foreign taxes
withheld on dividends if the dividend-paying shares or the shares of the Fund
are held by the Fund or the shareholder, as the case may be, for less than 16
days (46 days in the case of preferred shares) during the 30-day period (90-day
period for preferred shares) beginning 15 days (45 days for preferred shares)
before the shares become ex-dividend.
If the Fund does not make the election permitted under section 853 any
foreign taxes paid or accrued will represent an expense to the Fund which will
reduce its investment company taxable income. Absent this election, shareholders
will not be able to claim either a credit or a deduction for their pro rata
portion of such taxes paid by the Fund, nor will shareholders be required to
treat as part of the amounts distributed to them their pro rata portion of such
taxes paid.
Equity options (including covered call options written on portfolio
stock) and over-the-counter options on debt securities written or purchased by
the Fund will be subject to tax under Section 1234 of the Code. In general, no
loss will be recognized by the Fund upon payment of a premium in connection with
the purchase of a put or call option. The character of any gain or loss
recognized (i.e. long-term or short-term) will generally depend, in the case of
a lapse or sale of the option, on the Fund's holding period for the option, and
in the case of the exercise of a put option, on the Fund's holding period for
the underlying property. The purchase of a put option may constitute a short
sale for federal income tax purposes, causing an adjustment in the holding
period of any stock in the Fund's portfolio similar to the stocks on which the
index is based. If the Fund writes an option, no gain is recognized upon its
receipt of a premium. If the option lapses or is closed out, any gain or loss is
treated as short-term capital gain or loss. If a call option is exercised, the
character of the gain or loss depends on the holding period of the underlying
stock.
Positions of the Fund which consist of at least one stock and at least
one stock option or other position with respect to a related security which
substantially diminishes the Fund's risk of loss with respect to such stock
could be treated as a "straddle" which is governed by Section 1092 of the Code,
the operation of which may cause deferral of losses, adjustments in the holding
periods of stocks or securities and conversion of short-term capital losses into
long-term capital losses. An exception to these straddle rules exists for
certain "qualified covered call options" on stock written by the Fund.
Many futures and forward contracts entered into by the Fund and listed
nonequity options written or purchased by the Fund (including options on debt
securities, options on futures contracts, options on securities indices and
options on currencies), will be governed by Section 1256 of the Code. Absent a
tax election to the contrary, gain or loss attributable to the lapse, exercise
or closing out of any such position generally will be treated as 60% long-term
and 40% short-term, and on the last trading day of the Fund's fiscal year, all
outstanding Section 1256 positions will be marked to market (i.e., treated as if
such positions were closed out at their closing price on such day), with any
resulting gain or loss recognized as 60% long-term and 40% short-term. Under
Section 988 of the Code, discussed below, foreign currency gain or loss from
foreign currency-related forward contracts, certain futures and options and
similar financial instruments entered into or acquired by the Fund will be
treated as ordinary income or loss.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Fund may recognize gain (but
not loss) from a constructive sale of certain "appreciated financial positions"
if the Fund enters into a short sale, offsetting notional principal contract,
futures or forward contract transaction with respect to the appreciated position
or substantially identical property. Appreciated financial positions subject to
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<PAGE>
this constructive sale treatment are interests (including options, futures and
forward contracts and short sales) in stock, partnership interests, certain
actively traded trust instruments and certain debt instruments. Constructive
sale treatment of appreciated financial positions does not apply to certain
transactions closed in the 90-day period ending with the 30th day after the
close of the Fund's taxable year, if certain conditions are met.
Similarly, if the Fund enters into a short sale of property that
becomes substantially worthless, the Fund will recognize gain at that time as
though it had closed the short sale. Future regulations regulatories may apply
similar treatment to other transactions with respect to property that becomes
substantially worthless.
Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in
exchange rates which occur between the time the Fund accrues receivables or
liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually
collects such receivables or pays such liabilities generally are treated as
ordinary income or ordinary loss. Similarly, on disposition of debt securities
denominated in a foreign currency and on disposition of certain options, futures
and forward contracts, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in the value
of foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the security or contract
and the date of disposition are also treated as ordinary gain or loss. These
gains or losses, referred to under the Code as "Section 988" gains or losses,
may increase or decrease the amount of the Fund's investment company taxable
income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income.
If the Fund invests in stock of certain foreign investment companies,
the Fund may be subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a portion of any
"excess distribution" with respect to, or gain from the disposition of, such
stock. The tax would be determined by allocating such distribution or gain
ratably to each day of the Fund's holding period for the stock. The distribution
or gain so allocated to any taxable year of the Fund, other than the taxable
year of the excess distribution or disposition, would be taxed to the Fund at
the highest ordinary income rate in effect for such year, and the tax would be
further increased by an interest charge to reflect the value of the tax deferral
deemed to have resulted from the ownership of the foreign company's stock. Any
amount of distribution or gain allocated to the taxable year of the distribution
or disposition would be included in the Fund's investment company taxable income
and, accordingly, would not be taxable to the Fund to the extent distributed by
the Fund as a dividend to its shareholders.
The Fund may make an election to mark to market its shares of these
foreign investment companies in lieu of being subject to U.S. federal income
taxation. At the end of each taxable year to which the election applies, the
Fund would report as ordinary income the amount by which the fair market value
of the foreign company's stock exceeds the Fund's adjusted basis in these
shares; any mark-to-market losses and any loss from an actual disposition of
shares would be reported as ordinary loss to the extent of any net
mark-to-market gains included in income in prior years. The effect of the
election would be to treat excess distributions and gain on dispositions as
ordinary income which is not subject to a fund level tax when distributed to
shareholders as a dividend. Alternatively, the Fund may elect to include as
income and gain its share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of
certain foreign investment companies in lieu of being taxed in the manner
described above.
If the Fund invests in certain high yield original issue discount
obligations issued by corporations, a portion of the original issue discount
accruing on the obligation may be eligible for the deduction for dividends
received by corporations. In such event, dividends of investment company taxable
income received from the Fund by its corporate shareholders, to the extent
attributable to such portion of accrued original issue discount, may be eligible
for this deduction for dividends received by corporations if so designated by
the Fund in a written notice to shareholders.
The Fund will be required to report to the IRS all distributions of
investment company taxable income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds
from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain
exempt shareholders. Under the backup withholding provisions of Section 3406 of
the Code, distributions of investment company taxable income and capital gains
and proceeds from the redemption or exchange of the shares of a regulated
investment company may be subject to withholding of federal income tax at the
rate of 31% in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the
investment company with their taxpayer identification numbers and with required
certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law.
Withholding may also be required if a Fund is notified by the IRS or a broker
that the taxpayer identification number furnished by the shareholder is
incorrect or that the shareholder has previously failed to report interest or
dividend income. If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such
distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional
shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.
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<PAGE>
Shareholders of the Fund may be subject to state and local taxes on
distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of the Fund's shares.
The foregoing discussion of U.S. federal income tax law relates solely
to the application of that law to U.S. persons, i.e., U.S. citizens and
residents and U.S. corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates. Each
shareholder who is not a U.S. person should consider the U.S. and foreign tax
consequences of ownership of shares of the Fund, including the possibility that
such a shareholder may be subject to a U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or
at a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty) on amounts constituting
ordinary income received by him or her, where such amounts are treated as income
from U.S. sources under the Code.
Shareholders should consult their tax advisers about the application of
the provisions of tax law described in this statement of additional information
in light of their particular tax situations.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Brokerage Commissions
Allocation of brokerage is supervised by the Adviser.
The primary objective of the Adviser in placing orders for the purchase
and sale of securities for a Fund is to obtain the most favorable net results,
taking into account such factors as price, commission where applicable, size of
order, difficulty of execution and skill required of the executing
broker/dealer. The Adviser seeks to evaluate the overall reasonableness of
brokerage commissions paid (to the extent applicable) through the familiarity of
the Distributor with commissions charged on comparable transactions, as well as
by comparing commissions paid by the Fund to reported commissions paid by
others. The Adviser reviews on a routine basis commission rates, execution and
settlement services performed, making internal and external comparisons.
The Fund's purchases and sales of fixed-income securities are generally
placed by the Adviser with primary market makers for these securities on a net
basis, without any brokerage commission being paid by the Fund. Trading does,
however, involve transaction costs. Transactions with dealers serving as primary
market makers reflect the spread between the bid and asked prices. Purchases of
underwritten issues may be made, which will include an underwriting fee paid to
the underwriter.
When it can be done consistently with the policy of obtaining the most
favorable net results, it is the Adviser's practice to place such orders with
broker/dealers who supply research, market and statistical information to the
Fund. The term "research, market and statistical information" includes advice as
to the value of securities; the advisability of investing in, purchasing or
selling securities; the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of
securities; and analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities,
economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts.
The Adviser is authorized when placing portfolio transactions for the Fund to
pay a brokerage commission in excess of that which another broker might charge
for executing the same transaction on account of execution services and the
receipt of research, market or statistical information. The Adviser will not
place orders with broker/dealers on the basis that the broker/dealer has or has
not sold shares of the Fund. In effecting transactions in over-the-counter
securities, orders are placed with the principal market makers for the security
being traded unless, after exercising care, it appears that more favorable
results are available elsewhere.
To the maximum extent feasible, it is expected that the Adviser will
place orders for portfolio transactions through the Distributor, which is a
corporation registered as a broker-dealer and a subsidiary of the Adviser; the
Distributor will place orders on behalf of the Fund with issuers, underwriters
or other brokers and dealers. The Distributor will not receive any commission,
fee or other remuneration from the Fund for this service.
Although certain research, market and statistical information from
broker/dealers may be useful to the Fund and to the Adviser, it is the opinion
of the Adviser that such information only supplements the Adviser's own research
effort since the information must still be analyzed, weighed, and reviewed by
the Adviser's staff. Such information may be useful to the Adviser in providing
services to clients other than the Fund, and not all such information is used by
the Adviser in connection with the Fund. Conversely, such information provided
to the Adviser by broker/dealers through whom other clients of the Adviser
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<PAGE>
effect securities transactions may be useful to the Adviser in providing
services to the Fund.
The Directors review from time to time whether the recapture for the
benefit of the Fund of some portion of the brokerage commissions or similar fees
paid by the Fund on portfolio transactions is legally permissible and advisable.
In the fiscal years ended March 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, the Fund paid
brokerage commissions of $5,275,727, $7,301,706 and $5,463,019, respectively.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997, $4,915,740 (93%) of the total
brokerage commissions paid by the Fund resulted from orders for transactions,
placed consistent with the policy of seeking to obtain the most favorable net
results, with brokers and dealers who provided supplementary research, market
and statistical information to the Fund or the Adviser. The amount of such
transactions aggregated $1,688,398,843 (92% of all brokerage transactions). The
balance of such brokerage was not allocated to particular broker or dealer with
regard to the above-mentioned or other special factors.
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund's average annual portfolio turnover rate is the ratio of the
lesser of sales or purchases to the monthly average value of the portfolio
securities owned during the year, excluding all securities with maturities or
expiration dates at the time of acquisition of one year or less. The Fund's
portfolio turnover rates for the fiscal years ended March 31, 1997 and 1996 were
35.8% and 45.2%, respectively. Purchases and sales are made for the Fund's
portfolio whenever necessary, in management's opinion, to meet the Fund's
objective.
NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value of Shares of the Fund is computed as of the close
of regular trading on the Exchange on each day the Exchange is open for trading.
The Exchange is scheduled to be closed on the following holidays: New Year's
Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Net asset value per
Share is determined by dividing the value of the total assets of the Fund
attributable to the Shares, less all liabilities attributable to the Shares, by
the total number of Shares outstanding.
An exchange-traded equity security is valued at its most recent sale
price. Lacking any sales, the security is valued at the calculated mean between
the most recent bid quotation and the most recent asked quotation (the
"Calculated Mean"). Lacking a Calculated Mean, the security is valued at the
most recent bid quotation. An equity security which is traded on the Nasdaq
Stock Market ("Nasdaq") is valued at its most recent sale price. Lacking any
sales, the security is valued at the most recent bid quotation. The value of an
equity security not quoted on the Nasdaq System, but traded in another
over-the-counter market, is its most recent sale price. Lacking any sales, the
security is valued at the Calculated Mean. Lacking a Calculated Mean, the
security is valued at the most recent bid quotation.
Debt securities, other than short-term securities, are valued at prices
supplied by the Fund's pricing agent(s) which reflect broker/dealer supplied
valuations and electronic data processing techniques. Short-term securities
purchased with remaining maturities of sixty days or less shall be valued by the
amortized cost method, which the Board believes approximates market value. If it
is not possible to value a particular debt security pursuant to these valuation
methods, the value of such security is the most recent bid quotation supplied by
a bona fide marketmaker. If it is not possible to value a particular debt
security pursuant to the above methods, the Adviser may calculate the price of
that debt security, subject to limitations established by the Board.
An exchange traded options contract on securities, currencies, futures
and other financial instruments is valued at its most recent sale price on such
exchange. Lacking any sales, the options contract is valued at the Calculated
Mean. Lacking any Calculated Mean, the options contract is valued at the most
recent bid quotation in the case of a purchased options contract, or the most
recent asked quotation in the case of a written options contract. An options
contract on securities, currencies and other financial instruments traded
over-the-counter is valued at the most recent bid quotation in the case of a
purchased options contract and at the most recent asked quotation in the case of
a written options contract. Futures contracts are valued at the most recent
settlement price. Foreign currency exchange forward contracts are valued at the
value of the underlying currency at the prevailing exchange rate.
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If a security is traded on more than one exchange, or upon one or more
exchanges and in the over-the-counter market, quotations are taken from the
market in which the security is traded most extensively.
If, in the opinion of the Fund's Valuation Committee, the value of a
portfolio asset as determined in accordance with these procedures does not
represent the fair market value of the portfolio asset, the value of the
portfolio asset is taken to be an amount which, in the opinion of the Valuation
Committee, represents fair market value on the basis of all available
information. The value of other portfolio holdings owned by the Fund is
determined in a manner which, in the discretion of the Valuation Committee most
fairly reflects fair market value of the property on the valuation date.
Following the valuations of securities or other portfolio assets in
terms of the currency in which the market quotation used is expressed ("Local
Currency"), the value of these portfolio assets in terms of U.S. dollars is
calculated by converting the Local Currency into U.S. dollars at the prevailing
currency exchange rate on the valuation date.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Experts
The Financial Highlights of the Fund which reflect information for the
Fund prior to the creation of the multiple classes for the Fund and, therefore,
prior to the redesignation of the Shares as the International Shares class of
the Fund, included in the prospectus and the Financial Statements incorporated
by reference in this Statement of Additional Information have been so included
or incorporated by reference in reliance on the report of Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P., One Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, independent
accountants, and given on the authority of that firm as experts in accounting
and auditing.
Other Information
Many of the investment changes in the Fund will be made at prices
different from those prevailing at the time they may be reflected in a regular
report to shareholders of the Fund. These transactions will reflect investment
decisions made by the Adviser in the light of its other portfolio holdings and
tax considerations and should not be construed as recommendations for similar
action by other investors.
The CUSIP number of the International Shares is 811165-10-9.
The Fund has a fiscal year end of March 31.
The Fund employs Brown Brothers Harriman and Company, 40 Water Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02109 as Custodian for the Fund.
The law firm of Dechert Price & Rhoads is counsel to the Fund.
Scudder Service Corporation ("Service Corporation"), P.O. Box 2291,
Boston, Massachusetts, 02107-2291, a subsidiary of the Adviser, is the transfer
and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund. Service Corporation also serves as
shareholder service agent and provides subaccounting and recordkeeping services
for shareholder accounts in certain retirement and employee benefit plans. The
Fund pays Service Corporation an annual fee of $26.00 for each retail account
and $29.00 for each retirement account. Included in services to shareholders was
$3,050,321 charged to the Fund by Scudder Service Corporation during the fiscal
year ended March 31, 1997, of which $296,627 was unpaid at March 31, 1997.
The Fund, or the Adviser (including any affiliate of the Adviser), or
both, may pay unaffiliated third parties for providing recordkeeping and other
administrative services with respect to accounts of participants in retirement
plans or other beneficial owners of Fund shares whose interests are held in an
omnibus account.
Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation, Two International Place, Boston,
Massachusetts, 02110-4103, a subsidiary of the Adviser, computes net asset value
for the Fund. The Fund pays Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation an annual fee
equal to 0.065% of the first $150 million of average daily net assets, 0.040% of
50
<PAGE>
such assets in excess of $150 million, 0.020% of such assets in excess of $1
billion, plus holding and transaction charges for this service. For the year
ended March 31, 1997, Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation's fee aggregated
$795,122, of which $65,991 was unpaid at March 31, 1997.
Scudder Trust Company, an affiliate of the Adviser, provides
subaccounting and recordkeeping services for shareholder accounts in certain
retirement and employee benefit plans. Annual service fees are paid by the Fund
to Scudder Trust Company, Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts
02110-4103, an affiliate of the Adviser, for such accounts. The Fund pays
Scudder Trust Company an annual fee of $17.55 per shareholder account. The Fund
incurred fees of $930,582, $520,034 and $351,249 during the fiscal years ended
March 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively, of which $111,209 was unpaid at
March 31, 1997 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997.
The Shares' prospectuses and this Statement of Additional Information
omit certain information contained in the Registration Statement which the Fund
has filed with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and reference is
hereby made to the Registration Statement for further information with respect
to the Fund and the securities offered hereby. This Registration Statement and
its amendments are available for inspection by the public at the Commission in
Washington, D.C.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The financial statements, including the investment portfolio of the
Fund, together with the Report of Independent Accountants, Financial Highlights
and notes to financial statements in the Annual Report to the Shareholders of
the Fund dated March 31, 1997 are incorporated herein by reference and are
hereby deemed to be a part of this Statement of Additional Information by
reference in its entirety. The financial statements incorporated herein reflect
the investment performance of the Fund prior to the addition of the Barrett
International Shares class of shares of the Fund.
51
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
The following is a description of the ratings given by Moody's and S&P
to corporate bonds.
Ratings of Corporate Bonds
S&P: Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to
pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong. Debt rated AA has a very
strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the highest
rated issues only in small degree. Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay
interest and repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the
adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in
higher rated categories. Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate
capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits
adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing
circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and
repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories.
Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C is regarded as having predominantly
speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay
principal. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest. While
such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these
are outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other
speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to
adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to
inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB
rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is
assigned an actual or implied BBB- rating. Debt rated B has a greater
vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet interest
payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic
conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay
principal. The B rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior
debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB- rating.
Debt rated CCC has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default,
and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to
meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of
adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to have
the capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC rating category is
also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or
implied B or B- rating. The rating CC typically is applied to debt subordinated
to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied CCC rating. The rating C
typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an
actual or implied CCC- debt rating. The C rating may be used to cover a
situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments
are continued. The rating C1 is reserved for income bonds on which no interest
is being paid. Debt rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used
when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due even
if the applicable grace period had not expired, unless S&P believes that such
payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used
upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are
jeopardized.
Moody's: Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best
quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally
referred to as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are
most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues. Bonds
which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together
with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds.
They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not
be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of
greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long
term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities. Bonds which are rated
A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper
medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are
considered adequate but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility
to impairment sometime in the future.
<PAGE>
Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations,
i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments
and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well. Bonds which are rated Ba are
judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well
assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very
moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over
the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class. Bonds
which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment.
Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of
the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in
default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or
interest. Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative
in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked
shortcomings. Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and
issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever
attaining any real investment standing.
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND
Barrett International Shares
Mutual Fund Seeking
Long-Term Growth of Capital Primarily
From Foreign Equity Securities
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
April 3, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should
be read in conjunction with the prospectus for the Barrett International Shares,
a class of Scudder International Fund, dated April 3, 1998, as amended from time
to time, a copy of which may be obtained without charge by writing to Scudder
Investor Services, Inc., Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts
02110-4103.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES..................................1
General Investment Objective and Policies............................1
Master/feeder Structure..............................................2
Investment Restrictions.............................................11
PURCHASES....................................................................12
REDEEMING SHARES.............................................................13
FEATURES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE FUND....................................14
DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS....................................14
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION......................................................14
Average Annual Total Return.........................................15
Cumulative Total Return.............................................15
Total Return........................................................15
Comparison of Fund Performance......................................15
FUND ORGANIZATION............................................................20
INVESTMENT ADVISER...........................................................21
Personal Investments by Employees of the Adviser....................24
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.......................................................24
REMUNERATION.................................................................27
Responsibilities of the Board--Board and Committee Meetings.........27
Compensation of Officers and Directors..............................27
DISTRIBUTOR..................................................................28
TAXES........................................................................29
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS.......................................................33
Brokerage Commissions...............................................33
Portfolio Turnover..................................................34
NET ASSET VALUE..............................................................34
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.......................................................35
Experts.............................................................35
Other Information...................................................35
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.........................................................36
APPENDIX
<PAGE>
THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
(See "Investment objective and policies" and "Additional information about
policies and investments" in the Barrett International shares class of shares of
the Fund's prospectus.)
Scudder International Fund (the "Fund"), a series of Scudder
International Fund, Inc. (the "Corporation"), is a pure no-load(TM), open-end
management investment company which continuously offers and redeems its shares
at net asset value. It is a company of the type commonly known as a mutual fund.
The Fund is a diversified series of the Corporation. The Fund offers two classes
of shares, Barrett International Shares (the "Shares") and International Shares.
This statement of additional information applies only to the Shares.
General Investment Objective and Policies
The Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term growth of capital
primarily through a diversified portfolio of marketable foreign equity
securities. These securities are selected primarily to permit the Fund to
participate in non-U.S. companies and economies with prospects for growth.
The Fund invests in companies, wherever organized, which do business
primarily outside the United States.
The Fund intends to diversify investments among several countries and
to have represented in the portfolio, in substantial proportions, business
activities in not less than three different countries. The Fund does not intend
to concentrate investments in any particular industry.
Except as otherwise indicated, the Fund's investment objective and
policies are not fundamental and may be changed without a vote of shareholders.
If there is a change in investment objective, shareholders should consider
whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of their then
current financial position and needs. There can be no assurance that the Fund's
objective will be met.
The Fund generally invests in equity securities of established
companies, listed on foreign exchanges, which the Fund's investment adviser,
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc. (the "Adviser"), believes have favorable
characteristics.
When the Adviser believes that it is appropriate to do so in order to
achieve the Fund's investment objective of long-term capital growth, the Fund
may invest up to 20% of its total assets in debt securities. Such debt
securities include debt securities of foreign governments, supranational
organizations and private issuers, including bonds denominated in the European
Currency Unit (ECU). Portfolio debt investments will be selected on the basis
of, among other things, yield, credit quality, and the fundamental outlooks for
currency and interest rate trends in different parts of the globe, taking into
account the ability to hedge a degree of currency or local bond price risk. The
Fund may purchase "investment-grade" bonds, which are those rated Aaa, Aa, A or
Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or AAA, AA, A or BBB by
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or, if unrated, judged by the Adviser to
be of equivalent quality. The Fund may also invest up to 5% of its total assets
in debt securities which are rated below investment-grade (see "Risk factors").
In addition, the Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, reverse
repurchase agreements, trust preferred securities and invest in illiquid and
restricted securities, and may engage in securities lending and strategic
transactions, which may include derivatives.
When the Adviser determines that exceptional conditions exist abroad,
the Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest all or a portion of its
assets in Canadian or U.S. Government obligations or currencies, or securities
of companies incorporated in and having their principal activities in Canada or
the U.S. It is impossible to accurately predict for how long such alternative
strategies may be utilized.
Foreign securities such as those purchased by the Fund may be subject
to foreign government taxes which could reduce the yield on such securities,
although a shareholder of the Fund may, subject to certain limitations, be
entitled to claim a credit or deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes for
his or her proportionate share of such foreign taxes paid by the Fund. (See
"TAXES.")
<PAGE>
Master/feeder Structure
The Board of Directors has the discretion to retain the current
distribution arrangement for the Fund while investing in a master fund in a
master/feeder structure as described below.
A master/feeder fund structure is one in which a fund (a "feeder
fund"), instead of investing directly in a portfolio of securities, invests most
or all of its investment assets in a separate registered investment company (the
"master fund") with substantially the same investment objective and policies as
the feeder fund. Such a structure permits the pooling of assets of two or more
feeder funds, preserving separate identities or distribution channels at the
feeder fund level. Based on the premise that certain of the expenses of
operating an investment portfolio are relatively fixed, a larger investment
portfolio may eventually achieve a lower ratio of operating expenses to average
net assets. An existing investment company is able to convert to a feeder fund
by selling all of its investments, which involves brokerage and other
transaction costs and realization of a taxable gain or loss, or by contributing
its assets to the master fund and avoiding transaction costs and, if proper
procedures are followed, the realization of taxable gain or loss.
Foreign Securities. The Fund is intended to provide individual and institutional
investors with an opportunity to invest a portion of their assets in a
diversified group of securities of companies, wherever organized, which do
business primarily outside the U.S., and foreign governments. The Adviser
believes that diversification of assets on an international basis decreases the
degree to which events in any one country, including the U.S., will affect an
investor's entire investment holdings. In certain periods since World War II,
many leading foreign economies and foreign stock market indices have grown more
rapidly than the U.S. economy and leading U.S. stock market indices, although
there can be no assurance that this will be true in the future. Because of the
Fund's investment policy, the Fund is not intended to provide a complete
investment program for an investor.
Investors should recognize that investing in foreign securities
involves certain special considerations, including those set forth below, which
are not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities and which may
favorably or unfavorably affect the Fund's performance. As foreign companies are
not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting
standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to domestic
companies, there may be less publicly available information about a foreign
company than about a domestic company. Many foreign securities markets, while
growing in volume of trading activity, have substantially less volume than the
U.S. market, and securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and more
volatile than securities of domestic issuers. Similarly, volume and liquidity in
most foreign bond markets is less than in the U.S. and, at times, volatility of
price can be greater than in the U.S. Fixed commissions on some foreign
securities exchanges and bid to asked spreads in foreign bond markets are
generally higher than commissions or bid to asked spreads on U.S. markets,
although the Fund will endeavor to achieve the most favorable net results on its
portfolio transactions. There is generally less government supervision and
regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies than in the
U.S. It may be more difficult for the Fund's agents to keep currently informed
about corporate actions which may affect the prices of portfolio securities.
Communications between the U.S. and foreign countries may be less reliable than
within the U.S., thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio
transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities. Payment for
securities without delivery may be required in certain foreign markets. In
addition, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of
expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, or
diplomatic developments which could affect U.S. investments in those countries.
Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from
the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of
inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of
payments position. The management of the Fund seeks to mitigate the risks
associated with the foregoing considerations through continuous professional
management.
Foreign Currencies. Because investments in foreign securities usually will
involve currencies of foreign countries, and because the Fund may hold foreign
currencies and forward contracts, futures contracts and options on foreign
currencies and foreign currency futures contracts, the value of the assets of
the Fund, as measured in U.S. dollars, may be affected favorably or unfavorably
by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations,
and the Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between various
currencies. Although the Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars,
it does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S.
dollars on a daily basis. It will do so from time to time, and investors should
be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers
do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the
difference (the "spread") between the prices at which they are buying and
selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to
2
<PAGE>
sell a foreign currency to the Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of
exchange should the Fund desire to resell that currency to the dealer. The Fund
will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e.,
cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market,
or through entering into options or forward or futures contracts to purchase or
sell foreign currencies.
Trust Preferred Securities. The Fund may invest in Trust Preferred Securities,
which are hybrid instruments issued by a special purpose trust (the "Special
Trust"), the entire equity interest of which is owned by a single issuer. The
proceeds of the issuance to the Fund of Trust Preferred Securities are typically
used to purchase a junior subordinated debenture, and distributions from the
Special Trust are funded by the payments of principal and interest on the
subordinated debenture.
If payments on the underlying junior subordinated debentures held by
the Special Trust are deferred by the debenture issuer, the debentures would be
treated as original issue discount ("OID") obligations for the remainder of
their term. As a result, holders of Trust Preferred Securities, such as the
Fund, would be required to accrue daily for Federal income tax purposes, their
share of the stated interest and the de minimis OID on the debentures
(regardless of whether the Fund receives any cash distributions from the Special
Trust), and the value of Trust Preferred Securities would likely be negatively
affected. Interest payments on the underlying junior subordinated debentures
typically may only be deferred if dividends are suspended on both common and
preferred stock of the issuer. The underlying junior subordinated debentures
generally rank slightly higher in terms of payment priority than both common and
preferred securities of the issuer, but rank below other subordinated debentures
and debt securities. Trust Preferred Securities may be subject to mandatory
prepayment under certain circumstances. The market values of Trust Preferred
Securities may be more volatile than those of conventional debt securities.
Trust Preferred Securities may be issued in reliance on Rule 144A under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and, unless and until registered, are
restricted securities; there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of Trust
Preferred Securities and the ability of holders of Trust Preferred Securities,
such as the Fund, to sell their holdings.
Debt Securities. When the Adviser believes that it is appropriate to do so in
order to achieve the Fund's objective of long-term capital growth, the Fund may
invest up to 20% of its total assets in debt securities including bonds of
foreign governments, supranational organizations and private issuers, including
bonds denominated in the ECU. Portfolio debt investments will be selected on the
basis of, among other things, yield, credit quality, and the fundamental
outlooks for currency and interest rate trends in different parts of the globe,
taking into account the ability to hedge a degree of currency or local bond
price risk. The Fund may purchase "investment-grade" bonds, which are those
rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or AAA,
AA, A or BBB by Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") or, if unrated, judged to
be of equivalent quality, as determined by the Adviser. Moody's considers bonds
it rates Baa to have speculative elements as well as investment-grade
characteristics.
High Yield/High Risk Bonds. The Fund may also purchase, to a limited extent,
debt securities which are rated below investment-grade (commonly referred to as
"junk bonds"), that is, rated below Baa by Moody's or below BBB by S&P, and
unrated securities, which usually entail greater risk (including the possibility
of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of such securities), generally involve
greater volatility of price and risk of principal and income, and may be less
liquid, than securities in the higher rating categories. The lower the ratings
of such debt securities, the greater their risks render them like equity
securities. The Fund will invest no more than 5% of its total assets in
securities rated BB or lower by Moody's or Ba by S&P, and may invest in
securities which are rated D by S&P. Securities rated D may be in default with
respect to payment of principal or interest. See the Appendix to this Statement
of Additional Information for a more complete description of the ratings
assigned by ratings organizations and their respective characteristics.
An economic downturn could disrupt the high yield market and impair the
ability of issuers to repay principal and interest. Also, an increase in
interest rates would have a greater adverse impact on the value of such
obligations than on higher quality debt securities. During an economic downturn
or period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issues may experience
financial stress which would adversely affect their ability to service their
principal and interest payment obligations. Prices and yields of high yield
securities will fluctuate over time and, during periods of economic uncertainty,
volatility of high yield securities may adversely affect the Fund's net asset
value. In addition, investments in high yield zero coupon or pay-in-kind bonds,
rather than income-bearing high yield securities, may be more speculative and
may be subject to greater fluctuations in value due to changes in interest
rates.
3
<PAGE>
The trading market for high yield securities may be thin to the extent
that there is no established retail secondary market. A thin trading market may
limit the ability of the Fund to accurately value high yield securities in its
portfolio and to dispose of those securities. Adverse publicity and investor
perceptions may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities.
These securities may also involve special registration responsibilities,
liabilities and costs, and liquidity and valuation difficulties.
Credit quality in the high-yield securities market can change suddenly
and unexpectedly, and even recently-issued credit ratings may not fully reflect
the actual risks posed by a particular high-yield security. For these reasons,
it is the policy of the Adviser not to rely exclusively on ratings issued by
established credit rating agencies, but to supplement such ratings with its own
independent and on-going review of credit quality. The achievement of the Fund's
investment objective by investment in such securities may be more dependent on
the Adviser's credit analysis than is the case for higher quality bonds. Should
the rating of a portfolio security be downgraded, the Adviser will determine
whether it is in the best interest of the Fund to retain or dispose of such
security.
Prices for below investment-grade securities may be affected by
legislative and regulatory developments. For example, new federal rules require
savings and loan institutions to gradually reduce their holdings of this type of
security. Also, Congress has from time to time considered legislation which
would restrict or eliminate the corporate tax deduction for interest payments in
these securities and regulate corporate restructurings. Such legislation may
significantly depress the prices of outstanding securities of this type.
For more information regarding tax issues related to high yield
securities, see "TAXES."
Illiquid Securities. The Fund may occasionally purchase securities other than in
the open market. While such purchases may often offer attractive opportunities
for investment not otherwise available on the open market, the securities so
purchased are often "restricted securities" or "not readily marketable," i.e.,
securities which cannot be sold to the public without registration under the
Securities Act of 1933 or the availability of an exemption from registration
(such as Rules 144 or 144A) or because they are subject to other legal or
contractual delays in or restrictions on resale.
Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with any
member bank of the Federal Reserve System and any broker-dealer which is
recognized as a reporting government securities dealer if the creditworthiness
of the bank or broker-dealer has been determined by the Adviser to be at least
as high as that of other obligations the Fund may purchase or to be at least
equal to that of issuers of commercial paper rated within the two highest grades
assigned by Moody's or S&P.
A repurchase agreement provides a means for the Fund to earn income on
funds for periods as short as overnight. It is an arrangement under which the
purchaser (i.e., the Fund) acquires a security ("Obligation") and the seller
agrees, at the time of sale, to repurchase the Obligation at a specified time
and price. Securities subject to a repurchase agreement are held in a segregated
account and the value of such securities kept at least equal to the repurchase
price on a daily basis. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase
price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase
prices may be the same, with interest at a stated rate due to the Fund together
with the repurchase price upon repurchase. In either case, the income to the
Fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the Obligation itself. Obligations
will be held by the Custodian or in the Federal Reserve Book Entry system.
For purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act"), a repurchase agreement is deemed to be a loan from the Fund to the
seller of the Obligation subject to the repurchase agreement and is therefore
subject to the Fund's investment restriction applicable to loans. It is not
clear whether a court would consider the Obligation purchased by the Fund
subject to a repurchase agreement as being owned by the Fund or as being
collateral for a loan by the Fund to the seller. In the event of the
commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller
of the Obligation before repurchase of the Obligation under a repurchase
agreement, the Fund may encounter delay and incur costs before being able to
sell the security. Delays may involve loss of interest or decline in price of
the Obligation. If the court characterizes the transaction as a loan and the
Fund has not perfected a security interest in the Obligation, the Fund may be
required to return the Obligation to the seller's estate and be treated as an
unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, the Fund would be at
risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the
transaction. As with any unsecured debt instrument purchased for the Fund, the
Adviser seeks to minimize the risk of loss through repurchase agreements by
analyzing the creditworthiness of the
4
<PAGE>
obligor, in this case the seller of the Obligation. Apart from the risk of
bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also the risk that the seller may
fail to repurchase the Obligation, in which case the Fund may incur a loss if
the proceeds to the Fund of the sale to a third party are less than the
repurchase price. However, if the market value of the Obligation subject to the
repurchase agreement becomes less than the repurchase price (including
interest), the Fund will direct the seller of the Obligation to deliver
additional securities so that the market value of all securities subject to the
repurchase agreement will equal or exceed the repurchase price. It is possible
that the Fund will be unsuccessful in seeking to enforce the seller's
contractual obligation to deliver additional securities.
Lending of Portfolio Securities. The Fund may seek to increase its income by
lending portfolio securities. Such loans may be made to registered
broker/dealers and are required to be secured continuously by collateral in
cash, U.S. Government Securities and liquid high grade debt obligations
maintained on a current basis at an amount at least equal to the market value
and accrued interest of the securities loaned. The Fund has the right to call a
loan and obtain the securities loaned on no more than five days' notice. During
the existence of a loan, the Fund will continue to receive the equivalent of any
distributions paid by the issuer on the securities loaned and will also receive
compensation based on investment of the collateral. As with other extensions of
credit there are risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the
collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, the
loans will be made only to firms deemed by the Adviser to be in good standing.
The value of the securities loaned will not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund's
total assets at the time any loan is made.
Strategic Transactions and Derivatives. The Fund may, but is not required to,
utilize various other investment strategies as described below to hedge various
market risks (such as interest rates, currency exchange rates, and broad or
specific equity or fixed-income market movements), to manage the effective
maturity or duration of fixed-income securities in the Fund's portfolio, or to
enhance potential gain. These strategies may be executed through the use of
derivative contracts. Such strategies are generally accepted as a part of modern
portfolio management and are regularly utilized by many mutual funds and other
institutional investors. Techniques and instruments may change over time as new
instruments and strategies are developed or regulatory changes occur.
In the course of pursuing these investment strategies, the Fund may
purchase and sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on
securities, equity and fixed-income indices and other financial instruments,
purchase and sell financial futures contracts and options thereon, enter into
various interest rate transactions such as swaps, caps, floors or collars, and
enter into various currency transactions such as currency forward contracts,
currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currencies or currency
futures (collectively, all of the above are called "Strategic Transactions").
Strategic Transactions may be used without limit to attempt to protect against
possible changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased
for the Fund's portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange
rate fluctuations, to protect the Fund's unrealized gains in the value of its
portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment
purposes, to manage the effective maturity or duration of fixed-income
securities in the Fund's portfolio, or to establish a position in the
derivatives markets as a temporary substitute for purchasing or selling
particular securities. Some Strategic Transactions may also be used to enhance
potential gain although no more than 5% of the Fund's assets will be committed
to Strategic Transactions entered into for non-hedging purposes. Any or all of
these investment techniques may be used at any time and in any combination, and
there is no particular strategy that dictates the use of one technique rather
than another, as use of any Strategic Transaction is a function of numerous
variables including market conditions. The ability of the Fund to utilize these
Strategic Transactions successfully will depend on the Adviser's ability to
predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. The Fund will
comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing these
strategies, techniques and instruments. Strategic Transactions involving
financial futures and options thereon will be purchased, sold or entered into
only for bona fide hedging, risk management or portfolio management purposes and
not to create leveraged exposure in the Fund.
Strategic Transactions, including derivative contracts, have risks
associated with them including possible default by the other party to the
transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Adviser's view as to certain
market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of such Strategic
Transactions could result in losses greater than if they had not been used. Use
of put and call options may result in losses to the Fund, force the sale or
purchase of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices higher than
(in the case of put options) or lower than (in the case of call options) current
market values, limit the amount of appreciation the Fund can realize on its
investments or cause the Fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell. The
use of currency transactions can result in the Fund incurring losses as a result
of a number of factors including the imposition of exchange controls, suspension
of settlements, or the
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inability to deliver or receive a specified currency. The use of options and
futures transactions entails certain other risks. In particular, the variable
degree of correlation between price movements of futures contracts and price
movements in the related portfolio position of the Fund creates the possibility
that losses on the hedging instrument may be greater than gains in the value of
the Fund's position. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid
in all circumstances and certain over-the-counter options may have no markets.
As a result, in certain markets, the Fund might not be able to close out a
transaction without incurring substantial losses, if at all. Although the use of
futures and options transactions for hedging should tend to minimize the risk of
loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position, at the same time they
tend to limit any potential gain which might result from an increase in value of
such position. Finally, the daily variation margin requirements for futures
contracts would create a greater ongoing potential financial risk than would
purchases of options, where the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial
premium. Losses resulting from the use of Strategic Transactions would reduce
net asset value, and possibly income, and such losses can be greater than if the
Strategic Transactions had not been utilized.
General Characteristics of Options. Put options and call options typically have
similar structural characteristics and operational mechanics regardless of the
underlying instrument on which they are purchased or sold. Thus, the following
general discussion relates to each of the particular types of options discussed
in greater detail below. In addition, many Strategic Transactions involving
options require segregation of Fund assets in special accounts, as described
below under "Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts."
A put option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a
premium, the right to sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying
security, commodity, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise price.
For instance, the Fund's purchase of a put option on a security might be
designed to protect its holdings in the underlying instrument (or, in some
cases, a similar instrument) against a substantial decline in the market value
by giving the Fund the right to sell such instrument at the option exercise
price. A call option, upon payment of a premium, gives the purchaser of the
option the right to buy, and the seller the obligation to sell, the underlying
instrument at the exercise price. The Fund's purchase of a call option on a
security, financial future, index, currency or other instrument might be
intended to protect the Fund against an increase in the price of the underlying
instrument that it intends to purchase in the future by fixing the price at
which it may purchase such instrument. An American style put or call option may
be exercised at any time during the option period while a European style put or
call option may be exercised only upon expiration or during a fixed period prior
thereto. The Fund is authorized to purchase and sell exchange listed options and
over-the-counter options ("OTC options"). Exchange listed options are issued by
a regulated intermediary such as the Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC"), which
guarantees the performance of the obligations of the parties to such options.
The discussion below uses the OCC as an example, but is also applicable to other
financial intermediaries.
With certain exceptions, OCC issued and exchange listed options
generally settle by physical delivery of the underlying security or currency,
although in the future cash settlement may become available. Index options and
Eurodollar instruments are cash settled for the net amount, if any, by which the
option is "in-the-money" (i.e., where the value of the underlying instrument
exceeds, in the case of a call option, or is less than, in the case of a put
option, the exercise price of the option) at the time the option is exercised.
Frequently, rather than taking or making delivery of the underlying instrument
through the process of exercising the option, listed options are closed by
entering into offsetting purchase or sale transactions that do not result in
ownership of the new option.
The Fund's ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller
of an OCC or exchange listed put or call option is dependent, in part, upon the
liquidity of the option market. Among the possible reasons for the absence of a
liquid option market on an exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in
certain options; (ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii)
trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to
particular classes or series of options or underlying securities including
reaching daily price limits; (iv) interruption of the normal operations of the
OCC or an exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an exchange or OCC to
handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by one or more exchanges to
discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options),
in which event the relevant market for that option on that exchange would cease
to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange would generally continue
to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
The hours of trading for listed options may not coincide with the hours
during which the underlying financial instruments are traded. To the extent that
the option markets close before the markets for the underlying financial
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instruments, significant price and rate movements can take place in the
underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets.
OTC options are purchased from or sold to securities dealers, financial
institutions or other parties ("Counterparties") through direct bilateral
agreement with the Counterparty. In contrast to exchange listed options, which
generally have standardized terms and performance mechanics, all the terms of an
OTC option, including such terms as method of settlement, term, exercise price,
premium, guarantees and security, are set by negotiation of the parties. The
Fund will only sell OTC options (other than OTC currency options) that are
subject to a buy-back provision permitting the Fund to require the Counterparty
to sell the option back to the Fund at a formula price within seven days. The
Fund expects generally to enter into OTC options that have cash settlement
provisions, although it is not required to do so.
Unless the parties provide for it, there is no central clearing or
guaranty function in an OTC option. As a result, if the Counterparty fails to
make or take delivery of the security, currency or other instrument underlying
an OTC option it has entered into with the Fund or fails to make a cash
settlement payment due in accordance with the terms of that option, the Fund
will lose any premium it paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit
of the transaction. Accordingly, the Adviser must assess the creditworthiness of
each such Counterparty or any guarantor or credit enhancement of the
Counterparty's credit to determine the likelihood that the terms of the OTC
option will be satisfied. The Fund will engage in OTC option transactions only
with U.S. government securities dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank
of New York as "primary dealers" or broker/dealers, domestic or foreign banks or
other financial institutions which have received (or the guarantors of the
obligation of which have received) a short-term credit rating of A-1 from S&P or
P-1 from Moody's or an equivalent rating from any nationally recognized
statistical rating organization ("NRSRO") or, in the case of OTC currency
transactions, are determined to be of equivalent credit quality by the Adviser.
The staff of the SEC currently takes the position that OTC options purchased by
the Fund, and portfolio securities "covering" the amount of the Fund's
obligation pursuant to an OTC option sold by it (the cost of the sell-back plus
the in-the-money amount, if any) are illiquid, and are subject to the Fund's
limitation on investing no more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid
securities.
If the Fund sells a call option, the premium that it receives may serve
as a partial hedge, to the extent of the option premium, against a decrease in
the value of the underlying securities or instruments in its portfolio or will
increase the Fund's income. The sale of put options can also provide income.
The Fund may purchase and sell call options on securities including
U.S. Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, corporate debt
securities, equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar
instruments that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and in the
over-the-counter markets, and on securities indices, currencies and futures
contracts. All calls sold by the Fund must be "covered" (i.e., the Fund must own
the securities or futures contract subject to the call) or must meet the asset
segregation requirements described below as long as the call is outstanding.
Even though the Fund will receive the option premium to help protect it against
loss, a call sold by the Fund exposes the Fund during the term of the option to
possible loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the market price of the
underlying security or instrument and may require the Fund to hold a security or
instrument which it might otherwise have sold.
The Fund may purchase and sell put options on securities including U.S.
Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, foreign sovereign
debt, corporate debt securities, equity securities (including convertible
securities) and Eurodollar instruments (whether or not it holds the above
securities in its portfolio), and on securities indices, currencies and futures
contracts other than futures on individual corporate debt and individual equity
securities. The Fund will not sell put options if, as a result, more than 50% of
the Fund's assets would be required to be segregated to cover its potential
obligations under such put options, other than those with respect to futures and
options thereon. In selling put options, there is a risk that the Fund may be
required to buy the underlying security at a disadvantageous price above the
market price.
General Characteristics of Futures. The Fund may enter into financial futures
contracts or purchase or sell put and call options on such futures as a hedge
against anticipated interest rate, currency or equity market changes, for
duration management and for risk management purposes. Futures are generally
bought and sold on the commodities exchanges where they are listed with payment
of initial and variation margin as described below. The sale of a futures
contract creates a firm obligation by the Fund, as seller, to deliver to the
buyer the specific type of financial instrument called for
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in the contract at a specific future time for a specified price (or, with
respect to index futures and Eurodollar instruments, the net cash amount).
Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities except that an
option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right in return for the
premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract and obligates the seller
to deliver such position.
The Fund's use of financial futures and options thereon will in all
cases be consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and in particular
the rules and regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and will
be entered into only for bona fide hedging, risk management (including duration
management) or other portfolio management purposes. Typically, maintaining a
futures contract or selling an option thereon requires the Fund to deposit with
a financial intermediary as security for its obligations an amount of cash or
other specified assets (initial margin) which initially is typically 1% to 10%
of the face amount of the contract (but may be higher in some circumstances).
Additional cash or assets (variation margin) may be required to be deposited
thereafter on a daily basis as the marked to market value of the contract
fluctuates. The purchase of an option on financial futures involves payment of a
premium for the option without any further obligation on the part of the Fund.
If the Fund exercises an option on a futures contract it will be obligated to
post initial margin (and potential subsequent variation margin) for the
resulting futures position just as it would for any position. Futures contracts
and options thereon are generally settled by entering into an offsetting
transaction but there can be no assurance that the position can be offset prior
to settlement at an advantageous price, nor that delivery will occur.
The Fund will not enter into a futures contract or related option
(except for closing transactions) if, immediately thereafter, the sum of the
amount of its initial margin and premiums on open futures contracts and options
thereon would exceed 5% of the Fund's total assets (taken at current value);
however, in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of the
purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating the 5%
limitation. The segregation requirements with respect to futures contracts and
options thereon are described below.
Options on Securities Indices and Other Financial Indices. The Fund also may
purchase and sell call and put options on securities indices and other financial
indices and in so doing can achieve many of the same objectives it would achieve
through the sale or purchase of options on individual securities or other
instruments. Options on securities indices and other financial indices are
similar to options on a security or other instrument except that, rather than
settling by physical delivery of the underlying instrument, they settle by cash
settlement, i.e., an option on an index gives the holder the right to receive,
upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the index
upon which the option is based exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than,
in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option (except if, in the case
of an OTC option, physical delivery is specified). This amount of cash is equal
to the excess of the closing price of the index over the exercise price of the
option, which also may be multiplied by a formula value. The seller of the
option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of
this amount. The gain or loss on an option on an index depends on price
movements in the instruments making up the market, market segment, industry or
other composite on which the underlying index is based, rather than price
movements in individual securities, as is the case with respect to options on
securities.
Currency Transactions. The Fund may engage in currency transactions with
Counterparties in order to hedge the value of portfolio holdings denominated in
particular currencies against fluctuations in relative value. Currency
transactions include forward currency contracts, exchange listed currency
futures, exchange listed and OTC options on currencies, and currency swaps. A
forward currency contract involves a privately negotiated obligation to purchase
or sell (with delivery generally required) a specific currency at a future date,
which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon
by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. A currency swap is
an agreement to exchange cash flows based on the notional difference among two
or more currencies and operates similarly to an interest rate swap, which is
described below. The Fund may enter into currency transactions with
Counterparties which have received (or the guarantors of the obligations which
have received) a credit rating of A-1 or P-1 by S&P or Moody's, respectively, or
that have an equivalent rating from an NRSRO or are determined to be of
equivalent credit quality by the Adviser.
The Fund's dealings in forward currency contracts and other currency
transactions such as futures, options, options on futures and swaps will be
limited to hedging involving either specific transactions or portfolio
positions. Transaction hedging is entering into a currency transaction with
respect to specific assets or liabilities of the Fund, which will generally
arise in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities or the
receipt of income
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therefrom. Position hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect
to portfolio security positions denominated or generally quoted in that
currency.
The Fund will not enter into a transaction to hedge currency exposure
to an extent greater, after netting all transactions intended wholly or
partially to offset other transactions, than the aggregate market value (at the
time of entering into the transaction) of the securities held in its portfolio
that are denominated or generally quoted in or currently convertible into such
currency, other than with respect to proxy hedging or cross hedging as described
below.
The Fund may also cross-hedge currencies by entering into transactions
to purchase or sell one or more currencies that are expected to decline in value
relative to other currencies to which the Fund has or in which the Fund expects
to have portfolio exposure.
To reduce the effect of currency fluctuations on the value of existing
or anticipated holdings of portfolio securities, the Fund may also engage in
proxy hedging. Proxy hedging is often used when the currency to which the Fund's
portfolio is exposed is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the dollar. Proxy
hedging entails entering into a commitment or option to sell a currency whose
changes in value are generally considered to be correlated to a currency or
currencies in which some or all of the Fund's portfolio securities are or are
expected to be denominated, in exchange for U.S. dollars. The amount of the
commitment or option would not exceed the value of the Fund's securities
denominated in correlated currencies. For example, if the Adviser considers that
the Austrian schilling is correlated to the German deutschemark (the "D-mark"),
the Fund holds securities denominated in schillings and the Adviser believes
that the value of schillings will decline against the U.S. dollar, the Adviser
may enter into a commitment or option to sell D-marks and buy dollars. Currency
hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as other transactions
with similar instruments. Currency transactions can result in losses to the Fund
if the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction
that is not anticipated. Further, there is the risk that the perceived
correlation between various currencies may not be present or may not be present
during the particular time that the Fund is engaging in proxy hedging. If the
Fund enters into a currency hedging transaction, the Fund will comply with the
asset segregation requirements described below.
Risks of Currency Transactions. Currency transactions are subject to risks
different from those of other portfolio transactions. Because currency control
is of great importance to the issuing governments and influences economic
planning and policy, purchases and sales of currency and related instruments can
be negatively affected by government exchange controls, blockages, and
manipulations or exchange restrictions imposed by governments. These can result
in losses to the Fund if it is unable to deliver or receive currency or funds in
settlement of obligations and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be
rendered useless, resulting in full currency exposure as well as incurring
transaction costs. Buyers and sellers of currency futures are subject to the
same risks that apply to the use of futures generally. Further, settlement of a
currency futures contract for the purchase of most currencies must occur at a
bank based in the issuing nation. Trading options on currency futures is
relatively new, and the ability to establish and close out positions on such
options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid market which may not always be
available. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate based on factors extrinsic to
that country's economy.
Combined Transactions. The Fund may enter into multiple transactions, including
multiple options transactions, multiple futures transactions, multiple currency
transactions (including forward currency contracts) and multiple interest rate
transactions and any combination of futures, options, currency and interest rate
transactions ("component" transactions), instead of a single Strategic
Transaction, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the opinion of
the Adviser, it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so. A combined
transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of
its component transactions. Although combined transactions are normally entered
into based on the Adviser's judgment that the combined strategies will reduce
risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management
goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase such risks or
hinder achievement of the portfolio management objective.
Swaps, Caps, Floors and Collars. Among the Strategic Transactions into which the
Fund may enter are interest rate, currency and index swaps and the purchase or
sale of related caps, floors and collars. The Fund expects to enter into these
transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment
or portion of its portfolio, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a
duration management technique or to protect against any increase in the price of
securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date. The Fund intends to
use these transactions as hedges and not as speculative investments and will not
sell interest rate caps or floors where it does not own securities or other
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instruments providing the income stream the Fund may be obligated to pay.
Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their
respective commitments to pay or receive interest, e.g., an exchange of floating
rate payments for fixed rate payments with respect to a notional amount of
principal. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional
amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among
them and an index swap is an agreement to swap cash flows on a notional amount
based on changes in the values of the reference indices. The purchase of a cap
entitles the purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from
the party selling such cap to the extent that a specified index exceeds a
predetermined interest rate or amount. The purchase of a floor entitles the
purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party
selling such floor to the extent that a specified index falls below a
predetermined interest rate or amount. A collar is a combination of a cap and a
floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest
rates or values.
The Fund will usually enter into swaps on a net basis, i.e., the two
payment streams are netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or dates
specified in the instrument, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may
be, only the net amount of the two payments. Inasmuch as these swaps, caps,
floors and collars are entered into for good faith hedging purposes, the Adviser
and the Fund believe such obligations do not constitute senior securities under
the 1940 Act, and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to its
borrowing restrictions. The Fund will not enter into any swap, cap, floor or
collar transaction unless, at the time of entering into such transaction, the
unsecured long-term debt of the Counterparty, combined with any credit
enhancements, is rated at least A by S&P or Moody's or has an equivalent rating
from an NRSRO or is determined to be of equivalent credit quality by the
Adviser. If there is a default by the Counterparty, the Fund may have
contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. The
swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks
and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing
standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become
relatively liquid. Caps, floors and collars are more recent innovations for
which standardized documentation has not yet been fully developed and,
accordingly, they are less liquid than swaps.
Eurodollar Instruments. The Fund may make investments in Eurodollar instruments.
Eurodollar instruments are U.S. dollar-denominated futures contracts or options
thereon which are linked to the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"),
although foreign currency-denominated instruments are available from time to
time. Eurodollar futures contracts enable purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for
the lending of funds and sellers to obtain a fixed rate for borrowings. The Fund
might use Eurodollar futures contracts and options thereon to hedge against
changes in LIBOR, to which many interest rate swaps and fixed income instruments
are linked.
Risks of Strategic Transactions Outside the U.S. When conducted outside the
U.S., Strategic Transactions may not be regulated as rigorously as in the U.S.,
may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to
the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign
securities, currencies and other instruments. The value of such positions also
could be adversely affected by: (i) other complex foreign political, legal and
economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the U.S. of data on which to
make trading decisions, (iii) delays in the Fund's ability to act upon economic
events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the U.S., (iv)
the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and
margin requirements than in the U.S., and (v) lower trading volume and
liquidity.
Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts. Many Strategic Transactions, in
addition to other requirements, require that the Fund segregate cash or liquid
assets with its custodian to the extent Fund obligations are not otherwise
"covered" through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument or
currency. In general, either the full amount of any obligation by the Fund to
pay or deliver securities or assets must be covered at all times by the
securities, instruments or currency required to be delivered, or, subject to any
regulatory restrictions, an amount of cash or liquid securities at least equal
to the current amount of the obligation must be segregated with the custodian.
The segregated assets cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are
substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate them. For
example, a call option written by the Fund will require the Fund to hold the
securities subject to the call (or securities convertible into the needed
securities without additional consideration) or to segregate cash or liquid
securities sufficient to purchase and deliver the securities if the call is
exercised. A call option sold by the Fund on an index will require the Fund to
own portfolio securities which correlate with the index or to segregate cash or
liquid assets equal to the excess of the index value over the exercise price on
a current basis. A put option written by the Fund requires the Fund to segregate
cash or liquid assets equal to the exercise price.
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Except when the Fund enters into a forward contract for the purchase or
sale of a security denominated in a particular currency, which requires no
segregation, a currency contract which obligates the Fund to buy or sell
currency will generally require the Fund to hold an amount of that currency or
liquid securities denominated in that currency equal to the Fund's obligations
or to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the amount of the Fund's
obligation.
OTC options entered into by the Fund, including those on securities,
currency, financial instruments or indices and OCC issued and exchange listed
index options, will generally provide for cash settlement. As a result, when the
Fund sells these instruments it will only segregate an amount of assets equal to
its accrued net obligations, as there is no requirement for payment or delivery
of amounts in excess of the net amount. These amounts will equal 100% of the
exercise price in the case of a non cash-settled put, the same as an OCC
guaranteed listed option sold by the Fund, or the in-the-money amount plus any
sell-back formula amount in the case of a cash-settled put or call. In addition,
when the Fund sells a call option on an index at a time when the in-the-money
amount exceeds the exercise price, the Fund will segregate, until the option
expires or is closed out, cash or cash equivalents equal in value to such
excess. OCC issued and exchange listed options sold by the Fund other than those
above generally settle with physical delivery, or with an election of either
physical delivery or cash settlement and the Fund will segregate an amount of
assets equal to the full value of the option. OTC options settling with physical
delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement
will be treated the same as other options settling with physical delivery.
In the case of a futures contract or an option thereon, the Fund must
deposit initial margin and possible daily variation margin in addition to
segregating assets sufficient to meet its obligation to purchase or provide
securities or currencies, or to pay the amount owed at the expiration of an
index-based futures contract. Such assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents,
liquid debt or equity securities or other acceptable assets.
With respect to swaps, the Fund will accrue the net amount of the
excess, if any, of its obligations over its entitlements with respect to each
swap on a daily basis and will segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets
having a value equal to the accrued excess. Caps, floors and collars require
segregation of assets with a value equal to the Fund's net obligation, if any.
Strategic Transactions may be covered by other means when consistent
with applicable regulatory policies. The Fund may also enter into offsetting
transactions so that its combined position, coupled with any segregated assets,
equals its net outstanding obligation in related options and Strategic
Transactions. For example, the Fund could purchase a put option if the strike
price of that option is the same or higher than the strike price of a put option
sold by the Fund. Moreover, instead of segregating assets if the Fund held a
futures or forward contract, it could purchase a put option on the same futures
or forward contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the
contract held. Other Strategic Transactions may also be offset in combinations.
If the offsetting transaction terminates at the time of or after the primary
transaction no segregation is required, but if it terminates prior to such time,
assets equal to any remaining obligation would need to be segregated.
Investment Restrictions
The fundamental policies of the Fund set forth below may not be changed
without the approval of a majority of the Fund's outstanding shares. As used in
this Statement of Additional Information, a "majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund" means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the voting
securities present at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund are present or represented by proxy;
or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The Fund
has elected to be classified as a diversified series of an open-end investment
company.
In addition, as a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund will not:
(1) borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as
amended, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory
authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;
(2) issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940
Act, as amended, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory
authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;
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(3) concentrate its investments in a particular industry, as that
term is used in the 1940 Act, as amended, and as interpreted
or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from
time to time;
(4) engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by
others, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be
an underwriter in connection with the disposition of portfolio
securities;
(5) purchase or sell real estate, which term does not include
securities of companies which deal in real estate or mortgages
or investments secured by real estate or interests therein,
except that the Fund reserves freedom of action to hold and to
sell real estate acquired as a result of the Fund's ownership
of securities;
(6) purchase physical commodities or contracts relating to
physical commodities; or
(7) make loans to other persons, except (i) loans of portfolio
securities, and (ii) to the extent that entry into repurchase
agreements and the purchase of debt instruments or interests
in indebtedness in accordance with the Fund's objective and
policies may be deemed to be loans.
Nonfundamental policies may be changed without shareholder approval. As
a matter of nonfundamental policy, the Fund will not:
(1) borrow money in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets,
except (i) for temporary or emergency purposes and (ii) by
engaging in reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, or
other investments or transactions described in the Fund's
registration statement which may be deemed to be borrowings;
(2) enter into either of reverse repurchase agreements or dollar
rolls in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets;
(3) purchase securities on margin or make short sales, except (i)
short sales against the box, (ii) in connection with arbitrage
transactions, (iii) for margin deposits in connection with
futures contracts, options or other permitted investments,
(iv) that transactions in futures contracts and options shall
not be deemed to constitute selling securities short, and (v)
that the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be
necessary for the clearance of securities transactions;
(4) purchase options, unless the aggregate premiums paid on all
such options held by the Fund at any time do not exceed 20% of
its total assets; or sell put options, if as a result, the
aggregate value of the obligations underlying such put options
would exceed 50% of its total assets;
(5) enter into futures contracts or purchase options thereon
unless immediately after the purchase, the value of the
aggregate initial margin with respect to such futures
contracts entered into on behalf of the Fund and the premiums
paid for such options on futures contracts does not exceed 5%
of the fair market value of the Fund's total assets; provided
that in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time
of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in
computing the 5% limit;
(6) purchase warrants if as a result, such securities, taken at
the lower of cost or market value, would represent more than
5% of the value of the Fund's total assets (for this purpose,
warrants acquired in units or attached to securities will be
deemed to have no value); and
(7) lend portfolio securities in an amount greater than 5% of its
total assets.
Any investment restrictions herein which involve a maximum percentage
of securities or assets shall not be considered to be violated unless an excess
over the percentage occurs immediately after, and is caused by, an acquisition
or encumbrance of securities or assets of, or borrowings by, the Fund.
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PURCHASES
(See "Transaction Information--Purchasing Shares" in the Shares' Prospectus)
There is a $25,000 minimum initial investment in the Barrett
International Shares class of shares of the Fund. The minimum subsequent
investment in the Shares is $1,000. Investment minimums may be waived for
Directors and officers of the Corporation and certain other affiliates and
entities. The Fund and Scudder Investor Services, Inc. (the "Distributor")
reserve the right to reject any purchase order. All funds will be invested in
full and fractional Shares.
Shares of the Fund may be purchased by writing or calling Scudder
Service Corporation, a subsidiary of the Adviser (the "Transfer Agent"). Due to
the desire of the Corporation to afford ease of redemption, certificates will
not be issued to indicate ownership in the Fund. Orders for Shares of the Fund
will be executed at the net asset value per Share next determined after an order
has become effective.
Checks drawn on a non-member bank or a foreign bank may take
substantially longer to be converted into federal funds and, accordingly, may
delay the execution of an order. Checks must be payable in U.S. dollars and will
be accepted subject to collection at full face value.
By investing in the Fund, a shareholder appoints the Transfer Agent to
establish an open account to which all shares purchased will be credited with
any dividends and capital gains distributions that are paid in additional
Shares. See "Distribution and Performance Information--Dividends and Capital
Gains Distributions" in the Shares' Prospectus.
Redemption-in-Kind
The Fund reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash
payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase order by
making payment in whole or in part in readily marketable securities chosen by
the Fund and valued as they are for purposes of computing the Fund's net asset
value (a redemption-in-kind). If payment is made in securities, a shareholder
may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities into cash. The
Corporation has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940
Act as a result of which the Fund is obligated to redeem shares, with respect to
any one shareholder during any 90 day period, solely in cash up to the lesser of
$250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of that Fund at the beginning of the
period.
Other Information
The Fund has authorized certain members of the NASD other than the
Distributor to accept purchase and redemption orders for the Fund's shares.
Those brokers may also designate other parties to accept purchase and redemption
orders on the Fund's behalf. Orders for purchase or redemption will be deemed to
have been received by the Fund when such brokers or their authorized designees
accept the orders. Subject to the terms of the contract between the Fund and the
broker, ordinarily orders will be priced at the Fund's net asset value next
computed after acceptance by such brokers or their authorized designees.
Further, if purchases or redemptions of the Fund's shares are arranged and
settlement is made at an investor's election through any other authorized NASD
member, that member may, at its discretion, charge a fee for that service. The
Board of Directors and the Distributor, also the Fund's principal underwriter,
each has the right to limit the amount of purchases by, and to refuse to sell
to, any person. The Directors and the Distributor may suspend or terminate the
offering of shares of the Fund at any time for any reason.
The Board of Directors of the Fund and Scudder Investor Services, Inc.,
the Fund's principal underwriter, each has the right to limit the amount of
purchases by and to refuse to sell to any person and each may suspend or
terminate the offering of shares of the Fund at any time.
The "Tax Identification Number" section of the Application must be
completed when opening an account. Applications and purchase orders without a
certified tax identification number and certain other certified information
(e.g., from exempt organizations a certification of exempt status), may be
returned to the investor if a correct, certified tax identification number and
certain other required certificates are not supplied.
The Fund may issue shares at net asset value in connection with any
merger or consolidation with, or acquisition of the assets of, any investment
company or personal holding company, subject to the requirements of the 1940
Act.
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REDEEMING SHARES
(See "Transaction Information--Redeeming Shares" in the Shares' Prospectus)
Payment of redemption proceeds may be made in securities. The
Corporation may suspend the right of redemption with respect to the Fund during
any period when (i) trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") is
restricted or the Exchange is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday
closings, (ii) the SEC has by order permitted such suspension or (iii) an
emergency, as defined by rules of the SEC, exists making disposal of Fund
securities or determination of the value of the net assets of the Fund not
reasonably practicable.
A shareholder's account remains open for up to one year following
complete redemption and all costs during the period will be borne by the Fund.
This permits an investor to resume investments.
FEATURES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY THE FUND
(See "Shareholders Benefits" in the Shares' Prospectus)
Special Monthly Summary of Accounts. A special service is available to
banks, brokers, investment advisers, trust companies and others who have a
number of accounts in the Fund. In addition to the copy of the regular Statement
of Account furnished to the registered holder after each transaction, a monthly
summary of accounts can be provided. The monthly summary will show for each
account the account number, the month-end share balance and the dividends and
distributions paid during the month. All costs of this service will be borne by
the Corporation. For information on the special monthly summary of accounts,
contact the Corporation.
DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
(See "Distribution and performance information -- Dividends and capital gains
distributions" in the Shares' prospectus.)
The Fund intends to follow the practice of distributing all of its
investment company taxable income, which includes any excess of net realized
short-term capital gains over net realized long-term capital losses. The Fund
may follow the practice of distributing the entire excess of net realized
long-term capital gains over net realized short-term capital losses. However,
the Fund may retain all or part of such gain for reinvestment after paying the
related federal income taxes for which the shareholders may then be asked to
claim a credit against their federal income tax liability. (See "TAXES.")
If the Fund does not distribute the amount of capital gain and/or
ordinary income required to be distributed by an excise tax provision of the
Code, the Fund may be subject to that excise tax. (See "TAXES.") In certain
circumstances, the Fund may determine that it is in the interest of shareholders
to distribute less than the required amount.
Earnings and profits distributed to shareholders on redemptions of Fund
shares may be utilized by the Fund, to the extent permissible, as part of the
Fund's dividends paid deduction on its federal tax return.
The Fund intends to distribute its investment company taxable income
and any net realized capital gains in November or December to avoid federal
excise tax, although an additional distribution may be made if necessary.
Both types of distributions will be made in Shares of the Fund and
confirmations will be mailed to each shareholder unless a shareholder has
elected to receive cash, in which case a check will be sent. Distributions of
investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains are taxable
(See "TAXES"), whether made in Shares or cash.
Each distribution is accompanied by a brief explanation of the form and
character of the distribution. The characterization of distributions on such
correspondence may differ from the characterization for federal tax purposes. In
January of each year the Fund issues to each shareholder a statement of the
federal income tax status of all distributions in the prior calendar year.
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PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
(See "Distribution and performance information--Performance
information" in the Shares' prospectus.)
From time to time, quotations of the Shares' performance may be
included in advertisements, sales literature or reports to shareholders or
prospective investors. These performance figures will be calculated in the
following manner:
Average Annual Total Return
Average Annual Total Return is the average annual compound rate of
return for the periods of one year, five years, and ten years, all ended on the
last day of a recent calendar quarter. Average annual total return quotations
reflect changes in the price of the Shares and assume that all dividends and
capital gains distributions during the respective periods were reinvested in the
Shares. Average annual total return is calculated by finding the average annual
compound rates of return of a hypothetical investment over such periods,
according to the following formula (average annual total return is then
expressed as a percentage):
T = (ERV/P)1/n - 1
Where:
P = a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000
T = Average Annual Total Return
n = number of years
ERV = ending redeemable value: ERV is the value,
at the end of the applicable period, of a
hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the
beginning of the applicable period.
Cumulative Total Return
Cumulative Total Return is the compound rate of return on a
hypothetical initial investment of $1,000 for a specified period. Cumulative
Total Return quotations reflect changes in the price of the Shares and assume
that all dividends and capital gains distributions during the period were
reinvested in the Shares. Cumulative Total Return is calculated by finding the
cumulative rates of return of a hypothetical investment over such periods,
according to the following formula (Cumulative Total Return is then expressed as
a percentage):
C = (ERV/P) - 1
Where:
C = Cumulative Total Return
P = a hypothetical initial investment of $1,000
ERV = ending redeemable value: ERV is
the value, at the end of the
applicable period, of a hypothetical
$1,000 investment made at the
beginning of the applicable period.
Total Return
Total Return is the rate of return on an investment for a specified
period of time calculated in the same manner as Cumulative Total Return.
Comparison of Fund Performance
A comparison of the quoted non-standard performance offered for various
investments is valid only if performance is calculated in the same manner. Since
there are different methods of calculating performance, investors should
consider the effects of the methods used to calculate performance when comparing
performance of the Shares with performance quoted with respect to other
investment companies or types of investments.
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In connection with communicating its performance to current or
prospective shareholders, the Fund also may compare these figures to the
performance of unmanaged indices which may assume reinvestment of dividends or
interest but generally do not reflect deductions for administrative and
management costs. Examples include, but are not limited to the Dow Jones
Industrial Average, the Consumer Price Index, Standard & Poor's 500 Composite
Stock Price Index (S&P 500), the Nasdaq OTC Composite Index, the Nasdaq
Industrials Index, the Wilshire Real Estate Securities Index, the Russell 2000
Index, and statistics published by the Small Business Administration.
Because some or all of the Fund's investments are denominated in
foreign currencies, the strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar as against these
currencies may account for part of the Shares' investment performance.
Historical information on the value of the dollar versus foreign currencies may
be used from time to time in advertisements concerning the Fund. Such historical
information is not indicative of future fluctuations in the value of the U.S.
dollar against these currencies. In addition, marketing materials may cite
country and economic statistics and historical stock market performance for any
of the countries in which the Fund invests, including, but not limited to, the
following: population growth, gross domestic product, inflation rate, average
stock market price-earnings ratios and the total value of stock markets. Sources
for such statistics may include official publications of various foreign
governments and exchanges.
From time to time, in advertising and marketing literature, The Shares'
performance may be compared to the performance of broad groups of mutual funds
with similar investment goals, as tracked by independent organizations such as,
Investment Company Data, Inc. ("ICD"), Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
("Lipper"), CDA Investment Technologies, Inc. ("CDA"), Morningstar, Inc., Value
Line Mutual Fund Survey and other independent organizations. When these
organizations' tracking results are used, the Fund will be compared to the
appropriate fund category, that is, by fund objective and portfolio holdings, or
to the appropriate volatility grouping, where volatility is a measure of a
fund's risk. For instance, a Scudder growth fund will be compared to funds in
the growth fund category; a Scudder income fund will be compared to funds in the
income fund category; and so on. Scudder funds (except for money market funds)
may also be compared to funds with similar volatility, as measured statistically
by independent organizations. In addition, the Shares' performance may also be
compared to the performance of broad groups of comparable mutual funds.
Unmanaged indices with which the Fund's performance may be compared include, but
are not limited to, the following:
The Europe/Australia/Far East (EAFE) Index
International Finance Corporation's Latin America Investable
Total Return Index
Morgan Stanley Capital International World Index
J.P. Morgan Global Traded Bond Index
Salomon Brothers World Government Bond Index
Nasdaq Composite Index
Wilshire 5000 Stock Index
From time to time, in marketing and other Fund literature, Directors
and officers of the Fund, the Fund's portfolio manager, or members of the
portfolio management team may be depicted and quoted to give prospective and
current shareholders a better sense of the outlook and approach of those who
manage the Fund. In addition, the amount of assets that the Adviser has under
management in various geographical areas may be quoted in advertising and
marketing materials.
The Fund may be advertised as an investment choice in Scudder's college
planning program. The description may contain illustrations of projected future
college costs based on assumed rates of inflation and examples of hypothetical
fund performance, calculated as described above.
Statistical and other information, as provided by the Social Security
Administration, may be used in marketing materials pertaining to retirement
planning in order to estimate future payouts of social security benefits.
Estimates may be used on demographic and economic data.
Marketing and other Fund literature may include a description of the
potential risks and rewards associated with an investment in the Fund and the
Shares. The description may include a "risk/return spectrum" which compares the
Fund to other Scudder funds or broad categories of funds, such as money market,
bond or equity funds, in terms of potential risks and returns. Money market
funds are designed to maintain a constant $1.00 share price and have a
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<PAGE>
fluctuating yield. Share price, yield and total return of a bond fund will
fluctuate. The share price and return of an equity fund also will fluctuate. The
description may also compare the Fund to bank products, such as certificates of
deposit. Unlike mutual funds, certificates of deposit are insured up to $100,000
by the U.S. government and offer a fixed rate of return.
Because bank products guarantee the principal value of an investment
and money market funds seek stability of principal, these investments are
considered to be less risky than investments in either bond or equity funds,
which may involve the loss of principal. However, all long-term investments,
including investments in bank products, may be subject to inflation risk, which
is the risk of erosion of the value of an investment as prices increase over a
long time period. The risks/returns associated with an investment in bond or
equity funds depend upon many factors. For bond funds these factors include, but
are not limited to, a fund's overall investment objective, the average portfolio
maturity, credit quality of the securities held, and interest rate movements.
For equity funds, factors include a fund's overall investment objective, the
types of equity securities held and the financial position of the issuers of the
securities. The risks/returns associated with an investment in international
bond or equity funds also will depend upon currency exchange rate fluctuation.
A risk/return spectrum generally will position the various investment
categories in the following order: bank products, money market funds, bond funds
and equity funds. Shorter-term bond funds generally are considered less risky
and offer the potential for less return than longer-term bond funds. The same is
true of domestic bond funds relative to international bond funds, and bond funds
that purchase higher quality securities relative to bond funds that purchase
lower quality securities. Growth and income equity funds are generally
considered to be less risky and offer the potential for less return than growth
funds. In addition, international equity funds usually are considered more risky
than domestic equity funds but generally offer the potential for greater return.
Risk/return spectrums also may depict funds that invest in both
domestic and foreign securities or a combination of bond and equity securities.
Evaluation of Fund performance or other relevant statistical
information made by independent sources may also be used in advertisements
concerning the Fund, including reprints of, or selections from, editorials or
articles about this Fund. Sources for Fund performance information and articles
about the Fund include the following:
American Association of Individual Investors' Journal, a monthly publication of
the AAII that includes articles on investment analysis techniques.
Asian Wall Street Journal, a weekly Asian newspaper that often reviews U.S.
mutual funds investing internationally.
Banxquote, an on-line source of national averages for leading money market and
bank CD interest rates, published on a weekly basis by Masterfund, Inc. of
Wilmington, Delaware.
Barron's, a Dow Jones and Company, Inc. business and financial weekly that
periodically reviews mutual fund performance data.
Business Week, a national business weekly that periodically reports the
performance rankings and ratings of a variety of mutual funds investing abroad.
CDA Investment Technologies, Inc., an organization which provides performance
and ranking information through examining the dollar results of hypothetical
mutual fund investments and comparing these results against appropriate market
indices.
Consumer Digest, a monthly business/financial magazine that includes a "Money
Watch" section featuring financial news.
Financial Times, Europe's business newspaper, which features from time to time
articles on international or country-specific funds.
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<PAGE>
Financial World, a general business/financial magazine that includes a "Market
Watch" department reporting on activities in the mutual fund industry.
Forbes, a national business publication that from time to time reports the
performance of specific investment companies in the mutual fund industry.
Fortune, a national business publication that periodically rates the performance
of a variety of mutual funds.
The Frank Russell Company, a West-Coast investment management firm that
periodically evaluates international stock markets and compares foreign equity
market performance to U.S. stock market performance.
Global Investor, a European publication that periodically reviews the
performance of U.S. mutual funds investing internationally.
IBC Money Fund Report, a weekly publication of IBC Financial Data, Inc.,
reporting on the performance of the nation's money market funds, summarizing
money market fund activity and including certain averages as performance
benchmarks, specifically "IBC's Money Fund Average," and "IBC's Government Money
Fund Average."
Ibbotson Associates, Inc., a company specializing in investment research and
data.
Investment Company Data, Inc., an independent organization which provides
performance ranking information for broad classes of mutual funds.
Investor's Business Daily, a daily newspaper that features financial, economic,
and business news.
Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly investment advisory publication
that periodically features the performance of a variety of securities.
Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.'s Mutual Fund Performance Analysis, a weekly
publication of industry-wide mutual fund averages by type of fund.
Money, a monthly magazine that from time to time features both specific funds
and the mutual fund industry as a whole.
Morgan Stanley International, an integrated investment banking firm that
compiles statistical information.
Mutual Fund Values, a biweekly Morningstar, Inc. publication that provides
ratings of mutual funds based on fund performance, risk and portfolio
characteristics.
The New York Times, a nationally distributed newspaper which regularly covers
financial news.
The No-Load Fund Investor, a monthly newsletter, published by Sheldon Jacobs,
that includes mutual fund performance data and recommendations for the mutual
fund investor.
No-Load Fund*X, a monthly newsletter, published by DAL Investment Company, Inc.,
that reports on mutual fund performance, rates funds and discusses investment
strategies for the mutual fund investor.
Personal Investing News, a monthly news publication that often reports on
investment opportunities and market conditions.
Personal Investor, a monthly investment advisory publication that includes a
"Mutual Funds Outlook" section reporting on mutual fund performance measures,
yields, indices and portfolio holdings.
Smart Money, a national personal finance magazine published monthly by Dow Jones
and Company, Inc. and The Hearst Corporation. Focus is placed on ideas for
investing, spending and saving.
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<PAGE>
Success, a monthly magazine targeted to the world of entrepreneurs and growing
business, often featuring mutual fund performance data.
United Mutual Fund Selector, a semi-monthly investment newsletter, published by
Babson United Investment Advisors, that includes mutual fund performance data
and reviews of mutual fund portfolios and investment strategies.
USA Today, a leading national daily newspaper.
U.S. News and World Report, a national news weekly that periodically reports
mutual fund performance data.
Value Line Mutual Fund Survey, an independent organization that provides
biweekly performance and other information on mutual funds.
The Wall Street Journal, a Dow Jones and Company, Inc. newspaper which regularly
covers financial news.
Wiesenberger Investment Companies Services, an annual compendium of information
about mutual funds and other investment companies, including comparative data on
funds' backgrounds, management policies, salient features, management results,
income and dividend records and price ranges.
Working Woman, a monthly publication that features a "Financial Workshop"
section reporting on the mutual fund/financial industry.
Worth, a national publication issued 10 times per year by Capital Publishing
Company, a subsidiary of Fidelity Investments. Focus is placed on personal
financial journalism.
Taking a Global Approach
Many U.S. investors limit their holdings to U.S. securities because
they assume that international or global investing is too risky. While there are
risks connected with investing overseas, it's important to remember that no
investment -- even in blue-chip domestic securities -- is entirely risk free.
Looking outside U.S. borders, an investor today can find opportunities that
mirror domestic investments -- everything from large, stable multinational
companies to start-ups in emerging markets. To determine the level of risk with
which you are comfortable, and the potential for reward you're seeking over the
long term, you need to review the type of investment, the world markets, and
your time horizon.
The U.S. is unusual in that it has a very broad economy that is well
represented in the stock market. However, many countries around the world are
not only undergoing a revolution in how their economies operate, but also in
terms of the role their stock markets play in financing activities. There is
vibrant change throughout the global economy and all of this represents
potential investment opportunity.
Investing beyond the United States can open this world of opportunity,
due partly to the dramatic shift in the balance of world markets. In 1970, the
United States alone accounted for two-thirds of the value of the world's stock
markets. Now, the situation is reversed -- only 35% of global stock market
capitalization resides here. There are companies in Southeast Asia that are
starting to dominate regional activity; there are companies in Europe that are
expanding outside of their traditional markets and taking advantage of faster
growth in Asia and Latin America; other companies throughout the world are
getting out from under state control and restructuring; developing countries
continue to open their doors to foreign investment.
Stocks in many foreign markets can be attractively priced. The global
stock markets do not move in lock step. When the valuations in one market rise,
there are other markets that are less expensive. There is also volatility within
markets in that some sectors may be more expensive while others are depressed in
valuation. A wider set of opportunities can help make it possible to find the
best values available.
International or global investing offers diversification because the
investment is not limited to a single country or economy. In fact, many experts
agree that investment strategies that include both U.S. and non-U.S.
investments strike the best balance between risk and reward.
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Scudder's 30% Solution
The 30 Percent Solution -- A Global Guide for Investors Seeking Better
Performance With Reduced Portfolio Risk is a booklet, created by the Adviser, to
convey its vision about the new global investment dynamic. This dynamic is a
result of the profound and ongoing changes in the global economy and the
financial markets. The booklet explains how the Adviser believes an equity
investment portfolio with up to 30% in international holdings and 70% in
domestic holdings can improve long-term performance while simultaneously helping
to reduce overall risk.
FUND ORGANIZATION
(See "Fund organization" in the Shares' prospectus.)
The Corporation was organized as Scudder Fund of Canada Ltd. in Canada
in 1953 by the investment management firm of Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc.. On
March 16, 1964, the name of the Corporation was changed to Scudder International
Investments Ltd. On July 31, 1975, the corporate domicile of the Corporation was
changed to the U.S. through the transfer of its net assets to a newly formed
Maryland corporation, Scudder International Fund, Inc., in exchange for shares
of the Corporation which then were distributed to the shareholders of the
Corporation.
The authorized capital stock of the Corporation consists of 700 million
shares of a par value of $.01 each--all of one class except for Scudder
International Fund which consists of two classes of shares, the Shares and the
Scudder International class of shares of the Fund. All shares have equal rights
as to voting, redemption, dividends and liquidation. Shareholders have one vote
for each share held. The Corporation's capital stock is comprised of six series:
Scudder International Fund, the original series; Scudder Latin America Fund,
Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund, both organized in December 1992, Scudder
Greater Europe Growth Fund, organized in October 1994, Scudder Emerging Markets
Growth Fund, organized in May 1996 and Scudder International Growth and Income
Fund, organized in June 1997. Each series consists of 100 million shares except
for the Fund which consists of 200 million shares. The Directors have the
authority to issue additional series of shares and to designate the relative
rights and preferences as between the different series. All shares issued and
outstanding are fully paid and non-assessable, transferable, and redeemable at
net asset value at the option of the shareholder. Shares have no pre-emptive or
conversion rights.
The shares of the Corporation have non-cumulative voting rights, which
means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of
Directors can elect 100% of the Directors if they choose to do so, and, in such
event, the holders of the remaining less than 50% of the shares voting for the
election of Directors will not be able to elect any person or persons to the
Board of Directors. The assets of the Corporation received for the issue or sale
of the shares of each series and all income, earnings, profits and proceeds
thereof, subject only to the rights of creditors, are specifically allocated to
such series and constitute the underlying assets of such series. The underlying
assets of each series are segregated on the books of account, and are to be
charged with the liabilities in respect to such series and with such a share of
the general liabilities of the Corporation. If a series were unable to meet its
obligations, the assets of all other series may in some circumstances be
available to creditors for that purpose, in which case the assets of such other
series could be used to meet liabilities which are not otherwise properly
chargeable to them. Expenses with respect to any two or more series are to be
allocated in proportion to the asset value of the respective series except where
allocations of direct expenses can otherwise be fairly made. The officers of the
Corporation, subject to the general supervision of the Directors, have the power
to determine which liabilities are allocable to a given series, or which are
general or allocable to two or more series. In the event of the dissolution or
liquidation of the Corporation or any series, the holders of the shares of any
series are entitled to receive as a class the underlying assets of such shares
available for distribution to shareholders.
Shares of the Corporation entitle their holders to one vote per share;
however, separate votes are taken by each series on matters affecting an
individual series. For example, a change in investment policy for a series would
be voted upon only by shareholders of the series involved. Additionally,
approval of the investment advisory agreement is a matter to be determined
separately by each series. Approval by the shareholders of one series is
effective as to that series whether or not enough votes are received from the
shareholders of the other series to approve such agreement as to the other
series.
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The Directors, in their discretion, may authorize the division of
shares of the Corporation (or shares of a series) into different classes
permitting shares of different classes to be distributed by different methods.
Although shareholders of different classes of a series would have an interest in
the same portfolio of assets, shareholders of different classes may bear
different expenses in connection with different methods of distribution.
Pursuant to the approval of a majority of stockholders, the Fund's
Directors have the discretion to retain the current distribution arrangement
while investing in a master fund in a master/feeder fund structure if the Board
determines that the objectives of the Fund would be achieved more efficiently
thereby.
The Corporation's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the
"Articles") provide that the Directors of the Corporation, to the fullest extent
permitted by Maryland General Corporation Law and the 1940 Act, shall not be
liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for damages. Maryland law
currently provides that Directors shall be immune from liability for any action
taken by them in good faith, in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best
interests of the Corporation and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person
in a like position would use under similar circumstances. In so acting, a
Director shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of
the Corporation and upon reports made to the Corporation by persons selected in
good faith by the Directors as qualified to make such reports. The Articles and
the By-Laws provide that the Corporation will indemnify its Directors, officers,
employees or agents against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with
litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the
Corporation consistent with applicable law. Nothing in the Articles or the
By-Laws protects or indemnifies a Director, officer, employee or agent against
any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his or her office.
INVESTMENT ADVISER
(See "Fund organization--Investment adviser" in the Shares' prospectus.)
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc. (the "Adviser"), an investment counsel
firm, acts as investment adviser to the Fund. This organization, the predecessor
of which is Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc., is one of the most experienced
investment counsel firms in the U. S. It was established as a partnership in
1919 and pioneered the practice of providing investment counsel to individual
clients on a fee basis. In 1928 it introduced the first no-load mutual fund to
the public. In 1953 the Adviser introduced Scudder International Fund, Inc., the
first mutual fund available in the U.S. investing internationally in securities
of issuers in several foreign countries. The predecessor firm reorganized from a
partnership to a corporation on June 28, 1985. On June 26, 1997, Scudder,
Stevens & Clark, Inc. ("Scudder") entered into an agreement with Zurich
Insurance Company ("Zurich") pursuant to which Scudder and Zurich agreed to form
an alliance. On December 31, 1997, Zurich acquired a majority interest in
Scudder, and Zurich Kemper Investments, Inc., a Zurich subsidiary, became part
of Scudder. Scudder's name has been changed to Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.
Founded in 1872, Zurich is a multinational, public corporation
organized under the laws of Switzerland. Its home office is located at
Mythenquai 2, 8002 Zurich, Switzerland. Historically, Zurich's earnings have
resulted from its operations as an insurer as well as from its ownership of its
subsidiaries and affiliated companies (the "Zurich Insurance Group"). Zurich and
the Zurich Insurance Group provide an extensive range of insurance products and
services and have branch offices and subsidiaries in more than 40 countries
throughout the world.
The principal source of the Adviser's income is professional fees
received from providing continuous investment advice, and the firm derives no
income from brokerage or underwriting of securities. Today, it provides
investment counsel for many individuals and institutions, including insurance
companies, colleges, industrial corporations, and financial and banking
organizations. In addition, it manages Montgomery Street Income Securities,
Inc., Scudder California Tax Free Trust, Scudder Cash Investment Trust, Scudder
Equity Trust, Scudder Fund, Inc., Scudder Funds Trust, Scudder Global Fund,
Inc., Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc., Scudder GNMA Fund, Scudder
Portfolio Trust, Scudder Institutional Fund, Inc., Scudder International Fund,
Inc., Scudder Investment Trust, Scudder Municipal Trust, Scudder Mutual Funds,
Inc., Scudder New Asia Fund, Inc., Scudder New Europe Fund, Inc., Scudder
Pathway Series, Scudder Securities Trust, Scudder State Tax Free Trust, Scudder
Tax Free Money Fund, Scudder Tax Free Trust, Scudder U.S. Treasury Money Fund,
Scudder Variable Life Investment Fund, The Argentina
21
<PAGE>
Fund, Inc., The Brazil Fund, Inc., The Korea Fund, Inc., The Japan Fund, Inc.
and Scudder Spain and Portugal Fund, Inc. Some of the foregoing companies or
trusts have two or more series.
The Adviser also provides investment advisory services to the mutual
funds which comprise the AARP Investment Program from Scudder. The AARP
Investment Program from Scudder has assets over $13 billion and includes the
AARP Growth Trust, AARP Income Trust, AARP Tax Free Income Trust, AARP Managed
Investment Portfolios Trust and AARP Cash Investment Funds.
Pursuant to an Agreement between Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.
("Scudder") and AMA Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of the American Medical
Association (the "AMA"), dated May 9, 1997, the Adviser has agreed, subject to
applicable state regulations, to pay AMA Solutions, Inc. royalties in an amount
equal to 5% of the management fee received by the Adviser with respect to assets
invested by AMA members in Scudder funds in connection with the AMA
InvestmentLink(SM) Program. The Adviser will also pay AMA Solutions, Inc. a
general monthly fee, currently in the amount of $833. The AMA and AMA Solutions,
Inc. are not engaged in the business of providing investment advice and neither
is registered as an investment adviser or broker/dealer under federal securities
laws. Any person who participates in the AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program will be
a customer of the Adviser (or of a subsidiary thereof) and not the AMA or AMA
Solutions, Inc. AMA InvestmentLink(SM) is a service mark of AMA Solutions, Inc.
The Adviser maintains a large research department, which conducts
continuous studies of the factors that affect the position of various
industries, companies and individual securities. The Adviser receives published
reports and statistical compilations from issuers and other sources, as well as
analyses from brokers and dealers who may execute portfolio transactions for the
Adviser's clients. However, the Adviser regards this information and material as
an adjunct to its own research activities. The Adviser's international
investment management team travels the world, researching hundreds of companies.
In selecting the securities in which the Fund may invest, the conclusions and
investment decisions of the Adviser with respect to the Fund are based primarily
on the analyses of its own research department.
Certain investments may be appropriate for the Fund and also for other
clients advised by the Adviser. Investment decisions for the Fund and other
clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives
and after consideration of such factors as their current holdings, availability
of cash for investment and the size of their investments generally. Frequently,
a particular security may be bought or sold for only one client or in different
amounts and at different times for more than one but less than all clients.
Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one
or more other clients are selling the security. In addition, purchases or sales
of the same security may be made for two or more clients on the same day. In
such event, such transactions will be allocated among the clients in a manner
believed by the Adviser to be equitable to each. In some cases, this procedure
could have an adverse effect on the price or amount of the securities purchased
or sold by the Fund. Purchase and sale orders for the Fund may be combined with
those of other clients of the Adviser in the interest of achieving the most
favorable net results to the Fund.
The Investment Management Agreement (the "Agreement") dated September
5, 1996 was approved by the Directors of the Fund on September 5, 1996. Because
the transaction between Scudder and Zurich resulted in the assignment of the
Fund's investment management agreement with Scudder, that agreement was deemed
to be automatically terminated at the consummation of the transaction. In
anticipation of the transaction, however, a new investment management agreement
between the Fund and the Adviser was approved by the Corporation's Directors on
October 29, 1997. At the special meeting of the Fund's stockholders held on
October 27, 1997, the stockholders also approved the new investment management
agreement. The new investment management agreement (the "Agreement") became
effective as of December 31, 1997 and will be in effect for an initial term
ending on September 30, 1998. The Agreement is in all material respects on the
same terms as the previous investment management agreement which it supersedes.
The Agreement incorporates conforming changes which promote consistency among
all of the funds advised by the Adviser and which permit ease of administration.
The Agreement will continue in effect and from year to year thereafter only if
its continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority of those
Directors who are not parties to such Agreement or interested persons of the
Adviser or the Fund, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval, and either by a vote of the Corporation's Directors or
of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The Agreement
may be terminated at any time without payment of penalty by either party on
sixty days' written notice, and automatically terminates in the event of its
assignment.
22
<PAGE>
Under the Agreement, the Adviser regularly provides the Fund with
continuing investment management for the Fund's portfolio consistent with the
Fund's investment objectives, policies and restrictions and determines which
securities shall be purchased, held or sold and what portion of the Fund's
assets shall be held uninvested, subject to the Corporation's Articles, By-Laws,
the 1940 Act, the Code and to the Fund's investment objective, policies and
restrictions, and subject, further, to such policies and instructions as the
Board of Directors of the Corporation may from time to time establish.
Under the Agreement, the Adviser renders significant administrative
services (not otherwise provided by third parties) necessary for the
Corporation's operations as an open-end investment company including, but not
limited to, preparing reports and notices to the Directors and shareholders;
supervising, negotiating contractual arrangements with, and monitoring various
third-party service providers to the Fund (such as the Fund's transfer agent,
pricing agents, custodian, accountants and others); preparing and making filings
with the Commission and other regulatory agencies; assisting in the preparation
and filing of the Fund's federal, state and local tax returns; preparing and
filing the Fund's federal excise tax returns; assisting with investor and public
relations matters; monitoring the valuation of securities and the calculation of
net asset value; monitoring the registration of shares of the Fund under
applicable federal and state securities laws; maintaining the Fund's books and
records to the extent not otherwise maintained by a third party; assisting in
establishing accounting policies of the Fund; assisting in the resolution of
accounting and legal issues; establishing and monitoring the Fund's operating
budget; processing the payment of the Fund's bills; assisting the Fund in, and
otherwise arranging for, the payment of distributions and dividends and
otherwise assisting the Fund in the conduct of its business, subject to the
direction and control of the Directors.
The Adviser pays the compensation and expenses (except those of
attending Board and committee meetings outside New York, New York or Boston,
Massachusetts) of all Directors, officers and executive employees of the Fund
affiliated with the Adviser and makes available, without expense to the Fund,
the services of such Directors, officers and employees of the Adviser as may
duly be elected officers of the Fund, subject to their individual consent to
serve and to any limitations imposed by law, and provides the Fund's office
space and facilities.
On September 5, 1996, the Corporation's Board of Directors approved a
new Investment Management Agreement (the "Management Agreement") with Scudder
Kemper Investments, Inc. (the "Adviser"). The management fee payable under the
Management Agreement is equal to an annual rate of approximately 0.90% of the
first $500,000,000 of average daily net assets, 0.85% of the next $500,000,000
of such net assets, 0.80% of the next $1,000,000,000 of such net assets, 0.75%
of the next $1,000,000,000 of such net assets, and 0.70% of such net assets in
excess of $3,000,000,000, computed and accrued daily and payable monthly.
Under the Investment Management Agreement between the Fund and the
Adviser which was in effect prior to September 5, 1996 (the "Agreement"), the
Fund agreed to pay to the Adviser a fee equal to an annual rate of 0.90% on the
first $500,000,000 of the Fund's average daily net assets, 0.85% on the next
$500,000,000, 0.80% on the next $1,000,000,000, and 0.75% of such net assets in
excess of $2,000,000,000, computed and accrued daily and payable monthly.
The net investment advisory fees for the fiscal years ended March 31,
1997, 1996 and 1995 were $20,989,160, $19,502,443 and $19,032,146, respectively.
Under the Agreement the Fund is responsible for all of its other
expenses including: fees and expenses incurred in connection with membership in
investment company organizations; brokers' commissions; legal, auditing and
accounting expenses; the calculation of net asset value; taxes and governmental
fees; the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent; the cost of preparing share
certificates or any other expenses of issue, sale, underwriting, distribution,
redemption or repurchase of shares; the expenses of and the fees for registering
or qualifying securities for sale; the fees and expenses of Directors, officers
and employees of the Fund who are not affiliated with the Adviser; the cost of
printing and distributing reports and notices to stockholders; and the fees and
disbursements of custodians. The Fund may arrange to have third parties assume
all or part of the expenses of sale, underwriting and distribution of shares of
the Fund. The Fund is also responsible for its expenses of shareholders'
meetings, the cost of responding to shareholders' inquiries, and its expenses
incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings and claims and the legal
obligation it may have to indemnify its officers and Directors of the Fund with
respect thereto.
23
<PAGE>
The Agreement expressly provides that the Adviser shall not be required
to pay a pricing agent of the Fund for portfolio pricing services, if any.
The Agreement identifies the Adviser as the exclusive licensee of the
rights to use and sublicense the names "Scudder," "Scudder Kemper Investments,
Inc." and "Scudder Stevens and Clark, Inc." (together, the "Scudder Marks").
Under this license, the Corporation, with respect to the Fund, has the
non-exclusive right to use and sublicense the Scudder name and marks as part of
its name, and to use the Scudder Marks in the Corporation's investment products
and services.
In reviewing the terms of the Agreement and in discussions with the
Adviser concerning such Agreement, the Directors of the Fund who are not
"interested persons" of the Adviser are represented by independent counsel at
the Fund's expense.
The Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be liable for any
error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in
connection with matters to which the Agreement relates, except a loss resulting
from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the
Adviser in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by the
Adviser of its obligations and duties under the Agreement.
Officers and employees of the Adviser from time to time may have
transactions with various banks, including the Fund's custodian bank. It is the
Adviser's opinion that the terms and conditions of those transactions which have
occurred were not influenced by existing or potential custodial or other Fund
relationships.
The Adviser may serve as adviser to other funds with investment
objectives and policies similar to those of the Funds that may have different
distribution arrangements or expenses, which may affect performance.
None of the officers or Directors of the Fund may have dealings with
the Fund as principals in the purchase or sale of securities, except as
individual subscribers to or holders of shares of the Fund.
Personal Investments by Employees of the Adviser
Employees of the Adviser are permitted to make personal securities
transactions, subject to requirements and restrictions set forth in the
Adviser's Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics contains provisions and
requirements designed to identify and address certain conflicts of interest
between personal investment activities and the interests of investment advisory
clients such as the Fund. Among other things, the Code of Ethics, which
generally complies with standards recommended by the Investment Company
Institute's Advisory Group on Personal Investing, prohibits certain types of
transactions absent prior approval, imposes time periods during which personal
transactions may not be made in certain securities, and requires the submission
of duplicate broker confirmations and monthly reporting of securities
transactions. Additional restrictions apply to portfolio managers, traders,
research analysts and others involved in the investment advisory process.
Exceptions to these and other provisions of the Code of Ethics may be granted in
particular circumstances after review by appropriate personnel.
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Position with
Underwriter,
Scudder Investor
Name, Age, and Address Position with Fund Principal Occupation** Services, Inc.
- ---------------------- ------------------ ---------------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Daniel Pierce (64)+*@ Chairman of the Board Managing Director of Scudder Kemper Vice President,
and Director Investments, Inc. Director & Assistant
Treasurer
Paul Bancroft III (67) Director Venture Capitalist and Consultant; --
79 Pine Lane Retired, President, Chief Executive
Snowmass Village, CO 81615 Officer and Director, Bessemer
Securities Corporation
</TABLE>
24
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Position with
Underwriter,
Scudder Investor
Name, Age, and Address Position with Fund Principal Occupation** Services, Inc.
- ---------------------- ------------------ ---------------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Sheryle J. Bolton (51) Director Chief Executive Officer, Scientific --
Scientific Learning Learning Corporation, Former
Corporation President and Chief Operating
417 Montgomery Street Officer, Physicians' Online, Inc.
Suite 500 (electronic transmission of clinical
San Francisco, CA 94104 information for physicians
(1994-1995); Member, Senior
Management Team, Rockefeller & Co.
(1990-1993).
William T. Burgin (53) Director General Partner, Bessemer Venture --
83 Walnut Street Partners; General Partner, Deer &
Wellesley, MA 02181 Company; Director, James River
Corp.; Director, Galile Corp.,
Director of various privately
held companies.
Thomas J. Devine (70) Director Consultant --
450 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Keith R. Fox (43) Director President, Exeter Capital Management --
10 East 53rd Street Corporation
New York, NY 10022
William H. Gleysteen, Jr. (71) Director Consultant; Guest Scholar, Brookings --
4937 Crescent Street Institute
Bethesda, MD 20816
William H. Luers (68) Director President, The Metropolitan Museum --
The Metropolitan of Art (1986 to present)
Museum of Art
993 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028
Wilson Nolen (70) Director Consultant (1989 to present); --
1120 Fifth Avenue Corporate Vice President, Becton,
New York, NY 10128 Dickinson & Company (manufacturer of
medical and scientific products)
until 1989
Kathryn L. Quirk (45)#@* Director; Vice Managing Director of Scudder Kemper Director, Senior Vice
President and Investments, Inc. President and Assistant
Assistant Secretary Clerk
Robert G. Stone, Jr. (74) Honorary Director Chairman Emeritus and Director, --
405 Lexington Avenue Kirby Corporation (inland and
New York, NY 10174 offshore marine transportation and
diesel repairs)
</TABLE>
25
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Position with
Underwriter,
Scudder Investor
Name, Age, and Address Position with Fund Principal Occupation** Services, Inc.
- ---------------------- ------------------ ---------------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Robert W. Lear (80) Honorary Director Executive-in-Residence, --
429 Silvermine Road Visiting Professor,
New Canaan, CT 06840 Columbia University
Graduate School of Business
Elizabeth J. Allan (44)# Vice President Senior Vice President of Scudder --
Kemper Investments, Inc.
Nicholas Bratt (49)# President Managing Director of Scudder --
Kemper Investments, Inc.
Irene T. Cheng (43) # Vice President Managing Director of Scudder Kemper --
Investments, Inc.
Joyce E. Cornell (53)# Vice President Managing Director of Scudder Kemper --
Investments, Inc.
Susan E. Dahl (32)+ Vice President Senior Vice President of Scudder --
Kemper Investments, Inc.
Carol L. Franklin (44)# Vice President Managing Director of Scudder Kemper --
Investments, Inc.
Edmund B. Games, Jr. (60)+ Vice President Senior Vice President of Scudder --
Kemper Investments, Inc.
Theresa Gusman (38)# Vice President Vice President of Scudder Kemper --
Investments, Inc.
Jerard K. Hartman (64)# Vice President Managing Director of Scudder Kemper --
Investments, Inc.
John R. Hebble (39)+ Assistant Treasurer Senior Vice President of Scudder --
Kemper Investments, Inc.
Thomas W. Joseph (58)+ Vice President Senior Vice President of Scudder Vice President,
Kemper Investments, Inc. Director, Treasurer &
Assistant Clerk
Thomas F. McDonough (51)+ Treasurer, Vice Senior Vice President of Scudder Clerk
President and Secretary Kemper Investments, Inc.
Caroline Pearson (36)+ Assistant Secretary Vice President of Scudder Kemper --
Investments, Inc.
Sheridan Reilly (46)# Vice President Vice President of Scudder Kemper --
Investments, Inc.
Richard W. Desmond (61)# Assistant Secretary Vice President of Scudder Kemper Vice President
Investments, Inc.
</TABLE>
26
<PAGE>
* Mr. Pierce and Ms. Quirk are considered by the Fund and its counsel to be
persons who are "interested persons" of the Adviser or of the Fund within
the meaning of the 1940 Act.
** Unless otherwise stated, all officers and directors have been associated
with their respective companies for more than five years, but not
necessarily in the same capacity.
@ Mr. Pierce and Ms. Quirk are members of the Executive Committee which may
exercise substantially all of the powers of the Board of Directors when it
is not in session.
+ Address: Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
# Address: 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154
As of April 3, 1998, all Directors and officers of the Fund as a group
owned beneficially (as that term is defined under Section 13(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act) less than 1% of the Shares of the Fund outstanding on
such date.
To the best of the Fund's knowledge, as of April 3, 1998 no person
owned beneficially (as so defined) more than 5% of the Fund's outstanding Shares
except as stated above.
The Directors and officers of the Fund also serve in similar capacities
with other Scudder Funds.
REMUNERATION
Responsibilities of the Board--Board and Committee Meetings
The Board of Directors is responsible for the general oversight of the
Fund's business. A majority of the Board's members are not affiliated with
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc. (the "Adviser"). These "Independent Directors"
have primary responsibility for assuring that the Fund is managed in the best
interests of its shareholders.
The Board of Directors meets at least quarterly to review the
investment performance of the Fund and other operational matters, including
policies and procedures designated to assure compliance with various regulatory
requirements. At least annually, the Independent Directors review the fees paid
to the Adviser and its affiliates for investment advisory services and other
administrative and shareholder services. In this regard, they evaluate, among
other things, the Fund's investment performance, the quality and efficiency of
the various other services provided, costs incurred by the Adviser and its
affiliates, and comparative information regarding fees and expenses of
competitive funds. They are assisted in this process by the Fund's independent
public accountants and by independent legal counsel selected by the Independent
Directors.
All of the Independent Directors serve on the Committee on Independent
Directors, which nominates Independent Directors and considers other related
matters, and the Audit Committee, which selects the Fund's independent public
accountants and reviews accounting policies and controls. In addition,
Independent Directors from time to time have established and served on task
forces and subcommittees focusing on particular matters such as investment,
accounting and shareholder service issues.
Compensation of Officers and Directors
The Independent Directors receive the following compensation: an annual
director's fee of $4,000; a fee of $400 for attendance at each Board meeting,
audit committee meeting, or other meeting held for the purposes of considering
arrangements between the Funds and the Adviser or any affiliate of the Adviser;
$150 for any other committee meeting (although in some cases the Independent
Directors have waived committee meeting fees); and reimbursement of expenses
incurred for travel to and from Board Meetings. No additional compensation is
paid to any Independent Director for travel time to meetings, attendance at
directors' educational seminars or conferences, service on industry or
association committees, participation as speakers at directors' conferences,
service on special director task forces or subcommittees or service as lead or
liaison director. Independent Directors do not receive any employee benefits
such as pension, retirement or health insurance.
The Independent Directors also serve in the same capacity for other
funds managed by the Adviser. These funds differ broadly in type and complexity
and in some cases have substantially different Director fee schedules. The
27
<PAGE>
following table shows the aggregate compensation received by each Independent
Director during 1997 from the Corporation and from all of the Scudder funds as a
group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Scudder International Fund, Inc.* All Scudder Funds
---- --------------------------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Paul Bancroft III, Director $43,400 $156,922 (20 funds)
Sheryle J. Bolton, Director** $9,285 $86,213 (20 funds)
William T. Burgin, Director** $9,285 $85,950 (20 funds)
Thomas J. Devine, Director $50,400 $186,598 (21 funds)
Keith R. Fox, Director $52,950 $134,390 (18 funds)
William H. Gleysteen, Jr., $48,900 $136,150*** (15 funds)
Director
William H. Luers, Director $49,800 $117,729 (20 funds)
Wilson Nolen, Director $46,900 $189,548 (21 funds)
Dr. Gordon Shillinglaw, Director $42,215 $139,324 (26 funds)
</TABLE>
* Scudder International Fund, Inc. consists of six funds: Scudder
International Fund, Scudder Latin America Fund, Scudder Pacific
Opportunities Fund, Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund, Scudder Emerging
Markets Growth Fund and Scudder International Growth and Income Fund.
** Elected as Director on October 27, 1997.
*** This amount does not reflect $6,098 in retirement benefits accrued as part
of Fund Complex expenses, and $3,000 in estimated annual benefits payable
upon retirement. Retirement benefits accrued and proposed are to be paid
to Mr. Gleysteen as additional compensation for serving on the Board of
The Japan Fund, Inc.
Members of the Board of Directors who are employees of the Adviser or
its affiliates receive no direct compensation from the Corporation, although
they are compensated as employees of the Adviser, or its affiliates, as a result
of which they may be deemed to participate in fees paid by each Fund.
DISTRIBUTOR
The Corporation has an underwriting agreement with Scudder Investor
Services, Inc. (the "Distributor"), a Massachusetts corporation, which is a
subsidiary of the Adviser, a Delaware corporation. The Corporation's
underwriting agreement dated September 17, 1992 will remain in effect until
September 30, 1998 and from year to year thereafter only if its continuance is
approved annually by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are
not parties to such agreement or interested persons of any such party and either
by vote of a majority of the Board of Directors or a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Fund. The underwriting agreement was last approved by
the Directors on September 10-11, 1997.
Under the underwriting agreement, the Fund is responsible for: the
payment of all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing
with the Commission of its registration statement and prospectus and any
amendments and supplements thereto; the registration and qualification of shares
for sale in the various states,
28
<PAGE>
including registering the Fund as a broker or dealer in various states as
required; the fees and expenses of preparing, printing and mailing prospectuses
annually to existing shareholders (see below for expenses relating to
prospectuses paid by the Distributor); notices, proxy statements, reports or
other communications to shareholders of the Fund; the cost of printing and
mailing confirmations of purchases of shares and any prospectuses accompanying
such confirmations; any issuance taxes and/or any initial transfer taxes; a
portion of shareholder toll-free telephone charges and expenses of shareholder
service representatives; the cost of wiring funds for share purchases and
redemptions (unless paid by the shareholder who initiates the transaction); the
cost of printing and postage of business reply envelopes; and a portion of the
cost of computer terminals used by both the Fund and the Distributor.
The Distributor will pay for printing and distributing prospectuses or
reports prepared for its use in connection with the offering of the Fund's
shares to the public and preparing, printing and mailing any other literature or
advertising in connection with the offering of shares of the Fund to the public.
The Distributor will pay all fees and expenses in connection with its
qualification and registration as a broker or dealer under federal and state
laws, a portion of the cost of toll-free telephone service and expenses of
shareholder service representatives, a portion of the cost of computer
terminals, and expenses of any activity which is primarily intended to result in
the sale of shares issued by the Fund, unless a Rule 12b-1 Plan is in effect
which provides that the Fund shall bear some or all of such expenses.
Note: Although the Fund does not currently have a 12b-1 Plan, and the
Directors have no current intention of adopting one, the Fund would
also pay those fees and expenses permitted to be paid or assumed by the
Fund pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 Plan, if any, were adopted by the Fund,
notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in the underwriting
agreement.
As agent, the Distributor currently offers shares of the Fund on a
continuous basis to investors in all states in which shares of the Fund may from
time to time be registered or where permitted by applicable law. The
underwriting agreement provides that the Distributor accepts orders for shares
at net asset value as no sales commission or load is charged to the investor.
The Distributor has made no firm commitment to acquire shares of the Fund.
TAXES
(See "Distribution and performance information -- Dividends and capital gains
distributions" and "Transaction information--Tax information, Tax identification
number" in the Shares' prospectus.)
The Fund has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company
under Subchapter M of the Code, or a predecessor statute and has qualified as
such since its inception. Such qualification does not involve governmental
supervision or management of investment practices or policy.
A regulated investment company qualifying under Subchapter M of the
Code is required to distribute to its shareholders at least 90 percent of its
investment company taxable income (including net short-term capital gain) and
generally is not subject to federal income tax to the extent that it distributes
annually its investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains in
the manner required under the Code.
The Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on amounts
required to be but not distributed under a prescribed formula. The formula
requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions
representing at least 98% of the Fund's ordinary income for the calendar year,
at least 98% of the excess of its capital gains over capital losses (adjusted
for certain ordinary losses) realized during the one-year period ending October
31 during such year, and all ordinary income and capital gains for prior years
that were not previously distributed.
Investment company taxable income generally is made up of dividends,
interest and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital
losses, less expenses. Net realized capital gains for a fiscal year are computed
by taking into account any capital loss carryforward of the Fund. Presently, the
Fund has no capital loss carryforwards.
If any net realized long-term capital gains in excess of net realized
short-term capital losses are retained by the Fund for reinvestment, requiring
federal income taxes to be paid thereon by the Fund, the Fund intends to elect
to treat such capital gains as having been distributed to shareholders. As a
result, each shareholder will report such capital
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gains as capital gains taxable at a maximum 20% or 28% rate (depending on the
Fund's holding period for the assets giving rise to the gain), will be able to
claim a proportionate share of federal income taxes paid by the Fund on such
gains as a credit against the shareholder's federal income tax liability, and
will be entitled to increase the adjusted tax basis of the shareholder's Fund
shares by the difference between the shareholder's pro rata share of such gains
and the shareholder's tax credit.
Distributions of investment company taxable income are taxable to
shareholders as ordinary income.
Dividends from domestic corporations are not expected to comprise a
substantial part of the Fund's gross income. If any such dividends constitute a
portion of the Fund's gross income, a portion of the income distributions of the
Fund may be eligible for the 70% deduction for dividends received by
corporations. Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so
qualify. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent the shares of
the Fund with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as
debt-financed under federal income tax law and is eliminated if either those
shares or the shares of the Fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund or the
shareholders, as the case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period
beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend.
Properly designated distributions of the excess of net long-term
capital gain over net short-term capital loss are taxable to shareholders at a
maximum 20% or 28% rate (depending on the Fund's holding period for the assets
giving rise to the gain) as long-term capital gain, regardless of the length of
time the shares of the Fund have been held by such shareholders. Such
distributions are not eligible for the dividends-received deduction. Any loss
realized upon the redemption of shares held at the time of redemption for six
months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any
amounts treated as distributions of long-term capital gain during such six-month
period.
Distributions of investment company taxable income and net realized
capital gains will be taxable as described above, whether received in shares or
in cash. Shareholders electing to receive distributions in the form of
additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each
share so received equal to the net asset value of a share on the reinvestment
date.
All distributions of investment company taxable income and net realized
capital gain, whether received in shares or in cash, must be reported by each
shareholder on his or her federal income tax return. Dividends declared in
October, November or December with a record date in such a month will be deemed
to have been received by shareholders on December 31, if paid during January of
the following year. Redemptions of shares, including exchanges for shares of
another Scudder Fund, may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the
shareholder and are also subject to these reporting requirements.
An individual may make a deductible IRA contribution of up to $2,000
or, if less, the amount of the individual's earned income for any taxable year
only if (i) neither the individual nor his or her spouse (unless filing separate
returns) is an active participant in an employer's retirement plan, or (ii) the
individual (and his or her spouse, if applicable) has an adjusted gross income
below a certain level ($40,050 for married individuals filing a joint return,
with a phase-out of the deduction for adjusted gross income between $40,050 and
$50,000; $25,050 for a single individual, with a phase-out for adjusted gross
income between $25,050 and $35,000). However, an individual not permitted to
make a deductible contribution to an IRA for any such taxable year may
nonetheless make nondeductible contributions up to $2,000 to an IRA (up to
$2,000 per individual for married couples if only one spouse has earned income)
for that year. There are special rules for determining how withdrawals are to be
taxed if an IRA contains both deductible and nondeductible amounts. In general,
a proportionate amount of each withdrawal will be deemed to be made from
nondeductible contributions; amounts treated as a return of nondeductible
contributions will not be taxable. Also, annual contributions may be made to a
spousal IRA even if the spouse has earnings in a given year if the spouse elects
to be treated as having no earnings (for IRA contribution purposes) for the
year.
Distributions by the Fund result in a reduction in the net asset value
of the Fund's shares. Should a distribution reduce the net asset value below a
shareholder's cost basis, such distribution would nevertheless be taxable to the
shareholder as ordinary income or capital gain as described above, even though,
from an investment standpoint, it may constitute a partial return of capital. In
particular, investors should consider the tax implications of buying shares just
prior to a distribution. The price of shares purchased at that time includes the
amount of the forthcoming
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distribution. Those purchasing just prior to a distribution will then receive a
partial return of capital upon the distribution, which will nevertheless be
taxable to them.
The Fund intends to qualify for and may make the election permitted
under Section 853 of the Code so that shareholders may (subject to limitations)
be able to claim a credit or deduction on their federal income tax returns for,
and will be required to treat as part of the amounts distributed to them, their
pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries (which
taxes relate primarily to investment income). The Fund may make an election
under Section 853 of the Code, provided that more than 50% of the value of the
total assets of the Fund at the close of the taxable year consists of securities
in foreign corporations. The foreign tax credit available to shareholders is
subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, except in the case of
certain electing individual taxpayers who have limited creditable foreign taxes
and no foreign source income other than passive investment-type income.
Furthermore, the foreign tax credit is eliminated with respect to foreign taxes
withheld on dividends if the dividend-paying shares or the shares of the Fund
are held by the Fund or the shareholder, as the case may be, for less than 16
days (46 days in the case of preferred shares) during the 30-day period (90-day
period for preferred shares) beginning 15 days (45 days for preferred shares)
before the shares become ex-dividend.
If the Fund does not make the election permitted under section 853 any
foreign taxes paid or accrued will represent an expense to the Fund which will
reduce its investment company taxable income. Absent this election, shareholders
will not be able to claim either a credit or a deduction for their pro rata
portion of such taxes paid by the Fund, nor will shareholders be required to
treat as part of the amounts distributed to them their pro rata portion of such
taxes paid.
Equity options (including covered call options written on portfolio
stock) and over-the-counter options on debt securities written or purchased by
the Fund will be subject to tax under Section 1234 of the Code. In general, no
loss will be recognized by the Fund upon payment of a premium in connection with
the purchase of a put or call option. The character of any gain or loss
recognized (i.e. long-term or short-term) will generally depend, in the case of
a lapse or sale of the option, on the Fund's holding period for the option, and
in the case of the exercise of a put option, on the Fund's holding period for
the underlying property. The purchase of a put option may constitute a short
sale for federal income tax purposes, causing an adjustment in the holding
period of any stock in the Fund's portfolio similar to the stocks on which the
index is based. If the Fund writes an option, no gain is recognized upon its
receipt of a premium. If the option lapses or is closed out, any gain or loss is
treated as short-term capital gain or loss. If a call option is exercised, the
character of the gain or loss depends on the holding period of the underlying
stock.
Positions of the Fund which consist of at least one stock and at least
one stock option or other position with respect to a related security which
substantially diminishes the Fund's risk of loss with respect to such stock
could be treated as a "straddle" which is governed by Section 1092 of the Code,
the operation of which may cause deferral of losses, adjustments in the holding
periods of stocks or securities and conversion of short-term capital losses into
long-term capital losses. An exception to these straddle rules exists for
certain "qualified covered call options" on stock written by the Fund.
Many futures and forward contracts entered into by the Fund and listed
nonequity options written or purchased by the Fund (including options on debt
securities, options on futures contracts, options on securities indices and
options on currencies), will be governed by Section 1256 of the Code. Absent a
tax election to the contrary, gain or loss attributable to the lapse, exercise
or closing out of any such position generally will be treated as 60% long-term
and 40% short-term, and on the last trading day of the Fund's fiscal year, all
outstanding Section 1256 positions will be marked to market (i.e., treated as if
such positions were closed out at their closing price on such day), with any
resulting gain or loss recognized as 60% long-term and 40% short-term. Under
Section 988 of the Code, discussed below, foreign currency gain or loss from
foreign currency-related forward contracts, certain futures and options and
similar financial instruments entered into or acquired by the Fund will be
treated as ordinary income or loss.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Fund may recognize gain (but
not loss) from a constructive sale of certain "appreciated financial positions"
if the Fund enters into a short sale, offsetting notional principal contract,
futures or forward contract transaction with respect to the appreciated position
or substantially identical property. Appreciated financial positions subject to
this constructive sale treatment are interests (including options, futures and
forward contracts and short sales) in stock, partnership interests, certain
actively traded trust instruments and certain debt instruments. Constructive
sale treatment of appreciated financial positions does not apply to certain
transactions
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closed in the 90-day period ending with the 30th day after the close of the
Fund's taxable year, if certain conditions are met.
Similarly, if the Fund enters into a short sale of property that
becomes substantially worthless, the Fund will recognize gain at that time as
though it had closed the short sale. Future regulations regulatories may apply
similar treatment to other transactions with respect to property that becomes
substantially worthless.
Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in
exchange rates which occur between the time the Fund accrues receivables or
liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually
collects such receivables or pays such liabilities generally are treated as
ordinary income or ordinary loss. Similarly, on disposition of debt securities
denominated in a foreign currency and on disposition of certain options, futures
and forward contracts, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in the value
of foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the security or contract
and the date of disposition are also treated as ordinary gain or loss. These
gains or losses, referred to under the Code as "Section 988" gains or losses,
may increase or decrease the amount of the Fund's investment company taxable
income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income.
If the Fund invests in stock of certain foreign investment companies,
the Fund may be subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a portion of any
"excess distribution" with respect to, or gain from the disposition of, such
stock. The tax would be determined by allocating such distribution or gain
ratably to each day of the Fund's holding period for the stock. The distribution
or gain so allocated to any taxable year of the Fund, other than the taxable
year of the excess distribution or disposition, would be taxed to the Fund at
the highest ordinary income rate in effect for such year, and the tax would be
further increased by an interest charge to reflect the value of the tax deferral
deemed to have resulted from the ownership of the foreign company's stock. Any
amount of distribution or gain allocated to the taxable year of the distribution
or disposition would be included in the Fund's investment company taxable income
and, accordingly, would not be taxable to the Fund to the extent distributed by
the Fund as a dividend to its shareholders.
The Fund may make an election to mark to market its shares of these
foreign investment companies in lieu of being subject to U.S. federal income
taxation. At the end of each taxable year to which the election applies, the
Fund would report as ordinary income the amount by which the fair market value
of the foreign company's stock exceeds the Fund's adjusted basis in these
shares; any mark-to-market losses and any loss from an actual disposition of
shares would be reported as ordinary loss to the extent of any net
mark-to-market gains included in income in prior years. The effect of the
election would be to treat excess distributions and gain on dispositions as
ordinary income which is not subject to a fund level tax when distributed to
shareholders as a dividend. Alternatively, the Fund may elect to include as
income and gain its share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of
certain foreign investment companies in lieu of being taxed in the manner
described above.
If the Fund invests in certain high yield original issue discount
obligations issued by corporations, a portion of the original issue discount
accruing on the obligation may be eligible for the deduction for dividends
received by corporations. In such event, dividends of investment company taxable
income received from the Fund by its corporate shareholders, to the extent
attributable to such portion of accrued original issue discount, may be eligible
for this deduction for dividends received by corporations if so designated by
the Fund in a written notice to shareholders.
The Fund will be required to report to the IRS all distributions of
investment company taxable income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds
from the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, except in the case of certain
exempt shareholders. Under the backup withholding provisions of Section 3406 of
the Code, distributions of investment company taxable income and capital gains
and proceeds from the redemption or exchange of the shares of a regulated
investment company may be subject to withholding of federal income tax at the
rate of 31% in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the
investment company with their taxpayer identification numbers and with required
certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law.
Withholding may also be required if a Fund is notified by the IRS or a broker
that the taxpayer identification number furnished by the shareholder is
incorrect or that the shareholder has previously failed to report interest or
dividend income. If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such
distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional
shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.
Shareholders of the Fund may be subject to state and local taxes on
distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of the Fund's shares.
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The foregoing discussion of U.S. federal income tax law relates solely
to the application of that law to U.S. persons, i.e., U.S. citizens and
residents and U.S. corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates. Each
shareholder who is not a U.S. person should consider the U.S. and foreign tax
consequences of ownership of shares of the Fund, including the possibility that
such a shareholder may be subject to a U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or
at a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty) on amounts constituting
ordinary income received by him or her, where such amounts are treated as income
from U.S. sources under the Code.
Shareholders should consult their tax advisers about the application of
the provisions of tax law described in this statement of additional information
in light of their particular tax situations.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
Brokerage Commissions
Allocation of brokerage is supervised by the Adviser.
The primary objective of the Adviser in placing orders for the purchase
and sale of securities for a Fund is to obtain the most favorable net results,
taking into account such factors as price, commission where applicable, size of
order, difficulty of execution and skill required of the executing
broker/dealer. The Adviser seeks to evaluate the overall reasonableness of
brokerage commissions paid (to the extent applicable) through the familiarity of
the Distributor with commissions charged on comparable transactions, as well as
by comparing commissions paid by the Fund to reported commissions paid by
others. The Adviser reviews on a routine basis commission rates, execution and
settlement services performed, making internal and external comparisons.
The Fund's purchases and sales of fixed-income securities are generally
placed by the Adviser with primary market makers for these securities on a net
basis, without any brokerage commission being paid by the Fund. Trading does,
however, involve transaction costs. Transactions with dealers serving as primary
market makers reflect the spread between the bid and asked prices. Purchases of
underwritten issues may be made, which will include an underwriting fee paid to
the underwriter.
When it can be done consistently with the policy of obtaining the most
favorable net results, it is the Adviser's practice to place such orders with
broker/dealers who supply research, market and statistical information to the
Fund. The term "research, market and statistical information" includes advice as
to the value of securities; the advisability of investing in, purchasing or
selling securities; the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of
securities; and analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities,
economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts.
The Adviser is authorized when placing portfolio transactions for the Fund to
pay a brokerage commission in excess of that which another broker might charge
for executing the same transaction on account of execution services and the
receipt of research, market or statistical information. The Adviser will not
place orders with broker/dealers on the basis that the broker/dealer has or has
not sold shares of the Fund. In effecting transactions in over-the-counter
securities, orders are placed with the principal market makers for the security
being traded unless, after exercising care, it appears that more favorable
results are available elsewhere.
To the maximum extent feasible, it is expected that the Adviser will
place orders for portfolio transactions through the Distributor, which is a
corporation registered as a broker-dealer and a subsidiary of the Adviser; the
Distributor will place orders on behalf of the Fund with issuers, underwriters
or other brokers and dealers. The Distributor will not receive any commission,
fee or other remuneration from the Fund for this service.
Although certain research, market and statistical information from
broker/dealers may be useful to the Fund and to the Adviser, it is the opinion
of the Adviser that such information only supplements the Adviser's own research
effort since the information must still be analyzed, weighed, and reviewed by
the Adviser's staff. Such information may be useful to the Adviser in providing
services to clients other than the Fund, and not all such information is used by
the Adviser in connection with the Fund. Conversely, such information provided
to the Adviser by broker/dealers through whom other clients of the Adviser
effect securities transactions may be useful to the Adviser in providing
services to the Fund.
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The Directors review from time to time whether the recapture for the
benefit of the Fund of some portion of the brokerage commissions or similar fees
paid by the Fund on portfolio transactions is legally permissible and advisable.
In the fiscal years ended March 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, the Fund paid
brokerage commissions of $5,275,727, $7,301,706 and $5,463,019, respectively.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997, $4,915,740 (93%) of the total
brokerage commissions paid by the Fund resulted from orders for transactions,
placed consistently with the policy of seeking to obtain the most favorable net
results, with brokers and dealers who provided supplementary research, market
and statistical information to the Fund or the Adviser. The amount of such
transactions aggregated $1,688,398,843 (92% of all brokerage transactions). The
balance of such brokerage was not allocated to particular broker or dealer with
regard to the above-mentioned or other special factors.
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund's average annual portfolio turnover rate is the ratio of the
lesser of sales or purchases to the monthly average value of the portfolio
securities owned during the year, excluding all securities with maturities or
expiration dates at the time of acquisition of one year or less. The Fund's
portfolio turnover rates for the fiscal years ended March 31, 1997 and 1996 were
35.8% and 45.2%, respectively. Purchases and sales are made for the Fund's
portfolio whenever necessary, in management's opinion, to meet the Fund's
objective.
NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value of Shares of the Fund is computed as of the close
of regular trading on the Exchange on each day the Exchange is open for trading.
The Exchange is scheduled to be closed on the following holidays: New Year's
Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Net asset value per
Share is determined by dividing the value of the total assets of the Fund
attributable to the Shares, less all liabilities attributable to the Shares, by
the total number of shares outstanding.
An exchange-traded equity security is valued at its most recent sale
price. Lacking any sales, the security is valued at the calculated mean between
the most recent bid quotation and the most recent asked quotation (the
"Calculated Mean"). Lacking a Calculated Mean, the security is valued at the
most recent bid quotation. An equity security which is traded on the Nasdaq
Stock Market ("Nasdaq") is valued at its most recent sale price. Lacking any
sales, the security is valued at the most recent bid quotation. The value of an
equity security not quoted on the Nasdaq System, but traded in another
over-the-counter market, is its most recent sale price. Lacking any sales, the
security is valued at the Calculated Mean. Lacking a Calculated Mean, the
security is valued at the most recent bid quotation.
Debt securities, other than short-term securities, are valued at prices
supplied by the Fund's pricing agent(s) which reflect broker/dealer supplied
valuations and electronic data processing techniques. Short-term securities
purchased with remaining maturities of sixty days or less shall be valued by the
amortized cost method, which the Board believes approximates market value. If it
is not possible to value a particular debt security pursuant to these valuation
methods, the value of such security is the most recent bid quotation supplied by
a bona fide marketmaker. If it is not possible to value a particular debt
security pursuant to the above methods, the Adviser may calculate the price of
that debt security, subject to limitations established by the Board.
An exchange traded options contract on securities, currencies, futures
and other financial instruments is valued at its most recent sale price on such
exchange. Lacking any sales, the options contract is valued at the Calculated
Mean. Lacking any Calculated Mean, the options contract is valued at the most
recent bid quotation in the case of a purchased options contract, or the most
recent asked quotation in the case of a written options contract. An options
contract on securities, currencies and other financial instruments traded
over-the-counter is valued at the most recent bid quotation in the case of a
purchased options contract and at the most recent asked quotation in the case of
a written options contract. Futures contracts are valued at the most recent
settlement price. Foreign currency exchange forward contracts are valued at the
value of the underlying currency at the prevailing exchange rate.
If a security is traded on more than one exchange, or upon one or more
exchanges and in the over-the-counter market, quotations are taken from the
market in which the security is traded most extensively.
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If, in the opinion of the Fund's Valuation Committee, the value of a
portfolio asset as determined in accordance with these procedures does not
represent the fair market value of the portfolio asset, the value of the
portfolio asset is taken to be an amount which, in the opinion of the Valuation
Committee, represents fair market value on the basis of all available
information. The value of other portfolio holdings owned by the Fund is
determined in a manner which, in the discretion of the Valuation Committee most
fairly reflects fair market value of the property on the valuation date.
Following the valuations of securities or other portfolio assets in
terms of the currency in which the market quotation used is expressed ("Local
Currency"), the value of these portfolio assets in terms of U.S. dollars is
calculated by converting the Local Currency into U.S. dollars at the prevailing
currency exchange rate on the valuation date.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Experts
The Financial Highlights of the Fund, which reflects information for
the Fund prior to the creation of multiple classes for the Fund, and therefore,
prior to the creation of the Shares as a class of the Fund, included in the
prospectus and the Financial Statements incorporated by reference in this
Statement of Additional Information have been so included or incorporated by
reference in reliance on the report of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., One Post Office
Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, independent accountants, and given on the
authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
Other Information
Many of the investment changes in the Fund will be made at prices
different from those prevailing at the time they may be reflected in a regular
report to shareholders of the Fund. These transactions will reflect investment
decisions made by the Adviser in the light of its other portfolio holdings and
tax considerations and should not be construed as recommendations for similar
action by other investors.
The CUSIP number of the Shares is 811165703.
The Fund has a fiscal year end of March 31.
The Fund employs Brown Brothers Harriman and Company, 40 Water Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02109 as Custodian for the Fund.
The law firm of Dechert Price & Rhoads is counsel to the Fund.
Information below is provided at the Fund level which consisted of only
one class of shares, the International Shares, on March 31, 1997.
Scudder Service Corporation ("Service Corporation"), P.O. Box 2291,
Boston, Massachusetts, 02107-2291, a subsidiary of the Adviser, is the transfer
and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund. Service Corporation also serves as
shareholder service agent and provides subaccounting and recordkeeping services
for shareholder accounts in certain retirement and employee benefit plans. The
Fund pays Service Corporation an annual fee of $26.00 for each retail account
and $29.00 for each retirement account. Included in services to shareholders was
$3,050,321 charged to the Fund by Scudder Service Corporation during the fiscal
year ended March 31, 1997, of which $296,627 was unpaid at March 31, 1997.
Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation, Two International Place, Boston,
Massachusetts, 02110-4103, a subsidiary of the Adviser, computes net asset value
for the Fund. The Fund pays Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation an annual fee
equal to 0.065% of the first $150 million of average daily net assets, 0.040% of
such assets in excess of $150 million, 0.020% of such assets in excess of $1
billion, plus holding and transaction charges for this service. For the year
ended March 31, 1997, Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation's fee aggregated
$795,122, of which $65,991 was unpaid at March 31, 1997.
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The Fund, or the Adviser (including any affiliate of the Adviser), or
both, may pay unaffiliated third parties for providing recordkeeping and other
administrative services with respect to accounts of participants in retirement
plans or other beneficial owners of Fund shares whose interests are held in an
omnibus account.
Scudder Trust Company, an affiliate of the Adviser, provides
subaccounting and recordkeeping services for shareholder accounts in certain
retirement and employee benefit plans. Annual service fees are paid by the Fund
to Scudder Trust Company, Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts
02110-4103, an affiliate of the Adviser, for such accounts. The Fund pays
Scudder Trust Company an annual fee of $17.55 per shareholder account. The Fund
incurred fees of $930,582, $520,034 and $351,249 during the fiscal years ended
March 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively, of which $111,209 was unpaid at
March 31, 1997 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997.
The Share's prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information
omit certain information contained in the Registration Statement which the Fund
has filed with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and reference is
hereby made to the Registration Statement for further information with respect
to the Fund and the securities offered hereby. This Registration Statement and
its amendments are available for inspection by the public at the Commission in
Washington, D.C.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The financial statements, including the investment portfolio of the
Fund, together with the Report of Independent Accountants, Financial Highlights
and notes to financial statements in the Annual Report to the Shareholders of
the Fund dated March 31, 1997 are incorporated herein by reference and are
hereby deemed to be a part of this Statement of Additional Information by
reference in its entirety. The financial statements incorporated herein reflect
the investment performance of the Fund prior to the addition of the Barrett
International Shares class of shares of the Fund.
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APPENDIX
The following is a description of the ratings given by Moody's and S&P
to corporate bonds.
Ratings of Corporate Bonds
S&P: Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to
pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong. Debt rated AA has a very
strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the highest
rated issues only in small degree. Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay
interest and repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the
adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in
higher rated categories. Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate
capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits
adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing
circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and
repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories.
Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C is regarded as having predominantly
speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay
principal. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest. While
such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these
are outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other
speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to
adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to
inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB
rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is
assigned an actual or implied BBB- rating. Debt rated B has a greater
vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet interest
payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic
conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay
principal. The B rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior
debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB- rating.
Debt rated CCC has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default,
and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to
meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of
adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to have
the capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC rating category is
also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or
implied B or B- rating. The rating CC typically is applied to debt subordinated
to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied CCC rating. The rating C
typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an
actual or implied CCC- debt rating. The C rating may be used to cover a
situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments
are continued. The rating C1 is reserved for income bonds on which no interest
is being paid. Debt rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used
when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due even
if the applicable grace period had not expired, unless S&P believes that such
payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used
upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are
jeopardized.
Moody's: Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best
quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally
referred to as "gilt edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are
most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues. Bonds
which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together
with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds.
They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not
be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of
greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long
term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities. Bonds which are rated
A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper
medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are
considered adequate but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility
to impairment sometime in the future.
37
<PAGE>
Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations,
i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments
and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective
elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great
length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in
fact have speculative characteristics as well. Bonds which are rated Ba are
judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well
assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very
moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over
the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class. Bonds
which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment.
Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of
the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in
default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or
interest. Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative
in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked
shortcomings. Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and
issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever
attaining any real investment standing.
<PAGE>
PART C. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits
- -------- ---------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
<CAPTION>
a. Financial Statements
Included in Part A of this Registration Statement:
For Scudder International Fund:
Financial highlights for the ten fiscal years ended March 31, 1998
To be filed by amendment
For Scudder Latin America Fund:
Financial highlights for the period December 8, 1992 (commencement of
operations) to October 31, 1993 and for the four fiscal years ended October
31, 1997
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the
Registration Statement.)
For Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund:
Financial highlights for the period December 8, 1992 (commencement of
operations) to October 31, 1993 and for the four fiscal years ended October
31, 1997
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the
Registration Statement.)
For Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund:
Financial highlights for the period October 10, 1994 (commencement of
operations) to October 31, 1994 and for the three fiscal years ended October
31, 1997
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the
Registration Statement.)
For Scudder Emerging Markets Growth Fund:
Financial highlights for the period May 8, 1996 (commencement of operations)
to October 31, 1996 and for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the
Registration Statement.)
For Scudder International Growth and Income Fund:
Financial highlights for the period June 30, 1997 (commencement of operations)
to August 31, 1997
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 57 to the
Registration Statement.)
For Scudder International Growth Fund:
Financial highlights to be filed by amendment
For Scudder International Value Fund:
Financial highlights to be filed by amendment
Included in Part B of this Registration Statement:
For Scudder International Fund:
Investment Portfolio as of March 31, 1998
Part C - Page 1
<PAGE>
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of March 31, 1998
Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998
Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the two fiscal years ended
March 31, 1998
Financial Highlights for the ten fiscal years ended March 31, 1998
Notes to Financial Statements
Report of Independent Accountants
To be filed by amendment
For Scudder Latin America Fund:
Investment Portfolio as of October 31, 1997
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of October 31, 1997
Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997
Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the two fiscal years ended October 31,
1997
Financial Highlights for the period December 8, 1992 (commencement of
operations) to October 31, 1993 and for the four fiscal years ended October
31, 1997
Notes to Financial Statements
Report of Independent Accountants
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the
Registration Statement.)
For Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund:
Investment Portfolio as of October 31, 1997
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of October 31, 1997
Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997
Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the two fiscal years ended October 31,
1997
Financial Highlights for the period December 8, 1992 (commencement of
operations) to October 31, 1993 and for the four fiscal years ended October
31, 1997
Notes to Financial Statements
Report of Independent Accountants
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the
Registration Statement.)
For Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund:
Investment Portfolio as of October 31, 1997
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of October 31, 1997
Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997
Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the two fiscal years ended October 31,
1997
Financial Highlights for the period October 10, 1994 (commencement of
operations) to October 31, 1994 and for the three fiscal years ended October
31, 1997
Notes to Financial Statements
Report of Independent Accountants
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the
Registration Statement.)
Part C - Page 2
<PAGE>
For Scudder Emerging Markets Growth Fund:
Investment Portfolio as of October 31, 1997
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of October 31, 1997
Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997
Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the period May 8, 1996 (commencement of
operations) to October 31, 1996 and the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997
Financial Highlights for the period May 8, 1996 (commencement of operations)
to October 31, 1996 and the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997
Notes to Financial Statements
Report of Independent Accountants
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the
Registration Statement.)
For Scudder International Growth and Income Fund:
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of May 23, 1997 and related notes
Investment Portfolio as of August 31, 1997
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of August 31, 1997
Statement of Operations for the period ended August 31, 1997
Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the period ended August 31, 1997
Financial Highlights for the period June 30, 1997 (commencement of operations)
to August 31, 1997
Notes to Financial Statements
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to the
Registration Statement.)
For Scudder International Growth Fund:
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of _________ and related notes to be
filed by amendment
For Scudder International Value Fund:
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of _________ and related notes to be
filed by amendment
b. Exhibits:
1. (a) Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Registrant as of
January 24, 1991.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(b) Articles Supplementary dated September 17, 1992.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(c) Articles Supplementary dated December 1, 1992.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(d) Articles Supplementary dated August 3, 1994.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
Part C - Page 3
<PAGE>
(e) Articles Supplementary dated February 20, 1996.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1(e) to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 46 to the Registration Statement.)
(f) Articles Supplementary dated September 5, 1996.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1(f) to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 52 to the Registration Statement.)
(g) Articles Supplementary dated December 12, 1996.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to
the Registration Statement.)
(h) Articles Supplementary dated March 3, 1997.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to
the Registration Statement.)
(i) Form of Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation to add new series dated _______ to be filed by
amendment.
2. (a) Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant dated March 4, 1991.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(b) Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant dated September 20,
1991.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(c) Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant dated December 12,
1991.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(d) Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant dated September 4,
1996.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to
the Registration Statement.)
(e) Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant dated December 3,
1997. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No.
59 to the Registration Statement.)
3. Inapplicable.
4. Specimen certificate representing shares of Common Stock ($.01 par
value) for Scudder International Fund.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 31 to the Registration Statement.)
5. (a) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf
of Scudder International Fund, and Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc.
dated December 14, 1990.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
Part C - Page 4
<PAGE>
(b) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf
of Scudder Latin America Fund, and Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc.
dated December 7, 1992.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(c) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf
of Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund, and Scudder, Stevens &
Clark, Inc. dated December 7, 1992.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(d) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf
of Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund, and Scudder, Stevens &
Clark, Inc. dated October 10, 1994.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 44 to
the Registration Statement.)
(e) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant on behalf
of Scudder International Fund, and Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc.
dated September 8, 1994.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to
the Registration Statement.)
(f) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant on behalf
of Scudder Emerging Markets Growth Fund and Scudder, Stevens &
Clark, Inc. dated May 8, 1996.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to
the Registration Statement.)
(g) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf
of Scudder International Growth and Income Fund, and Scudder,
Stevens & Clark, Inc. dated June 10, 1997.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(h) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf
of Scudder International Fund, and Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc.
dated September 5, 1996.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to
the Registration Statement.)
(i) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf
of Scudder Latin America Fund, and Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc.,
dated September 11, 1997. (Incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 to the Registration Statement.)
(j) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf
of Scudder International Fund, and Scudder Kemper Investments,
Inc. dated December 31, 1997. (Incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the Registration Statement.)
Part C - Page 5
<PAGE>
(k) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf
of Scudder Emerging Markets Growth Fund, and Scudder Kemper
Investments, Inc., dated December 31, 1997. (Incorporated by
reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the Registration
Statement.)
(l) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf
of Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund, and Scudder Kemper
Investments, Inc., dated December 31, 1997. (Incorporated by
reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the Registration
Statement.)
(m) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf
of Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund, and Scudder Kemper
Investments, Inc., dated December 31, 1997. (Incorporated by
reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the Registration
Statement.)
(n) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf
of Scudder Latin America Fund, and Scudder Kemper Investments,
Inc., dated December 31, 1997. (Incorporated by reference to
Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the Registration Statement.)
(o) Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf
of Scudder International Growth and Income Fund, and Scudder
Kemper Investments, Inc. dated December 31, 1997. (Incorporated by
reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the Registration
Statement.)
(p) Form of Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on
behalf of Scudder International Growth Fund, and Scudder Kemper
Investments, Inc. to be filed by amendment.
(q) Form of Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant, on
behalf of Scudder International Value Fund, and Scudder Kemper
Investments, Inc. to be filed by amendment.
6. (a) Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant and Scudder Investor
Services, Inc., formerly Scudder Fund Distributors, Inc., dated
July 15, 1985.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(b) Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant and Scudder Investor
Services, Inc. dated September 17, 1992.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
7. Inapplicable.
8. (a)(1) Custodian Contract between the Registrant and Brown Brothers
Harriman & Co. dated April 14, 1986.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
Part C - Page 6
<PAGE>
(a)(2) Custodian Contract between the Registrant, on behalf of Scudder
Latin America Fund, and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. dated
November 25, 1992.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(a)(3) Custodian Contract between the Registrant, on behalf of Scudder
Pacific Opportunities Fund, and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
dated November 25, 1992.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(a)(4) Custodian Contract between the Registrant, on behalf of Scudder
Greater Europe Growth Fund, and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.
dated October 10, 1994.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 44 to
the Registration Statement.)
(a)(5) Fee schedule for Exhibit 8(a)(1).
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(a)(6) Revised fee schedule for Exhibit 8(a)(1).
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to
the Registration Statement.)
(a)(7) Custodian Contract between the Registrant and Brown Brothers
Harriman & Co. dated March 7, 1995.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to
the Registration Statement.)
(a)(8) Fee schedule for Exhibit 8(a)(7).
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to
the Registration Statement.)
(b)(1) Master Subcustodian Agreement between Brown Brothers Harriman &
Co. and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Tokyo office,
dated November 8, 1976.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(b)(2) Fee schedule for Exhibit 8(b)(1).
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(c)(1) Master Subcustodian Agreement between Brown Brothers Harriman &
Co. and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels
office, dated November 15, 1976.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(c)(2) Fee schedule for Exhibit 8(c)(l).
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
Part C - Page 7
<PAGE>
(d)(1) Subcustodian Agreement between Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. and
The Bank of New York, London office, dated January 30, 1979.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(d)(2) Fee schedule for Exhibit 8(d)(1).
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(e)(1) Master Subcustodian Agreement between Brown Brothers Harriman &
Co. and The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., Singapore office, dated
June 9, 1980.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(e)(2) Fee schedule for Exhibit 8(e)(1).
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.).
(f)(1) Master Subcustodian Agreement between Brown Brothers Harriman &
Co. and The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., Hong Kong office, dated
June 4, 1979.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(f)(2) Fee schedule for Exhibit 8(f)(1).
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(g)(1) Master Subcustodian Agreement between Brown Brothers Harriman &
Co. and Citibank, N.A. New York office, dated July 16, 1981.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(g)(2) Fee schedule for Exhibit 8(g)(1).
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
9. (a)(1) Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Registrant and
Scudder Service Corporation dated October 2, 1989.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(a)(2) Fee schedule for Exhibit 9(a)(1).
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(a)(3) Service Agreement between Copeland Associates, Inc. and Scudder
Service Corporation dated June 8, 1995.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to
the Registration Statement.)
Part C - Page 8
<PAGE>
(b) Letter Agreement between the Registrant and Cazenove, Inc. dated
January 23, 1978, with respect to the pricing of securities.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(c)(1) COMPASS Service Agreement between the Registrant and Scudder Trust
Company dated January 1, 1990.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(c)(2) Fee schedule for Exhibit (9)(c)(1).
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(c)(3) COMPASS and TRAK 2000 Service Agreement between the Registrant and
Scudder Trust Company dated October 1, 1995.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9(c)(3) to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 47 to the Registration Statement.)
(d)(1) Shareholder Services Agreement between the Registrant and Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc. dated June 1, 1990.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(d)(2) Administrative Services Agreement between the Registrant and
McGladrey & Pullen, Inc. dated September 30, 1995.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9(d)(2) to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 47 to the Registration Statement.)
(e)(1) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant, on
behalf of Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund, and Scudder Fund
Accounting Corporation dated October 10, 1994.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 44 to
the Registration Statement.)
(e)(2) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant, on
behalf of Scudder International Fund, and Scudder Fund Accounting
Corporation dated April 12, 1995 is filed herein.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to
the Registration Statement.)
(e)(3) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant, on
behalf of Scudder Latin America Fund, dated May 17, 1995.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9(e)(3) to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 47 to the Registration Statement.)
(e)(4) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant, on
behalf of Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund, dated May 5, 1995.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9(e)(4) to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 47 to the Registration Statement.)
(e)(5) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant, on
behalf of Scudder Emerging Markets Growth Fund dated May 8, 1996.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 9(e)(5) to Post-Effective
Amendment No. 49 to the Registration Statement.)
Part C - Page 9
<PAGE>
(e)(6) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant, on
behalf of Scudder International Growth and Income Fund dated June
3, 1997.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(e)(7) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant, on
behalf of Scudder International Growth Fund to be filed by
Amendment.
(e)(8) Fund Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant, on
behalf of Scudder International Value Fund to be filed by
Amendment.
10. Inapplicable.
11. Inapplicable.
12. Inapplicable.
13. Inapplicable.
14. (a) Scudder Flexi-Plan for Corporations and Self-Employed Individuals.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(b) Scudder Individual Retirement Plan.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(c) Scudder Funds 403(b) Plan.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(d) Scudder Employer - Select 403(b) Plan.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(e) Scudder Cash or Deferred Profit Sharing Plan under Section 401(k).
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
(f) Scudder Roth IRA Plan
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to
the Registration Statement.)
15. Inapplicable.
16. Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotations.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to
the Registration Statement.)
17. Inapplicable
Part C - Page 10
<PAGE>
18. Plan with respect to Scudder International Fund pursuant to
Rule 18f-3.
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 58 to
the Registration Statement.)
</TABLE>
Power of Attorney for Nicholas Bratt, Paul Bancroft III, Thomas
J. Devine, William H. Gleysteen, Jr., William H. Luers, Wilson
Nolen, Juris Padegs, Daniel Pierce, and Gordon Shillinglaw is
incorporated by reference to the signature page of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 35.
Power of Attorney for Keith R. Fox is incorporated by reference
to the Signature Page of Post-Effective Amendment No. 47.
Power of Attorney for Kathryn L. Quirk is incorporated by
reference to the signature page of Post-Effective Amendment No.
54.
Power of Attorney for David S. Lee is incorporated by reference
to the signature page of Post-Effective Amendment No. 56.
Power of Attorney for Sheryle J. Bolton and William T. Burgin is
incorporated by reference to the Signature Page of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 58.
Item 25. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant.
- -------- --------------------------------------------------------------
None
Item 26. Number of Holders of Securities (as of April 8, 1998).
- -------- ------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
<CAPTION>
(1) (2)
Title of Class Number of Shareholders
-------------- ----------------------
Capital Stock ($.01 par value per share)
Scudder International Fund:
International Shares 159,268
Barrett International Shares NA
Scudder Latin America Fund 67,208
Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund 23,143
Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund 21,052
Scudder Emerging Markets Growth Fund 16,267
Scudder International Growth and Income Fund 6,577
</TABLE>
Item 27. Indemnification.
- -------- ----------------
A policy of insurance covering Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc.,
its affiliates including Scudder Investor Services, Inc., and all
of the registered investment companies advised by Scudder,
Stevens & Clark, Inc. insures the Registrant's directors 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 Tenth of Registrant's Articles of Incorporation state as
follows:
TENTH: Liability and Indemnification
------------------------------------
To the fullest extent permitted by the Maryland General
Corporation Law and the Investment Company Act of 1940, no
director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the
Part C - Page 11
<PAGE>
Corporation or to its stockholders for damages. The limitation on
liability applies to events occurring at the time a person serves
as a director or officer of the Corporation, whether or not such
person is a director or officer at the time of any proceeding in
which liability is asserted. No amendment to these Articles of
Amendment and Restatement or repeal of any of its provisions
shall limit or eliminate the benefits provided to directors and
officers under this provision with respect to any act or omission
which occurred prior to such amendment or repeal.
The Corporation, including its successors and assigns, shall
indemnify its directors and officers and make advance payment of
related expenses to the fullest extent permitted, and in
accordance with the procedures required by Maryland law,
including Section 2-418 of the Maryland General Corporation law,
as may be amended from time to time, and the Investment Company
Act of 1940. The By-Laws may provide that the Corporation shall
indemnify its employees and/or agents in any manner and within
such limits as permitted by applicable law. Such indemnification
shall be in addition to any other right or claim to which any
director, officer, employee or agent may otherwise be entitled.
The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on
behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee
or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request
of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee,
employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or employee
benefit plan against any liability asserted against and incurred
by such person in any such capacity or arising out of such
person's position, whether or not the Corporation would have had
the power to indemnify against such liability.
The rights provided to any person by this Article shall be
enforceable against the Corporation by such person who shall be
presumed to have relied upon such rights in serving or continuing
to serve in the capacities indicated herein. No amendment of
these Articles of Amendment and Restatement shall impair the
rights of any person arising at any time with respect to events
occurring prior to such amendment.
Nothing in these Articles of Amendment and Restatement shall
be deemed to (i) require a waiver of compliance with any
provision of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or of any valid rule,
regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission
under those Acts or (ii) protect any director or officer of the
Corporation against any liability to the Corporation or its
stockholders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the
performance of his or her duties or by reason of his or her
reckless disregard of his or her obligations and duties
hereunder.
Article V of Registrant's Amended and Restated By-Laws
states as follows:
ARTICLE V
---------
INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE
-----------------------------
SECTION 1. Indemnification of Directors and Officers. Any person who was or
is a party or is threatened to be made a party in any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is a current or former
Director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving while a Director or
officer of the Corporation at the request of the Corporation as a Director,
officer, partner, trustee, employee, agent or fiduciary or another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or employee benefit plan, shall be
indemnified by the Corporation against judgments, penalties, fines, excise
taxes, settlements and reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding to
the fullest extent permissible under the Maryland General Corporation Law, the
Securities Act of 1933 and the 1940 Act, as such statutes are now or hereafter
in force, except that such indemnity shall not protect any such person against
any liability to the Corporation or any
Part C - Page 12
<PAGE>
stockholder thereof to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of his office ("disabling conduct").
SECTION 2. Advances. Any current or former Director or officer of the
Corporation claiming indemnification within the scope of this Article V shall be
entitled to advances from the Corporation for payment of the reasonable expenses
incurred by him in connection with proceedings to which he is a party in the
manner and to the fullest extent permissible under the Maryland General
Corporation Law, the Securities Act of 1933 and the 1940 Act, as such statutes
are now or hereafter in force; provided however, that the person seeking
indemnification shall provide to the Corporation a written affirmation of his
good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by
the Corporation has been met and a written undertaking by or on behalf of the
Director to repay any such advance if it is ultimately determined that he is not
entitled to indemnification, and provided further that at least one of the
following additional conditions is met: (1) the person seeking indemnification
shall provide a security in form and amount acceptable to the Corporation for
his undertaking; (2) the Corporation is insured against losses arising by reason
of the advance; or (3) a majority of a quorum of Directors of the Corporation
who are neither "interested persons" as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940
Act, as amended, nor parties to the proceeding ("disinterested non-party
Directors") or independent legal counsel, in a written opinion, shall determine,
based on a review of facts readily available to the Corporation at the time the
advance is proposed to be made, that there is reason to believe that the person
seeking indemnification will ultimately be found to be entitled to
indemnification.
SECTION 3. Procedure. At the request of any current or former Director or
officer, or any employee or agent whom the Corporation proposes to indemnify,
the Board of Directors shall determine, or cause to be determined, in a manner
consistent with the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Securities Act of 1933
and the 1940 Act, as such statutes are now or hereafter in force, whether the
standards required by this Article V have been met; provided, however, that
indemnification shall be made only following: (1) a final decision on the merits
by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that the person
to be indemnified was not liable by reason of disabling conduct or (2) in the
absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination, based upon a review of
the facts, that the person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of
disabling conduct, by (a) the vote of the majority of a quorum of disinterested
non-party Directors or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
SECTION 4. Indemnification of Employees and Agents. Employees and agents
who are not officers or Directors of the Corporation may be indemnified, and
reasonable expenses may be advanced to such employees or agents, in accordance
with the procedures set forth in this Article V to the extent permissible under
the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Securities Act of 1933 and the 1940
Act, as such statutes are now or hereafter in force, and to such further extent,
consistent with the foregoing, as may be provided by action of the Board of
Directors or by contract.
SECTION 5. Other Rights. The indemnification provided by this Article V
shall not be deemed exclusive of any other right, in respect of indemnification
or otherwise, to which those seeking such indemnification may be entitled under
any insurance or other agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested
Directors or otherwise, both as to action by a Director or officer of the
Corporation in his official capacity and as to action by such person in another
capacity while holding such office or position, and shall continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a Director or officer and shall inure to the benefit
of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
SECTION 6. Constituent, Resulting or Surviving Corporations. For the
purposes of this Article V, references to the "Corporation" shall include all
constituent corporations absorbed in a consolidation or merger as well as the
resulting or surviving corporation so that any person who is or was a Director,
officer, employee or agent of a constituent corporation or is or was serving at
the request of a constituent corporation as a Director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise shall stand in the same position under this Article V with respect to
the resulting or surviving corporation as he would if he had served the
resulting or surviving corporation in the same capacity.
Item 28. Business or Other Connections of Investment Adviser
- -------- ---------------------------------------------------
Part C - Page 13
<PAGE>
Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc. has stockholders and employees
who are denominated officers but do not as such have
corporation-wide responsibilities. Such persons are not
considered officers for the purpose of this Item 28.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
<CAPTION>
Business and Other Connections of Board
Name of Directors of Registrant's Adviser
---- ------------------------------------
Stephen R. Beckwith Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.**
Vice President and Treasurer, Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation*
Director, Scudder Stevens & Clark Corporation**
Director and Chairman, Scudder Defined Contribution Services, Inc.**
Director and President, Scudder Capital Asset Corporation**
Director and President, Scudder Capital Stock Corporation**
Director and President, Scudder Capital Planning Corporation**
Director and President, SS&C Investment Corporation**
Director and President, SIS Investment Corporation**
Director and President, SRV Investment Corporation**
Lynn S. Birdsong Director and Vice President, Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.**
Director, Scudder, Stevens & Clark (Luxembourg) S.A.#
Laurence W. Cheng Director, Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.**
Member, Corporate Executive Board, Zurich Insurance Company of Switzerland##
Director, ZKI Holding Corporation xx
Steven Gluckstern Director, Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.**
Member, Corporate Executive Board, Zurich Insurance Company of Switzerland##
Director, Zurich Holding Company of America o
Rolf Huppi Director, Chairman of the Board, Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.**
Member, Corporate Executive Board, Zurich Insurance Company of Switzerland##
Director, Chairman of the Board, Zurich Holding Company of America o
Director, ZKI Holding Corporation xx
Kathryn L. Quirk Director, Chief Legal Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary, Scudder Kemper
Investments, Inc.**
Director, Senior Vice President & Assistant Clerk, Scudder Investor Services, Inc.*
Director, Vice President & Secretary, Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation*
Director, Vice President & Secretary, Scudder Realty Holdings Corporation*
Director & Assistant Clerk, Scudder Service Corporation*
Director, SFA, Inc.*
Vice President, Director & Assistant Secretary, Scudder Precious Metals, Inc.***
Director, Scudder, Stevens & Clark Japan, Inc.***
Director, Vice President and Secretary, Scudder, Stevens & Clark of Canada, Ltd.***
Director, Vice President and Secretary, Scudder Canada Investor Services Limited***
Director, Vice President and Secretary, Scudder Realty Advisers, Inc. x
Director and Secretary, Scudder, Stevens & Clark Corporation**
Director and Secretary, Scudder, Stevens & Clark Overseas Corporation oo
Director and Secretary, SFA, Inc.*
Director, Vice President and Secretary, Scudder Defined Contribution Services, Inc.**
Director, Vice President and Secretary, Scudder Capital Asset Corporation**
Director, Vice President and Secretary, Scudder Capital Stock Corporation**
Director, Vice President and Secretary, Scudder Capital Planning Corporation**
Director, Vice President and Secretary, SS&C Investment Corporation**
Director, Vice President and Secretary, SIS Investment Corporation**
Part C - Page 14
<PAGE>
Director, Vice President and Secretary, SRV Investment Corporation**
Director, Vice President and Secretary, Scudder Brokerage Services, Inc.*
Director, Korea Bond Fund Management Co., Ltd.+
Markus Rohrbasser Director, Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.**
Member Corporate Executive Board, Zurich Insurance Company of Switzerland##
President, Director, Chairman of the Board, ZKI Holding Corporation xx
Cornelia M. Small Vice President, Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.**
Edmond D. Villani Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.**
Director, Scudder, Stevens & Clark Japan, Inc.###
President and Director, Scudder, Stevens & Clark Overseas Corporation oo
President and Director, Scudder, Stevens & Clark Corporation**
Director, Scudder Realty Advisors, Inc. x
Director, IBJ Global Investment Management S.A. Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
* Two International Place, Boston, MA
x 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA
** 345 Park Avenue, New York, NY
# Societe Anonyme, 47, Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg, R.C. Luxembourg B 34.564
*** Toronto, Ontario, Canada
xxx Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies
oo 20-5, Ichibancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
### 1-7, Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
xx 222 S. Riverside, Chicago, IL
o Zurich Towers, 1400 American Ln., Schaumburg, IL
+ P.O. Box 309, Upland House, S. Church St., Grand Cayman, British West Indies
## Mythenquai-2, P.O. Box CH-8022, Zurich, Switzerland
</TABLE>
Item 29. Principal Underwriters.
- -------- -----------------------
(a)
Scudder Investor Services, Inc. acts as principal underwriter of the
Registrant's shares and also acts as principal underwriter for other
funds managed by Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.
(b)
The Underwriter has employees who are denominated officers of an
operational area. Such persons do not have corporation-wide
responsibilities and are not considered officers for the purpose of
this Item 29.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
<CAPTION>
(1) (2) (3)
Name and Principal Position and Offices with Positions and
Business Address Scudder Investor Services, Inc. Offices with Registrant
---------------- ------------------------------- -----------------------
William S. Baughman Vice President None
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
Lynn S. Birdsong Senior Vice President None
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Part C - Page 15
<PAGE>
Name and Principal Position and Offices with Positions and
Business Address Scudder Investor Services, Inc. Offices with Registrant
---------------- ------------------------------- -----------------------
Mary Elizabeth Beams Vice President None
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
Mark S. Casady Director, President and Assistant None
Two International Place Treasurer
Boston, MA 02110
Linda Coughlin Director and Senior Vice President None
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
Richard W. Desmond Vice President Assistant Secretary
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Paul J. Elmlinger Senior Vice President and Assistant None
345 Park Avenue Clerk
New York, NY 10154
Philip S. Fortuna Vice President None
101 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
William F. Glavin Vice President None
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
Margaret D. Hadzima Assistant Treasurer None
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
Thomas W. Joseph Director, Vice President, Treasurer Vice President
Two International Place and Assistant Clerk
Boston, MA 02110
Thomas F. McDonough Clerk Vice President, Secretary
Two International Place and Treasurer
Boston, MA 02110
Daniel Pierce Director, Vice President Director
Two International Place and Assistant Treasurer
Boston, MA 02110
Kathryn L. Quirk Director, Senior Vice President and Director, Vice President
345 Park Avenue Assistant Clerk and Assistant Secretary
New York, NY 10154
Part C - Page 16
<PAGE>
Name and Principal Position and Offices with Positions and
Business Address Scudder Investor Services, Inc. Offices with Registrant
---------------- ------------------------------- -----------------------
Robert A. Rudell Vice President None
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
William M. Thomas Vice President None
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
Benjamin Thorndike Vice President None
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
Sydney S. Tucker Vice President None
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
Linda J. Wondrack Vice President None
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
</TABLE>
(c)
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
<CAPTION>
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Net Underwriting Compensation on
Name of Principal Discounts and Redemptions Brokerage Other
Underwriter Commissions and Repurchases Commissions Compensation
----------- ----------- --------------- ----------- ------------
Scudder Investor None None None None
Services, Inc.
</TABLE>
Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records.
- -------- ---------------------------------
Certain accounts, books and other documents required to be
maintained by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the Rules
promulgated thereunder are maintained by Scudder, Stevens &
Clark, Inc., 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154.
Records relating to the duties of the Registrant's custodian
are maintained by Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., 40 Water
Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Records relating to the
duties of the Registrant's transfer agent are maintained by
Scudder Service Corporation, Two International Place,
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-4103.
Item 31. Management Services.
- -------- --------------------
Inapplicable.
Item 32. Undertakings
- -------- ------------
Inapplicable
Part C - Page 17
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
----------
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of
the requirements for effectiveness of this amendment to its Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 485(a) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly
caused this amendment to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of Boston and the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts on May 12, 1998.
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
By /s/Thomas F. McDonough
-----------------------------------
Thomas F. McDonough,
Treasurer, Vice President and Secretary
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
amendment to its Registration Statement has been signed below by the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- --------- ----- ----
/s/Paul Bancroft, III
- --------------------------------------
Paul Bancroft, III* Director May 12, 1998
/s/Sheryle J. Bolton
- --------------------------------------
Sheryle J. Bolton* Director May 12, 1998
/s/William T. Burgin
- --------------------------------------
William T. Burgin* Director May 12, 1998
/s/Thomas J. Devine
- --------------------------------------
Thomas J. Devine* Director May 12, 1998
/s/Keith R. Fox
- --------------------------------------
Keith R. Fox* Director May 12, 1998
/s/William H. Gleysteen, Jr.
- --------------------------------------
William H. Gleysteen, Jr.* Director May 12, 1998
/s/William H. Luers
- --------------------------------------
William H. Luers* Director May 12, 1998
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- --------- ----- ----
/s/Wilson Nolen
- --------------------------------------
Wilson Nolen* Director May 12, 1998
/s/Daniel Pierce
- --------------------------------------
Daniel Pierce* Chairman of the Board and Director May 12, 1998
/s/Kathryn L. Quirk
- --------------------------------------
Kathryn L. Quirk* Director, Vice President and May 12, 1998
Assistant Secretary
</TABLE>
*By: /s/Thomas F. McDonough
--------------------------
Thomas F. McDonough,
Attorney-in-Fact pursuant to a power of attorney
contained in the signature page of Post-Effective
Amendment Nos. 35, 47, 49, 54, 56 and 58 to the
Registration Statement, filed October 8, 1992,
February 27, 1996, July 17, 1996, June 2, 1997, July
31, 1997 and December 4, 1997, respectively.
- 2
<PAGE>
File No. 2-14400
File No. 811-642
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
EXHIBITS
TO
FORM N-1A
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT No. 64
TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
AND
AMENDMENT NO. 44
TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
<PAGE>
SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
EXHIBIT INDEX
