FIDELITY CONNECTICUT MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
A FUND OF FIDELITY COURT STREET TRUST II
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
JANUARY 14, 1994
This Statement is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with
the fund's current Prospectus (dated January 14, 1994). Please retain this
document for future reference. The Annual Report for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 1993 is incorporated herein by reference. To obtain an
additional copy of the Prospectus or the Annual Report, please call
Fidelity Distributors Corporation at 1-800-544-8888.
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
Investment Policies and Limitations
Special Factors Affecting Connecticut
Special Factors Affecting Puerto Rico
Portfolio Transactions
Valuation of Portfolio Securities
Performance
Additional Purchase and Redemption Information
Distributions and Taxes
FMR
Trustees and Officers
Management Contract
Distribution and Service Plan
Interest of FMR Affiliates
Description of the Trust
Financial Statements
Appendix
INVESTMENT ADVISER
Fidelity Management & Research Company (FMR)
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER
FMR Texas Inc. (FMR Texas)
DISTRIBUTOR
Fidelity Distributors Corporation (FDC)
TRANSFER AGENTS
United Missouri Bank, N.A. (United Missouri) and Fidelity Service Co. (FSC)
CTM-ptB- 2 94
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS
The following policies and limitations supplement those set forth in the
Prospectus. Unless otherwise noted, whenever an investment policy or
limitation states a maximum percentage of the fund's assets that may be
invested in any security or other asset, or sets forth a policy regarding
quality standards, such standard or percentage limitation will be
determined immediately after and as a result of the fund's acquisition of
such security or other asset. Accordingly, any subsequent change in
values, net assets, or other circumstances will not be considered when
determining whether the investment complies with the fund's investment
policies and limitations.
The fund's fundamental investment policies and limitations cannot be
changed without approval by a "majority of the outstanding voting
securities" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the fund.
However, except for the fundamental investment limitations set forth below,
the investment policies and limitations described in this Statement of
Additional Information are not fundamental and may be changed without
shareholder approval. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT
LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN THEIR ENTIRETY. THE FUND MAY NOT:
(1) issue bonds or any other class of securities preferred over shares of
the fund in respect of the fund's assets or earnings, provided that
Fidelity Court Street Trust II may issue additional series of shares in
accordance with the Trust Instrument;
(2) sell securities short, unless it owns, or by virtue of ownership of
other securities has the right to obtain, securities equivalent in kind and
amount to the securities sold short;
(3) purchase securities on margin, except that the fund may obtain such
short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of transactions;
(4) borrow money, except that the fund may borrow money for temporary or
emergency purposes (not for leveraging or investment) in an amount not
exceeding 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets (less liabilities other
than borrowings). Any borrowings that come to exceed 33 1/3% of the value
of the fund's total assets by reason of a decline in total assets will be
reduced within three days (exclusive of Sundays and holidays) to the extent
necessary to comply with the 33 1/3% limitation;
(5) underwrite securities issued by others (except to the extent that the
fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933 in the disposition of restricted securities);
(6) purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies,
instrumentalities, territories or possessions, or issued or guaranteed by a
state government or political subdivision thereof) if, as a result, more
than 25% of the value of its total assets would be invested in securities
of companies having their principal business activities in the same
industry;
(7) purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership
of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the fund
from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or
securities of companies engaged in the real estate business);
(8) purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of
ownership of securities; or
(9) lend any security or make any other loan if, as a result, more than 33
1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, but this
limitation does not apply to purchases of debt securities or to repurchase
agreements.
(10) The fund may, notwithstanding any other fundamental investment policy
or limitation, invest all of its assets in the securities of a single
open-end management investment company with substantially the same
fundamental investment objectives, policies, and limitations as the fund.
THE FOLLOWING INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS ARE NOT FUNDAMENTAL AND MAY BE CHANGED
WITHOUT SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL.
(i) To meet federal tax requirements for qualification as a "regulated
investment company," the fund limits its investments so that at the close
of each quarter of its taxable year: (a) with regard to at least 50% of
total assets, no more than 5% of total assets are invested in the
securities of a single issuer, and (b) no more than 25% of total assets are
invested in the securities of a single issuer. Limitations (a) and (b) do
not apply to "Government securities" as defined for federal tax purposes.
(ii) The fund does not currently intend to sell securities short.
(iii) The fund may borrow money only (a) from a bank or from a registered
investment company or portfolio for which FMR or an affiliate serves as an
investment adviser or (b) by engaging in reverse repurchase agreements with
any party (reverse repurchase agreements are treated as borrowings for
purposes of fundamental investment limitation (4)). The fund will not
purchase any security while borrowings representing more than 5% of its
total assets are outstanding. The fund will not borrow from other funds
advised by FMR or its affiliates if total outstanding borrowings
immediately after such borrowing would exceed 15% of the fund's total
assets.
(iv) The fund does not currently intend to purchase any security if, as a
result, more than 10% of its net assets would be invested in securities
that are deemed to be illiquid because they are subject to contractual
restrictions on resale or because they cannot be sold or disposed of in the
ordinary course of business at approximately the prices at which they are
valued.
(v) The fund does not currently intend to invest more than 25% of its total
assets in industrial revenue bonds related to a single industry.
(vi) The fund does not currently intend to engage in repurchase agreements
or make loans, but this limitation does not apply to purchases of debt
securities.
(vii) The fund does not currently intend to (a) purchase securities of
other investment companies, except in the open market where no commission
except the ordinary broker's commission is paid, or (b) purchase or retain
securities issued by other open-end investment companies. Limitations (a)
and (b) do not apply to securities received as dividends, through offers of
exchange, or as a result of a reorganization, consolidation, or merger.
(viii) The fund does not currently intend to invest all of its assets in
the securities of a single open-end management investment company with
substantially the same fundamental investment objectives, policies, and
limitations as the fund.
For purposes of limitations (6) and (i), FMR identifies the issuer of a
security depending on its terms and conditions. In identifying the issuer,
FMR will consider the entity or entities responsible for payment of
interest and repayment of principal and the source of such payments; the
way in which assets and revenues of an issuing political subdivision are
separated from those of other political entities; and whether a
governmental body is guaranteeing the security.
AFFILIATED BANK TRANSACTIONS. Pursuant to exemptive orders issued by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the fund may engage in
transactions with banks that are, or may be considered to be, "affiliated
persons" of the fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Such
transactions may be entered into only pursuant to procedures established
and periodically reviewed by the Board of Trustees. These transactions may
include repurchase agreements with custodian banks; purchases, as
principal, of short-term obligations of, and repurchase agreements with,
the 50 largest U.S. banks (measured by deposits); transactions in municipal
securities; and transactions in U.S. government securities with affiliated
banks that are primary dealers in these securities.
QUALITY AND MATURITY. Pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of
Trustees, the fund may purchase only high-quality securities that FMR
believes present minimal credit risks. To be considered high-quality, a
security must be rated in accordance with applicable rules in one of the
two highest categories for short-term securities by at least two nationally
recognized rating services (or by one, if only one rating service has rated
the security); or, if unrated, judged to be of equivalent quality by
FMR .
T he fund must limit its investments to securities with remaining
maturities of 397 days or less and must maintain a dollar-weighted average
maturity of 90 days or less.
DELAYED-DELIVERY TRANSACTIONS. The fund may buy and sell securities on a
delayed-delivery or when-issued basis. These transactions involve a
commitment by the fund to purchase or sell specific securities at a
predetermined price or yield, with payment and delivery taking place after
the customary settlement period for that type of security (and more than
seven days in the future). Typically, no interest accrues to the purchaser
until the security is delivered.
When purchasing securities on a delayed-delivery basis, the fund assumes
the rights and risks of ownership, including the risk of price and yield
fluctuations. Because the fund is not required to pay for securities until
the delivery date, these risks are in addition to the risks associated with
the fund's other investments. If the fund remains substantially fully
invested at a time when delayed-delivery purchases are outstanding, the
delayed-delivery purchases may result in a form of leverage. When
delayed-delivery purchases are outstanding, the fund will set aside
appropriate liquid assets in a segregated custodial account to cover its
purchase obligations. When the fund has sold a security on a
delayed-delivery basis, the fund does not participate in further gains or
losses with respect to the security. If the other party to a
delayed-delivery transaction fails to deliver or pay for the securities,
the fund could miss a favorable price or yield opportunity, or could suffer
a loss.
The fund may renegotiate delayed-delivery transactions after they are
entered into, and may sell underlying securities before they are delivered,
which may result in capital gains or losses.
VARIABLE OR FLOATING RATE DEMAND OBLIGATIONS bear variable or floating
interest rates and carry rights that permit holders to demand payment of
the unpaid principal balance plus accrued interest from the issuers or
certain financial intermediaries. Floating rate securities have interest
rates that change whenever there is a change in a designated base rate
while variable rate instruments provide for a specified periodic adjustment
in the interest rate. These formulas are designed to result in a market
value for the instrument that approximates its par value.
A demand instrument with a conditional demand feature must have received
both a short-term and a long-term high-quality rating or, if unrated, have
been determined to be of comparable quality pursuant to procedures adopted
by the Board of Trustees. A demand instrument with an unconditional demand
feature may be acquired solely in reliance upon a short-term high-quality
rating or, if unrated, upon a finding of comparable short-term quality
pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.
The fund may invest in fixed-rate bonds that are subject to third party
puts and in participation interests in such bonds held in trust or
otherwise. These bonds and participation interests have tender options or
demand features that permit the fund to tender (or put) its bonds to an
institution at periodic intervals and to receive the principal amount
thereof. The fund considers variable rate instruments structured in this
way (Participating VRDOs) to be essentially equivalent to other VRDOs it
purchases. The IRS has not ruled whether the interest on Participating
VRDOs is tax-exempt and, accordingly, the fund intends to purchase these
instruments based on opinions of bond counsel.
The fund may invest in variable or floating rate instruments that
ultimately mature in more than 397 days, if the fund acquires a right to
sell the instruments that meets certain requirements set forth in Rule
2a-7. Variable rate instruments (including instruments subject to a demand
feature) that mature in 397 days or less may be deemed to have maturities
equal to the period remaining until the next readjustment of the interest
rate. Other variable rate instruments with demand features may be deemed to
have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the next adjustment of
the interest rate or the period remaining until the principal amount can be
recovered through demand. A floating rate instrument subject to a demand
feature may be deemed to have a maturity equal to the period remaining
until the principal amount can be recovered through demand.
TENDER OPTION BONDS are created by coupling an intermediate- or long-term,
fixed-rate, tax-exempt bond (generally held pursuant to a custodial
arrangement) with a tender agreement that gives the holder the option to
tender the bond at its face value. As consideration for providing the
tender option, the sponsor (usually a bank, broker-dealer, or other
financial institution) receives periodic fees equal to the difference
between the bond's fixed coupon rate and the rate (determined by a
remarketing or similar agent) that would cause the bond, coupled with the
tender option, to trade at par on the date of such determination. After
payment of the tender option fee, the fund effectively holds a demand
obligation that bears interest at the prevailing short-term tax-exempt
rate. Subject to applicable regulatory requirements, the fund may buy
tender option bonds if the agreement gives the fund the right to tender the
bond to its sponsor no less frequently than once every 397 days. In
selecting tender option bonds for the fund, FMR will consider the
creditworthiness of the issuer of the underlying bond, the custodian, and
the third party provider of the tender option. In certain instances, a
sponsor may terminate a tender option if, for example, the issuer of the
underlying bond defaults on interest payments.
ZERO COUPON BONDS do not make regular interest payments. Instead, they are
sold at a deep discount from their face value and are redeemed at face
value when they mature. Because zero coupon bonds do not pay current
income, their prices can be very volatile when interest rates change. In
calculating its daily dividend, the fund takes into account as income a
portion of the difference between a zero coupon bond's purchase price and
its face value.
STANDBY COMMITMENTS are puts that entitle holders to same-day settlement at
an exercise price equal to the amortized cost of the underlying security
plus accrued interest, if any, at the time of exercise. The fund may
acquire standby commitments to enhance the liquidity of portfolio
securities, but only when the issuers of the commitments present minimal
risk of default.
Ordinarily the fund will not transfer a standby commitment to a third
party, although it could sell the underlying municipal security to a third
party at any time. The fund may purchase standby commitments separate from
or in conjunction with the purchase of securities subject to such
commitments. In the latter case, the fund would pay a higher price for the
securities acquired, thus reducing their yield to maturity. Standby
commitments will not affect the dollar-weighted average maturity of the
fund, or the valuation of the securities underlying the commitments.
Issuers or financial intermediaries may obtain letters of credit or other
guarantees to support their ability to buy securities on demand. FMR may
rely upon its evaluation of a bank's credit in determining whether to
support an instrument supported by a letter of credit. In evaluating a
foreign bank's credit, FMR will consider whether adequate public
information about the bank is available and whether the bank may be subject
to unfavorable political or economic developments, currency controls, or
other governmental restrictions that might affect the bank's ability to
honor its credit commitment.
Standby commitments are subject to certain risks, including the ability of
issuers of standby commitments to pay for securities at the time the
commitments are exercised; the fact that standby commitments are not
marketable by the fund; and the possibility that the maturities of the
underlying securities may be different from those of the commitments.
MUNICIPAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS. The fund may invest a portion of its assets
in municipal leases and participation interests therein. These
obligations, which may take the form of a lease, an installment purchase,
or a conditional sale contract, are issued by state and local governments
and authorities to acquire land and a wide variety of equipment and
facilities. Generally, the fund will not hold such obligations directly as
a lessor of the property, but will purchase a participation interest in a
municipal obligation from a bank or other third party. A participation
interest gives the fund a specified, undivided interest in the obligation
in proportion to its purchased interest in the total amount of the
obligation.
Municipal leases frequently have risks distinct from those associated with
general obligation or revenue bonds. State constitutions and statutes set
forth requirements that states or municipalities must meet to incur debt.
These may include voter referenda, interest rate limits, or public sale
requirements. Leases, installment purchases, or conditional sale contracts
(which normally provide for title to the leased asset to pass to the
governmental issuer) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to
acquire property and equipment without meeting their constitutional and
statutory requirements for the issuance of debt. Many leases and contracts
include "non-appropriation clauses" providing that the governmental issuer
has no obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract
unless money is appropriated for such purposes by the appropriate
legislative body on a yearly or other periodic basis. Non-appropriation
clauses free the issuer from debt issuance limitations.
FEDERALLY TAXABLE OBLIGATIONS. The fund does not intend to invest in
securities whose interest is federally taxable; however, from time to time,
the fund may invest a portion of its assets on a temporary basis in
fixed-income obligations whose interest is subject to federal income tax.
For example, the fund may invest in obligations whose interest is federally
taxable pending the investment or reinvestment in municipal securities of
proceeds from the sale of its shares or sales of portfolio securities.
Should the fund invest in federally taxable obligations, it would purchase
securities that in FMR's judgment are of high quality. These would include
obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or
instrumentalities; obligations of domestic banks; and repurchase
agreements. The fund will purchase taxable obligations only if they meet
its quality requirements.
Proposals to restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption for
interest on municipal obligations are introduced before Congress from time
to time. Proposals also may be introduced before the Connecticut
legislature that would affect the state tax treatment of the fund's
distributions. If such proposals were enacted, the availability of
municipal obligations and the value of the fund's holdings would be
affected and the Trustees would reevaluate the fund's investment objective
and policies.
The fund anticipates being as fully invested as practicable in municipal
securities; however, there may be occasions when, as a result of maturities
of portfolio securities, sales of fund shares, or in order to meet
redemption requests, the fund may hold cash that is not earning income. In
addition, there may be occasions when, in order to raise cash to meet
redemptions, the fund may be required to sell securities at a loss.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. In a repurchase agreement, the fund purchases a
security and simultaneously commits to resell that security to the seller
at an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon date within a number of days from
the date of purchase. The resale price reflects the purchase price plus an
agreed-upon incremental amount which is unrelated to the coupon rate or
maturity of the purchased security. A repurchase agreement is a taxable
obligation which involves the obligation of the seller to pay the
agreed-upon price, which obligation is in effect secured by the value (at
least equal to the amount of the agreed-upon resale price and marked to
market daily) of the underlying security. The fund may engage in
repurchase agreements with respect to any security in which it is
authorized to invest, even if the underlying security matures in more than
397 days. While it does not presently appear possible to eliminate all
risks from these transactions (particularly the possibility of a decline in
the market value of the underlying securities, as well as delays and costs
to the fund in connection with bankruptcy proceedings), it is the fund's
current policy to limit repurchase agreement transactions to those parties
whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by FMR.
REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. In a reverse repurchase agreement, a fund
sells a portfolio instrument to another party, such as a bank or
broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase the instrument
at a particular price and time. While a reverse repurchase agreement is
outstanding, the fund will maintain appropriate liquid assets in a
segregated custodial account to cover its obligation under the agreement.
The fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements only with parties
whose creditworthiness has been found satisfactory by FMR. Such
transactions may increase fluctuations in the market value of the fund's
assets and may be viewed as a form of leverage.
ILLIQUID INVESTMENTS are investments that cannot be sold or disposed of in
the ordinary course of business at approximately the prices at which they
are valued. Under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, FMR determines
the liquidity of the fund's investments and, through reports from FMR, the
Board monitors investments in illiquid instruments. In determining the
liquidity of the fund's investments, FMR may consider various factors,
including (1) the frequency of trades and quotations, (2) the number of
dealers and prospective purchasers in the marketplace, (3) dealer
undertakings to make a market, (4) the nature of the security (including
any demand or tender features), and (5) the nature of the marketplace for
trades (including the ability to assign or offset the fund's rights and
obligations relating to the investment). Investments currently considered
by the fund to be illiquid include restricted securities and municipal
lease obligations determined by FMR to be illiquid. In the absence of
market quotations, illiquid investments are valued for purposes of
monitoring amortized cost valuation at fair value as determined in good
faith by a committee appointed by the Board of Trustees. If through a
change in values, net assets, or other circumstances, the fund were in a
position where more than 10% of its net assets were invested in illiquid
securities, it would seek to take appropriate steps to protect liquidity.
RESTRICTED SECURITIES generally can be sold in privately negotiated
transactions, pursuant to an exemption from registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, or in a registered public offering. Where
registration is required, the fund may be obligated to pay all or part of
the registration expense and a considerable period may elapse between the
time it decides to seek registration and the time the fund may be permitted
to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during
such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the fund might
obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it decided to seek
registration of the security. However, in general, the fund anticipates
holding restricted securities to maturity or selling them in an exempt
transaction.
INTERFUND BORROWING PROGRAM. The fund has received permission from the SEC
to lend money to and borrow money from other funds advised by FMR or its
affiliates. Interfund loans and borrowings normally will extend overnight,
but can have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be called on one
day's notice. The fund will lend through the program only when the returns
are higher than those available at the same time from other short-term
instruments (such as repurchase agreements), and will borrow through the
program only when the costs are equal to or lower than the cost of bank
loans. The fund may have to borrow from a bank at a higher interest rate
if an interfund loan is called or not renewed. Any delay in repayment to a
lending fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional
borrowing costs.
HOUSING. Housing revenue bonds are generally issued by a state, country,
city, local housing authority, or other public agency. They are secured by
the revenues derived from mortgages purchased with the proceeds of the bond
issue. It is extremely difficult to predict the supply of available
mortgages to be purchased with the proceeds of an issue or the future cash
flow from the underlying mortgages. Consequently, there are risks that
proceeds will exceed supply, resulting in early retirement of bonds, or
that homeowner repayments will create an irregular cash flow.
Many factors may affect the financing of multi-family housing projects,
including acceptable completion of construction, proper management,
occupancy and rent levels, economic conditions, and changes to current laws
and regulations.
SPECIAL FACTORS AFFECTING CONNECTICUT
The following only highlights some of the more significant financial trends
and problems, and is based on information drawn from official statements
and prospectuses relating to securities offerings of the State of
Connecticut, its agencies and instrumentalities, as available on the date
of this Statement of Additional Information. FMR has not independently
verified any of the information contained in such official statements and
other publicly available documents, but is not aware of any fact which
would render such information inaccurate.
Manufacturing has historically been Connecticut's single most important
economic activity. The State's manufacturing industry is diversified, but
from 1970 to 1992 manufacturing employment declined 30.8%. During this
period, employment in other non-agricultural establishments (including
government) increased 60.8%, particularly in the service, trade, and
finance categories. In 1992, manufacturing accounted for only 20.1% of
total nonagricultural employment in Connecticut. Defense-related business
plays an important role in the Connecticut economy, and economic activity
has been affected by the volume of defense contracts awarded to Connecticut
firms. On a per capita basis, defense awards in Connecticut have
traditionally been among the highest in the nation, but reductions in
defense spending have had a substantial adverse impact on Connecticut's
economy, and the state's largest defense contractors have announced
substantial labor force reductions to occur over the next four years.
The annual average unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) in Connecticut
decreased from 6.9% in 1982 to a low of 3.0% in 1988, but it reached 7.4%
as of May 1993. Pockets of more significant unemployment and poverty exist
in some of Connecticut's cities and towns, the economic conditions of which
are causing them severe financial problems, resulting in some cases in the
reporting of operating and accumulated deficits. Connecticut is in a
recession the depth and duration of which are uncertain.
While the State's General Fund ended fiscal 1984-85, 1985-86 and 1986-87
with operating surpluses of approximately $365,500,000, $250,100,000 and
$365,200,000, respectively, the State recorded operating deficits in its
General Fund for fiscal 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90, and 1990-91 alone of
$115,600,000, $28,000,000, $259,000,000, and $809,000,000, respectively.
In the fall of 1991, the State issued $965,712,000 of Economic Recovery
Notes to help fund its accumulated General Fund deficit. Largely as a
result of the enactment in 1991 of a general income tax on resident and
non-resident individuals, trusts, and estates the State's General Fund
ended fiscal 1991-92 and 1992-93 with an operating surplus of $110,000,000
and $113,500,000, respectively.
The state's two major revenue raising taxes have been the sales and use
taxes and the corporation business tax, each of which is sensitive to
changes in the level of economic activity in the State, but the Connecticut
income tax on individuals, trusts, and estates is expected to supersede
each of them in importance. Motor fuel taxes and other
transportation-related taxes are paid into a Special Transportation Fund
while all other tax revenues are carried in the General Fund.
The repair and maintenance of the State's highways and bridges will require
major expenditures in the near term. The State has adopted legislation
that provides for, among other things, the issuance of special tax
obligation bonds, the proceeds of which will be used to pay for
improvements to the State's transportation system. The bonds are payable
solely from motor vehicle and other transportation-related taxes and fees
deposited in the Special Transportation Fund. However, the amount of
revenues is dependent on the occurrence of future events, including a
possible rise in fuel prices, and may thus differ materially from projected
amounts. The cost of this infrastructure program, to be met from federal,
State and local funds, is currently estimated at $9.5 billion. The State
expects to issue $3.7 billion of special tax obligation bonds over a
ten-year period commenced July 1, 1984 to finance a major portion of the
State's share of such cost.
The State's budget problems led to ratings of its general obligation bonds
being lowered early in 1990, from Aa1 to Aa by Moody's Investors Service,
Inc., and from AA+ to AA by Standard & Poor's Corporation. Because of
concern over Connecticut's lack of a plan to deal with accumulated
projected deficits in its General Fund, on September 13, 1991, Standard
& Poor's further lowered its ratings of the State's general obligation
bonds and certain other obligations that depend in part on the
creditworthiness of the State to AA-. State and regional economic
difficulties, reductions in revenues, and increased expenses could lead to
further fiscal problems for the State and its political subdivisions,
authorities, and agencies. This could result in declines in the value of
their outstanding obligations, increases in their future borrowing costs,
and impairment of their ability to pay debt service on their obligations.
SPECIAL FACTORS AFFECTING PUERTO RICO
The following only highlights some of the more significant financial trends
and problems affecting the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (the "Commonwealth"
or "Puerto Rico"), and is based on information drawn from official
statements and prospectuses relating to the securities offerings of Puerto
Rico, its agencies and instrumentalities, as available on the date of this
Statement of Additional Information. FMR has not independently verified any
of the information contained in such official statements, prospectuses and
other publicly available documents, but is not aware of any fact which
would render such information materially inaccurate.
The economy of Puerto Rico is closely linked with that of the United
States, and in fiscal 1992 trade with the United States accounted for
approximately 88% of Puerto Rico's exports and approximately 68% of its
imports. In this regard, in fiscal 1992 Puerto Rico experienced a
$2,940,300,000 positive adjusted merchandise trade balance. Since fiscal
1987 personal income, both aggregate and per capita, have increased
consistently each fiscal year. In fiscal 1992 aggregate personal income was
$22.7 billion and personal per capita income was $6,360. Gross domestic
product in fiscal 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992 was $19,954,000, $21,619,000,
$22,857,000, and $23,620,000 respectively. For fiscal 1993, an increase in
gross domestic product of 2.9% over fiscal 1992 is forecasted. However,
actual growth in the Puerto Rico economy will depend on several factors
including the condition of the U.S. economy, the exchange rate for the U.S.
dollar, the price stability of oil imports, and interest rates. Due to
these factors there is no assurance that the economy of Puerto Rico will
continue to grow.
Puerto Rico has made marked improvements in fighting unemployment.
Unemployment is at a low level compared to that of the late 1970s, but it
still remains significantly above the United States average. Despite long
term improvements the unemployment rate rose from 15.2% to 16.5% from
fiscal 1991 to fiscal 1992. At the end of the third quarter of fiscal 1993
the unemployment rate in Puerto Rico stood at 17.3%. There is a possibility
that the unemployment rate will continue to increase.
The economy of Puerto Rico has undergone a transformation in the later half
of this century from one centered around agriculture, to one dominated by
the manufacturing and service industries. Manufacturing is the cornerstone
of Puerto Rico's economy, accounting for $13.2 billion or 38.7% of gross
domestic product in 1992. However, manufacturing has experienced a basic
change over the years as a result of the influx of higher wage, high
technology industries such as the pharmaceutical industry, electronics,
computers, micro-processors, scientific instruments and high technology
machinery. The service sector, which includes wholesale and retail trade,
finance and real estate, ranks second in its contribution to gross domestic
product and is the sector that employs the greatest number of people. In
fiscal 1992, the service sector generated $13.0 billion in gross domestic
product or 38.3% of the total and employed over 449,000 workers providing
46% of total employment. The government sector and tourism also contribute
to the island economy each accounting for $3.7 billion and $1.5 billion in
fiscal 1992, respectively.
Much of the development of the manufacturing sector of the economy of
Puerto Rico is attributable to federal and Commonwealth tax incentives,
most notably section 936 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
("Section 936") and the Commonwealth's Industrial Incentives Program.
Section 936 currently grants U.S. corporations that meet certain criteria
and elect its application a credit against their U.S. corporate income tax
on the portion of the tax attributable to (i) income derived from the
active conduct of a trade or business in Puerto Rico ("active income"), or
from the sale or exchange of substantially all the assets used in the
active conduct of such trade or business, and (ii) qualified possession
source investment income ("passive income"). The Industrial Incentives
Program, through the 1987 Industrial Incentives Act, grants corporations
engaged in certain qualified activities a fixed 90% exemption from
Commonwealth income and property taxes and a 60% exemption from municipal
license taxes.
On August 16, 1993, President Clinton signed a bill amending Section 936.
Under the amendments, U.S. corporations with operations in Puerto Rico can
elect to receive a federal income tax credit equal to: 40% of the credit
currently available, phased in over a five year period, starting at 60% of
the current credit, or a credit based on investment and wages. The
investment and wage credit would equal the sum of (i) 60% of qualified
compensation to employees, (ii) a specified percentage of depreciation
deductions with respect to tangible property located in Puerto Rico, and
(iii) a portion of income taxed paid to Puerto Rico, up to a 9% effective
tax rate, subject to certain requirements. It is not possible to determine
at this time whether the reductions in tax incentives for operations in
Puerto Rico will have a significant impact on the economy of Puerto Rico or
the time period in which such impact would arise.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
All orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities are placed on
behalf of the fund by FMR (either directly or through affiliated
sub-advisers) pursuant to authority contained in the management contract.
FMR is also responsible for the placement of transaction orders for other
investment companies and accounts for which it or its affiliates act as
investment adviser. Securities purchased and sold by the fund generally
will be traded on a net basis (i.e., without commission). In selecting
broker-dealers, subject to applicable limitations of the federal securities
laws, FMR will consider various relevant factors, including, but not
limited to, the size and type of the transaction; the nature and character
of the markets for the security to be purchased or sold; the execution
efficiency, settlement capability, and financial condition of the
broker-dealer firm; the broker-dealer's execution services rendered on a
continuing basis; and the reasonableness of any commissions.
The fund may execute portfolio transactions with broker-dealers who provide
research and execution services to the fund or other accounts over which
FMR or its affiliates exercise investment discretion. Such services may
include advice concerning the value of securities; the advisability of
investing in, purchasing, or selling securities; the availability of
securities or the purchasers or sellers of securities; furnishing analyses
and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors
and trends, portfolio strategy, and performance of accounts; and effecting
securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such
as clearance and settlement). FMR maintains a listing of broker-dealers
who provide such services on a regular basis. However, as many
transactions on behalf of the fund are placed with broker-dealers
(including broker-dealers on the list) without regard to the furnishing of
such services, it is not possible to estimate the proportion of such
transactions directed to such broker-dealers solely because such services
were provided. The selection of such broker-dealers generally is made by
FMR (to the extent possible consistent with execution considerations) based
upon the quality of research and execution services provided.
The receipt of research from broker-dealers that execute transactions on
behalf of the fund may be useful to FMR in rendering investment management
services to the fund or its other clients and, conversely, such research
provided by broker-dealers who have executed transaction orders on behalf
of other FMR clients may be useful to FMR in carrying out its obligations
to the fund. The receipt of such research has not reduced FMR's normal
independent research activities; however, it enables FMR to avoid
additional expenses that could be incurred if FMR tried to develop
comparable information through its own efforts.
Subject to applicable limitations of the federal securities laws,
broker-dealers may receive commissions for agency transactions that are in
excess of the amount of commissions charged by other broker-dealers in
recognition of their research and execution services. In order to cause
the fund to pay such higher commissions, FMR must determine in good faith
that such commissions are reasonable in relation to the value of the
brokerage and research services provided by such executing broker-dealers,
viewed in terms of a particular transaction or FMR's overall
responsibilities to the fund and its other clients. In reaching this
determination, FMR will not attempt to place a specific dollar value on the
brokerage and research services provided, or to determine what portion of
the compensation should be related to those services.
FMR is authorized to use research services provided by and to place
portfolio transactions with brokerage firms that have provided assistance
in the distribution of shares of the fund, or shares of other Fidelity
funds, to the extent permitted by law. FMR may use research services
provided by and place agency transactions with Fidelity Brokerage Services,
Inc. (FBSI), a subsidiary of FMR Corp., if the commissions are fair,
reasonable, and comparable to commissions charged by non-affiliated,
qualified brokerage firms for similar services.
Section 11(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prohibits members of
national securities exchanges from executing exchange transactions for
accounts which they or their affiliates manage, except in accordance with
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pursuant to such
regulations, the Board of Trustees has approved a written agreement that
permits FBSI to effect portfolio transactions on national securities
exchanges and to retain compensation in connection with such transactions.
For the fiscal years ended November 30, 1993, 1992, and 1991, the fund
paid no brokerage commissions.
The Trustees periodically review FMR's performance of its responsibilities
in connection with the placement of portfolio transactions on behalf of the
fund and review the commissions paid by the fund over representative
periods of time to determine if they are reasonable in relation to the
benefits to the fund.
From time to time the Trustees will review 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. The fund seeks to recapture soliciting broker-dealer fees on
the tender of portfolio securities, but at present no other recapture
arrangements are in effect. The Trustees intend to continue to review
whether recapture opportunities are available and are legally permissible
and, if so, to determine in the exercise of their business judgment whether
it would be advisable for the fund to seek such recapture.
Although the Trustees and officers of the fund are substantially the same
as those of other funds managed by FMR, investment decisions for the fund
are made independently from those of other funds managed by FMR or accounts
managed by FMR affiliates. It sometimes happens that the same security is
held in the portfolio of more than one of these funds or accounts.
Simultaneous transactions are inevitable when several funds are managed by
the same investment adviser, particularly when the same security is
suitable for the investment objective of more than one fund.
When two or more funds are simultaneously engaged in the purchase or sale
of the same security, the prices and amounts are allocated in accordance
with a formula considered by the officers of the funds involved to be
equitable to each fund. In some cases, this system could have a
detrimental effect on the price or value of the security as far as the fund
is concerned. In other cases, however, the ability of the fund to
participate in volume transactions will produce better executions and
prices for the fund. It is the current opinion of the Board of Trustees
that the desirability of retaining FMR as investment adviser to the fund
outweighs any disadvantages that may be said to exist from exposure to
simultaneous transactions.
VALUATION OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
The fund values its investments on the basis of amortized cost. This
technique involves valuing an instrument at its cost as adjusted for
amortization of premium or accretion of discount rather than its value
based on current market quotations or appropriate substitutes which reflect
current market conditions. The amortized cost value of an instrument may
be higher or lower than the price the fund would receive if it sold the
instrument.
Valuing the fund's instruments on the basis of amortized cost and use of
the term "money market fund" are permitted by Rule 2a-7 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. The fund must adhere to certain conditions
under Rule 2a-7.
The Board of Trustees of the trust oversees FMR's adherence to SEC rules
concerning money market funds, and has established procedures designed to
stabilize the fund's NAV at $1.00. At such intervals as they deem
appropriate, the Trustees consider the extent to which NAV calculated by
using market valuations would deviate from $1.00 per share. If the
Trustees believe that a deviation from the fund's amortized cost per share
may result in material dilution or other unfair results to shareholders,
the Trustees have agreed to take such corrective action, if any, as they
deem appropriate to eliminate or reduce, to the extent reasonably
practicable, the dilution or unfair results. Such corrective action could
include selling portfolio instruments prior to maturity to realize capital
gains or losses or to shorten average portfolio maturity; withholding
dividends; redeeming shares in kind; establishing NAV by using available
market quotations; and such other measures as the Trustees may deem
appropriate.
During periods of declining interest rates, the fund's yield based on
amortized cost may be higher than the yield based on market valuations.
Under these circumstances, a shareholder in the fund would be able to
obtain a somewhat higher yield than would result if the fund utilized
market valuations to determine its NAV. The converse would apply in a
period of rising interest rates.
PERFORMANCE
The fund may quote performance in various ways. All performance
information supplied by the fund in advertising is historical and is not
intended to indicate future returns. The fund's yield and total return
fluctuate in response to market conditions and other factors.
YIELD CALCULATIONS. To compute the fund's yield for a period, the net
change in value of a hypothetical account containing one share (exclusive
of capital gains) reflects the value of additional shares purchased with
dividends from the one original share and dividends declared on both the
original share and any additional shares. The net change is then divided
by the value of the account at the beginning of the period to obtain a base
period return. This base period return is annualized to obtain a current
annualized yield. The fund also may calculate a compound effective yield
by compounding the base period return over a one-year period. In addition
to the current yield, the fund may quote yields in advertising based on any
historical seven-day period. Yields for the fund are calculated on the
same basis as other money market funds, as required by regulation.
The fund's tax-equivalent yield is the rate an investor would have to earn
from a fully taxable investment after taxes to equal the fund's tax-free
yield. Tax-equivalent yields are calculated by dividing the fund's yield
by the result of one minus a stated federal or combined federal and state
tax rate. (If only a portion of the fund's yield is tax-exempt, only that
portion is adjusted in the calculation.)
The tables below show the effect of a shareholder's tax status on effective
yield under federal and state income tax laws for 1994. It shows the
approximate yield a taxable security must provide at various income
brackets to produce after-tax yields equivalent to those of hypothetical
tax-exempt obligations yielding from 2.0% to 8.0%. Of course, no assurance
can be given that the fund will achieve any specific tax-exempt yield.
While the fund invests principally in obligations whose interest is exempt
from federal and state income tax, other income received by the fund may be
taxable. The tables do not take into account local taxes, if any, payable
on the fund's distributions.
Use this table to find your approximate effective tax bracket taking into
account federal and state taxes for 1994.
1994 TAX RATES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Federal Single Return Joint Return
Taxable Income Income Tax Combined Income Combined Income
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Single Return Joint Return Bracket Tax Bracket* Tax Bracket*
</TABLE>
$ 22,751 - 55,100 N.A. 28% 31.24% N.A.
N.A. $38,001 - 91,850 28% N.A. 30.92%**
$ 55,101 - 115,000 $91,851 - 140,000 31% 34.11% 34.11%
$115,001 - 250,000 140,001 - 250,000 36% 38.88% 38.88%
$250,001 and above $250,001 and above 39.6% 42.32% 42.32%
* The Connecticut rates assumed for 1994 are the highest effective marginal
rates applicable for the indicated federal rate bracket. The table
assumes that Connecticut adjusted gross income equals federal taxable
income.
** After the automatic credit.
PLEASE NOTE: The 1994 combined tax brackets are based on the assumption
that 100% of the fund's income is free from federal and state taxes. In
fiscal 1993, 4.7% of the income from the fund was subject to state taxes.
Having determined your effective tax bracket, use the table below to
determine the tax-equivalent yield for a given tax-free yield.
If your effective combined federal and state personal tax rate in 1994 is:
30.92% 31.24% 34.11% 38.88% 42.32%
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
To match these
tax-free yields: Your taxable investment would have to earn the following yield:
</TABLE>
2.0% 2.90% 2.91% 3.04% 3.27% 3.47%
3.0 4.34 4.36 4.55 4.91 5.20
4.0 5.79 5.82 6.07 6.54 6.93
5.0 7.24 7.27 7.59 8.18 8.67
6.0 8.69 8.73 9.11 9.82 10.40
7.0 10.13 10.18 10.62 11.45 12.14
8.0 11.58 11.63 12.14 13.09 13.87
The fund may invest a portion of its assets in obligations that are subject
to state or federal income taxes. When the fund invests in these
obligations, its tax-equivalent yields will be lower. In the table above,
tax-equivalent yields are calculated assuming investments are 100%
federally and state tax-free.
Yield information may be useful in reviewing the fund's performance and in
providing a basis for comparison with other investment alternatives.
However, the fund's yield fluctuates, unlike investments that pay a fixed
interest rate over a stated period of time. When comparing investment
alternatives, investors should note the quality and maturity of the
portfolio securities of the respective investment companies they have
chosen to consider.
Investors should recognize that in periods of declining interest rates the
fund's yield will tend to be somewhat higher than prevailing market rates,
and in periods of rising interest rates the fund's yield will tend to be
somewhat lower. Also, when interest rates are falling, the inflow of net
new money to the fund from the continuous sale of its shares will likely be
invested in instruments producing lower yields than the balance of the
fund's holdings, thereby reducing the fund's current yield. In periods of
rising interest rates, the opposite can be expected to occur.
TOTAL RETURN CALCULATIONS. Total returns quoted in advertising reflect all
aspects of the fund's returns, including the effect of reinvesting
dividends and capital gain distributions (if any), and any change in the
fund's net asset value per share (NAV) over the period. Average annual
total returns are calculated by determining the growth or decline in value
of a hypothetical historical investment in the fund over a stated period,
and then calculating the annually compounded percentage rate that would
have produced the same result if the rate of growth or decline in value had
been constant over the period. For example, a cumulative total return of
100% over ten years would produce an average annual total return of 7.18%,
which is the steady annual rate that would equal 100% growth on a
compounded basis in ten years. While average annual total returns are a
convenient means of comparing investment alternatives, investors should
realize that the fund's performance is not constant over time, but changes
from year to year, and that average annual total returns represent averaged
figures as opposed to the actual year-to-year performance of the fund.
In addition to average annual returns, the fund may quote unaveraged or
cumulative total returns reflecting the simple change in value of an
investment over a stated period. Average annual and cumulative total
returns may be quoted as a percentage or as a dollar amount, and may be
calculated for a single investment, a series of investments, or a series of
redemptions, over any time period. Total returns may be broken down into
their components of income and capital (including capital gains and changes
in share price) in order to illustrate the relationship of these factors
and their contributions to total return. An example of this type of
illustration is given on the following page. Total returns, yields, and
other performance information may be quoted numerically or in a table,
graph, or similar illustration.
HISTORICAL RESULTS. The following table shows the fund's 7-day yield,
tax-equivalent yield, average annual total returns, and cumulative total
returns for the period ended November 30, 1993:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
7-day Tax-Equivalent Average Annual Total Returns Cumulative Total Returns
</TABLE>
Yield Yield One Year Life of Fund* One Year Life of Fund*
1.90% 3.10% 1.87% 3.87% 1.87% 17.58%
* The fund commenced operations on August 29, 1989.
The tax-equivalent yield is based on a 1994 combined effective federal and
state income tax bracket of 38.88% and reflects that on November 30, 1993
an estimated 5.8% of the fund's income for the period was subject to state
taxes.
Note: If FMR had not reimbursed certain fund expenses during the periods,
the fund's total returns would have been lower.
The following table shows the income and capital elements of the fund's
total return from August 29, 1989 (commencement of operations) to November
30, 1993. The table compares the fund's return to the record of the
Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P), the Dow
Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), and the cost of living (measured by the
Consumer Price Index, or CPI) over the same period. The S&P and DJIA
comparisons are provided to show how the fund's total return compared to
the return of a broad average of common stocks and a narrower set of stocks
of major industrial companies, respectively, over the same period. Of
course, since the fund invests in money market instruments, common stocks
represent a different type of investment from the fund. Common stocks
generally offer greater potential growth than the fund, but generally
experience greater price volatility which means a greater potential for
loss. In addition, common stocks generally provide lower income than a
money market investment such as the fund. The S&P and DJIA are based on
the prices of unmanaged groups of stocks and, unlike the fund's returns,
their returns do not include the effect of paying brokerage commissions,
spreads, or other costs of investing.
During the period August 29, 1989 (commencement of operations) to November
30, 1993, a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the fund would have grown
to $11,758, assuming all dividends were reinvested. This was a period of
widely fluctuating interest rates and should not be considered
representative of the dividend income or capital gain or loss that could be
realized from an investment in the fund today.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Value of Value of
Period Ended Value of Initial Reinvested Reinvested Total S& Cost of
;P
11/30 $10,000 Investment Dividends Capital Gains Value 500 DJIA Living **
1993 $10,000 $ 1,758 $0 $ 11,758 $ 15,023 $ 15,454 $ 11,701
1992 10,000 1,542 0 11,542 13,644 13,470 11,396
1991 10,000 1,234 0 11,234 11,514 11,454 11,059
1990 10,000 746 0 10,746 9,567 9,793 10,738
1989* 10,000 160 0 10,160 9,912 9,960 10,104
</TABLE>
* From August 29, 1989 (commencement of operations) through November 30,
1989.
** From month-end closest to initial investment date.
Explanatory Notes: With an initial investment of $10,000 made August 29,
1989, the net amount invested in fund shares was $10,000. The cost of the
initial investment ($10,000), together with the aggregate cost of
reinvested dividends for the period covered (their cash value at the time
they were reinvested) amounted to $11,758. If distributions had not been
reinvested, the amount of distributions earned from the fund over time
would have been smaller, and the cash payments (dividends) for the period
would have amounted to $1,623. There were no capital gain distributions
during this period. If FMR had not reimbursed certain fund expenses, the
fund's returns would have been lower.
The fund's performance may be compared to the performance of other mutual
funds in general, or to the performance of particular types of mutual
funds. These comparisons may be expressed as mutual fund rankings
prepared by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. (Lipper), an independent
service located in Summit, New Jersey that monitors the performance of
mutual funds. Lipper generally ranks funds on the basis of total return,
assuming reinvestment of distributions, but does not take sales charges or
redemption fees into consideration, and is prepared without regard to tax
consequences. Lipper may also rank funds based on yield. In addition to
the mutual fund rankings, the fund's performance may be compared to mutual
fund performance indices prepared by Lipper.
From time to time, the fund's performance may also be compared to other
mutual funds tracked by financial or business publications and periodicals.
For example, the fund may quote Morningstar, Inc. in its advertising
materials. Morningstar, Inc. is a mutual fund rating service that rates
mutual funds on the basis of risk-adjusted performance. Rankings that
compare the performance of Fidelity funds to one another in appropriate
categories over specific periods of time may also be quoted in advertising.
Fidelity may provide information designed to help individuals understand
their investment goals and explore various financial strategies. For
example, Fidelity's FundMatchsm Program includes a workbook describing
general principles of investing, such as asset allocation, diversification,
risk tolerance, and goal setting; a questionnaire designed to help create a
personal financial profile; and an action plan offering investment
alternatives. Materials may also include discussions of Fidelity's three
asset allocation funds and other Fidelity funds, products, and services.
Ibbotson Associates of Chicago, Illinois (Ibbotson) provides historical
returns of the capital markets in the United States, including common
stocks, small capitalization stocks, long-term corporate bonds,
intermediate-term government bonds, long-term government bonds, Treasury
bills, the U.S. rate of inflation (based on the CPI), and combinations of
various capital markets. The performance of these capital markets is based
on the returns of different indices.
Fidelity funds may use the performance of these capital markets in order to
demonstrate general risk-versus-reward investment scenarios. Performance
comparisons may also include the value of a hypothetical investment in any
of these capital markets. The risks associated with the security types in
any capital market may or may not correspond directly to those of the
funds. Ibbotson calculates total returns in the same method as the funds.
The funds may also compare performance to that of other compilations or
indices that may be developed and made available in the future.
The fund may compare its performance or the performance of securities in
which it may invest to averages published by IBC USA (Publications), Inc.
of Ashland, Massachusetts. These averages assume reinvestment of
distributions. The IBC/Donoghue's MONEY FUND AVERAGES Trademark/All
Tax-Free, which is reported in the MONEY FUND REPORT Registered trademark,
covers over 325 tax-free money market funds.
In advertising materials, Fidelity may reference or discuss its products
and services, which may include: other Fidelity funds; retirement
investing; brokerage products and services; the effects of periodic
investment plans and dollar cost averaging; saving for college; charitable
giving; and the Fidelity credit card. In addition, Fidelity may quote
financial or business publications and periodicals, including model
portfolios or allocations, as they relate to fund management, investment
philosophy, and investment techniques. Fidelity may also reprint, and use
as advertising and sales literature, articles from Fidelity Focus, a
quarterly magazine provided free of charge to Fidelity fund shareholders.
The fund may present its fund number, Quotron Trademark number, and CUSIP
number, and discuss or quote its current portfolio manager.
The fund may compare and contrast in advertising the relative advantages of
investing in a mutual fund versus an individual municipal bond. Unlike
tax-free mutual funds, individual municipal bonds offer a stated rate of
interest and, if held to maturity, repayment of principal. Although some
individual municipal bonds might offer a higher return, they do not offer
the reduced risk of a mutual fund that invests in many different
securities. The initial investment requirements and sales charges of many
tax-free mutual funds are lower than the purchase cost of individual
municipal bonds, which are generally issued in $5,000 denominations and are
subject to direct brokerage costs.
As of November 30, 1993, FMR managed 41 tax-free funds with a total value
of over $25 billion. According to the Investment Company Institute, over
the past ten years, assets in tax-exempt money market funds increased from
$13.2 billion in 1982 to approximately $95 billion at the end of 1992. The
fund may reference the growth and variety of money market mutual funds and
the adviser's innovation and participation in the industry.
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
The fund is open for business and its net asset value per share (NAV) is
calculated each day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open for trading.
The NYSE has designated the following holiday closings for 1994:
Washington's Birthday (observed), Good Friday, Memorial Day (observed),
Independence Day (observed), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
(observed). Although FMR expects the same holiday schedule, with the
addition of New Year's Day, to be observed in the future, the NYSE may
modify its holiday schedule at any time.
FSC normally determines the fund's NAV as of the close of the NYSE
(normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). However, NAV may be calculated earlier
if trading on the NYSE is restricted or as permitted by the SEC. To the
extent that portfolio securities are traded in other markets on days when
the NYSE is closed, the fund's NAV may be affected on days when investors
do not have access to the fund to purchase or redeem shares.
If the Trustees determine that existing conditions make cash payments
undesirable, redemption payments may be made in whole or in part in
securities or other property, valued for this purpose as they are valued in
computing the fund's NAV. Shareholders receiving securities or other
property on redemption may realize a gain or loss for tax purposes, and
will incur any costs of sale, as well as the associated inconveniences.
Pursuant to Rule 11a-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940
Act), the fund is required to give shareholders at least 60 days' notice
prior to terminating or modifying its exchange privilege. Under the Rule,
the 60-day notification requirement may be waived if (i) the only effect of
a modification would be to reduce or eliminate an administrative fee,
redemption fee, or deferred sales charge ordinarily payable at the time of
an exchange, or (ii) the fund suspends the redemption of the shares to be
exchanged as permitted under the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations
thereunder, or the fund to be acquired suspends the sale of its shares
because it is unable to invest amounts effectively in accordance with its
investment objective and policies.
In the Prospectus, the fund has notified shareholders that it reserves the
right at any time, without prior notice, to refuse exchange purchases by
any person or group if, in FMR's judgment, the fund would be unable to
invest effectively in accordance with its investment objective and
policies, or would otherwise potentially be adversely affected.
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
DISTRIBUTIONS. If you request to have distributions mailed to you and the
U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your checks, or if your checks remain
uncashed for six months, Fidelity may reinvest your distributions at the
then-current NAV. All subsequent distributions will then be reinvested
until you provide Fidelity with alternate instructions.
DIVIDENDS. To the extent that the fund's income is derived from federally
tax-exempt interest, the daily dividends declared by the fund are also
federally tax-exempt. The fund will send each shareholder a notice in
January describing the tax status of dividends and capital gain
distributions (if any) for the prior year.
Shareholders are required to report tax-exempt income on their federal tax
returns. Shareholders who earn other income, such as social security
benefits, may be subject to federal income tax on up to one half of such
benefits to the extent that their income, including tax-exempt income,
exceeds certain base amounts.
The fund purchases municipal obligations based on opinions of bond counsel
regarding the federal income tax status of the obligations. These opinions
generally will be based on covenants by the issuers regarding continuing
compliance with federal tax requirements. If the issuer of an obligation
fails to comply with its covenants at any time, interest on the obligation
could become federally taxable retroactive to the date the obligation was
issued.
As a result of The Tax Reform Act of 1986, interest on certain "private
activity" securities (referred to as "qualified bonds" in the Internal
Revenue Code), is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax (AMT),
although the interest continues to be excludable from gross income for
other purposes. Interest from private activity securities will be
considered tax-exempt for purposes of the fund's policies of investing so
that at least 80% of its income is free from federal income tax. Interest
from private activity securities is a tax- preference item for the purpose
of determining whether a taxpayer is subject to the AMT and the amount of
AMT to be paid, if any. Private activity securities issued after August 7,
1986 to benefit a private or industrial user or to finance a private
facility are affected by this rule.
Corporate investors should note that a tax preference item for purposes of
the corporate AMT is 75% of the amount by which adjusted current earnings
(which includes tax-exempt interest) exceeds the alternative minimum
taxable income of the corporation. If a shareholder receives an
exempt-interest dividend and sells shares at a loss after holding them for
a period of six months or less, the loss will be disallowed to the extent
of the amount of exempt-interest dividend.
CAPITAL GAIN DISTRIBUTIONS. Long-term capital gains earned by the fund on
the sale of securities and distributed to shareholders are federally
taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of time that
shareholders have held their shares. If a shareholder receives a long-term
capital gain distribution on shares of the fund and such shares are held
six months or less and are sold at a loss, the portion of the loss equal to
the amount of the long-term capital gain distribution will be considered a
long-term loss for tax purposes.
A portion of the gain on bonds purchased at a discount after April 30, 1993
and short-term capital gains distributed by the fund are federally taxable
to shareholders as dividends, not as capital gains. Distributions from
short-term capital gains do not qualify for the dividends-received
deduction. Dividend distributions resulting from a recharacterization of
gain from the sale of bonds purchased at a discount after April 30, 1993
are not considered income for purposes of the fund's policy of investing so
that at least 80% of its income is free from federal income tax. The fund
may distribute any net realized short-term capital gains once a year or
more often, as necessary, to maintain its net asset value at $1.00 per
share.
TAX STATUS OF THE FUND. The fund has qualified and intends to continue to
qualify each year as a "regulated investment company" for tax purposes so
that it will not be liable for federal tax on income and capital gains
distributed to shareholders. In order to qualify as a regulated investment
company and avoid being subject to federal income or excise taxes at the
fund level, the fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income
and net realized capital gains (if any) within each calendar year as well
as on a fiscal year basis. The fund is treated as a separate entity from
the other funds of Fidelity Court Street Trust II for tax purposes.
As of November 30, 1993, the fund had a capital loss carryover aggregating
approximately $10,700 available to offset future capital gains, to the
extent provided by regulations of which $1,400, $400, and $8,900 will
expire on November 30, 1999, 2000, and 2001 respectively. To the extent
that capital loss carryovers are used to offset any future capital gains,
it is unlikely that the gains so offset will be distributed to shareholders
since any such distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary
income.
CONNECTICUT TAXES. The Connecticut income tax is imposed at the rate of
4.5% on the Connecticut taxable income of resident and non-resident
individuals, trusts, and estates. Connecticut taxable income is federal
adjusted gross income after certain modifications (Connecticut AGI), less a
personal exemption. The amount of the personal exemption varies depending
on the taxpayer's filing status and is phased out as the amount of
Connecticut AGI increases. For a husband and wife filing a joint return,
the personal exemption is $24,000 but decreases to zero as Connecticut AGI
increases between $48,001 and $71,001. For an individual filing a separate
return, the exemption is $12,000 but decreases to zero as Connecticut AGI
increases between $24,001 and $35,001. A credit is also provided depending
on the taxpayer's filing status and Connecticut AGI. The credit ranges
from 75% to 10% of the Connecticut income tax, decreasing as Connecticut
AGI increases. No credit is available if Connecticut AGI exceeds $96,000
in the case of a husband and wife filing a joint return, or $48,000 in the
case of an individual filing separately. Special exemption and credit
rules apply to an individual filing as a head of household or a surviving
spouse. The personal exemption and credit, where applicable, lower the
effective rate of tax below the flat 4.5% statutory rate.
Dividends paid by the fund that qualify as exempt-interest dividends for
federal income tax purposes are not subject to the Connecticut income tax
to the extent they are derived from obligations issued by or on behalf of
the State of Connecticut, any political subdivision thereof, or any public
instrumentality, state or local authority, district, or similar public
entity created under laws of the State of Connecticut, or derived from
obligations of U.S. possessions and territories - the interest on which
federal law prohibits the states from taxing. Exempt-interest dividends
derived from other sources and any distributions by the fund that are
treated as taxable dividends for federal income tax purposes are includable
in Connecticut AGI for purposes of the Connecticut income tax. Amounts,
if any, treated as capital gains or losses for federal income tax purposes,
such as from capital gain distributions on shares of the fund or arising
upon the sale, redemption, or other disposition of shares of the fund by a
shareholder, are includable in Connecticut AGI for purposes of the
Connecticut income tax to the same extent as they are taxable for federal
income tax purposes, except that, subject to the adoption of proposed
regulations, capital gain dividends would not have to be included in
Connecticut AGI to the extent derived from obligations issued by or on
behalf of the State of Connecticut or any of its political subdivisions.
The net Connecticut minimum tax is imposed for taxable years commencing
after 1992 on taxpayers subject to both the Connecticut income tax and the
federal AMT. The net Connecticut minimum tax is based on what the
taxpayer's federal AMT tax base would be if computed taking certain
Connecticut modifications into account. Included in these modifications,
subject to the adoption of proposed regulations, would be the elimination
of exempt-interest dividends on private activity bonds issued by the State
of Connecticut or any if its political subdivisions, and capital gain
dividends to the extent derived from such obligations.
In addition, the Connecticut corporation business tax is imposed on any
corporation or association carrying on, or having the right to carry on,
business in Connecticut. Distributions from any source that are treated as
federally tax-exempt dividends are includable in gross income for purposes
of the corporation business tax. However, the corporation business tax
allows a deduction for 70% of amounts includable in taxable income
thereunder that are treated as dividends for federal income tax purposes,
such as distributions of taxable net investment income and net short-term
capital gains, but disallows deductions for expenses related to such
amounts.
OTHER TAX INFORMATION. The information above is only a summary of some of
the tax consequences affecting the fund and its shareholders, and no
attempt has been made to discuss individual tax consequences. Investors
should consult their tax advisers to determine whether the fund is suitable
to their particular tax situation.
FMR
FMR is a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR Corp., a parent company organized
in 1972. At present, the principal operating activities of FMR Corp. are
those conducted by three of its divisions as follows: FSC, which is the
transfer and shareholder servicing agent for certain of the funds advised
by FMR; Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, which
performs shareholder servicing functions for certain institutional
customers; and Fidelity Investments Retail Marketing Company, which
provides marketing services to various companies within the Fidelity
organization.
Several affiliates of FMR are also engaged in the investment advisory
business. Fidelity Management Trust Company provides trustee, investment
advisory, and administrative services to retirement plans and corporate
employee benefit accounts. Fidelity Management & Research (U.K.) Inc.
(FMR U.K.) and Fidelity Management & Research (Far East) Inc. (FMR Far
East), both wholly owned subsidiaries of FMR formed in 1986, supply
investment research, and may supply portfolio management services, to FMR
in connection with certain funds advised by FMR. Analysts employed by FMR,
FMR U.K., and FMR Far East research and visit thousands of domestic and
foreign companies each year. FMR Texas, a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR
formed in 1989, supplies portfolio management and research services in
connection with certain money market funds advised by FMR.
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
The Trustees and executive officers of the trust are listed below. Except
as indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in
the same company for the last five years. Trustees and officers elected or
appointed prior to the trust's conversion to a Delaware business trust
served the Massachusetts business trust in identical capacities. All
persons named as Trustees serve in similar capacities for other funds
advised by FMR. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each
Trustee and officer is 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109,
which is also the address of FMR. Those Trustees who are "interested
persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) by virtue of
their affiliation with either the Trust or FMR, are indicated by an
asterisk (*).
*EDWARD C. JOHNSON 3d, Trustee and President, is Chairman, Chief Executive
Officer and a Director of FMR Corp.; a Director and Chairman of the Board
and of the Executive Committee of FMR; Chairman and a Director of FMR Texas
Inc. (1989), Fidelity Management & Research (U.K.) Inc., and Fidelity
Management & Research (Far East) Inc.
*J. GARY BURKHEAD, Trustee and Senior Vice President, is President of FMR;
and President and a Director of FMR Texas Inc. (1989), Fidelity Management
& Research (U.K.) Inc. and Fidelity Management & Research (Far
East) Inc.
RALPH F. COX, 200 Rivercrest Drive, Fort Worth, TX, Trustee (1991), is
President of Greenhill Petroleum Corporation (petroleum exploration and
production, 1990). Prior to his retirement in March 1990, Mr. Cox was
President and Chief Operating Officer of Union Pacific Resources Company
(exploration and production). He is a Director of Bonneville Pacific
Corporation (independent power, 1989) and CH2M Hill Companies
(engineering). In addition, he served on the Board of Directors of the
Norton Company (manufacturer of industrial devices, 1983-1990) and
continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the Texas State Chamber of
Commerce, and is a member of advisory boards of Texas A&M University
and the University of Texas at Austin.
PHYLLIS BURKE DAVIS, 340 E. 64th Street #22C, New York, NY, Trustee (1992).
Prior to her retirement in September 1991, Mrs. Davis was the Senior Vice
President of Corporate Affairs of Avon Products, Inc. She is currently a
Director of BellSouth Corporation (telecommunications), Eaton Corporation
(manufacturing, 1991), and the TJX Companies, Inc. (retail stores, 1990),
and previously served as a Director of Hallmark Cards, Inc. (1985-1991) and
Nabisco Brands, Inc. In addition, she serves as a Director of the New York
City Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and is a member of
the Advisory Council of the International Executive Service Corps. and the
President's Advisory Council of The University of Vermont School of
Business Administration (1988).
RICHARD J. FLYNN, 77 Fiske Hill, Sturbridge, MA, Trustee, is a financial
consultant. Prior to September 1986, Mr. Flynn was Vice Chairman and a
Director of the Norton Company (manufacturer of industrial devices). He is
currently a Director of Mechanics Bank and a Trustee of College of the Holy
Cross and Old Sturbridge Village, Inc.
E. BRADLEY JONES, 3881-2 Landes Road, Chagrin Falls, OH, Trustee (1990).
Prior to his retirement in 1984, Mr. Jones was Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of LTV Steel Company. Prior to May 1990, he was Director of
National City Corporation (a bank holding company) and National City Bank
of Cleveland. He is a Director of TRW Inc. (original equipment and
replacement products), Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (mining), NACCO Industries,
Inc. (mining and marketing), Consolidated Rail Corporation, Birmingham
Steel Corporation (1988), Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (1989), and
RPM, Inc. (manufacturer of chemical products, 1990). In addition, he
serves as a Trustee of First Union Real Estate Investments; Chairman of the
Board of Trustees and a member of the Executive Committee of the Cleveland
Clinic Foundation, a Trustee and a member of the Executive Committee of
University School (Cleveland), and a Trustee of Cleveland Clinic Florida.
DONALD J. KIRK, 680 Steamboat Road, Apartment #1-North, Greenwich, CT,
Trustee, is a Professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Business
and a financial consultant. Prior to 1987, he was Chairman of the
Financial Accounting Standards Board. Mr. Kirk is a Director of General Re
Corporation (reinsurance) and Valuation Research Corp. (appraisals and
valuations, 1993). In addition, he serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the National Arts Stabilization Fund and Vice Chairman of the
Board of Trustees of the Greenwich Hospital Association (1989).
*PETER S. LYNCH, Trustee (1990) is Vice Chairman of FMR (1992). Prior to
his retirement on May 31, 1990, he was a Director of FMR (1989) and
Executive Vice President of FMR (a position he held until March 31, 1991);
Vice President of Fidelity Magellan Fund and FMR Growth Group Leader; and
Managing Director of FMR Corp. Mr. Lynch was also Vice President of
Fidelity Investments Corporate Services (1991-1992). He is a Director of
W.R. Grace & Co. (chemicals, 1989) and Morrison Knudsen Corporation
(engineering and construction, 1988). In addition, he serves as a Trustee
of Boston College, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Historic
Deerfield (1989) and Society for the Preservation of New England
Antiquities, and as an Overseer of the Museum of Fine Arts of Boston
(1990).
GERALD C. McDONOUGH, 135 Aspenwood Drive, Cleveland, OH, Trustee (1989), is
Chairman of G.M. Management Group (strategic advisory services). Prior to
his retirement in July 1988, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Leaseway Transportation Corp. (physical distribution services). Mr.
McDonough is a Director of ACME-Cleveland Corp. (metal working,
telecommunications and electronic products), Brush-Wellman Inc. (metal
refining), York International Corp. (air conditioning and refrigeration,
1989), Commercial Intertech Corp. (water treatment equipment, 1992), and
Associated Estates Realty Corporation (a real estate investment trust,
1993).
EDWARD H. MALONE, 5601 Turtle Bay Drive #2104, Naples, FL, Trustee (1988).
Prior to his retirement in 1985, Mr. Malone was Chairman, General Electric
Investment Corporation and a Vice President of General Electric Company.
He is a Director of Allegheny Power Systems, Inc. (electric utility),
General Re Corporation (reinsurance) and Mattel Inc. (toy manufacturer).
He is also a Trustee of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and of Corporate
Property Investors and a member of the Advisory Boards of Butler Capital
Corporation Funds and Warburg, Pincus Partnership Funds.
MARVIN L. MANN, 55 Railroad Avenue, Greenwich, CT, Trustee (1993) is
Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Lexmark
International, Inc. (office machines, 1991). Prior to 1991, he held the
positions of Vice President of International Business Machines Corporation
("IBM") and President and General Manager of various IBM divisions and
subsidiaries. Mr. Mann is a Director of M.A. Hanna Company (chemicals,
1993) and Infomart (marketing services, 1991), a Trammell Crow Co. In
addition, he serves as the Campaign Vice Chairman of the Tri-State United
Way (1993) and is a member of the University of Alabama President's Cabinet
(1990).
THOMAS R. WILLIAMS, 21st Floor, 191 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, GA,
Trustee (1988), is President of The Wales Group, Inc. (management and
financial advisory services). Prior to retiring in 1987, Mr. Williams
served as Chairman of the Board of First Wachovia Corporation (bank holding
company), and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The First National
Bank of Atlanta and First Atlanta Corporation (bank holding company). He
is currently a Director of BellSouth Corporation (telecommunications),
ConAgra, Inc. (agricultural products), Fisher Business Systems, Inc.
(computer software, 1988), Georgia Power Company (electric utility), Gerber
Alley & Associates, Inc. (computer software), National Life Insurance
Company of Vermont, American Software, Inc. (1989), and AppleSouth, Inc.
(restaurants, 1992).
GARY L. FRENCH, Treasurer (1991). Prior to becoming Treasurer of the
Fidelity funds, Mr. French was Senior Vice President, Fund Accounting -
Fidelity Accounting & Custody Services Co. (1991); Vice President, Fund
Accounting - Fidelity Accounting & Custody Services Co. (1990); and
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial and Operations Officer - Huntington
Advisers, Inc. (1985-1990).
ARTHUR S. LORING, Secretary, is Senior Vice President and General Counsel
of FMR, Vice President - Legal of FMR Corp., and Vice President and Clerk
of FDC.
THOMAS D. MAHER, Assistant Vice President (1990), is Assistant Vice
President of Fidelity's money market funds and Vice President and Associate
General Counsel of FMR Texas Inc. (1990).
Under a retirement program that became effective on November 1, 1989,
Trustees, upon reaching age 72, become eligible to participate in a defined
benefit retirement program under which they receive payments during their
lifetime from the fund based on their basic trustee fees and length of
service. Currently, Messrs. Robert L. Johnson, William R. Spaulding,
Bertram H. Witham, and David L. Yunich participate in the program.
As of November 30, 1993, the Trustees and officers of the fund owned, in
the aggregate, less than 1% of the total outstanding shares of the fund.
MANAGEMENT CONTRACT
The fund employs FMR to furnish investment advisory and other services.
Under its management contract with the fund, FMR acts as investment adviser
and, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, directs the
investments of the fund in accordance with its investment objective,
policies, and limitations. FMR also provides the fund with all necessary
office facilities and personnel for servicing the fund's investments, and
compensates all officers of the trust, all Trustees who are "interested
persons" of the trust or FMR, and of all personnel of the trust or FMR
performing services relating to research, statistical, and investment
activities.
In addition, FMR or its affiliates, subject to the supervision of the Board
of Trustees, provide the management and administrative services necessary
for the operation of the fund. These services include providing facilities
for maintaining the fund's organization; supervising relations with
custodians, transfer and pricing agents, accountants, underwriters, and
other persons dealing with the fund; preparing all general shareholder
communications and conducting shareholder relations; maintaining the fund's
records and the registration of the fund's shares under federal and state
law; developing management and shareholder services for the fund; and
furnishing reports, evaluations, and analyses on a variety of subjects to
the Board of Trustees.
In addition to the management fee payable to FMR and the fees payable to
United Missouri, the fund pays all of its expenses, without limitation,
that are not assumed by those parties. The fund pays for typesetting,
printing, and mailing proxy material to shareholders, legal expenses, and
the fees of the custodian, auditor, and non-interested Trustees. Although
the fund's management contract provides that the fund will pay for
typesetting, printing, and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional
information, notices, and reports to existing shareholders, pursuant to
United Missouri's sub-transfer agent agreement with FSC, FSC bears the
cost of providing these services to existing shareholders. Other expenses
paid by the fund include interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, the fund's
proportionate share of insurance premiums and Investment Company Institute
dues, and the costs of registering shares under federal and state
securities laws. The fund is also liable for such nonrecurring expenses as
may arise, including costs of any litigation to which the fund may be a
party, and any obligation it may have to indemnify the trust's officers and
Trustees with respect to litigation.
FMR is the fund's manager pursuant to a management contract dated February
28, 1992. The contract was approved by Fidelity Court Street Trust as sole
shareholder of the fund on February 28, 1992, in conjunction with an
Agreement and Plan to convert the fund from a series of a Massachusetts
business trust to a series of a Delaware business Trust. The Agreement and
Plan of Conversion was approved by public shareholders of the fund on
December 11, 1991. The contract is identical to the fund's prior contract
with FMR, dated November 30, 1990, which was approved by shareholders on
October 3, 1990. For the services of FMR under the contract, the fund pays
FMR a monthly management fee composed of the sum of two elements: a group
fee rate and an individual fund fee rate.
The group fee rate is based on the monthly average net assets of all the
registered investment companies with which FMR has management contracts and
is calculated on a cumulative basis pursuant to the graduated fee rate
schedule shown on the left of the chart on page 16. On the right, the
effective fee rate schedule, shows the results of cumulatively applying the
annualized rates at varying asset levels. For example, the effective annual
group fee rate at $227 billion of group net assets - their approximate
level for November 1993 - was .1627%, which is the weighted average of the
respective fee rates for each level of group net assets up to that level.
GROUP FEE RATE SCHEDULE* EFFECTIVE ANNUAL FEE RATES
AVERAGE GROUP EFFECTIVE
GROUP ANNUALIZED NET ANNUAL
ASSETS RATE ASSETS FEE RATE
0 - $ 3 billion .3700% $ 0.5 billion .3700%
3 - 6 .3400 25 .2664
6 - 9 .3100 50 .2188
9 - 12 .2800 75 .1986
12 - 15 .2500 100 .1869
15 - 18 .2200 125 .1793
18 - 21 .2000 150 .1736
21 - 24 .1900 175 .1695
24 - 30 .1800 200 .1658
30 - 36 .1750 225 .1629
36 - 42 .1700 250 .1604
42 - 48 .1650 275 .1583
48 - 66 .1600 300 .1565
66 - 84 .1550 325 .1548
84 - 120 .1500 350 .1533
120 - 174 .1450
174 - 228 .1400
228 - 282 .1375
282 - 336 .1350
Over 336 .1325
* The rates shown for average group assets in excess of $174 billion were
adopted by FMR on a voluntary basis on November 1, 1993 pending shareholder
approval of a new management contract reflecting the extended schedule.
The extended schedule provides for lower management fees as total assets
under management increase. The schedule shown above (minus the breakpoints
added November 1, 1993) was voluntarily adopted by FMR on January 1, 1992
until shareholders could meet to approve the amended management contract.
Prior to January 1, 1992, the fund's group fee rate was based on a schedule
with breakpoints ending at .150% for average group assets in excess of $84
billion.
The individual fund fee rate is .25%. Based on the average net assets of
funds advised by FMR for November 1993, the annual management fee rate
would be calculated as follows:
Group Fee Rate Individual Fund Fee Rate Total Management Fee Rate
.1627% + .25% = .4127%
One-twelfth (1/12) of this annual management fee rate is then applied to
the fund's average net assets for the current month, giving a dollar amount
which is the fee for that month.
FMR may, from time to time, voluntarily reimburse all or a portion of the
fund's operating expenses (exclusive of interest, taxes, brokerage
commissions, and extraordinary expenses). The table on page 17 outlines
expense limitations (as a percentage of the fund's average net assets) in
effect from the fund's commencement of operations, August 29, 1989, through
the date of this Statement of Additional Information. This table is
followed by a second table showing gross management fees payable to FMR for
each of the past three fiscal years and amounts reimbursed to the fund
during the fiscal years ended November 30, 1993, 1992, and 1991 as a result
of the expense limitations.
Expense Limitations
From To Expense Limitation
August 1, 1992 September 30, 1992 .55
June 1, 1992 July 31, 1992 .50
May 1, 1992 May 31, 1992 .45
April 1, 1992 April 30, 1992 .40
March 1, 1992 March 31, 1992 .35
February 1, 1992 February 29, 1992 .30
January 1, 1992 January 31, 1992 .25
December 1, 1991 December 31, 1991 .20
October 1, 1991 November 30, 1991 .15
August 1, 1991 September 30, 1991 .10
July 1, 1991 July 31, 1991 .05
April 8, 1991 June 30, 1991 .00
March 1, 1991 April 7, 1991 .10
October 15, 1990 February 28, 1991 .05
Management Fees and Reimbursements
Fiscal Management Fee Amount of
Year Before Reimbursement* Reimbursements
1993 $1,250,120 $ 0
1992 $1,604,629 $ 637,836
1991 $1,784,555 $2,175,712
* These fee amounts were equal to .4163%, .4225%, and .4301% (annualized),
respectively, of the fund's average net assets during the corresponding
fiscal year.
SUB-ADVISER. FMR has entered into a sub-advisory agreement with FMR Texas
pursuant to which FMR Texas has primary responsibility for providing
portfolio investment management services to the fund. Under the
sub-advisory agreement, FMR pays FMR Texas a fee equal to 50% of the
management fee payable to FMR under its current management contract with
the fund. The fees paid to FMR Texas are not reduced by any expense
reimbursements that may be in effect from time to time. For fiscal 1993,
1992, and 1991, FMR paid FMR Texas fees equal to $616,962, $800,764, and
$889,535, respectively, under the sub-advisory agreement.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN
The fund has adopted a distribution and service plan (the plan) under Rule
12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Rule). The Rule provides
in substance that a mutual fund may not engage directly or indirectly in
financing any activity that is primarily intended to result in the sale of
shares of the fund except pursuant to a plan adopted by the fund under the
Rule. The Board of Trustees has adopted the plan to allow the fund and FMR
to incur certain expenses that might be considered to constitute indirect
payment by the fund of distribution expenses. Under the plan, if payment
by the fund to FMR of management fees should be deemed to be indirect
financing by the fund of the distribution of its shares, such payment is
authorized by the plan.
The plan specifically recognizes that FMR, either directly or through FDC,
may use its management fee revenue, past profits, or other resources,
without limitation, to pay promotional and administrative expenses in
connection with the offer and sale of shares of the fund. In addition, the
plan provides that FMR may use its resources, including management fee
revenues, to make payments to third parties that provide assistance in
selling shares of the fund, or to third parties, including banks, that
render shareholder support services. For the fiscal years ended November
30, 1993, 1992, and 1991, payments of $16,197, $3,102, and $5,486,
respectively, have been made by FMR to third parties for the fund.
As required by the Rule, the Trustees carefully considered all pertinent
factors relating to the implementation of the plan prior to its approval,
and have determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that the plan
will benefit the fund and its shareholders. In particular, the Trustees
noted that the plan does not authorize payments by the fund other than
those made to FMR under its management contract with the fund. To the
extent that the plan gives FMR and FDC greater flexibility in connection
with the distribution of shares of the fund, additional sales of the fund's
shares may result. Additionally, certain shareholder support services may
be provided more effectively under the plan by local entities with whom
shareholders have other relationships. The fund's plan was approved by
Fidelity Court Street Trust on February 28, 1992, as the then sole
shareholder of the fund, pursuant to an Agreement and plan of Conversion
approved by the public shareholders of the fund on December 11, 1991.
The Glass-Steagall Act generally prohibits federally and state chartered or
supervised banks from engaging in the business of underwriting, selling, or
distributing securities. Although the scope of this prohibition under the
Glass-Steagall Act has not been clearly defined by the courts or
appropriate regulatory agencies, FDC believes that the Glass-Steagall Act
should not preclude a bank from performing shareholder support services, or
servicing and recordkeeping functions. FDC intends to engage banks only to
perform such functions. However, changes in federal or state statutes and
regulations pertaining to the permissible activities of banks and their
affiliates or subsidiaries, as well as further judicial or administrative
decisions or interpretations, could prevent a bank from continuing to
perform all or a part of the contemplated services. If a bank were
prohibited from so acting, the Trustees would consider what actions, if
any, would be necessary to continue to provide efficient and effective
shareholder services. In such event, changes in the operations of the fund
might occur, including possible termination of any automatic investment or
redemption or other services then provided by the bank. It is not expected
that shareholders would suffer any adverse financial consequences as a
result of any of these occurrences. The fund may execute portfolio
transactions with and purchase securities issued by depository institutions
that receive payments under the plan. No preference will be shown in the
selection of investments for the instruments of such depository
institutions. In addition, state securities laws on this issue may differ
from the interpretations of federal law expressed herein, and banks and
other financial institutions may be required to register as dealers
pursuant to state law.
INTEREST OF FMR AFFILIATES
United Missouri is the fund's custodian and transfer agent. United
Missouri has entered into a sub-contract with FSC, an affiliate of FMR,
under the terms of which FSC performs the processing activities associated
with providing transfer agent and shareholder servicing functions for the
fund. Under the sub-contract, FSC bears the expense of typesetting,
printing, and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information,
and all other reports, notices, and statements to shareholders, except
proxy statements. FSC also pays all out-of-pocket expenses associated with
transfer agent services.
United Missouri pays FSC an annual fee of $13.75 per regular account with a
balance of $5,000 or more, $10.00 per regular account with a balance of
less than $5,000, and a supplemental activity charge of $5.61 for monetary
transactions. The account fee and monetary transaction charge for accounts
set up as Core Accounts in the Fidelity Ultra Service Account program are
$12.35 and $.74, respectively. These fees and charges are subject to
annual cost escalation based on postal rate changes and changes in wage and
price levels as measured by the National Consumer Price Index for Urban
Areas. With respect to institutional client master accounts, United
Missouri pays FSC per account fees of $95 and monetary transactions charges
of $20 or 17.50, depending on the nature of services provided.
Prior to December 6, 1991, Shawmut Bank, N.A. (Shawmut) served as the
fund's custodian and transfer agent and also sub-contracted with FSC to
perform the processing activities associated with providing transfer agent
and shareholder servicing functions for the fund. Beginning June 1, 1989,
FSC was compensated by Shawmut on the same basis as it is currently
compensated by United Missouri (although fee rates and charges were
adjusted periodically to reflect postal rate changes and changes in wage
and price levels as measured by the National Consumer Price Index for Urban
Areas). Beginning June 1, 1989, FSC was compensated by Shawmut on the same
basis as it is currently compensated by United Missouri (although fee rates
and changes were adjusted periodically to reflect postal rate changes and
changes in wage and price levels as measured by the National Consumer Price
Index for Urban Areas).
Transfer agent fees, including reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses,
paid to FSC for the fiscal years ended November 30, 1993, 1992, and 1991
were $448,621, $447,021, and $412,207, respectively.
United Missouri has an additional sub-contract with FSC, pursuant to which
FSC performs the calculations necessary to determine the fund's net asset
value per share and dividends and maintains the fund's accounting records.
The annual fee rates for these pricing and bookkeeping services are based
on the fund's average net assets, specifically, .0175% for the first $500
million of average net assets and .0075% for average net assets in excess
of $500 million. The fee is limited to a minimum of $20,000 and a maximum
of $750,000 per year.
Prior to December 6, 1991, Shawmut sub-contracted with FSC for pricing and
bookkeeping services. Beginning July 1, 1991, FSC was compensated for
these services by Shawmut on the same basis as it is currently compensated
by United Missouri. Prior to July 1, 1991, the annual fee paid to FSC for
pricing and bookkeeping services was based on two schedules, one pertaining
to the fund's average net assets and one pertaining to the type and number
of transactions the fund made.
Pricing and bookkeeping fees, including reimbursement for out-of-pocket
expenses, paid to FSC for fiscal 1993, 1992, and 1991 were $61,606,
$86,609, and $115,068, respectively. The transfer agent fees and charges
and pricing and bookkeeping fees described above are paid to FSC by United
Missouri, which is entitled to reimbursement from the fund for these
expenses.
FSC has entered into an agreement with Fidelity Brokerage Services, Inc.
(FBSI), a subsidiary of FMR Corp., pursuant to which FBSI performs certain
recordkeeping, communication, and other services for fund shareholders
participating in the Fidelity Ultra Service Account program. FBSI directly
charges each Ultra Service Account client that chooses the enhanced
features an administrative fee at a rate of $5.00 per month for these
services, which is in addition to the transfer agency fee received by FSC.
Administrative fees paid to FBSI by fund shareholders participating in the
Fidelity Ultra Service Account program amounted to approximately $24,265
for fiscal 1993.
The fund has a distribution agreement with FDC, a Massachusetts corporation
organized on July 18, 1960. FDC is a broker-dealer registered under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. The distribution agreement calls for FDC to
use all reasonable efforts, consistent with its other business, to secure
purchasers for shares of the fund, which are continuously offered at net
asset value. Promotional and administrative expenses in connection with
the offer and sale of shares are paid by FMR.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST
TRUST ORGANIZATION. Fidelity Connecticut Municipal Money Market Portfolio
is a fund of Fidelity Court Street Trust II (the trust), an open-end
management investment company organized as a Delaware business trust on
June 20, 1991. Fidelity Connecticut Municipal Money Market Portfolio
acquired all the assets of Fidelity Connecticut Municipal Money Market
Portfolio, a series of Fidelity Court Street Trust, on February 28, 1992
pursuant to an agreement approved by shareholders on December 11, 1991.
Currently there are four funds of the trust: Fidelity Connecticut
Municipal Money Market Portfolio, Spartan Connecticut Municipal Money
Market Portfolio, Spartan Florida Municipal Money Market Portfolio, and
Fidelity New Jersey Tax-Free Money Market Portfolio. The Trust Instrument
permits the trustees to create additional funds.
In the event that FMR ceases to be the investment adviser to the trust or a
fund, the right of the trust or fund to use the identifying names
"Fidelity" or "Spartan" may be withdrawn.
The assets of the trust received for the issue or sale of shares of each
fund and all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, subject only
to the rights of creditors, are especially allocated to such fund, and
constitute the underlying assets of such fund. The underlying assets of
each fund are segregated on the books of account, and are to be charged
with the liabilities with respect to such fund and with a share of the
general expenses of the trust. Expenses with respect to the trust are to
be allocated in proportion to the asset value of the respective funds,
except where allocations of direct expense can otherwise be fairly made.
The officers of the trust, subject to the general supervision of the Board
of Trustees, have the power to determine which expenses are allocable to a
given fund, or which are general or allocable to all of the funds. In the
event of the dissolution or liquidation of the trust, shareholders of each
fund are entitled to receive as a class the underlying assets of such fund
available for distribution.
SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY. The trust is a business trust organized
under Delaware law. Delaware law provides that shareholders shall be
entitled to the same limitations of personal liability extended to
stockholders of private corporations for profit. The courts of some
states, however, may decline to apply Delaware law on this point. The
Trust Instrument contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability
for the debts, liabilities, obligations, and expenses of the trust and
requires that a disclaimer be given in each contract entered into or
executed by the trust or the Trustees. The Trust Instrument provides for
indemnification out of each fund's property of any shareholder or former
shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the fund. The
Trust Instrument also provides that each fund shall, upon request, assume
the defense of any claim made against any shareholder for any act or
obligation of the fund and satisfy any judgment thereon. Thus, the risk of
a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability
is limited to circumstances in which Delaware law does not apply, no
contractual limitation of liability was in effect, and the fund is unable
to meet its obligations. FMR believes that, in view of the above, the risk
of personal liability to shareholders is extremely remote.
The Trust Instrument further provides that the Trustees, if they have
exercised reasonable care, shall not be personally liable to any person
other than the trust or its shareholders; moreover, the Trustees shall not
be liable for any conduct whatsoever, provided that a Trustee is not
protected against any liability to which he 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.
VOTING RIGHTS. The fund's capital consists of shares of beneficial
interest. The shares have no preemptive or conversion rights; the voting
and dividend rights, the right of redemption, and the privilege of exchange
are described in the Prospectus. Shares are fully paid and nonassessable,
except as set forth under the heading "Shareholder and Trustee Liability"
above. Shareholders representing 10% or more of the trust or a fund may,
as set forth in the Trust Instrument, call meetings of the trust or fund
for any purpose related to the trust or fund, as the case may be,
including, in the case of a meeting of the entire trust, the purpose of
voting on removal of one or more Trustees. The trust or any fund may be
terminated upon the sale of its assets to, or merger with, another open-end
management investment company or series thereof, or upon liquidation and
distribution of its assets. Generally such terminations must be approved
by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the trust
or the fund; however, the Trustees may, without prior shareholder approval,
change the form of organization of the trust by merger, consolidation, or
incorporation. If not so terminated or reorganized, the trust and its
funds will continue indefinitely. Under the Trust Instrument, the Trustees
may, without shareholder vote, cause the trust to merge or consolidate into
one or more trusts, partnerships, or corporations or cause the trust to be
incorporated under Delaware law, so long as the surviving entity is an
open-end management investment company that will succeed to or assume the
trust registration statement. The trust may also invest all of its assets
in another investment company.
CUSTODIAN. United Missouri Bank, N.A., 1010 Grand Avenue, Kansas City,
Missouri, is custodian of the assets of the fund. The custodian is
responsible for the safekeeping of the fund's assets and the appointment of
subcustodian banks and clearing agencies. The custodian takes no part in
determining the investment policies of the fund or in deciding which
securities are purchased or sold by the fund. The fund may, however,
invest in obligations of the custodian and may purchase securities from or
sell securities to the custodian.
FMR, its officers and directors, its affiliated companies, and the trust's
Trustees may from time to time have transactions with various banks,
including banks serving as custodians for certain of the funds advised by
FMR. Transactions that have occurred to date include mortgages and
personal and general business loans. In the judgment of FMR, the terms and
conditions of those transactions were not influenced by existing or
potential custodial or other fund relationships.
AUDITOR. Coopers & Lybrand, 1999 Bryan Street, Dallas, Texas serves as
the trust's independent accountant. The auditor examines financial
statements for the fund and provides other audit, tax, and related
services.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The fund's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1993 is a
separate report supplied with this Statement of Additional Information and
is incorporated herein by reference.
APPENDIX
The descriptions that follow are examples of eligible ratings for the fund.
The fund may, however, consider the ratings for other types of investments
and the ratings assigned by other rating organizations when determining the
eligibility of a particular investment.
DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.'S RATINGS OF STATE AND
MUNICIPAL NOTES:
Moody's ratings for state and municipal and other short-term obligations
will be designated Moody's Investment Grade (MIG, or VMIG, for variable
rate obligations). This distinction is in recognition of the difference
between short-term credit risk and long-term credit risk. Factors
affecting the liquidity of the borrower and short-term cyclical elements
are critical in short-term ratings, while other factors of major importance
in bond risk, long-term secular trends for example, may be less important
in the short run. Symbols used will be as follows:
MIG-1/VMIG 1 - This designation denotes best quality. There is present
strong protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support, or
demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG-2/VMIG 2 - This designation denotes high quality. Margins of
protection are ample although not so large as in the preceding group.
DESCRIPTION OF STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION'S RATINGS OF STATE AND
MUNICIPAL NOTES:
SP-1 - Very strong or strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those
issues determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics will be
given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2 - Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.
DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.'S MUNICIPAL BOND RATINGS:
AAA - Bonds rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the
smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as "gilt
edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally
stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective
elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most
unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
AA - Bonds 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.
Those bonds in the Aa group which Moody's believes possess the strongest
investment attributes are designated by the symbol Aa1.
DESCRIPTION OF STANDARD & POOR'S CORPORATION'S MUNICIPAL BOND RATINGS:
AAA - Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard &
Poor's to a debt obligation. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal
is extremely strong.
AA - Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay
principal and differs from the highest-rated debt issues only in small
degree.
The rating AA may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus to show
relative standing within the rating category.
