PIC INVESTMENT TRUST
Statement of Additional Information
Dated March 1, 1999,
as Amended March 31, 1999
This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") is not a prospectus, and it
should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of the Provident Investment
Counsel Growth Fund I and Provident Investment Counsel Small Company Growth Fund
I, series of PIC Investment Trust (the "Trust"). There are nine other series of
the Trust: the Provident Investment Counsel Balanced Fund A, Provident
Investment Counsel Growth Fund A, Provident Investment Counsel Mid Cap Fund A,
Provident Investment Counsel Small Company Growth Fund A, Provident Investment
Counsel Balanced Fund B, Provident Investment Counsel Growth Fund B, Provident
Investment Counsel Mid Cap Fund B, Provident Investment Counsel Small Company
Growth Fund B and Provident Investment Counsel Small Cap Growth Fund I. The
Provident Investment Counsel Growth Fund I (the "Growth Fund") invests in the
PIC Growth Portfolio and the Provident Investment Counsel Small Company Growth
Fund I (the "Small Company Growth Fund") invests in the PIC Small Cap Portfolio.
(In this SAI, the Growth Fund and the Small Company Growth Fund may be referred
to as the "Funds", and the PIC Growth Portfolio and PIC Small Cap Portfolio may
be referred to as the "Portfolios.") Provident Investment Counsel (the
"Advisor") is the Advisor to the Portfolios. A copy of the prospectus may be
obtained from the Trust at 300 North Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101-4106,
telephone (818) 449-8500.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Investment Objectives and Policies B-2
Management B-10
Custodian and Auditors B-15
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage B-16
Portfolio Turnover B-17
Additional Purchase and Redemption Information B-17
Net Asset Value B-17
Taxation B-18
Dividends and Distributions B-19
Performance Information B-19
General Information B-21
Financial Statements B-22
Appendix B-22
B-1
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
INTRODUCTION
Each Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing all of
its assets in a PIC Portfolio. Each Portfolio is a separate registered
investment company with the same investment objective as the Fund. Since neither
Fund will invest in any securities other than shares of a Portfolio, investors
in the Fund will acquire only an indirect interest in the Portfolio. Each Fund's
and Portfolio's investment objective cannot be changed without shareholder
approval.
In addition to selling its shares to a Fund, a Portfolio may sell its
shares to other mutual funds or institutional investors. All investors in a
Portfolio invest on the same terms and conditions and pay a proportionate share
of the Portfolio's expenses. However, other investors in a Portfolio may sell
their shares to the public at prices different from those of a Fund as a result
of the imposition of sales charges or different operating expenses. You should
be aware that these differences may result in different returns from those of
investors in other entities investing in a Portfolio. Information concerning
other holders of interests in a Portfolio is available by calling (800)
618-7643.
The Trustees of the Trust believe that this structure may enable a Fund
to benefit from certain economies of scale, based on the premise that certain of
the expenses of managing an investment portfolio are relatively fixed and that a
larger investment portfolio may therefore achieve a lower ratio of operating
expenses to net assets. Investing a Fund's assets in a Portfolio may produce
other benefits resulting from increased asset size, such as the ability to
participate in transactions in securities which may be offered in larger
denominations than could be purchased by the Fund alone. A Fund's investment in
a Portfolio may be withdrawn by the Trustees at any time if the Board determines
that it is in the best interests of a Fund to do so. If any such withdrawal were
made, the Trustees would consider what action might be taken, including the
investment of all of the assets of a Fund in another pooled investment company
or the retaining of an investment advisor to manage the Fund's assets directly.
Whenever a Fund is requested to vote on matters pertaining to a
Portfolio, the Fund will hold a meeting of its shareholders, and the Fund's
votes with respect to the Portfolio will be cast in the same proportion as the
shares of the Fund for which voting instructions are received.
THE GROWTH FUND
The investment objective of the Growth Fund is to provide long-term
growth of capital. There is no assurance that the Growth Fund will achieve its
objective. The Growth Fund will attempt to achieve its objective by investing
all of its assets in shares of the PIC Growth Portfolio (the "Growth
Portfolio"). The Growth Portfolio is a diversified open-end management
investment company having the same investment objective as the Growth Fund. The
discussion below supplements information contained in the prospectus as to
investment policies of the Growth Fund and the Growth Portfolio. Because the
investment characteristics of the Growth Fund will correspond directly to those
of the Growth Portfolio, the discussion refers to those investments and
techniques employed by the Growth Portfolio.
B-2
<PAGE>
THE SMALL COMPANY GROWTH FUND
The investment objective of the Small Company Growth Fund is to provide
capital appreciation. There is no assurance that Small Company Growth Fund will
achieve its objective. The Small Company Growth Fund will attempt to achieve its
objective by investing all of its assets in shares of the PIC Small Cap
Portfolio (the "Small Cap Portfolio"). The Small Cap Portfolio is a diversified
open-end management investment company having the same investment objective as
the Small Company Growth Fund. The discussion below supplements information
contained in the prospectus as to policies of the Small Company Growth Fund and
the Small Cap Portfolio. Because the investment characteristics of the Small
Company Growth Fund will correspond directly to those of the Small Cap
Portfolio, the discussion refers to those investments and techniques employed by
the Small Cap Portfolio.
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Trust (on behalf of the Funds) and the Portfolios have adopted the
following restrictions as fundamental policies, which may not be changed without
the favorable vote of the holders of a "majority," as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), of the outstanding voting securities of a
Fund or a Portfolio. Under the 1940 Act, the "vote of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities" means the vote of the holders of the
lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of a Fund or a Portfolio represented at a
meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of its outstanding shares are
represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of a Fund or a
Portfolio. Except with respect to borrowing, changes in values of assets of a
particular Fund or Portfolio will not cause a violation of the investment
restrictions so long as percentage restrictions are observed by such Fund or
Portfolio at the time it purchases any security.
As a matter of fundamental policy, the Portfolios are diversified;
i.e., as to 75% of the value of a Portfolio's total assets, no more than 5% of
the value of its total assets may be invested in the securities of any one
issuer (other than U.S. Government securities). The Funds invest all of their
assets in shares of the Portfolios. Each Fund's and each Portfolio's investment
objective is fundamental.
In addition, neither Fund or Portfolio may:
1. Issue senior securities, borrow money or pledge its assets, except
that a Fund or a Portfolio may borrow on an unsecured basis from banks for
temporary or emergency purposes or for the clearance of transactions in amounts
not exceeding 10% of its total assets (not including the amount borrowed),
provided that it will not make investments while borrowings in excess of 5% of
the value of its total assets are outstanding;
B-3
<PAGE>
2. Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position;
3. Purchase securities on margin, except such short-term credits as may
be necessary for the clearance of transactions;
4. Write put or call options, except that the Small Cap Portfolio may
write covered call and cash secured put options and purchase call and put
options on stocks and stock indices;
5. Act as underwriter (except to the extent a Fund or Portfolio may be
deemed to be an underwriter in connection with the sale of securities in its
investment portfolio);
6. Invest 25% or more of its total assets, calculated at the time of
purchase and taken at market value, in any one industry (other than U.S.
Government securities), except that either of the Funds may invest more than 25%
of their assets in shares of a Portfolio;
7. Purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate or real
estate limited partnerships (although either Portfolio may purchase and sell
securities which are secured by real estate and securities of companies which
invest or deal in real estate);
8. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity futures contracts, except
that either Portfolio may purchase and sell stock index futures contracts;
9. Invest in oil and gas limited partnerships or oil, gas or mineral
leases;
10. Make loans (except for purchases of debt securities consistent with
the investment policies of the Funds and the Portfolios and except for
repurchase agreements); or
11. Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or
management.
The Portfolios observe the following restrictions as a matter of
operating but not fundamental policy.
Neither Portfolio may:
1. Invest more than 10% of its assets in the securities of other
investment companies or purchase more than 3% of any other investment company's
voting securities or make any other investment in other investment companies
except as permitted by federal and state law; or
2. Invest more than 15% of its net assets in securities which are
restricted as to disposition or otherwise are illiquid or have no readily
available market (except for securities issued under Rule 144A which are
determined by the Board of Trustees to be liquid).
B-4
<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT PRACTICES
The discussion below supplements information contained in the
prospectus as to investment policies of the Portfolios. PIC may not buy all of
these instruments or use all of these techniques to the full extent permitted
unless it believes that doing so will help a Portfolio achieve its goals.
EQUITY SECURITIES
Equity securities are common stocks and other kinds of securities that
have the characteristics of common stocks. These other securities include bonds,
debentures and preferred stocks which can be converted into common stocks. They
also include warrants and options to purchase common stocks.
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
Short-Term Investments are debt securities that mature within a year of
the date they are purchased by a Portfolio. Some specific examples of short-term
investments are commercial paper, bankers' acceptances, certificates of deposit
and repurchase agreements. A Portfolio will only purchase short-term investments
which are "high quality," meaning the investments have been rated A-1 by
Standard & Poor's Rating Group ("S&P") or Prime-1 by Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. ("Moody's"), or have an issue of debt securities outstanding rated at least
A by S&P or Moody's. The term also applies to short-term investments that PIC
believes are comparable in quality to those with an A-1 or Prime-1 rating. U.S.
Government securities are always considered to be high quality.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
Repurchase agreements are transactions in which a Fund or a Portfolio
purchases a security from a bank or recognized securities dealer and
simultaneously commits to resell that security to the bank or dealer at an
agreed-upon date and price reflecting a market rate of interest unrelated to the
coupon rate or maturity of the purchased security. The purchaser maintains
custody of the underlying securities prior to their repurchase; thus the
obligation of the bank or dealer to pay the repurchase price on the date agreed
to is, in effect, secured by such underlying securities. If the value of such
securities is less than the repurchase price, the other party to the agreement
will provide additional collateral so that at all times the collateral is at
least equal to the repurchase price.
Although repurchase agreements carry certain risks not associated with
direct investments in securities, the Funds and the Portfolios intend to enter
into repurchase agreements only with banks and dealers believed by the Advisor
to present minimum credit risks in accordance with guidelines established by the
Boards of Trustees. The Advisor will review and monitor the creditworthiness of
such institutions under the Boards' general supervision. To the extent that the
proceeds from any sale of collateral upon a default in the obligation to
repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the purchaser would suffer a
loss. If the other party to the repurchase agreement petitions for bankruptcy or
otherwise becomes subject to bankruptcy or other liquidation proceedings, there
might be restrictions on the purchaser's ability to sell the collateral and the
purchaser could suffer a loss. However, with respect to financial institutions
whose bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings are subject to the U.S. Bankruptcy
Code, the Funds and the Portfolios intend to comply with provisions under such
Code that would allow them immediately to resell the collateral.
B-5
<PAGE>
OPTIONS ACTIVITIES
The Small Cap Portfolio may write call options on stocks and stock
indices, if the calls are "covered" throughout the life of the option. A call is
"covered" if the Portfolio owns the optioned securities. When the Small Cap
Portfolio writes a call, it receives a premium and gives the purchaser the right
to buy the underlying security at any time during the call period at a fixed
exercise price regardless of market price changes during the call period. If the
call is exercised, the Portfolio will forgo any gain from an increase in the
market price of the underlying security over the exercise price.
The Small Cap Portfolio may purchase a call on securities to effect a
"closing purchase transaction," which is the purchase of a call covering the
same underlying security and having the same exercise price and expiration date
as a call previously written by the Portfolio on which it wishes to terminate
its obligation. If the Portfolio is unable to effect a closing purchase
transaction, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the call
previously written by the Portfolio expires (or until the call is exercised and
the Portfolio delivers the underlying security).
The Small Cap Portfolio also may write and purchase put options
("puts"). When the Portfolio writes a put, it gives the purchaser of the put the
right to sell the underlying security to the Portfolio at the exercise price at
any time during the option period. When the Portfolio purchases a put, it pays a
premium in return for the right to sell the underlying security at the exercise
price at any time during the option period. If any put is not exercised or sold,
it will become worthless on its expiration date.
The Small Cap Portfolio's option positions may be closed out only on an
exchange which provides a secondary market for options of the same series, but
there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist at a given
time for any particular option.
In the event of a shortage of the underlying securities deliverable on
exercise of an option, the Options Clearing Corporation has the authority to
permit other, generally comparable securities to be delivered in fulfillment of
option exercise obligations. If the Options Clearing Corporation exercises its
discretionary authority to allow such other securities to be delivered, it may
also adjust the exercise prices of the affected options by setting different
prices at which otherwise ineligible securities may be delivered. As an
alternative to permitting such substitute deliveries, the Options Clearing
Corporation may impose special exercise settlement procedures.
B-6
<PAGE>
FUTURES CONTRACTS
The Portfolios may buy and sell stock index futures contracts. A
futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security
or an index for a set price on a future date. Futures contracts are traded on
designated "contract markets" which, through their clearing corporations,
guarantee performance of the contracts.
Entering into a futures contract for the sale of securities has an
effect similar to the actual sale of securities, although sale of the futures
contract might be accomplished more easily and quickly. Entering into futures
contracts for the purchase of securities has an effect similar to the actual
purchase of the underlying securities, but permits the continued holding of
securities other than the underlying securities.
A stock index futures contract may be used as a hedge by any of the
Portfolios with regard to market risk as distinguished from risk relating to a
specific security. A stock index futures contract does not require the physical
delivery of securities, but merely provides for profits and losses resulting
from changes in the market value of the contract to be credited or debited at
the close of each trading day to the respective accounts of the parties to the
contract. On the contract's expiration date, a final cash settlement occurs.
Changes in the market value of a particular stock index futures contract
reflects changes in the specified index of equity securities on which the future
is based.
There are several risks in connection with the use of futures
contracts. In the event of an imperfect correlation between the futures contract
and the portfolio position which is intended to be protected, the desired
protection may not be obtained and a Portfolio may be exposed to risk of loss.
Further, unanticipated changes in interest rates or stock price movements may
result in a poorer overall performance for a Portfolio than if it had not
entered into any futures on stock indices.
In addition, the market prices of futures contracts may be affected by
certain factors. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to
margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional
margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through
offsetting transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the
securities and futures markets. Second, from the point of view of speculators,
the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin
requirements in the securities market. Therefore, increased participation by
speculators in the futures market may also cause temporary price distortions.
Finally, positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an
exchange or board of trade which provides a secondary market for such futures.
There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange or board of
trade will exist for any particular contract or at any particular time.
FOREIGN SECURITIES
The Portfolios may invest in foreign issuers in foreign markets. In
addition, the Portfolios may invest in American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"),
which are receipts, usually issued by a U.S. bank or trust company, evidencing
ownership of the underlying securities. Generally, ADRs are issued in registered
B-7
<PAGE>
form, denominated in U.S. dollars, and are designed for use in the U.S.
securities markets. A depositary may issue unsponsored ADRs without the consent
of the foreign issuer of securities, in which case the holder of the ADR may
incur higher costs and receive less information about the foreign issuer than
the holder of a sponsored ADR. Neither Portfolio may invest more than 20% of its
total assets in foreign securities, and it will only purchase foreign securities
or American Depositary Receipts which are listed on a national securities
exchange or included in the NASDAQ system.
Foreign securities and securities issued by U.S. entities with
substantial foreign operations may involve additional risks and considerations.
These include risks relating to political or economic conditions in foreign
countries, fluctuations in foreign currencies, withholding or other taxes,
operational risks, increased regulatory burdens and the potentially less
stringent investor protection and disclosure standards of foreign markets. All
of these factors can make foreign investments, especially those in developing
countries, more volatile.
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS
The Portfolios may enter into forward contracts with respect to
specific transactions. For example, when a Portfolio enters into a contract for
the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency, or when it
anticipates the receipt in a foreign currency of dividend or interest payments
on a security that it holds, the Portfolio may desire to "lock in" the U.S.
dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of the payment, by
entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed amount of
U.S. dollars or foreign currency, of the amount of foreign currency involved in
the underlying transaction. The Portfolio will thereby be to protect itself
against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship
between the currency exchange rates during the period between the date on which
the security is purchased or sold, or on which the payment is declared, and the
date on which such payments are made or received.
The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of
the securities involved will not generally be possible because the future value
of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market
movements in the value of those securities between the date the forward contract
is entered into and the date it matures. Accordingly, it may be necessary for a
Portfolio to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot (i.e., cash)
market (and bear the expense of such purchase) if the market value of the
security is less than the amount of foreign currency the Portfolio is obligated
to deliver and if a decision is made to sell the security and make delivery of
the foreign currency. Conversely, it may be necessary to sell on the spot market
some of the foreign currency received upon the sale of the portfolio security if
its market value exceeds the amount of foreign currency a Portfolio is obligated
to deliver. The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely
difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is
highly uncertain. Forward contracts involve the risk that anticipated currency
movements will not be accurately predicted, causing a Portfolio to sustain
losses on these contracts and transaction costs. The Portfolios may enter into
forward contracts or maintain a net exposure to such contracts only if (1) the
consummation of the contracts would not obligate the Portfolio to deliver an
B-8
<PAGE>
amount of foreign currency in excess of the value of the Portfolio's securities
or other assets denominated in that currency or (2) the Portfolio maintains a
segregated account as described below. Under normal circumstances, consideration
of the prospect for currency parities will be incorporated into the longer term
investment decisions made with regard to overall diversification strategies.
However, the Advisor believes it is important to have the flexibility to enter
into such forward contracts when it determines that the best interests of a
Portfolio will be served.
At or before the maturity date of a forward contract that requires a
Portfolio to sell a currency, the Portfolio may either sell a security and use
the sale proceeds to make delivery of the currency or retain the security and
offset its contractual obligation to deliver the currency by purchasing a second
contract pursuant to which the Portfolio will obtain, on the same maturity date,
the same amount of the currency that it is obligated to deliver. Similarly, a
Portfolio may close out a forward contract requiring it to purchase a specified
currency by entering into a second contract entitling it to sell the same amount
of the same currency on the maturity date of the first contract. The Portfolio
would realize a gain or loss as a result of entering into such an offsetting
forward contract under either circumstance to the extent the exchange rate
between the currencies involved moved between the execution dates of the first
and second contracts.
The cost to a Portfolio of engaging in forward contracts varies with
factors such as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period and
the market conditions then prevailing. Because forward contracts are usually
entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved. The use
of forward contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of the
underlying securities a Portfolio owns or intends to acquire, but it does fix a
rate of exchange in advance. In addition, although forward contracts limit the
risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currencies, at the same
time they limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the
currencies increase.
SEGREGATED ACCOUNTS
When a Portfolio writes an option, sells a futures contract or enters
into a forward foreign currency exchange contract, it will establish a
segregated account with its custodian bank, or a securities depository acting
for it, to hold assets of the Portfolio in order to insure that the Portfolio
will be able to meet its obligations. In the case of a call that has been
written, the securities covering the option will be maintained in the segregated
account and cannot be sold by a Portfolio until released. In the case of a put
that has been written or a forward foreign currency contract that has been
entered into, liquid securities will be maintained in the segregated account in
an amount sufficient to meet a Portfolio's obligations pursuant to the put or
forward contract. In the case of a futures contract, liquid securities will be
maintained in the segregated account equal in value to the current value of the
underlying contract, less the margin deposits. The margin deposits are also
held, in cash or U.S. Government securities, in the segregated account.
B-9
<PAGE>
DEBT SECURITIES AND RATINGS
Ratings of debt securities represent the rating agencies' opinions
regarding their quality, are not a guarantee of quality and may be reduced after
a Portfolio has acquired the security. The Advisor will consider whether the
Portfolio should continue to hold the security but is not required to dispose of
it. Credit ratings attempt to evaluate the safety of principal and interest
payments and do not evaluate the risks of fluctuations in market value. Also,
rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings in response to
subsequent events, so that an issuer's current financial condition may be better
or worse than the rating indicates.
MANAGEMENT
The overall management of the business and affairs of the Trust is
vested with its Board of Trustees. The Board approves all significant agreements
between the Trust and persons or companies furnishing services to it, including
the agreements with the Advisor, Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent.
Likewise, the Portfolios each have a Board of Trustees which have comparable
responsibilities, including approving agreements with the Advisor. The day to
day operations of the Trust and the Portfolios are delegated to their officers,
subject to their investment objectives and policies and to general supervision
by their Boards of Trustees.
The Trustees and officers of the Trust, their business addresses and
principal occupations during the past five years are:
Name, Address Position(s) Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Age With the Trust During Past 5 Years
------- -------------- -------------------
Jettie M. Edwards (age 52) Trustee Consulting principal of
76 Seaview Drive Syrus Associates (consulting firm)
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Jeffrey D. Lovell (age 46) Trustee Managing Director, President and
11150 Santa Monica Blvd. co-founder of Putnam, Lovell &
Ste 1650 Thornton, Inc. (investment bankers)
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Jeffrey J. Miller (age 48) Trustee* Managing Director and Secretary
300 North Lake Avenue of the Advisor
Pasadena, CA 91101
Wayne H. Smith (age 57) Trustee Vice President and Treasurer of
150 N. Orange Grove Blvd. Avery Dennison Corporation
Pasadena, CA 91103 (pressure sensitive material and
office products manufacturer)
B-10
<PAGE>
Douglass B. Allen (age 37) President* Vice President of the Advisor;
300 North Lake Avenue Director of the Sycamores
Pasadena, CA 91101 (non-profit children's treatment
agency) since September 1998
Thad M. Brown (age 48) Vice President, Senior Vice President and Chief
300 North Lake Avenue Secretary and Financial Officer of the Advisor
Pasadena, CA 91101 Treasurer*
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio, their business address and
their occupations during the past five years are:
Name, Address Position(s) Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Age With the Portfolio During Past 5 Years
------- ------------------ -------------------
Richard N. Frank (age 75) Trustee Chief Executive Officer, Lawry's
234 E. Colorado Blvd. Restaurants, Inc.; formerly Chairman
Pasadena, CA 91101 of Lawry's Foods, Inc.
James Clayburn Trustee Dean Emeritus, John E. Anderson
LaForce (age70) Graduate School of Management,
P.O. Box 1585 University of California, Los
Pauma Valley, CA 92061 Angeles. Director of The BlackRock
Funds. Trustee of Payden & Rygel
Investment Trust. Director of the
Timken Co., Rockwell International,
Eli Lilly, Jacobs Engineering Group
and Imperial Credit Industries.
Jeffrey J. Miller (age 48) Trustee* Managing Director and Secretary of
300 North Lake Avenue the Advisor
Pasadena, CA 91101
Angelo R. Mozilo (age 59) Trustee Vice Chairman and Executive Vice
155 N. Lake Avenue President of Countrywide Credit
Pasadena, CA 91101 Industries (mortgage banking)
Douglass B. Allen (age 37) President* Vice President of the Advisor;
300 North Lake Avenue Director of the Sycamores
Pasadena, CA 91101 (non-profit children's treatment
agency) since September 1998
Thad M. Brown (age 48) Vice President, Senior Vice President and Chief
300 North Lake Avenue Secretary and Financial Officer of the Advisor
Pasadena, CA 91101 Treasurer*
- ----------
* denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Trust or Portfolio under
the 1940 Act.
B-11
<PAGE>
The following compensation was paid to each of the following Trustees.
No other compensation or retirement benefits were received by any Trustee or
officer from the Registrant or other registered investment company in the "Fund
Complex."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Deferred
Deferred Compensation Total
Compensation Accrued as Compensation
Aggregate Aggregate Accrued as Part Part of From Trust and
Compensation Compensation of Trust Portfolios Portfolios paid
Name of Trustee from Trust from Portfolios Expenses Expenses to Trustee
- --------------- ---------- --------------- -------- -------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Jettie M. Edwards $13,000 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $13,000
Bernard J. Johnson $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Jeffrey D. Lovell $ 0 $ 0 $3,232 $ 0 $ 3,232
Wayne H. Smith $ 0 $ 0 $3,232 $ 0 $ 3,232
Richard N. Frank $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $3,191 $ 3,191
James Clayburn LaForce $ 0 $12,000 $ 0 $ 0 $12,000
Angelo R. Mozilo $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $3,190 $ 3,190
</TABLE>
The following persons, to the knowledge of the Trust, owned more than
5% of the outstanding shares of the Growth Fund as of February 9, 1999:
Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Trustee - 5.09%
Chicago, IL 60603
Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy
Partners Retirement Plan - 7.3%
Brooklyn, NY 11245
Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Co., Trustee - 31.66%
Valley Forge, PA 19482
The following persons, to the knowledge of the Trust, owned more than
5% of the outstanding shares of the Small Company Growth Fund as of February 9,
1999:
Strage & Co. - 14.70%
Westerville, OH 43086
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Special Custody Acct. - 13.63%
San Francisco, CA 94102
George E. Handtmann III and
Janet L. Handtmann, Trustees - 5.73%
Carpenteria, CA 930133
UMBSC & Co. FBO
Interstate Brands Corp
Aggressive Growth Acct. - 20.22%
Kansas City, MO 64141
UMBSC & Co.
FBO Interstate Brands Unit
Elect-Mod Grt - 12.08%
Kansas City, MO 64141
Atlantic Trust Company,
Nominee Account - 19.04%
Boston, MA 12210
As of February 9, 1999, shares of the Funds owned by the Trustees and
officers as a group were less than 1%.
B-12
<PAGE>
THE ADVISOR
The Trust does not have an investment advisor, although the Advisor
performs certain administrative services for it, including providing certain
officers and office space.
The following information is provided about the Advisor and the
Portfolios. Subject to the supervision of the Boards of Trustees of the
Portfolios, investment management and services will be provided to the
Portfolios by the Advisor, pursuant to separate Investment Advisory Agreements
(the "Advisory Agreements"). Under the Advisory Agreements, the Advisor will
provide a continuous investment program for the Portfolios and make decisions
and place orders to buy, sell or hold particular securities. In addition to the
fees payable to the Advisor and the Administrator, the Portfolios and the Trust
are responsible for their operating expenses, including: (i) interest and taxes;
(ii) brokerage commissions; (iii) insurance premiums; (iv) compensation and
expenses of Trustees other than those affiliated with the Advisor or the
Administrator; (v) legal and audit expenses; (vi) fees and expenses of the
custodian, shareholder service and transfer agents; (vii) fees and expenses for
registration or qualification of the Trust and its shares under federal or state
securities laws; (viii) expenses of preparing, printing and mailing reports and
notices and proxy material to shareholders; (ix) other expenses incidental to
holding any shareholder meetings; (x) dues or assessments of or contributions to
the Investment Company Institute or any successor; (xi) such non-recurring
expenses as may arise, including litigation affecting the Trust or the
Portfolios and the legal obligations with respect to which the Trust or the
Portfolios may have to indemnify their officers and Trustees; and (xii)
amortization of organization costs.
The Advisor is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of United Asset
Management Corporation ("UAM"), a New York Stock Exchange listed holding company
principally engaged, through affiliated firms, in providing institutional
investment management services. On February 15, 1995, UAM acquired the assets of
the Advisor's predecessor, which had the same name as the Advisor; on that date
the Advisor entered into new Advisory Agreements having the same terms as the
previous Advisory Agreements with the Portfolios. The term "Advisor" also refers
to the Advisor's predecessor.
For its services, the Advisor receives a fee from the Growth and Small
Cap Portfolios at an annual rate of 0.80% of their average daily net assets.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 1998, 1997, and 1996, the Advisor
earned fees pursuant to the Advisory Agreements as follows: from the Growth
Portfolio, $1,045,893, $838,058 and $949,431, respectively; and from the Small
Cap Portfolio, $1,418,731, $1,525,768 and $1,395,748, respectively. However, the
Advisor has agreed to limit the aggregate expenses of the Growth and Small Cap
Portfolios to 1.00% of average net assets. As a result, the Advisor paid
expenses of the Growth Portfolio that exceeded these expense limits in the
amounts of $22,176, $48,003 and $64,401 during the fiscal years ended October
31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The Advisor paid expenses of the Small
Cap Portfolio that exceeded these expense limits in the amounts of $24,920,
$24,879 and $26,098 during the fiscal years ended October 31, 1998, 1997 and
1996, respectively.
B-13
<PAGE>
Under the Advisory Agreements, the Advisor will not be liable to the
Portfolios for any error of judgment by the Advisor or any loss sustained by the
Portfolios except in the case of a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the
receipt of compensation for services (in which case any award of damages will be
limited as provided in the 1940 Act) or of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of duty.
The Advisory Agreements will remain in effect for two years from their
execution. Thereafter, if not terminated, each Advisory Agreement will continue
automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually (i) by a majority vote of the
Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval, and (ii) by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio.
The Advisory Agreements are terminable by vote of the Board of Trustees
or by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Portfolios at any time without penalty, on 60 days written notice to the
Advisor. The Advisory Agreements also may be terminated by the Advisor on 60
days written notice to the Portfolios. The Advisory Agreements terminate
automatically upon their assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
The Advisor also provides certain administrative services to the Trust
pursuant to Administration Agreements, including assisting shareholders of the
Trust, furnishing office space and permitting certain employees to serve as
officers and Trustees of the Trust. For its services, it earns a fee at the rate
of 0.20% of the average net assets of each series of the Trust. During the
fiscal years ended October 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, the Advisor earned fees
pursuant to the Administration Agreements from the Growth Fund (formerly the
Institutional Growth Fund) of $255,010, $207,782 and $236,786, respectively.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, the Advisor
earned fees of $70,124, $45,245 and $3,105, respectively from the Small Company
Growth Fund (formerly PIC Institutional Small Cap Growth Fund). However, the
Advisor has agreed to limit the aggregate expenses of the Growth Fund to 1.25%
of its average daily net assets and the expenses of the Small Company Growth
Fund to 1.45% of its average daily net assets. As a result, the Advisor waived
all or a portion of its fee and/or reimbursed expenses of the Growth Fund that
exceeded these expense limits in the amounts of $178,773, $110,144 and $55,034
during the fiscal years ended October 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996. In addition, the
Advisor waived all or a portion of its fee and/or reimbursed expenses of the
Small Company Growth Fund that exceeded these expense limits in the amounts of
$15,053, $35,623 and $38,198 during the fiscal years ended October 31, 1998,
1997 and 1996.
The Advisor reserves the right to be reimbursed for any waiver of its
fees or expenses paid on behalf of the Funds if, within three subsequent years,
a Fund's expenses are less than the limit agreed to by the Advisor.
THE ADMINISTRATOR
The Funds and the Portfolios each pay a monthly administration fee to
Investment Company Administration, LLC for managing some of their business
affairs. Each Portfolio pays an annual administration fee of 0.10% of its
average net assets, subject to an annual minimum of $45,000. Each Fund pays an
annual fee of $15,000.
B-14
<PAGE>
During each of the three years ended October 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996,
the Growth Fund paid the Administrator fees in the amount of $15,000. During the
fiscal years ended October 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 the Small Company Growth Fund
paid the Administrator fees in the amounts of $15,000, $15,000 and $4,999,
respectively.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, the
Growth Portfolio paid the Administrator fees in the amounts of $130,737,
$103,757 and $118,678, respectively. During the fiscal years ended October 31,
1998, 1997 and 1996, the Small Company Growth Portfolio paid the Administrator
fees in the amounts of $177,341, $190,721 and $174,469, respectively.
CUSTODIAN AND AUDITORS
The Trust's custodian, Provident National Bank, 200 Stevens Drive,
Lester, PA 19113 is responsible for holding the Funds' assets. Provident
Financial Processing Corporation, 400 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809,
acts as each Fund's transfer agent; its mailing address is P.O. Box 8943,
Wilmington, DE 19899. The Trust's independent accountants, McGladrey & Pullen,
LLP, 555 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017, assist in the preparation of certain
reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Funds' tax returns.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
The Advisory Agreements state that in connection with its duties to
arrange for the purchase and the sale of securities held by the Portfolios by
placing purchase and sale orders for the Portfolios, the Advisor shall select
such broker-dealers ("brokers") as shall, in its judgment, achieve the policy of
"best execution," i.e., prompt and efficient execution at the most favorable
securities price. In making such selection, the Advisor is authorized in the
Advisory Agreements to consider the reliability, integrity and financial
condition of the broker. The Advisor also is authorized by the Advisory
Agreements to consider whether the broker provides research or statistical
information to the Portfolios and/or other accounts of the Advisor. The Advisor
may select brokers who sell shares of the Portfolios or the Funds which invest
in the Portfolios.
The Advisory Agreements state that the commissions paid to brokers may
be higher than another broker would have charged if a good faith determination
is made by the Advisor that the commission is reasonable in relation to the
services provided, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the
Advisor's overall responsibilities as to the accounts as to which it exercises
investment discretion and that the Advisor shall use its judgment in determining
that the amount of commissions paid are reasonable in relation to the value of
brokerage and research services provided and need not place or attempt to place
a specific dollar value on such services or on the portion of commission rates
reflecting such services. The Advisory Agreements provide that to demonstrate
that such determinations were in good faith, and to show the overall
reasonableness of commissions paid, the Advisor shall be prepared to show that
commissions paid (i) were for purposes contemplated by the Advisory Agreements;
(ii) were for products or services which provide lawful and appropriate
assistance to its decision-making process; and (iii) were within a reasonable
range as compared to the rates charged by brokers to other institutional
investors as such rates may become known from available information. During the
fiscal years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, the amount of brokerage
commissions paid by the Growth Portfolio were $110,376 and $148,938,
respectively. During the fiscal years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, the
amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Small Cap Portfolio were $218,087
and $115,709, respectively. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, the
Growth Portfolio paid $165,841 in brokerage commissions. Of that amount, $1,050
was paid in brokerage commissions to brokers who furnished research services.
During the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, the Small Cap Portfolio paid
$208,083 in brokerage commissions. Of that amount, $9,449 was paid in brokerage
commissions to brokers who furnished research services.
B-15
<PAGE>
The research services discussed above may be in written form or through
direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular
companies and securities as well as market, economic or institutional areas and
information assisting the Portfolios in the valuation of the Portfolios'
investments. The research which the Advisor receives for the Portfolios'
brokerage commissions, whether or not useful to the Portfolios, may be useful to
it in managing the accounts of its other advisory clients. Similarly, the
research received for the commissions may be useful to the Portfolios.
The debt securities are generally traded on a "net" basis with dealers
acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission although
the price of the security usually includes a profit to the dealer. Money market
instruments usually trade on a "net" basis as well. On occasion, certain money
market instruments may be purchased by the Portfolios directly from an issuer in
which case no commissions or discounts are paid. In underwritten offerings,
securities are purchased at a fixed price which includes an amount of
compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter's
concession or discount.
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
Although the Funds generally will not invest for short-term trading
purposes, portfolio securities may be sold without regard to the length of time
they have been held when, in the opinion of the Advisor, investment
considerations warrant such action. Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by
dividing (1) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the
fiscal year by (2) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities
owned during the fiscal year. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all the
securities in a Portfolio's portfolio, with the exception of securities whose
maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, were sold and
either repurchased or replaced within one year. A high rate of portfolio
turnover (100% or more) generally leads to higher transaction costs and may
result in a greater number of taxable transactions. See "Portfolio Transactions
and Brokerage." Growth Portfolio's portfolio turnover rate for the fiscal years
ended October 31, 1998 and 1997 was 81.06% and 67.54%, respectively. Small Cap
Portfolio's portfolio turnover rate for the fiscal years ended October 321, 1998
and 1997 was 81.75% and 151.52%, respectively.
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
Reference is made to "Ways to Set Up Your Account - How to Buy Shares -
How To Sell Shares" in the prospectus for additional information about purchase
and redemption of shares. You may purchase and redeem shares of each Fund on
each day on which the New York Stock Exchange ("Exchange") is open for trading.
The Exchange annually announces the days on which it will not be open for
trading. The most recent announcement indicates that it will not be open on the
following days: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day,
Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and
Christmas Day. However, the Exchange may close on days not included in that
announcement.
B-16
<PAGE>
NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value of the Portfolios' shares will fluctuate and is
determined as of the close of trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m.
Eastern time) each business day. Each Portfolio's net asset value is calculated
separately.
The net asset value per share is computed by dividing the value of the
securities held by each Portfolio plus any cash or other assets (including
interest and dividends accrued but not yet received) minus all liabilities
(including accrued expenses) by the total number of interests in the Portfolio
outstanding at such time.
Equity securities listed on a national securities exchange or traded on
the NASDAQ system are valued on their last sale price. Other equity securities
and debt securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued
at the mean between their bid and asked price, except that debt securities
maturing within 60 days are valued on an amortized cost basis. Securities for
which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as
determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees.
TAXATION
The Funds will each be taxed as separate entities under the Internal
Revenue Code (the "Code"), and each intends to elect to qualify for treatment as
a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Code. In each
taxable year that the Funds qualify, the Funds (but not their shareholders) will
be relieved of federal income tax one their investment company taxable income
(consisting generally of interest and dividend income, net short-term capital
gain and net realized gains from currency transactions) and net capital gain
that is distributed to shareholders.
In order to qualify for treatment as a RIC, the Funds must distribute
annually to shareholders at least 90% of their investment company taxable income
and must meet several additional requirements. Among these requirements are the
following: (1) at least 90%of each Fund's gross income each taxable year must be
derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and
gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or
other income derived with respect to its business of investing in securities or
currencies; (2) at the close of each quarter of each Fund's taxable year, at
least 50% of the value of its total assets must be represented by cash and cash
items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs and other
securities, limited in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not
exceed 5% of the value of the Fund and that does not represent more than 10% of
the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (3) at the close of each
quarter of each Fund's taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of its
assets may be invested in securities (other than U.S. Government securities or
the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer.
Each Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax to the
extent it fails to distribute by the end of any calendar year substantially all
of its ordinary income for that year and capital gain net income for the
one-year period ending on October 31 of that year, plus certain other amounts.
B-17
<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Dividends from a Fund's investment company taxable income (whether paid
in cash or invested in additional shares) will be taxable to shareholders as to
the extent of the Fund's earnings and profits. Distributions of a Fund's net
capital gain (whether paid in cash or invested in additional shares) will be
taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long they
have held their Fund shares.
Dividends declared by a Fund in October, November or December of any
year and payable to shareholders of record on a date in one of such months will
be deemed to have been paid by the Fund and received by the shareholders on the
record date if the dividends are paid by a Fund during the following January.
Accordingly, such dividends will be taxed to shareholders for the year in which
the record date falls.
Under the Taypayer Relief Act of 1997, different maximum tax rates
apply to an individual's net capital gain depending on the individual's holding
period and marginal rate of federal income tax - generally, 28% for gain
recognized on capital assets held for more than one year but not more than 18
months and 20% (10% for taxpayers in the 15% marginal tax bracket) for gain
recognized on capital assets held for more than 18 months. Pursuant to an
Internal Revenue Service notice, each Fund may divide each net capital gain
distribution into a 28% rate gain distribution and a 20% rate gain distribution
(in accordance with the Fund's holding periods for the securities it sold that
generated the distributed gain) and its shareholders must treat those portions
accordingly.
Each Fund is required to withhold 31% of all dividends, capital gain
distributions and repurchase proceeds payable to any individuals and certain
other noncorporate shareholders who do not provide the Fund with a correct
taxpayer identification number. Each Fund also is required to withhold 31% of
all dividends and capital gain distributions paid to such shareholders who
otherwise are subject to backup withholding.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
TOTAL RETURN
Average annual total return quotations used in a Fund's advertising and
promotional materials are calculated according to the following formula:
P(1 + T)n = ERV
where P equals a hypothetical initial payment of $1000; T equals average annual
total return; n equals the number of years; and ERV equals the ending redeemable
value at the end of the period of a hypothetical $1000 payment made at the
beginning of the period.
B-18
<PAGE>
Under the foregoing formula, the time periods used in advertising will
be based on rolling calendar quarters, updated to the last day of the most
recent quarter prior to submission of the advertising for publication. Average
annual total return, or "T" in the above formula, is computed by finding the
average annual compounded rates of return over the period that would equate the
initial amount invested to the ending redeemable value. Average annual total
return assumes the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions.
YIELD
Annualized yield quotations used in a Fund's advertising and
promotional materials are calculated by dividing the Fund's interest income for
a specified thirty-day period, net of expenses, by the average number of shares
outstanding during the period, and expressing the result as an annualized
percentage (assuming semi-annual compounding) of the net asset value per share
at the end of the period. Yield quotations are calculated according to the
following formula:
YIELD = 2 [(a-b + 1){6} - 1]
--
cd
where a equals dividends and interest earned during the period; b equals
expenses accrued for the period, net of reimbursements; c equals the average
daily number of shares outstanding during the period that are entitled to
receive dividends and; d equals the maximum offering price per share on the last
day of the period.
Except as noted below, in determining net investment income earned
during the period ("a" in the above formula), a Fund calculates interest earned
on each debt obligation held by it during the period by (1) computing the
obligation's yield to maturity, based on the market value of the obligation
(including actual accrued interest) on the last business day of the period or,
if the obligation was purchased during the period, the purchase price plus
accrued interest; (2) dividing the yield to maturity by 360 and multiplying the
resulting quotient by the market value of the obligation (including actual
accrued interest). Once interest earned is calculated in this fashion for each
debt obligation held by a Fund, net investment income is then determined by
totaling all such interest earned.
For purposes of these calculations, the maturity of an obligation with
one or more call provisions is assumed to be the next date on which the
obligation reasonably can be expected to be called or, if none, the maturity
date.
OTHER INFORMATION
Performance data of a Fund quoted in advertising and other promotional
materials represents past performance and is not intended to predict or indicate
future results. The return and principal value of an investment in a Fund will
fluctuate, and an investor's redemption proceeds may be more or less than the
original investment amount. In advertising and promotional materials a Fund may
B-19
<PAGE>
compare its performance with data published by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
("Lipper") or CDA Investment Technologies, Inc. ("CDA"). A Fund also may refer
in such materials to mutual fund performance rankings and other data, such as
comparative asset, expense and fee levels, published by Lipper or CDA.
Advertising and promotional materials also may refer to discussions of a Fund
and comparative mutual fund data and ratings reported in independent periodicals
including, but not limited to, The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Forbes,
Business Week, Financial World and Barron's.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Each Fund is a diversified trust, which is an open-end investment
management company, organized as a Delaware business trust on December 11, 1991.
The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of
full and fractional shares of beneficial interest and to divide or combine the
shares into a greater or lesser number of shares without thereby changing the
proportionate beneficial interest in a Fund. Each share represents an interest
in a Fund proportionately equal to the interest of each other share. Upon the
Trust's liquidation, all shareholders would share pro rata in the net assets of
the Fund in question available for distribution to shareholders. If they deem it
advisable and in the best interest of shareholders, the Board of Trustees may
create additional series of shares which differ from each other only as to
dividends. The Board of Trustees has created twelve series of shares, and may
create additional series in the future, which have separate assets and
liabilities. Income and operating expenses not specifically attributable to a
particular Fund are allocated fairly among the Funds by the Trustees, generally
on the basis of the relative net assets of each Fund.
Each Fund is one of a series of shares, each having separate assets and
liabilities, of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust contains an express
disclaimer of shareholder liability for its acts or obligations and provides for
indemnification and reimbursement of expenses out of the Trust's property for
any shareholder held personally liable for its obligations.
The Declaration of Trust further provides the Trustees will not be
liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law, but nothing in the
Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee 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. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held (and
fractional votes for fractional shares) and may vote in the election of Trustees
and on other matters submitted to meetings of shareholders. It is not
contemplated that regular annual meetings of shareholders will be held.
B-20
<PAGE>
The Declaration of Trust provides that the shareholders have the right,
upon the declaration in writing or vote of more than two-thirds of its
outstanding shares, to remove a Trustee. The Trustees will call a meeting of
shareholders to vote on the removal of a Trustee upon the written request of the
record holders of ten per cent of its shares. In addition, ten shareholders
holding the lesser of $25,000 worth or one per cent of the shares may advise the
Trustees in writing that they wish to communicate with other shareholders for
the purpose of requesting a meeting to remove a Trustee. The Trustees will then,
if requested by the applicants, mail at the applicants' expense the applicants'
communication to all other shareholders. Except for a change in the name of the
Trust, no amendment may be made to the Declaration of Trust without the
affirmative vote of the holders of more than 50% of its outstanding shares. The
holders of shares have no pre-emptive or conversion rights. Shares when issued
are fully paid and non-assessable, except as set forth above. The Trust may be
terminated upon the sale of its assets to another issuer, if such sale is
approved by the vote of the holders of more than 50% of its outstanding shares,
or upon liquidation and distribution of its assets, if approved by the vote of
the holders of more than 50% of its shares. If not so terminated, the Trust will
continue indefinitely.
Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that as to any investment
company which has two or more series outstanding and as to any matter required
to be submitted to shareholder vote, such matter is not deemed to have been
effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a "majority" (as
defined in the Rule) of the voting securities of each series affected by the
matter. Such separate voting requirements do not apply to the election of
Trustees or the ratification of the selection of accountants. The Rule contains
special provisions for cases in which an advisory contract is approved by one or
more, but not all, series. A change in investment policy may go into effect as
to one or more series whose holders so approve the change even though the
required vote is not obtained as to the holders of other affected series.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The annual report to shareholders for the Funds for the fiscal year
ended October 31, 1998 are separate documents supplied with this SAI, and the
financial statements, accompanying notes and report of independent accountants
appearing therein are incorporated by reference into this SAI.
B-21
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
Description of Ratings
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.: CORPORATE BOND RATINGS
Aaa--Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality and
carry the smallest degree of investment risk. 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 which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as
high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of
protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective
elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present
which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers "1", "2" and "3" to both the Aaa
and Aa rating classifications. The modifier "1" indicates that the security
ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier "2"
indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier "3" indicates that the issue
ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.
A--Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes
and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving
security to principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be
present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa--Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade
obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured.
Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but
certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically
unreliable over any great period of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment
characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS GROUP: CORPORATE BOND RATINGS
AAA--This is the highest rating assigned by S&P to a debt obligation
and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay principal and interest.
AA--Bonds rated AA also qualify as high-quality debt obligations.
Capacity to pay principal and interest is very strong, and in the majority of
instances they differ from AAA issues only in small degree.
A--Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay principal and interest,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions.
BBB--Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
principal and interest. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay principal and interest for bonds in
this category than for bonds in the A category.
B-22
<PAGE>
COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
Moody's commercial paper ratings are assessments of the issuer's
ability to repay punctually promissory obligations. Moody's employs the
following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the
relative repayment capacity of rated issuers: Prime 1--highest quality; Prime
2--higher quality; Prime 3--high quality.
An S&P commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the
likelihood of timely payment. Ratings are graded into four categories, ranging
from "A" for the highest quality obligations to "D" for the lowest.
Issues assigned the highest rating, A, are regarded as having the
greatest capacity for timely payment. Issues in this category are delineated
with the numbers "1", "2" and "3" to indicate the relative degree of safety. The
designation A-1 indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is
either overwhelming or very strong. A "+" designation is applied to those issues
rated "A-1" which possess extremely strong safety characteristics. Capacity for
timely payment on issues with the designation "A-2" is strong. However, the
relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1. Issues
carrying the designation "A-3" have a satisfactory capacity for timely payment.
They are, however, somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse effect of changes in
circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.
B-23
<PAGE>
PIC INVESTMENT TRUST
Statement of Additional Information
Dated March 5, 1999,
as Amended March 31, 1999
This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") is not a prospectus, and it
should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of the Provident Investment
Counsel Small Cap Growth Fund I, a series of PIC Investment Trust (the "Trust").
There are ten other series of the Trust: Provident Investment Counsel Growth
Fund I, Provident Investment Counsel Small Company Growth Fund I, Provident
Investment Counsel Balanced Fund A, Provident Investment Counsel Growth Fund A,
Provident Investment Counsel Mid Cap Fund A, Provident Investment Counsel Small
Company Growth Fund A, Provident Investment Counsel Balanced Fund B, Provident
Investment Counsel Growth Fund B, Provident Investment Counsel Mid Cap Fund B
and Provident Investment Counsel Small Company Growth Fund B. The Provident
Investment Counsel Small Cap Growth Fund I (the "Fund") invests in the PIC Small
Cap Portfolio (the "Portfolio"). Provident Investment Counsel (the "Advisor") is
the Advisor to the Portfolio. A copy of the Fund's prospectus may be obtained
from the Trust at 300 North Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101-4106, telephone
(818) 449-8500.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Investment Objective and Policies B-2
Management B- 9
Custodian and Auditors B-14
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage B-15
Portfolio Turnover B-16
Additional Purchase and Redemption Information B-16
Net Asset Value B-16
Taxation B-17
Dividends and Distributions B-17
Performance Information B-18
General Information B-19
Financial Statements B-21
Appendix B-22
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
INTRODUCTION
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide capital
appreciation. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its objective.
The Fund will attempt to achieve its objective by investing all of its assets in
shares of the Portfolio. The Portfolio is a diversified open-end management
investment company having the same investment objective as the Fund. Since the
Fund will not invest in any securities other than shares of the Portfolio,
investors in the Fund will acquire only an indirect interest in the Portfolio.
The Fund's and the Portfolio's investment objective cannot be changed without
shareholder approval.
In addition to selling its shares to the Fund, the Portfolio may sell
its shares to other mutual funds or institutional investors. All investors in
the Portfolio invest on the same terms and conditions and pay a proportionate
share of the Portfolio's expenses. However, other investors in the Portfolio may
sell their shares to the public at prices different from those of the Fund as a
result of the imposition of sales charges or different operating expenses. You
should be aware that these differences may result in different returns from
those of investors in other entities investing in the Portfolio. Information
concerning other holders of interests in the Portfolio is available by calling
(800) 618-7643.
The Trustees of the Trust believe that this structure may enable the
Fund to benefit from certain economies of scale, based on the premise that
certain of the expenses of managing an investment portfolio are relatively fixed
and that a larger investment portfolio may therefore achieve a lower ratio of
operating expenses to net assets. Investing the Fund's assets in the Portfolio
may produce other benefits resulting from increased asset size, such as the
ability to participate in transactions in securities which may be offered in
larger denominations than could be purchased by the Fund alone. The Fund's
investment in the Portfolio may be withdrawn by the Trustees at any time if the
Board determines that it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so. If any
such withdrawal were made, the Trustees would consider what action might be
taken, including the investment of all of the assets of the Fund in another
pooled investment company or the retaining of an investment advisor to manage
the Fund's assets directly.
Whenever the Fund is requested to vote on matters pertaining to the
Portfolio, the Fund will hold a meeting of its shareholders, and the Fund's
votes with respect to the Portfolio will be cast in the same proportion as the
shares of the Fund for which voting instructions are received.
The discussion below supplements information contained in the
prospectus as to policies of the Fund and the Portfolio. Because the investment
characteristics of the Fund will correspond directly to those of the Portfolio,
the discussion refers to those investments and techniques employed by the
Portfolio.
B-2
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
The Trust (on behalf of the Fund) and the Portfolio have adopted the
following restrictions as fundamental policies, which may not be changed without
the favorable vote of the holders of a "majority," as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"), of the outstanding voting securities of
the Fund or the Portfolio. Under the 1940 Act, the "vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities" means the vote of the holders of
the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund or the Portfolio represented at
a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of its outstanding shares are
represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund or the
Portfolio. Except with respect to borrowing, changes in values of assets of the
Fund or Portfolio will not cause a violation of the investment restrictions so
long as percentage restrictions are observed by the Fund or Portfolio at the
time it purchases any security.
As a matter of fundamental policy, the Portfolio is diversified; i.e.,
as to 75% of the value of its total assets, no more than 5% of the value of its
total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than
U.S. Government securities). The Fund invests all of its assets in shares of the
Portfolio.
The Fund's and the Portfolio's investment objective is fundamental.
In addition, the Fund or Portfolio may not:
1. Issue senior securities, borrow money or pledge its assets, except
that the Fund or the Portfolio may borrow on an unsecured basis from banks for
temporary or emergency purposes or for the clearance of transactions in amounts
not exceeding 10% of its total assets (not including the amount borrowed),
provided that it will not make investments while borrowings in excess of 5% of
the value of its total assets are outstanding;
2. Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position;
3. Purchase securities on margin, except such short-term credits as may
be necessary for the clearance of transactions;
4. Write put or call options, except that the Portfolio may write
covered call and cash secured put options and purchase call and put options on
stocks and stock indices;
5. Act as underwriter (except to the extent the Fund or Portfolio may
be deemed to be an underwriter in connection with the sale of securities in its
investment portfolio);
6. Invest 25% or more of its total assets, calculated at the time of
purchase and taken at market value, in any one industry (other than U.S.
Government securities), except that the Fund may invest more than 25% of its
assets in shares of the Portfolio;
7. Purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate or real
estate limited partnerships (although the Portfolio may purchase and sell
securities which are secured by real estate and securities of companies which
invest or deal in real estate);
B-3
<PAGE>
8. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity futures contracts, except
that the Portfolio may purchase and sell stock index futures contracts;
9. Invest in oil and gas limited partnerships or oil, gas or mineral
leases;
10. Make loans (except for purchases of debt securities consistent with
the investment policies of the Fund and the Portfolio and except for repurchase
agreements); or
11. Make investments for the purpose of exercising control or
management.
The Portfolio observes the following restrictions as a matter of
operating but not fundamental policy.
The Portfolio may not:
1. Invest more than 10% of its assets in the securities of other
investment companies or purchase more than 3% of any other investment company's
voting securities or make any other investment in other investment companies
except as permitted by federal and state law; or
2. Invest more than 15% of its net assets in securities which are
restricted as to disposition or otherwise are illiquid or have no readily
available market (except for securities issued under Rule 144A which are
determined by the Board of Trustees to be liquid).
SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT PRACTICES
The discussion below supplements information contained in the
prospectus as to investment policies of the Portfolio. PIC may not buy all of
these instruments or use all of these techniques to the full extent permitted
unless it believes that doing so will help the Portfolio achieve its goals.
EQUITY SECURITIES
Equity securities are common stocks and other kinds of securities that
have the characteristics of common stocks. These other securities include bonds,
debentures and preferred stocks which can be converted into common stocks. They
also include warrants and options to purchase common stocks.
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
Short-Term Investments are debt securities that mature within a year of
the date they are purchased by the Portfolio. Some specific examples of
short-term investments are commercial paper, bankers' acceptances, certificates
of deposit and repurchase agreements. The Portfolio will only purchase
B-4
<PAGE>
short-term investments which are "high quality," meaning the investments have
been rated A-1 by Standard & Poor's Rating Group ("S&P") or Prime-1 by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), or have an issue of debt securities
outstanding rated at least A by S&P or Moody's. The term also applies to
short-term investments that PIC believes are comparable in quality to those with
an A-1 or Prime-1 rating. U.S. Government securities are always considered to be
high quality.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
Repurchase agreements are transactions in which the Fund or the
Portfolio purchases a security from a bank or recognized securities dealer and
simultaneously commits to resell that security to the bank or dealer at an
agreed-upon date and price reflecting a market rate of interest unrelated to the
coupon rate or maturity of the purchased security. The purchaser maintains
custody of the underlying securities prior to their repurchase; thus the
obligation of the bank or dealer to pay the repurchase price on the date agreed
to is, in effect, secured by such underlying securities. If the value of such
securities is less than the repurchase price, the other party to the agreement
will provide additional collateral so that at all times the collateral is at
least equal to the repurchase price.
Although repurchase agreements carry certain risks not associated with
direct investments in securities, the Fund and the Portfolio intend to enter
into repurchase agreements only with banks and dealers believed by the Advisor
to present minimum credit risks in accordance with guidelines established by the
Boards of Trustees. The Advisor will review and monitor the creditworthiness of
such institutions under the Boards' general supervision. To the extent that the
proceeds from any sale of collateral upon a default in the obligation to
repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the purchaser would suffer a
loss. If the other party to the repurchase agreement petitions for bankruptcy or
otherwise becomes subject to bankruptcy or other liquidation proceedings, there
might be restrictions on the purchaser's ability to sell the collateral and the
purchaser could suffer a loss. However, with respect to financial institutions
whose bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings are subject to the U.S. Bankruptcy
Code, the Fund and the Portfolio intend to comply with provisions under such
Code that would allow them immediately to resell the collateral.
OPTIONS ACTIVITIES
The Portfolio may write call options on stocks and stock indices, if
the calls are "covered" throughout the life of the option. A call is "covered"
if the Portfolio owns the optioned securities. When the Portfolio writes a call,
it receives a premium and gives the purchaser the right to buy the underlying
security at any time during the call period at a fixed exercise price regardless
of market price changes during the call period. If the call is exercised, the
Portfolio will forgo any gain from an increase in the market price of the
underlying security over the exercise price.
The Portfolio may purchase a call on securities to effect a "closing
purchase transaction," which is the purchase of a call covering the same
underlying security and having the same exercise price and expiration date as a
call previously written by the Portfolio on which it wishes to terminate its
obligation. If the Portfolio is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction,
it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the call previously
written by the Portfolio expires (or until the call is exercised and the
Portfolio delivers the underlying security).
B-5
<PAGE>
The Portfolio also may write and purchase put options ("puts"). When
the Portfolio writes a put, it gives the purchaser of the put the right to sell
the underlying security to the Portfolio at the exercise price at any time
during the option period. When the Portfolio purchases a put, it pays a premium
in return for the right to sell the underlying security at the exercise price at
any time during the option period. If any put is not exercised or sold, it will
become worthless on its expiration date.
The Portfolio's option positions may be closed out only on an exchange
which provides a secondary market for options of the same series, but there can
be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist at a given time for
any particular option.
In the event of a shortage of the underlying securities deliverable on
exercise of an option, the Options Clearing Corporation has the authority to
permit other, generally comparable securities to be delivered in fulfillment of
option exercise obligations. If the Options Clearing Corporation exercises its
discretionary authority to allow such other securities to be delivered, it may
also adjust the exercise prices of the affected options by setting different
prices at which otherwise ineligible securities may be delivered. As an
alternative to permitting such substitute deliveries, the Options Clearing
Corporation may impose special exercise settlement procedures.
FUTURES CONTRACTS
The Portfolio may buy and sell stock index futures contracts. A futures
contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security or an
index for a set price on a future date. Futures contracts are traded on
designated "contract markets" which, through their clearing corporations,
guarantee performance of the contracts.
Entering into a futures contract for the sale of securities has an
effect similar to the actual sale of securities, although sale of the futures
contract might be accomplished more easily and quickly. Entering into futures
contracts for the purchase of securities has an effect similar to the actual
purchase of the underlying securities, but permits the continued holding of
securities other than the underlying securities.
A stock index futures contract may be used as a hedge by the Portfolio
with regard to market risk as distinguished from risk relating to a specific
security. A stock index futures contract does not require the physical delivery
of securities, but merely provides for profits and losses resulting from changes
in the market value of the contract to be credited or debited at the close of
each trading day to the respective accounts of the parties to the contract. On
the contract's expiration date, a final cash settlement occurs. Changes in the
market value of a particular stock index futures contract reflects changes in
the specified index of equity securities on which the future is based.
B-6
<PAGE>
There are several risks in connection with the use of futures
contracts. In the event of an imperfect correlation between the futures contract
and the portfolio position which is intended to be protected, the desired
protection may not be obtained and the Portfolio may be exposed to risk of loss.
Further, unanticipated changes in interest rates or stock price movements may
result in a poorer overall performance for the Portfolio than if it had not
entered into any futures on stock indices.
In addition, the market prices of futures contracts may be affected by
certain factors. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to
margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional
margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through
offsetting transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the
securities and futures markets. Second, from the point of view of speculators,
the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin
requirements in the securities market. Therefore, increased participation by
speculators in the futures market may also cause temporary price distortions.
Finally, positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an
exchange or board of trade which provides a secondary market for such futures.
There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange or board of
trade will exist for any particular contract or at any particular time.
FOREIGN SECURITIES
The Portfolio may invest in foreign issuers in foreign markets. In
addition, the Portfolio may invest in American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"),
which are receipts, usually issued by a U.S. bank or trust company, evidencing
ownership of the underlying securities. Generally, ADRs are issued in registered
form, denominated in U.S. dollars, and are designed for use in the U.S.
securities markets. A depositary may issue unsponsored ADRs without the consent
of the foreign issuer of securities, in which case the holder of the ADR may
incur higher costs and receive less information about the foreign issuer than
the holder of a sponsored ADR. The Portfolio may invest no more than 20% of its
total assets in foreign securities, and it will only purchase foreign securities
or American Depositary Receipts which are listed on a national securities
exchange or included in the NASDAQ system.
Foreign securities and securities issued by U.S. entities with
substantial foreign operations may involve additional risks and considerations.
These include risks relating to political or economic conditions in foreign
countries, fluctuations in foreign currencies, withholding or other taxes,
operational risks, increased regulatory burdens and the potentially less
stringent investor protection and disclosure standards of foreign markets. All
of these factors can make foreign investments, especially those in developing
countries, more volatile.
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS
The Portfolio may enter into forward contracts with respect to specific
transactions. For example, when the Portfolio enters into a contract for the
purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency, or when it
B-7
<PAGE>
anticipates the receipt in a foreign currency of dividend or interest payments
on a security that it holds, the Portfolio may desire to "lock in" the U.S.
dollar price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of the payment, by
entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed amount of
U.S. dollars or foreign currency, of the amount of foreign currency involved in
the underlying transaction. The Portfolio will thereby be to protect itself
against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship
between the currency exchange rates during the period between the date on which
the security is purchased or sold, or on which the payment is declared, and the
date on which such payments are made or received.
The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of
the securities involved will not generally be possible because the future value
of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market
movements in the value of those securities between the date the forward contract
is entered into and the date it matures. Accordingly, it may be necessary for
the Portfolio to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot (i.e., cash)
market (and bear the expense of such purchase) if the market value of the
security is less than the amount of foreign currency the Portfolio is obligated
to deliver and if a decision is made to sell the security and make delivery of
the foreign currency. Conversely, it may be necessary to sell on the spot market
some of the foreign currency received upon the sale of the portfolio security if
its market value exceeds the amount of foreign currency the Portfolio is
obligated to deliver. The projection of short-term currency market movements is
extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging
strategy is highly uncertain. Forward contracts involve the risk that
anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted, causing the
Portfolio to sustain losses on these contracts and transaction costs. The
Portfolio may enter into forward contracts or maintain a net exposure to such
contracts only if (1) the consummation of the contracts would not obligate the
Portfolio to deliver an amount of foreign currency in excess of the value of the
Portfolio's securities or other assets denominated in that currency or (2) the
Portfolio maintains a segregated account as described below. Under normal
circumstances, consideration of the prospect for currency parities will be
incorporated into the longer term investment decisions made with regard to
overall diversification strategies. However, the Advisor believes it is
important to have the flexibility to enter into such forward contracts when it
determines that the best interests of the Portfolio will be served.
At or before the maturity date of a forward contract that requires the
Portfolio to sell a currency, the Portfolio may either sell a security and use
the sale proceeds to make delivery of the currency or retain the security and
offset its contractual obligation to deliver the currency by purchasing a second
contract pursuant to which the Portfolio will obtain, on the same maturity date,
the same amount of the currency that it is obligated to deliver. Similarly, the
Portfolio may close out a forward contract requiring it to purchase a specified
currency by entering into a second contract entitling it to sell the same amount
of the same currency on the maturity date of the first contract. The Portfolio
would realize a gain or loss as a result of entering into such an offsetting
forward contract under either circumstance to the extent the exchange rate
between the currencies involved moved between the execution dates of the first
and second contracts.
B-8
<PAGE>
The cost to the Portfolio of engaging in forward contracts varies with
factors such as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period and
the market conditions then prevailing. Because forward contracts are usually
entered into on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved. The use
of forward contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of the
underlying securities the Portfolio owns or intends to acquire, but it does fix
a rate of exchange in advance. In addition, although forward contracts limit the
risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currencies, at the same
time they limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the
currencies increase.
SEGREGATED ACCOUNTS
When the Portfolio writes an option, sells a futures contract or enters
into a forward foreign currency exchange contract, it will establish a
segregated account with its custodian bank, or a securities depository acting
for it, to hold assets of the Portfolio in order to insure that the Portfolio
will be able to meet its obligations. In the case of a call that has been
written, the securities covering the option will be maintained in the segregated
account and cannot be sold by the Portfolio until released. In the case of a put
that has been written or a forward foreign currency contract that has been
entered into, liquid securities will be maintained in the segregated account in
an amount sufficient to meet the Portfolio's obligations pursuant to the put or
forward contract. In the case of a futures contract, liquid securities will be
maintained in the segregated account equal in value to the current value of the
underlying contract, less the margin deposits. The margin deposits are also
held, in cash or U.S. Government securities, in the segregated account.
DEBT SECURITIES AND RATINGS
Ratings of debt securities represent the rating agencies' opinions
regarding their quality, are not a guarantee of quality and may be reduced after
the Portfolio has acquired the security. The Advisor will consider whether the
Portfolio should continue to hold the security but is not required to dispose of
it. Credit ratings attempt to evaluate the safety of principal and interest
payments and do not evaluate the risks of fluctuations in market value. Also,
rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings in response to
subsequent events, so that an issuer's current financial condition may be better
or worse than the rating indicates.
B-9
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT
The overall management of the business and affairs of the Trust is
vested with its Board of Trustees. The Board approves all significant agreements
between the Trust and persons or companies furnishing services to it, including
the agreements with the Advisor, Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent.
Likewise, the Portfolio has a Board of Trustees which has comparable
responsibilities, including approving agreements with the Advisor. The day to
day operations of the Trust and the Portfolio are delegated to their officers,
subject to their investment objectives and policies and to general supervision
by their Boards of Trustees.
The Trustees and officers of the Trust, their business addresses and
principal occupations during the past five years are:
Name, Address Position(s) Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Age With the Trust During Past 5 Years
------- -------------- -------------------
Jettie M. Edwards (age 52) Trustee Consulting principal of
76 Seaview Drive Syrus Associates (consulting firm)
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Jeffrey D. Lovell (age 46) Trustee Managing Director, President and
11150 Santa Monica Blvd. co-founder of Putnam, Lovell &
Ste 1650 Thornton, Inc. (investment bankers)
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Jeffrey J. Miller (age 48) Trustee* Managing Director and Secretary
300 North Lake Avenue of the Advisor
Pasadena, CA 91101
Wayne H. Smith (age 57) Trustee Vice President and Treasurer of
150 N. Orange Grove Blvd. Avery Dennison Corporation
Pasadena, CA 91103 (pressure sensitive material and
office products manufacturer)
Douglass B. Allen (age 37) President* Vice President of the Advisor;
300 North Lake Avenue Director of the Sycamores
Pasadena, CA 91101 (non-profit children's treatment
agency) since September 1998
Thad M. Brown (age 48) Vice President, Senior Vice President and Chief
300 North Lake Avenue Secretary and Financial Officer of the Advisor
Pasadena, CA 91101 Treasurer*
B-10
<PAGE>
The Trustees and officers of the Portfolio, their business address and
their occupations during the past five years are:
Name, Address Position(s) Held Principal Occupation(s)
and Age With the Portfolio During Past 5 Years
------- ------------------ -------------------
Richard N. Frank (age 75) Trustee Chief Executive Officer, Lawry's
234 E. Colorado Blvd. Restaurants, Inc.; formerly Chairman
Pasadena, CA 91101 of Lawry's Foods, Inc.
James Clayburn Trustee Dean Emeritus, John E. Anderson
LaForce (age70) Graduate School of Management,
P.O. Box 1585 University of California, Los
Pauma Valley, CA 92061 Angeles. Director of The BlackRock
Funds. Trustee of Payden & Rygel
Investment Trust. Director of the
Timken Co., Rockwell International,
Eli Lilly, Jacobs Engineering Group
and Imperial Credit Industries.
Jeffrey J. Miller (age 48) Trustee* Managing Director and Secretary of
300 North Lake Avenue the Advisor
Pasadena, CA 91101
Angelo R. Mozilo (age 59) Trustee Vice Chairman and Executive Vice
155 N. Lake Avenue President of Countrywide Credit
Pasadena, CA 91101 Industries (mortgage banking)
Douglass B. Allen (age 37) President* Vice President of the Advisor;
300 North Lake Avenue Director of the Sycamores
Pasadena, CA 91101 (non-profit children's treatment
agency) since September 1998
Thad M. Brown (age 48) Vice President, Senior Vice President and Chief
300 North Lake Avenue Secretary and Financial Officer of the Advisor
Pasadena, CA 91101 Treasurer*
- ----------
* denotes Trustees who are "interested persons" of the Trust or Portfolio under
the 1940 Act.
The following compensation was paid to each of the following Trustees.
No other compensation or retirement benefits were received by any Trustee or
officer from the Registrant or other registered investment company in the "Fund
Complex."
B-11
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Deferred
Deferred Compensation Total
Compensation Accrued as Compensation
Aggregate Aggregate Accrued as Part Part of From Trust and
Compensation Compensation of Trust Portfolios Portfolios paid
Name of Trustee from Trust from Portfolios Expenses Expenses to Trustee
- --------------- ---------- --------------- -------- -------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Jettie M. Edwards $13,000 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $13,000
Bernard J. Johnson $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
Jeffrey D. Lovell $ 0 $ 0 $3,232 $ 0 $ 3,232
Wayne H. Smith $ 0 $ 0 $3,232 $ 0 $ 3,232
Richard N. Frank $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $3,191 $ 3,191
James Clayburn LaForce $ 0 $12,000 $ 0 $ 0 $12,000
Angelo R. Mozilo $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $3,190 $ 3,190
</TABLE>
The following persons, to the knowledge of the Trust, owned more than
5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund as of February 9, 1999:
Marine Midland Bank, Trustee - 12.02%
Buffalo, NY 14240
The Northern Trust Company, Trustee - 12.30%
Chicago, IL 60675
State Street Bank and Trust Company, Trustee - 24.72%
Boston, MA 02105
Summit Bank, Trustee - 15.79%
Hackensack, NJ 07602
US Bank National Assoc, Cust. - 9.72%
St. Paul, MN 55164
State Street Bank and Trust Company, Trustee - 8.13%
Westwood, MA 01090
As of February 9, 1999, shares of the Fund owned by the Trustees and
officers as a group were less than 1%.
THE ADVISOR
The Trust does not have an investment advisor, although the Advisor
performs certain administrative services for it, including providing certain
officers and office space.
B-12
<PAGE>
The following information is provided about the Advisor and the
Portfolio. Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Portfolio,
investment management and services will be provided to the Portfolio by the
Advisor, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (the "Advisory
Agreement"). Under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor will provide a continuous
investment program for the Portfolio and make decisions and place orders to buy,
sell or hold particular securities. In addition to the fees payable to the
Advisor and the Administrator, the Portfolio and the Trust are responsible for
their operating expenses, including: (i) interest and taxes; (ii) brokerage
commissions; (iii) insurance premiums; (iv) compensation and expenses of
Trustees other than those affiliated with the Advisor or the Administrator; (v)
legal and audit expenses; (vi) fees and expenses of the custodian, shareholder
service and transfer agents; (vii) fees and expenses for registration or
qualification of the Trust and its shares under federal or state securities
laws; (viii) expenses of preparing, printing and mailing reports and notices and
proxy material to shareholders; (ix) other expenses incidental to holding any
shareholder meetings; (x) dues or assessments of or contributions to the
Investment Company Institute or any successor; (xi) such non-recurring expenses
as may arise, including litigation affecting the Trust or the Portfolio and the
legal obligations with respect to which the Trust or the Portfolio may have to
indemnify their officers and Trustees; and (xii) amortization of organization
costs.
The Advisor is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of United Asset
Management Corporation ("UAM"), a New York Stock Exchange listed holding company
principally engaged, through affiliated firms, in providing institutional
investment management services. On February 15, 1995, UAM acquired the assets of
the Advisor's predecessor, which had the same name as the Advisor; on that date
the Advisor entered into a new Advisory Agreement having the same terms as the
previous Advisory Agreement with the Portfolio. The term "Advisor" also refers
to the Advisor's predecessor.
For its services, the Advisor receives a fee from the Portfolio at an
annual rate of 0.80% of its average net assets. During the fiscal years ended
October 31, 1998, 1997, and 1996, the Advisor earned fees pursuant to the
Advisory Agreement in the amounts of $1,418,731, $1,525,768 and $1,395,748,
respectively. However, the Advisor has agreed to limit the aggregate expenses of
the Portfolio to 1.00% of its average net assets. As a result, the Advisor paid
expenses of the Portfolio that exceeded these expense limits in the amounts of
$24,020, $24,879 and $26,098 during the fiscal years ended October 31, 1998,
1997 and 1996, respectively.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor will not be liable to the
Portfolio for any error of judgment by the Advisor or any loss sustained by the
Portfolio except in the case of a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the
receipt of compensation for services (in which case any award of damages will be
limited as provided in the 1940 Act) or of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence or reckless disregard of duty.
The Advisory Agreement will remain in effect for two years from its
execution. Thereafter, if not terminated, the Advisory Agreement will continue
automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such continuance is
specifically approved at least annually (i) by a majority vote of the
Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
voting on such approval, and (ii) by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio.
B-13
<PAGE>
The Advisory Agreement is terminable by vote of the Board of Trustees
or by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Portfolio at any time without penalty, on 60 days written notice to the Advisor.
The Advisory Agreement also may be terminated by the Advisor on 60 days written
notice to the Portfolio. The Advisory Agreement terminates automatically upon
its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).
The Advisor also provides certain administrative services to the Trust
pursuant to an Administration Agreement, including assisting shareholders of the
Trust, furnishing office space and permitting certain employees to serve as
officers and Trustees of the Trust. For its services, it earns a fee at the rate
of 0.20% of the average net assets of the Fund. During the fiscal years ended
October 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, the Advisor earned fees pursuant to the
Administration Agreement from the Fund in the amounts of $278,287 , $334,603 and
$345,808, respectively. However, the Advisor has agreed to limit the aggregate
expenses of the Fund to 1.00% of its average daily net assets. As a result, for
the fiscal years ended October 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, the Advisor waived all
of its fee and reimbursed certain expenses of the Fund in the amounts of
$75,766, $94,203, $79,635, respectively.
THE ADMINISTRATOR
The Fund and the Portfolio each pay a monthly administration fee to
Investment Company Administration, LLC for managing some of their business
affairs.
During each of the three years ended October 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996,
the Fund paid the Administrator fees in the amount of 10,000.
During the fiscal years ended October 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, the
Portfolio paid the Administrator fees in the amounts of $177,341, $190,721 and
$174,469, respectively.
THE DISTRIBUTOR
First Fund Distributors, Inc., 4455 E. Camelback Road, Suite 261E,
Phoenix AZ 85018, is the Trust's principal underwriter.
CUSTODIAN AND AUDITORS
The Trust's custodian, Provident National Bank, 200 Stevens Drive,
Lester, PA 19113 is responsible for holding the Fund's assets. Provident
Financial Processing Corporation, 400 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809,
acts as the Fund's transfer agent; its mailing address is P.O. Box 8943,
Wilmington, DE 19899. The Trust's independent accountants, McGladrey & Pullen,
LLP, 555 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017, assist in the preparation of certain
reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Fund's tax returns.
B-14
<PAGE>
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE
The Advisory Agreement states that in connection with its duties to
arrange for the purchase and the sale of securities held by the Portfolio by
placing purchase and sale orders for the Portfolio, the Advisor shall select
such broker-dealers ("brokers") as shall, in its judgment, achieve the policy of
"best execution," i.e., prompt and efficient execution at the most favorable
securities price. In making such selection, the Advisor is authorized in the
Advisory Agreement to consider the reliability, integrity and financial
condition of the broker. The Advisor also is authorized by the Advisory
Agreement to consider whether the broker provides research or statistical
information to the Portfolio and/or other accounts of the Advisor. The Advisor
may select brokers who sell shares of the Portfolio or the Fund.
The Advisory Agreement states that the commissions paid to brokers may
be higher than another broker would have charged if a good faith determination
is made by the Advisor that the commission is reasonable in relation to the
services provided, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the
Advisor's overall responsibilities as to the accounts as to which it exercises
investment discretion and that the Advisor shall use its judgment in determining
that the amount of commissions paid are reasonable in relation to the value of
brokerage and research services provided and need not place or attempt to place
a specific dollar value on such services or on the portion of commission rates
reflecting such services. The Advisory Agreement provides that to demonstrate
that such determinations were in good faith, and to show the overall
reasonableness of commissions paid, the Advisor shall be prepared to show that
commissions paid (i) were for purposes contemplated by the Advisory Agreement;
(ii) were for products or services which provide lawful and appropriate
assistance to its decision-making process; and (iii) were within a reasonable
range as compared to the rates charged by brokers to other institutional
investors as such rates may become known from available information. During the
fiscal years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, the amount of brokerage
commissions paid by the Portfolio was $218,087 and $115,709, respectively.
During the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, the Portfolio paid $208,083 in
brokerage commissions. Of that amount, $9,449 was paid in brokerage commissions
to brokers who furnished research services.
The research services discussed above may be in written form or through
direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular
companies and securities as well as market, economic or institutional areas and
information assisting the Portfolio in the valuation of its investments. The
research which the Advisor receives for the Portfolio's brokerage commissions,
whether or not useful to the Portfolio, may be useful to it in managing the
accounts of its other advisory clients. Similarly, the research received for the
commissions may be useful to the Portfolio.
The debt securities are generally traded on a "net" basis with dealers
acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission although
the price of the security usually includes a profit to the dealer. Money market
instruments usually trade on a "net" basis as well. On occasion, certain money
market instruments may be purchased by the Portfolio directly from an issuer in
which case no commissions or discounts are paid. In underwritten offerings,
securities are purchased at a fixed price which includes an amount of
compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter's
concession or discount.
B-15
<PAGE>
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
Although the Portfolio generally will not invest for short-term trading
purposes, portfolio securities may be sold without regard to the length of time
they have been held when, in the opinion of the Advisor, investment
considerations warrant such action. Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by
dividing (1) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the
fiscal year by (2) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities
owned during the fiscal year. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all the
securities in the Portfolio's portfolio, with the exception of securities whose
maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, were sold and
either repurchased or replaced within one year. A high rate of portfolio
turnover (100% or more) generally leads to higher transaction costs and may
result in a greater number of taxable transactions. See "Portfolio Transactions
and Brokerage." The Portfolio's portfolio turnover rate for the fiscal years
ended October 31, 1998 and 1997 was 81.75% and 151.52%, respectively.
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION
Reference is made to "Ways to Set Up Your Account - How to Buy Shares -
How To Sell Shares" in the prospectus for additional information about purchase
and redemption of shares. You may purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on each
day on which the New York Stock Exchange ("Exchange") is open for trading. The
Exchange annually announces the days on which it will not be open for trading.
The most recent announcement indicates that it will not be open on the following
days: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
However, the Exchange may close on days not included in that announcement.
NET ASSET VALUE
The net asset value of the Portfolio's shares will fluctuate and is
determined as of the close of trading on the Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m.
Eastern time) each business day.
The net asset value per share is computed by dividing the value of the
securities held by the Portfolio plus any cash or other assets (including
interest and dividends accrued but not yet received) minus all liabilities
(including accrued expenses) by the total number of interests in the Portfolio
outstanding at such time.
Equity securities listed on a national securities exchange or traded on
the NASDAQ system are valued on their last sale price. Other equity securities
and debt securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued
at the mean between their bid and asked price, except that debt securities
maturing within 60 days are valued on an amortized cost basis. Securities for
which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as
determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees.
B-16
<PAGE>
TAXATION
The Fund will be taxed as a separate entity under the Internal Revenue
Code (the "Code"), and intends to elect to qualify for treatment as a regulated
investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Code. In each taxable year
that the Fund qualifies, the Fund (but not its shareholders) will be relieved of
federal income tax on its investment company taxable income (consisting
generally of interest and dividend income, net short-term capital gain and net
realized gains from currency transactions) and net capital gain that is
distributed to shareholders.
In order to qualify for treatment as a RIC, the Fund must distribute
annually to shareholders at least 90% of its investment company taxable income
and must meet several additional requirements. Among these requirements are the
following: (1) at least 90%of the Fund's gross income each taxable year must be
derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and
gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or
other income derived with respect to its business of investing in securities or
currencies; (2) at the close of each quarter of the Fund's taxable year, at
least 50% of the value of its total assets must be represented by cash and cash
items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs and other
securities, limited in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not
exceed 5% of the value of the Fund and that does not represent more than 10% of
the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (3) at the close of each
quarter of the Fund's taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of its assets
may be invested in securities (other than U.S. Government securities or the
securities of other RICs) of any one issuer.
The Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax to the extent
it fails to distribute by the end of any calendar year substantially all of its
ordinary income for that year and capital gain net income for the one-year
period ending on October 31 of that year, plus certain other amounts.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Dividends from the Fund's investment company taxable income (whether
paid in cash or invested in additional shares) will be taxable to shareholders
as to the extent of the Fund's earnings and profits. Distributions of the Fund's
net capital gain (whether paid in cash or invested in additional shares) will be
taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long they
have held their Fund shares.
Dividends declared by the Fund in October, November or December of any
year and payable to shareholders of record on a date in one of such months will
be deemed to have been paid by the Fund and received by the shareholders on the
record date if the dividends are paid by the Fund during the following January.
Accordingly, such dividends will be taxed to shareholders for the year in which
the record date falls.
B-17
<PAGE>
Under the Taypayer Relief Act of 1997, different maximum tax rates
apply to an individual's net capital gain depending on the individual's holding
period and marginal rate of federal income tax - generally, 28% for gain
recognized on capital assets held for more than one year but not more than 18
months and 20% (10% for taxpayers in the 15% marginal tax bracket) for gain
recognized on capital assets held for more than 18 months. Pursuant to an
Internal Revenue Service notice, the Fund may divide each net capital gain
distribution into a 28% rate gain distribution and a 20% rate gain distribution
(in accordance with the Fund's holding periods for the securities it sold that
generated the distributed gain) and its shareholders must treat those portions
accordingly.
The Fund is required to withhold 31% of all dividends, capital gain
distributions and repurchase proceeds payable to any individuals and certain
other noncorporate shareholders who do not provide the Fund with a correct
taxpayer identification number. The Fund also is required to withhold 31% of all
dividends and capital gain distributions paid to such shareholders who otherwise
are subject to backup withholding.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
TOTAL RETURN
Average annual total return quotations used in the Fund's advertising
and promotional materials are calculated according to the following formula:
P(1 + T)n = ERV
where P equals a hypothetical initial payment of $1000; T equals average annual
total return; n equals the number of years; and ERV equals the ending redeemable
value at the end of the period of a hypothetical $1000 payment made at the
beginning of the period.
Under the foregoing formula, the time periods used in advertising will
be based on rolling calendar quarters, updated to the last day of the most
recent quarter prior to submission of the advertising for publication. Average
annual total return, or "T" in the above formula, is computed by finding the
average annual compounded rates of return over the period that would equate the
initial amount invested to the ending redeemable value. Average annual total
return assumes the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions.
YIELD
Annualized yield quotations used in the Fund's advertising and
promotional materials are calculated by dividing the Fund's interest income for
a specified thirty-day period, net of expenses, by the average number of shares
outstanding during the period, and expressing the result as an annualized
percentage (assuming semi-annual compounding) of the net asset value per share
at the end of the period. Yield quotations are calculated according to the
following formula:
B-18
<PAGE>
YIELD = 2 [(a-b + 1){6} - 1]
--
cd
where a equals dividends and interest earned during the period; b equals
expenses accrued for the period, net of reimbursements; c equals the average
daily number of shares outstanding during the period that are entitled to
receive dividends; and d equals the maximum offering price per share on the last
day of the period.
Except as noted below, in determining net investment income earned
during the period ("a" in the above formula), the Fund calculates interest
earned on each debt obligation held by it during the period by (1) computing the
obligation's yield to maturity, based on the market value of the obligation
(including actual accrued interest) on the last business day of the period or,
if the obligation was purchased during the period, the purchase price plus
accrued interest; (2) dividing the yield to maturity by 360 and multiplying the
resulting quotient by the market value of the obligation (including actual
accrued interest). Once interest earned is calculated in this fashion for each
debt obligation held by the Fund, net investment income is then determined by
totaling all such interest earned.
For purposes of these calculations, the maturity of an obligation with
one or more call provisions is assumed to be the next date on which the
obligation reasonably can be expected to be called or, if none, the maturity
date.
OTHER INFORMATION
Performance data of the Fund quoted in advertising and other
promotional materials represents past performance and is not intended to predict
or indicate future results. The return and principal value of an investment in
the Fund will fluctuate, and an investor's redemption proceeds may be more or
less than the original investment amount. In advertising and promotional
materials the Fund may compare its performance with data published by Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc. ("Lipper") or CDA Investment Technologies, Inc.
("CDA"). The Fund also may refer in such materials to mutual fund performance
rankings and other data, such as comparative asset, expense and fee levels,
published by Lipper or CDA. Advertising and promotional materials also may refer
to discussions of the Fund and comparative mutual fund data and ratings reported
in independent periodicals including, but not limited to, The Wall Street
Journal, Money Magazine, Forbes, Business Week, Financial World and Barron's.
B-19
<PAGE>
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Trust is a diversified trust, which is an open-end investment
management company, organized as a Delaware business trust on December 11, 1991.
The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of
full and fractional shares of beneficial interest and to divide or combine the
shares into a greater or lesser number of shares without thereby changing the
proportionate beneficial interest in the Fund. Each share represents an interest
in the Fund proportionately equal to the interest of each other share. Upon the
Trust's liquidation, all shareholders would share pro rata in the net assets of
the Fund in question available for distribution to shareholders. If they deem it
advisable and in the best interest of shareholders, the Board of Trustees may
create additional series of shares which differ from each other only as to
dividends. The Board of Trustees has created twelve series of shares, and may
create additional series in the future, which have separate assets and
liabilities. Income and operating expenses not specifically attributable to the
Fund are allocated fairly among the Funds by the Trustees, generally on the
basis of the relative net assets of each Fund.
The Fund is one of a series of shares, each having separate assets and
liabilities, of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust contains an express
disclaimer of shareholder liability for its acts or obligations and provides for
indemnification and reimbursement of expenses out of the Trust's property for
any shareholder held personally liable for its obligations.
The Declaration of Trust further provides the Trustees will not be
liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law, but nothing in the
Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee 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. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held (and
fractional votes for fractional shares) and may vote in the election of Trustees
and on other matters submitted to meetings of shareholders. It is not
contemplated that regular annual meetings of shareholders will be held.
The Declaration of Trust provides that the shareholders have the right,
upon the declaration in writing or vote of more than two-thirds of its
outstanding shares, to remove a Trustee. The Trustees will call a meeting of
shareholders to vote on the removal of a Trustee upon the written request of the
record holders of ten per cent of its shares. In addition, ten shareholders
holding the lesser of $25,000 worth or one per cent of the shares may advise the
Trustees in writing that they wish to communicate with other shareholders for
the purpose of requesting a meeting to remove a Trustee. The Trustees will then,
if requested by the applicants, mail at the applicants' expense the applicants'
communication to all other shareholders. Except for a change in the name of the
Trust, no amendment may be made to the Declaration of Trust without the
affirmative vote of the holders of more than 50% of its outstanding shares. The
holders of shares have no pre-emptive or conversion rights. Shares when issued
are fully paid and non-assessable, except as set forth above. The Trust may be
terminated upon the sale of its assets to another issuer, if such sale is
approved by the vote of the holders of more than 50% of its outstanding shares,
or upon liquidation and distribution of its assets, if approved by the vote of
the holders of more than 50% of its shares. If not so terminated, the Trust will
continue indefinitely.
B-20
<PAGE>
Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that as to any investment
company which has two or more series outstanding and as to any matter required
to be submitted to shareholder vote, such matter is not deemed to have been
effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a "majority" (as
defined in the Rule) of the voting securities of each series affected by the
matter. Such separate voting requirements do not apply to the election of
Trustees or the ratification of the selection of accountants. The Rule contains
special provisions for cases in which an advisory contract is approved by one or
more, but not all, series. A change in investment policy may go into effect as
to one or more series whose holders so approve the change even though the
required vote is not obtained as to the holders of other affected series.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The annual report to shareholders for the Fund for the fiscal year
ended October 31, 1998 is a separate documents supplied with this SAI, and the
financial statements, accompanying notes and report of independent accountants
appearing therein are incorporated by reference into this SAI.
B-21
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC.: CORPORATE BOND RATINGS
Aaa--Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality and
carry the smallest degree of investment risk. 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 which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all
standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as
high grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of
protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective
elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present
which make the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
Moody's applies numerical modifiers "1", "2" and "3" to both the Aaa
and Aa rating classifications. The modifier "1" indicates that the security
ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier "2"
indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier "3" indicates that the issue
ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.
A--Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes
and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving
security to principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be
present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa--Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade
obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured.
Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but
certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically
unreliable over any great period of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment
characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS GROUP: CORPORATE BOND RATINGS
AAA--This is the highest rating assigned by S&P to a debt obligation
and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay principal and interest.
AA--Bonds rated AA also qualify as high-quality debt obligations.
Capacity to pay principal and interest is very strong, and in the majority of
instances they differ from AAA issues only in small degree.
B-22
<PAGE>
A--Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay principal and interest,
although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in
circumstances and economic conditions.
BBB--Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay
principal and interest. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection
parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more
likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay principal and interest for bonds in
this category than for bonds in the A category.
Commercial Paper Ratings
Moody's commercial paper ratings are assessments of the issuer's
ability to repay punctually promissory obligations. Moody's employs the
following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the
relative repayment capacity of rated issuers: Prime 1--highest quality; Prime
2--higher quality; Prime 3--high quality.
An S&P commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the
likelihood of timely payment. Ratings are graded into four categories, ranging
from "A" for the highest quality obligations to "D" for the lowest.
Issues assigned the highest rating, A, are regarded as having the
greatest capacity for timely payment. Issues in this category are delineated
with the numbers "1", "2" and "3" to indicate the relative degree of safety. The
designation A-1 indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is
either overwhelming or very strong. A "+" designation is applied to those issues
rated "A-1" which possess extremely strong safety characteristics. Capacity for
timely payment on issues with the designation "A-2" is strong. However, the
relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1. Issues
carrying the designation "A-3" have a satisfactory capacity for timely payment.
They are, however, somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse effect of changes in
circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.
B-23
